Well, I guess it’s about time to wrap up my posts from our trip to Murrells Inlet. I thought about sharing a few more water birds, like this Red-throated Loon…

…or this Pied-billed Grebe…

…or this Snowy Egret.

But instead, I decided to move from the water to the woods, and share three birds I saw in the branches.

Let’s start with a Northern Parula, which was a first time capture for me. He didn’t stick around but for a second, and I couldn’t get a great shot; but hey, sometimes you have to settle for evidence over excellence.

We were also treated to a sighting of Cedar Waxwings.

I was hoping to get a shot of one of these beautiful birds with a berry in its beak, but alas, the speed of the camera operator couldn’t compete with the speed of the berry bandit!

I think my favorite “wooded bird” encounter of the week was when a gorgeous Red-shouldered Hawk flew over our heads and perched on a nearby branch.

He seemed as curious about us as we were about him!

He poofed his feathers…

…then poofed them some more…

…and after a full-fledged ruffle…

…he prepared for take-off…

…and flew away to a new location.

It was such a joy to have a week long get away, and now, it’s such a joy to be back home enjoying my own backyard birds.