I've rehabbed the woods in the common area behind my house. It had been a thicket of honeysuckle in which only some small birds could maneuver. And robins gorged on fermented honeysuckle berries in late fall and made a mess of our birdbath area in their drunken stupor. It was gross. The project started just 11 months ago when I couldn't take the invasive spectacle out my back windows any longer. I am grateful to my naturalist friends who helped me get to this point:

Yesterday, in the early morning hours, our efforts were rewarded by this unexpected vision.

The juvenile red-shouldered hawk sat about 3 feet from the ground, twisting its head, scouting for breakfast. The mice and v(m)oles were apparently very still because after about 15 minutes, the youngster, unfed, flew deeper into the woods for another hopeful breakfast spot.

For photographers in the group: 600 mm from kitchen window (served as a blind and I was dressed in black), f/5.3, 1/125, ISO 12,800, handheld.

For native plant lovers, the reclaimed/rehabbed woods' edge now contains 53+ different...