[obol] Yamhill Co. WRENTIT

[Linda Fink]

The here-again-gone-again WRENTIT of Fink Family Farm was here again 
this morning, calling in front of the barn. I walked over to the edge of 
the brush to see if I could spy the little skulker. It flew out to a 
bare limb on a small tree right next to me, maybe three feet from my 
face, and gave its ratchety scold call while looking at me. I took that 
as a hint, and after a short admiring look, retreated politely. I 
retreat when birds scold me so that they think they've scared off the 
potential predator and feel safe to hang around.

The resident GREEN HERON stood in the sunlight on the dam and preened 
this morning. A bit later, though, I heard it yelling and saw it flying 
about with a horde of our resident swallows in hot pursuit. It has been 
here daily without the swallows attacking, so I don't know if it came 
too close to some of their fledglings this morning or what. The last few 
days have seen dozens of new fledglings taking wing -- violet-green and 
tree swallows, mostly, as most of the barn swallows fledged some time ago.

Linda Fink, near Grand Ronde, SW Yamhill County