So cool.
But then it saw us seeing it right there and it knew it must not give away where the nest was coming to be, just as Richard was wondering if it could squeeze into the holly bush and I was answering yes of course–and there’s clearly a wren nest in there, too.
This is our 31st spring in this house and the first one where I was sure they really could squeeze in there. Or, with those stabby leaves, that they’d even want to.
The mockingbird eyed me and did a little hop into the air with Olympic ice skater grace that landed it facing the opposite direction as if to lead our gaze far away to the left. See? Not over there. Nope nope nope not even thinking about it.
We pulled out of the driveway, and as the car was being shifted into drive I glanced back as the mockingbird dove into that small side gap on the upper right side of those dense, prickly leaves and completely vanished from the world.
No squirrels or crows would be attacking its babies. They were going to be safe and snug inside here.