The Shadow – A Gray Catbird in Privet and Vines
And then – turning attention from the clear, colorful light in a treetop back to the murky tangles of the thicket – a dark shadow emerged and hopped up to the top of a bush – a Gray Catbird. What a surprise! All sleek, slate-gray with an ink-black cap, it sat with its tail slightly held up, erect and alert, looking around, and even mewed once. Then it flew to another spot, a low branch in an oak, and stayed there for several seconds before diving back out of sight into the weeds.
It might have wintered here, but if so, it’s been very quiet and reclusive. It’s certainly the first one I’ve seen or heard here all winter. In general, Catbirds here seem to move at least a little further south, then reappear early each spring. But I really don’t know. Either way, it was fun to see and nice to know it’s there.