The European Starlings descended on our feeders one afternoon this week.

I only see these birds in the winter, though I read they are year round residents.

All I know for sure is that they are pigs and will empty a feeder and eat a whole block of suet in a day. Many people don’t like them because they are invasive.

But, when the sun shines on them just right they are beautiful.

On this day the skies were dull and there was little light. But I’ve seen them in sunlight on other winter days and been mesmerized.

This week I first noticed them fighting each other over the suet feeder. But soon enough they were on the peanut feeder too, a favorite with our Red Bellied woodpeckers.

The woodpecker stood his ground, telling the starlings off and eventually winning the right to eat in peace.

In fact, after that little run-in all the starlings moved to the ground in the backyard and then on to greener pastures.

But they’ll be back.

Guaranteed.