Mr. & Mrs. Townsend

Today I was greeted with the most lovely surprise – our beloved winter residents, a beautiful pair of Townsend warblers, finally arrived. I so look forward to seeing them each winter, but had given up hope of gazing upon them again as they usually set up temporary housekeeping in December. Perhaps it was the bitter cold this year that kept them away; for whatever reason, they chose to delight us once again with their presence. The male is especially grand with his formidable plumage, sporting a dramatic eye mask and a bold, tarantula-like mark upon his chest. For the next few weeks, I will be glued to my post at the dining room window whenever possible.