That stress looks well worth it to me!

Very satisfying photo, but what is it? Some kind of sparrow, I guess, but not the sort I'd see in the UK.

Frustrating - and telling you to watch for small birds hopping up and down tree trunks (rather than lurking in bushes) .... ummm ... won't endear me to you :)

Plus one vote for Merlin!

If you live near woodland I'd be surprised if nuthatches aren't around. I'm lucky enough to face out onto a small patch of trees (a railway cutting!), and I occasionally get nuthatches on my fatball feeder. However, photoing birds on my feeder is hard (it being a small balcony area) and somehow doesn't feel quite the point of birding!

I'd imagine Oregonians have become blind to a joke that must be at least decades old or are mutually agreeing to ignore all attempts at this joke.

Ummm ... might I suggest a title and commentary on why you find this interesting? E.g. showing off a waterproof camera?

That's a really nice sequence to capture - well done!

Ah, missed those because I paid too much attention to the bird!

(And out there a bird's going "See, it does work!)

Yes, if I hear an angry screech in the day time I can be pretty certain it's a Jay objecting to something, probably me!

Just for amusement in the associations with the name/similarities of intent, see the History section of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellfire_Caves

Also created in the 1740's

Jay, and an excuse to post my Jay photo from today (Reading, UK)

Hmmm, collage not loading, lets try a slightly smaller one

If you create good art, you've got to celebrate it!

Bonus - same kite, launching itself into the sky

It did make my walk, the day is yet young, but maybe to day as well!

Chalkie from 2022, the last time I've a photo of them (I've also some 2021 photos):

Perhaps a proper Kite photo to compensate, possibly even the same bird.

Oh, and a bonus one

The camera was still the right way up at this point...

And this photo might explain the acrobatics:

There were six Red Kites over Prospect Park, Reading, UK, engaged in something somwhere between playing, dominance displays and out right squabbles. None of the birds fled the scene over the twenty minutes or more they were at it, so I have to assume there was not an serious fight going on!

Canon R5 MkII RF200-800mm lens 1/1250s. ISO 500-640.

Nothing more that I could see - this was somewhat distant, but the male flew up, both pecked for a short while, then the female flew off. They were clearly aware of each other