The frosty morning softened as the sun made its way around each corner of tree branch and tree trunk. Soaking up this new warmth from the entrance of a wood duck nest box was a squirrel who peeked its head out.
A merlin preened on a branch of a skeletal tree, contorting its body into all sorts of interesting positions as it tidied and fluffed its feathers with its beak and talons. Far away, in the distant overcast sky, the chatter of two crows sounded. Two black spots flew into view. And they saw the merlin.
A large shape was on top of the otherwise thin and angular branch and looked slightly out of place. But it was not out of place at all. It was an owl.
