Glorious Autumn

For the past two days it has been a delight to be in the garden, enjoying  blue skies  sunshine and fall color.  The chaotic sound of  Canada geese on the river always gets our attention. It's fun to watch the birds prepare to get organized for their flight south.  A trial run down  the river is made in somewhat disorganized fashion. When the large group returns back up the river, we delight in the stragglers as they take the short cut over the garden. Since the river is at a lower level, and  the bird's altitude remains the same, we get a very close look at the birds even hearing the beats of their wings. It happens every year, but it never fails to thrill.

Several hawks soared over the garden, but our most exciting visitor was a piliated woodpecker. Ed recognized its dippy flight. He watched to see where this large bird went, then he came to get me. What a guy! The woodpecker had flown to the large wild cherry tree.  I hurried outside hoping for a glimpse of the shy bird. Ed and I took different paths to try to sneak up on the bird. We both got a chance to see it , but  when it saw us, it squawked loudly and dropped down to ground level. Still making plenty of noise the bird flew out of sight. Seeing one of these big,  red headed, black and white woodpeckers is a real coup. It made an already glorious autumn day incredibly special!