I was recently surprised by a visit from an unexpected passerby…

…a female Scarlet Tanager. These birds are not common visitors to my backyard.

The males, with their bright red bodies and bold black wings are easy to spot, but the females tend to blend right in with the leafy tree-tops.

At first, I thought the male Pine Warbler (below) who had been posing just minutes before had returned…

…but she is slightly larger and her gold is not quite as gleaming as his.

She only stayed a moment or two, and then flew off out of sight.

Funny how brief visits can feel like big blessings.