These chickadees and the nuthatch at the feeders were not there today. This picture was taken on another day. It is perhaps lucky that I’ve been lazy about refilling the feeder these past three sunny days. With the feeders empty today, there were no birds nearby when the visitor swooped in like a harrier jet this afternoon.

Except he was not a harrier; he was a Cooper’s hawk. He sat on the fence, wondering why there were no birds at the feeder.

Maybe they’re hiding in the shrubbery below the feeder.

Disappointed, he flew away to check out the neighbours’ birdfeeders.