“Red-breasted Nuthatch!”

Silence.

“Look! Look! Right there! Oh… it’s gone.”

“It’s back! C’m’ere! Look! See that little nuthatch looking thing?”

“Yeah.”

“Isn’t that amazing?”

“Yes?”

“I’ve never seen one before. They come down from more northern coniferous forests sometimes in winter, I read. How cool is that?”

“Really cool.”

“Isn’t it cute? It’s so tiny. Smaller than a chickadee.”

“Yes. Cute.”

“It’s so fast. I can’t believe I’m actually getting some photos.”

“Hey, it likes my homemade suet dough!”

“Mm hm.”

“I’m pretty sure there are two of them. I hope they keep visiting all winter.”

“Me too.”

“I’m counting for Project Feederwatch today, so I can include it. Also it’s #96 on my eBird list. I started keeping track of birds last January and my rule was I could count them if I also got a photo.”

“Do you think you will get to 100 before the New Year?”

“Yes but I’ll probably have to go look somewhere other than the backyard. Want to take a drive along the coast with me and my camera?”

“I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”