The Best Fly Catcher?

I usually don't see flycatchers around my home.  But near the reservoir we stopped by in the eastern Washington, there were enough flycatchers.

Here was one perched on the stub branch.

"I'm looking for a bug."

Upon seeing a bug in the air, he dashed out to nab it, returning to a nearby branch.  It repeated a few times.  He is a fine flycatcher.

"I spotted one right there (a white dot on the left top)!"

"About to gabble it up!"

"I am a Dusky Flycatcher with grayish olive above,
yellowish below, whitish  throat, white eye ring
with part dark,orange beak."

Second Time to Meet

On the high plateau in the eastern Washington, I felt like I was just about to touch the clouds that seemed so close to the ground.

There I saw another summer hummingbird for the second time.  Calliope Hummingbird is short-billed, short-tailed, and the smallest hummingbird in the U.S.  Here is a male Calliope.

"I also spend winter in Mexico and visit here in summer.  

My gorget is so fancy with deep pink streaks."

"I'm waiting for my turn."

A New Face

Last week I was gone to the eastern Washington.  There I saw a yellow butterfly which I have not seen around my house.

What I really wanted to do was to see other summer hummingbirds that visit the eastern Washington.  One of them is Black-chinned Hummingbird.

"I am a good boy because I am sharing

 the sugar juice with a friend (bee)."

His purple throat band shows up when the light hits it.  This one may be a young one with a little bit of the purple showing.

"Hi, I am a Black-chinned Hummingbird.  In winter I stay in  

Mexico; in summer I migrate here over the long distance." 

Another Returnee

The weather in June is filled with showers here.  On the fuchsia flowers, the raindrops are not quite dry yet.

The other day, I noticed another summer bird.

"Hi,  I am back again.  Do you remember me?"

"I am a Vesper Sparrow with a white eye ring, 

black patches around the ear, the streaked 

front, and the white edge on the tail feathers."

The Blueberry Season

Summer is here.  A big dragonfly flew into my veggie garden.

In June, blueberries are beginning to ripen in my backyard.

And a male American Robin is waiting for the berries to ripen, too.

"I just stopped over to check on my berries."

A Rare Visitor

Early in the morning, someone tried to get to my patio, but upon seeing me, it made a quick U-turn to flee to the tree in the neighbor's yard.

"Gee, I was so frightened to see that monster (me).  

It's not safe to stop over at an unfamiliar place."

"I am a Western Wood-Pewee, a kind of flycatcher.  

In summer, we are all over the western states of the U.S. and in Canada."

Feeding the Babies

Summer is the busy season for raising the young birds.  American Crow is no exception.  I know where she made a nest this year.

"You're right.  I made my nest up here on the pine tree."

This morning I saw her taking off from the fir tree across the street to deliver the meat(?).

"A beeline to the nest."

"A rush delivery for the hungry ones."

Being Chased

When there is a loud commotion going on in the air, I'm sure there is a hawk in the sky being chased by a flock of crows.

Sure enough, the other day, I heard the stir and soon I found the hawk.  He appeared from behind the tall tree together with the crows.

American Crows can be super aggressive toward the big bird.

  "That's enough.  I'm leaving.  Too much

 to be bothered by those scavengers."

Out of the Bush

The Wilson's Warbler stayed here for a while.  At the end of his stay,  he finally came out of the bush.

"Hi, now that I feel safe here, I can 

peek out once in a while."

"On the other side, too.  Can you see me well?  I am a male 

Wilson's Warbler.  I hope you like my bright looks."