Not a Dead Bird

House Sparrows roost in my neighborhood.  As soon as the sun rises, they are here to have their breakfast. On a hot day, they are ready to take a cool bath.

"I have to finish my bath before a Robin shows up."

After the bath, they've found an ideal place to dry up on the rooftop of the neighbor's shed.

"We are not dead birds.  Just drying off and 

taking a nap at the same time."

Pink Beard

Everyone is busy taking the vacation before the summer is over.   The bees, too, are busy collecting all the possible nectar in my garden.

Hummingbirds love the flower nectar from my garden.  The other day I noticed a young male Anna's Hummingbird showing off the newly acquired pink gorget.

"I've got bright pink beard (gorget) now."

"If you like to see me brighter, how about this?"

Junco's Own Child

After having raised a couple of large Cowbird offsprings, this Oregon Junco finally showed up with her own brood.

"Ummm, mommy's food tastes a lot better."

"Today I am on my own.  I just found a bug.  

Am I a good hunter already?"

Nearby a Gray Squirrel just found this summer's fresh sunflower seeds still on the stalk.

"Yum, yum....I think so.  Just learn from me 

to find any goody around here."

A Crowded Bath

American Robins love to take a bath.  This bath is large and deep just fitted for a large bird like a Robin.

"Let me use this bath, too," said the male House Sparrow.

The robin yelled, "I was here first.  See I am already drippy wet."

"In that case, we can bathe together.  Splash, splash....

ummm feeling good on a hot day like this."

Guarding the Territory

At this time in my backyard, a female Rufous Hummingbird has the territorial right (among the hummingbirds only).  From early in the morning till late in the evening, this individual is guarding the place.

"I need to protect this territory from any invader."

"When someone else shows up near, 

pretend I am relaxed and feel at home."

"I need to show I am a big woman by fluffing up 

the feathers and showing the tail feathers."

"Don't you know who owns this place?"

Nature Reserve

An early morning scene at a nearby nature reserve.

In the bright morning sun, many Lesser Goldfinches were flying around satisfying their morning appetite. Amongst them, there was one particularly curious one who stopped over right in front of me.

"Hi, I'm little yet and need to know a lot around me."

There are a couple of young Towhees on the dead log.

"We are Spotted Towhee brothers.  My mom said we 

can go on our own to explore around here."

On a shredded wood pile, someone was picking a bug or two.

"I am a Song Sparrow.  On a nice sunny day like this, it's easier to spot a 

bug between the leaves and wooden pieces.  I am almost full."

A Loyal Resident

Today is Hiroshima Memorial Day.  Young people may not know about it, but it is the day when the first atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima, Japan, decimating an atrocious number of people instantly and ever since keeping on killing from the aftereffect.   A moment of prayer for those victims.  

In my backyard, a dainty, feathery flower, Bachelor's Buttons, are in bloom and will be part of my potpourri flower collection.

House Sparrows are here all year round.  They nest and raise the young here.

"Yap, I was born here." (The yellow edge on the 

beak shows she was born this year.)

"We are loyal residents here."  

Early Morning Visitor

A young Spotted Towhee sometimes shows up early in the morning.   He has the red eye and the white dots on the wings.  A juvenile has the streaked chest.

During the day, I found him nibbling a left-over blueberry.

"Hmmm, not bad.  It has a sweet taste."

Sometimes it has to be brave to look around all over the backyard.

"Standing tall.  Almost a grown-up."