Our little Downy Woodpeckers...

This morning as I was getting ready for work I stopped a moment to look out the back window into the branches of the Ash tree. I was looking for the little Downy Woodpeckers that so frequently move through the branches, gleaning insects from behind bark or nabbing a sunflower seed from the feeder to either eat or hide in a crack in the bark. I saw the male first. So cute. The red at the back of his head flashing as he efficiently worked up the branches. Slightly up and to the left, I saw his mate, also working the bark and moving up the tree. I wondered where their roosting cavity was and if they had started looking for a nesting cavity. I hope they have a nice little brood this spring and their nestlings survive.

The male downy moving through the Ash tree.

It was so nice to just take a few minutes to sit and watch these two little birds working their way around the tree looking for food. I don’t know what it is about them, but whenever I see the downies in the Ash I feel a wave of happiness. Likewise, when they are missing, a touch of disappointment creeps in. Thank goodness they never seem to tire of our tree or the sunflower seeds in the feeder and are there more often than not when I look out the window for them!