Help needed to identify attack bird

Perhaps you can help me identify this strange black bird I have never seen before. All black with an orange spot on its head.

We figured she had a nest in the Virginia creeper but why she only went after Jenee's blonde hair and our dog Amy's silver hair is still a mystery.

It was about two weeks ago we had this problem. Every time I went outside to move a hose she would just squawk at me, but if Jenee or our dog was in the backyard, she would swoop down to their hair and try to pull some out.

It actually got to the point where if Jenee wanted to go outside she'd carry the fly swatter with her just in case she needed to defend herself.

I have looked through the Kaufman book on birds of North America several times and spoke with several neighbors and still can't figure out what kind of bird this is. Now it's been a couple of weeks and we haven't seen her. Call me if you have any ideas.

One thing that has happened since having such a strange encounter is that we are more alert to the birds in and around our yard. This past weekend my Uncle Joe and his bride Aunt Nancy were here visiting from Big Bear, Calif., and Aunt Nancy was telling a story about an encounter with a woodpecker.

In Big Bear you have to have spark arresters on each roof jack and of course on a chimney. Well, they have a woodpecker that pounds on the arrester and she says at five o'clock in the morning it sounds like a jackhammer on the roof, each and every day.

I think I'd rather deal with my little black bird than listen to that.

This past week we had a visit at our hummingbird feeder from a Bullock's oriole. He was so beautiful with his bright orange front and the noises he made.

How about all the pretty finches that quickly fly about the yard?

It is so much fun to live here in Carson Valley especially when we can sit and prayerfully consider our natural surroundings.

I hope you all have a little time to go out and just observe the beauty here. Have a great week and if you know the name of our little black bird friend, I would appreciate a call.

Johnson Lane resident Lisa Welch may be reached at 267-9350.