Well, that's what it was. See, now I'm a REAL menace, because I got binoculars for my birthday. I didn't need them to see the flicker, though, because he, um, flicked into the tree next to me and then waited just long enough for me to memorize his markings so I could consult Mr. Sibley when I got home. Then he swooped off to join the grackles, sparrows, and mourning doves on the pilings. Those pilings are multi-level birds restaurants at low tide, with all those guys plus robins and whoever else is in the neighborhood dining on the moss on top and ducks and geese nibbling barnacles from the sides. Plus the young cormorant, the one who's still brown (he should get his black feathers this year, says Mr. Sibley) was swimming along near the pilings, too.

I also can tell you, via the binoculars, that the turquoise tug is the Mary Alice. It's quite a paint job for a working boat and I commend the owner for his exuberance.