I was scrunched into the yellow and brown leaves of the Mulberry tree, looking as inconspicuous as a pooh shaped woman can look, as I tried to catch a picture of the Acorn Woodpecker at the feeder. It was the wrong time of day and the wrong light, but there I was in the still warm ,late afternoon when I heard a loud, rather joyful sounding bird call. Calling repeatedly in a sort of sharp bark, this cunning bird moved right in on the feeder.
It started eating seed, then suddenly alert, noticed me huddled into the tree with my camera pointed toward it. Instead of flying off as other birds do, it hopped over to regard me with interest.
See the feathers on it's head? Is that a crest or can all finches raise those head feathers?
It walked along the edge of the feeder before hopping in to feed again, never showing the slightest fear. I've been lying in wait for it, but have never seen or heard it again.It's larger than a house finch. A Cassin's finch maybe? It has rosy-beige coloring.
This relative of the Hollyhock and Hibiscus, commonly called Miniature Hollyhock loves the cool weather and is about the only thing blooming here now.
It's a small flower, but makes the most of it's color.
