If you go out in the woods today...

Chickadees are my favourite birds, they are just so tiny, so vulnerable-looking. There's just something about them. Today we were walking in a woods in Surrey, and realized we were being followed by a flock of chickadees. They leapfrogged us along the trail, landing low and close. It was a mixed flock, Black-capped Chickadees and Chestnut-backed Chickadees. We took a few shots of a Chestnut-backed capturing a spider, then moved on--and still they followed us. This was a popular trail in a popular park, and we finally realized that they were looking for handouts. Luckily we had a bag of trail mix on hand, and quickly took advantage of the moment to get more Chestnut-backed shots. If Black-capped Chickadees are irresistible when they are chick-a-dee-deeing around your head, then Chestnut-backs are completely addictive with their tiny little buzzy calls. Small calls. Teeny calls. You have to love them. Of course, once the chickadees let it be known that there were treats being given out, everyone else in the forest had to join in, and we were soon surrounded by squirrels and crows, song sparrows and towhees. Maybe there is a particular call or alert for 'peanuts available' or 'raisins! raisins!' that is universal?

A spider lunch.

What's that brown thing? Best get a better look.