This evening I got a real surprise. On the twisted vine perch by the quince shrub was a baby catbird. Just a little gray ball. No tail but I could see just a hint of rust on his butt. He was sitting there waiting to be fed. When a female Cardinal landed above him, he looked up and opened his mouth. I half expected her maternal instinct to kick in and she'd feed him. Nope. A bit later, there was movement in the quince bush, but it was not the parent but a Carolina Wren. It, too, was greeted with an open mouth.
I was really beginning to worry when he flew a short distance and disappeared in the tall grass. A while later, I went out to see if I could spot him. Was I ever relieved when I got thoroughly scolded by the catbird parent. I did not expect to find a youngster this late.
