Yesterday as I was driving south on Interstate 95 approaching the interchange with I-4 I came upon a familiar sight. Most days would find me in this area while driving to or from work and, during nesting season, I would regularly see a Bald Eagle soaring - or on occasion perched - near the large retention ponds not far from that interchange. I even recall seeing one carrying a rather large fish barely clearing the top of a tractor-trailer as it flew east over the road, all but certain that I would see a collision that I did not want to see. I have often wondered if there is a nest in the wooded area southeast of there. Interesting that I would be welcomed "home" by the species primarily responsible for getting me started with birds.

This morning as I was consuming my morning dose of caffeine and pondering what to do on what will be an otherwise dreary day (the front I had been playing cat & mouse with all the way from Texas having arrived during the night), I was soon surrounded by a chorus of familiar sounds. Sounds that were a daily occurrence at the old homestead just a few miles up the road.

It began with the churr-churr-churr (or chig-chig chig per Sibley) of a Red-bellied Woodpecker, followed by the metallic chipping of a Northern Cardinal. Soon a Northern Mockingbird was heard scolding someone or something, then a Blue Jay decided to chime in, too. Then that little bird with what is probably the loudest voice ounce for ounce of all the birds joined in too - a Carolina Wren. Perhaps they were unsettled by the presence of 2 Red-shouldered Hawks who soon began calling back and forth. Before it was finished I would hear from 2 more woodpeckers: Pileated and Downy. The only thing missing was the Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles squabbling around the feeders.