At a Nearby Wetland

Today was nice and sunny.  Birds have been gone to the fields where they can find more bugs and flowers.  So we decided to go out there ourselves to see what's going on.

The wetland near our place has been under renovation.  After half a year of digging, bulldozing, etc., finally the land is halfway fixed to welcome the spring migrant birds.  We were so relieved to find the wetland now has sufficient water for the migrant birds to rest, drink and eat some bugs/worms.  We saw several summer birds already arrived.

Tree Swallows are flying acrobatically everywhere and have been using the nest boxes which have been set up for them along a trail.

"I've been hungry."

A pretty song was heard as we entered the wetland.  Sure enough, it was a Red-wing Blackbird,

" I just returned."

I saw a male Rufous Hummingbird dancing on the top of budding leaves.

"Busy eating my bug breakfast!"

Yes.  The bugs are floating in the air in a bunch.  It was like their bumping at my eyeglasses as I walked around the reservoir.

Early Arrival

The magnolia is finished blooming and the hanging cherry is now in bloom .  Spring is all over the place here.

The Rufous Hummingbird arrived here 3 days earlier than usual this year due to the warm and short winter.

"Did I get here early this year?  Well, I just followed 

the direction of the sun and the smell of the flowers!!"

"Look at my pretty tail feathers."

Clean Feathers

In my backyard, after the daffodils, I now see the bleeding hearts beginning to bloom.  This comes out every year.  A nice perennial to have to brighten up the early spring.

On a sunny day like this, European Starlings land on my suet in the backyard.  In no time, the food is gone.  After getting full, they are ready to take a birdbath to clean out the dirty feathers.

"Bang!   Splash!  We are clean birds."

Out of the Shade

Last week a female Varied Thrush visited my backyard for a few days.  A Varied Thrush is always very careful and tends to stay in the shaded area.

"Underneath the old pear and plum trees, I am 

protected. I can spend time to look for bugs and worms

 between the fallen branches and leaves."

"Sometimes I sneak out of the shady area into the lawn."

"I am quite brave today.  Can you see me better?"

Spring Visitor #2

Today was dark and gloomy:  a typical Northwest day.  But there was a joy  that I saw,  a little summer bird returned.

Upon my return from an errand,  in the midst of the plum tree branches I saw some bright orange color shining.

"Who am I?"

Then it buzzed and  hovered around chattering House Finches and perched on a branch.
Who am I?

"I am a male Rufous Hummingbird who last September 

left here for Mexico and just returned on the way to Alaska."

Welcome back!!  I've been waiting for you with a plenty of fresh sugar juice here.   Just take a good rest  before taking off to further north.

Spring Visitors

This year in Oregon, the spring arrived early.  My magnolia tree is already full of blossoms.  On this warm day, I started digging up the garden to get the soil ready for later planting.  To my surprise, I dug up several potatoes.

This past week, early in the morning, a couple of Mallard Ducks landed just like last spring.

"Quack, quack, my girl likes to eat your seeds.  I 

am a guardian while she is gobbling up the seeds."

The Bug Season

The beautiful spring morning:

The Yellow-rumped Warbler jumps  and twists in the air.  What is he/she doing?

"I just caught a bug."

"I like the spring time, 'cause many bugs begin hatching."