They're Baa--aack

After weeks of absence, we are once again graced by the presence of Northern Mockingbirds, and they are as feisty and unruly as ever. A family group showed up yesterday. I am not sure why the Mockers went on sabbatical, but I have one idea why they may have returned in force: one very hungry youngster has joined the family group. The juvenile made the requisite "I'm hungry" gestures and one of the parents obliged with food gleaned at my feeder tree. Seems the hot pepper suit nuggets are the bomb as the Mockers cleaned out what was in the platform feeder. As Mockers are wont to do, they quickly made their dominance clear to the other birds. I think the Gray Catbirds were too-quickly replaced as top dogs. Looks like I'll need to watch the suet baskets for a little while. I'm sure Junior Mocker will be a regular for some time.