Day 291: The table is set, and I am expecting company. Any day now, a Cedar Waxwing will notice that the Sitka Mountain-ash berries have turned orange. Another bird will follow that one, and another and another, and easily within the space of five days, the tree will be stripped bare. It was precisely for this reason that I planted the tree: to provide a feast for guests who come to stay for a fleeting few days each autumn. To be sure, they'll leave behind a mess in my driveway, but the trade-off is worth it to see their soft, smooth colours and bold black masks where they perch among the foliage, the illusion of light and shadow artfully portrayed by their feathers. Come one, come all! I'm waiting for you, Waxwings!
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