Also chomping

 Serious downy woodpecker. I've seen fewer of them this month. They're here, then gone.

The berries

 Berry frenzy. The robins are here from the north, filling up before heading further south. Hundreds of berries, territorial behavior. MY TREE!!!

The starling are here to stay,  same territorial behavior with lots of clicking warnings. Brat birds, but fascinating to watch.

Flare out and warn, MY TREE.

Towhees

 Oh, goody! A male towhee. They love to dig under leaves, but they're skittish. This was one uncooperative male.

I turned around and spotted the female, also skittish, but a bit more cooperative.

They stayed for about an hour and then vanished. There's no point in chasing after towhees.

Strong and healthy

There are strong beautiful male robins passing through. Admiration time at the fountain.
 

This robin really caught my eye, a pale robin, .. actually exists. Migrating south, here for the food..

Hermit thrush here for the berries.

Male finch in back garden. They had disappeared for a while.

Song sparrow for one second.

Fascinating fungus in the old sparrow nest on the wall. This is not a pepper.

Starling excavating for food. Digger jaws.

Robins from up north

The robins in town now are from up north heading south. They're here for one reason. FOOD.  This is a feisty juvenile, a bit ratty from wear, but he's survivor.  The robins are arriving en masse.  These are not our New York regulars. They've already headed south.
 

Smart little wren

There's a patch of shrubbery right downstairs that the winter wren loves,  bugs under the leaves, lots of tiny tidbits. I've seen this wren three times, not always a photo op. This time it was perfection. I was watching for insects too. I think this tiny bird recognizes me , knows I'm not a threat. Once it moves it scoots very fast.