Return of a Predator

It's only the end of September; it's already been stormy with wind and rain.  When the winter weather comes, so with a predator looking for an easy meal in my backyard.


Out of the rainy sky, there appeared a big bird!

"Oh boy, oh, boy.  Such a rainy day.  

My head is all wet and I'm getting hungrier."

 

"All the tweety birds are gone.  I have to

learn to make no noise."

 

 

"I'd better go to another place."

A Life in a Volcanic Rock Valley

In Cappadocia in the central Turkey, we saw fifty some of hot air balloons floating up in the early dawn.   You can see some birds flying together on the way to their breakfast, too.   "Von Voyage!"

 

 

Cappadocia has many cave dwellings naturally formed by erosion of volcanic rocks by wind and rain.  Every day people who own the dwellings open their home to let tourists see how they live.  Inside in a comfortable home, we had a Turkish tea, chai.

 

 

In the valley,  many pigeons live and their droppings are made into an excellent fertilizer.

 

"Hi, I like this bright morning sun. 
Did you notice I have a furry feet?"

In Love for Cats

Apart from birds, people have adored cats since the Egyptian Time.  The tradition thrives in Istanbul even today.  During my short stay, I rarely saw dogs, but cats are everywhere, walking around town just like people.  Here has been a harmonious coexistence between cats and people.


At a store entrance

 Outside a show window

 Ready to help you out when taking a photo

People never chase them away.  A happy cat life is guaranteed in Istanbul.

Living in a Palace

At the famed Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, there are many buildings crowded with a plenty of tourists.  In addition to the noise created by them, I heard more squawky noise in the air.  Guess who was making.

 

 

When I first saw it, I thought this must be a green iguana stuck to the palace wall. 

Later several of them were jumping in the air making the same loud noise.

I found out they were a Ring-necked Parakeet.  A pretty parrot, they seem to have been introduced there by accident a couple of decades ago and since then have colonized the area. 

Past and Present

Here in Oregon autumn has arrived with rain.

While away, we enjoyed the summer weather in Turkey.  We saw a Hooded Crow in Istanbul, Turkey.  An Eurasian bird species, it is ashy grey with black head, throat, wings, tail and thigh feathers, as well as a black bill, eyes and feet.

During the Eastern Roman Empire, the Romans built a mosaic floor adorned with birds and animals.  Together with a deer, is it a crow decorating the floor?

Today, Hooded Crows patrol and stroll around the Teodos II Walls built in 330 AD during his Empire.

 "I, a member of the Hooded Crows in Istanbul,

still protect the wall everyday."

Also they are often spotted at the top of a mosque.

"A beautiful day.  Enjoy!"

Sweet Green Bean Flower

By the end of August, the male Rufous Hummingbirds took off to the south for winter.  Pretty soon by mid September, the female Rufous will follow the flight path.

Now Anna's Hummingbirds have my backyard all for themselves.  The other day, one found a new flower:  a green bean flower

 

"Yum, yum, this is a new taste for me."

 

"I still like this blue Texas Sage, too."

 

"The backyard owner is no meany. 

I can be as close as I want."

Anna's hummers are so friendly and sometimes flying so close for my lense to blur.

========  NOTICE ======

I will be busy for a couple of weeks; after that I will be back to blog writing as usual.  See you then.

Winter Coat

The temperature has changed into the fall mode:  less hot, sometimes rainy and a coolness in the air.  Another thing that indicates our fall arrival here is the less bright coat and the dark beak the American Goldfinches have changed into.

"My dark beak and less bright coat

protect me from predators when trees

begin to lose leaves pretty soon."

"See, I don't have flashing yellow any more." 

 

 

" Ready to get some thistle seeds now."

Curious George

At a nearby nature park,  the Oregon Grape was ripen now in fall.

Away from the main trail, near a stream, birds began to feed.  Quite a few birds such as Red-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, and a Yellow Warbler were eating something inside the bushy trees.  But only one brave Chickadee came out to see me.

"Hello, I am a curious George. 

Nice to see you."