The Nesting Season

Spring is the nesting season.  I saw a squirrel collecting the nest materials.

"A busy day for me!"

A couple of Mourning Dove landed, one after another.

"We are together."

The Rufous Hummingbird was here everyday defending her territory for a couple of weeks; however, suddenly it disappeared maybe due to warming her eggs(?).

"No one else is allowed here."

A Big Catch

A bright sunrise after rainy days.

We went to the nearby wetland.  There we found the road flooded and blocked.  Then we took off to another nature area near town, where we only walked around the dry front area because the lower area was also flooded.

At the edge of the area, I witnessed a Great Blue Heron taking off with a snake.

"This is my favorite meat."

"I have to hurry home."

Return of Female Rufous

This Thursday was a beautiful day.  Daffodils instantly opened in the warm sun.

Next day the weather, however,  returned to rain.  During the dark, rainy days, I welcomed the return of a female Rufous Hummingbird.

"Yeah, I came back like a bullet."

"During spring and summer, I will entertain you with my graceful hovering."

A Gentle One

Last week it rained most of the time.  The only lucky surprise was to see a Cooper's Hawk landed on a wisteria branch one morning.

"Everyone took off.  I just wanted to see little birdies."

Believe it or not, this hawk has a gentle eye expression, quite different from others I've seen.  Is it because this one is a female?

Here is a photo from the other side:

"Yes, I am a gentle kind.  Trust me."

Early Return

Rufous Hummingbirds often return on the same day of the year from the south.  This spring one of them returned on March 4, which is about 10 days earlier than last year.  Is it the same one who just made an earlier arrival?  Or is it another individual who arrived here early?

"Hi, I am a male Rufous with the brown back.  

After some rest, I will take off to travel further north."

I was expecting the Rufous arriving soon and just the other day replenished the sugar juice with the new batch.

"I found your sugar juice fresh.  I will come back while I am around."