scarcity

The robins come in early. The tree looks like one of those find it games, or a puzzle where the pieces all look the same. They fly in and out of the tree and sometimes all take flight at once.

Others wait in the tall trees across the street, alert for danger.

robins on guard and waiting to eat

At home I saw another smaller flock in a tree in my yard. A flock of smaller birds joined them. It is the silhouette that tells their story.

Cedar waxwings join a flock of robins.
Cedar waxwings join a flock of robins.

flare

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: flare.

Tictoc’s ruff of feathers look black from the side, but flare to scarlet and pink when seen straight on. That flare must help this small bird chase the larger ones away.

"Tictoc", a hummingbird, in a snowy lilac.

Tictoc has been chasing chickadees and towhees away over the weekend, no respect for larger size. But I had a second hummingbird sitting in the lilac at the same time.

Female Anna's hummingbird sitting in a snowy lilac bush.

sanctuary

For the Ragtag Daily Prompt: sanctuary.

We are in a very big winter storm in the Pacific Northwest. Some years we get no snow, but right now we have 6 inches and still snowing. I have heat and light and power and tea. And food. So home is the sanctuary right now.

Is the snow threatening?

Shadow on snow: a tree or a monster?

Or beautiful?

Trees in the dark, covered with snow and back lit by a street light.

And yes, I took these this morning, at about 4:30 am.