Our Ghost and Someone's Been Scalped!

For the past few years we have a had at least one Gray Catbird hang around until late in the season. Some years there are more than one and I would like to think they are breeding somewhere in the back brush but I have never been able to confirm it.

Just when I thought this year's version had flown off it appeared on the back deck all quiet-like.



Seems to be the new routine. Stay out of sight all day and then pop out to grab a few snacks, a drink of water, and then back into the shadows.



It always gives me a little glance and hops around before disappearing.



Meanwhile, back at the kitchen feeders, a Red-winged Blackbird showed up. My oldest boy spotted him first and remarked that it had white on its head. I grabbed the camera to check and it turns out not to be white but feathers on the top of its head are missing!



Seems like our little friend got scalped somehow.



Appears to be healthy otherwise. We wish him a speedy recovery.