Newcomer to My Backyard

In fall, summer birds begin their migration down to Southern California, Mexico, and Central America. 

This summer I saw one Warbing Vireo munching a bug in the woods, but in my backyard I had never seen one.

BUT yesterday when I was watching birds in the morning, I saw one. 
First I thought a Lesser Goldfinch just perched on the clothesline.  When I enlarged the photo on the camera, aha, with much delight I found out I was wrong.

"Hi, I saw many birds chirping around here,

so I decided to make a quick stop."

 

Warbling Vireo has gray or olive-gray above; underparts white and white eyebrow with brown eye.  In early fall, it is greener above, pale yellow on sides.

 

 

 

"Today is only for inspection."

Afterward, I saw a Junco chasing this newcomer away from the apple tree branches.  I hope it will stop by again next spring on the way to the north.

Pretty Brown Eyes

Through the summer, I still made suets from scratch because I knew some birds come here just for it.

Downy Woodpecker is one of them who love the suet.  The other day I saw one with pretty brown eyes tasting my suet. 

Female Downy Woodpecker: 

"I like home-made suet a lot

better because it is s-s-s-ooo fresh."

 Another friend just flew in to join.

Red-breasted Nuthatch:  "Yap.  I agree."

Later, a male Downy showed up.

"Me, too."

Rain

Yesterday it sprinkled after many days.  So everyone was happy including this female Rufous Hummingbird.

" Nice to be wet after a long while."

 

This morning it rained more and made the street pavement wet.  I hope it will help the forest fires somewhat.

 

 

Shiny Neck

When the morning sun starts brightening the top of a tall evergreen, bugs start flying in the air.  So does a hummer.

"One big gulp."

 

 

Young Bewick's wren was on the morning outing, too. 

 

The Rufous:  "Just remember I am the boss of this garden."

 

"I am a young male Rufous Hummingbird."

 

"My neck gorget(throat patch) is getting
more shiny everyday."

More Summer Flowers

Now close to the end of summer,  it's been hot and dry for weeks.  Last week I saw quite a few Canadian geese flying north to avoid the heat around here.  All the flowers are in bloom in my backyard.

 

Bachelor Button with a honey bee

"Buz-z-.........."

 Zinnias with a bumble bee

"Buz-z-z.........."

Anna's Hummingbird in the morning air

"We all love the sweet summer flowers

in your backyard." 

End of Summer

This summer, tomatoes plants did not grow as big as last year; nonetheless:  tomatoes are getting ripen ready to be picked.

 

During winter, Bushtits came in a big bunch.   Spring and summer they are in a lot smaller group of 2-5, busy nesting and raising the young.  At the end of summer, they are again back to a big bunch of 12-15 or more.  Lately  I notice they are followed by a hummingbird to visit my backyard.  Or other times a hummingbird is chasing a bushtit.

When they come in a bunch, some have to wait for his turn at somewhere else like this one perched on a blue Texas sage.

"Hi, I'm back with a lot of friends."

 

Yesterday they discovered a bird bath, so everyone was curious to check it out.

 

"Let me wade here....   Water is not very cold."

"How many are we now?  Everyone is here?"

More Young Ones

In my backyard, dandelions are for bees to collect pollen and for finches to eat seeds.

 

Some more young ones in the backyard.

A juvenile Black-headed Grosbeak

A juvenile Spotted Towhee: his/her eyes are not red yet.

"I like your bath."

A  juvenile Bewick's Wren: busy calling someone.

"I need a lot of practice."

 

A Summer Pond

The other morning was gorgeous with the clouds painted pink with the rising sun.

 

Out at a bird watching field, a chipmunk was watching me.

A female Mallard was taking a midday nap on an old log.

 

When we were leaving,  a bird just flew in to land on the lily pads.   It was a Green Heron.

"Ready for fishing!"

One Heart-Warming Story

This past week I noticed a young House Finch walking on my patio.  As a young one often does, it was flipping the wings asking to a parent for food .  Then I discovered whom it was begging to. 

Aha!  One little good-hearted Oregon Junco came hopping to feed this baby!  The junco is about 1/2 the size of the baby bird.

I thought it just happened by accident.  But the next day and the day after that,  I saw them together.  The Junco was busy getting all the chewed seeds quickly to that adopted House Finch.

"Quite busy lately acting as a temp parent."

There they are again.

While waiting for Uncle Junco to return,  under the shade tree the House Finch baby learned how to take a cool bath, too.

 

"My Uncle Junco flew me in here so that I can

be fed and stay clean.  He is such a super uncle.  Don't you agree?"

Hidden behind the Leaves

In the Coastal Mountain Range, there are many summer birds spending the summer thru the early fall in Oregon.

A long time ago, a male Western Tanager visited my backyard.  But since then, I have not seen one.  Here in the woods, I revisited with another one behind the leaves.

"I like to be hidden behind the leaves."

Nearby was a female.

"You can look at me.  I don't have the bright red head. 

We make a nest in this woods during the summer months. 

It is warm, but cool and safe here."