The Brightest Ruby Crown

After the two weeks of below freezing temperatures, it has been mild with fog and rain.  One day a Ruby-crowned Kinglet flew in to show his widest ruby crown I've ever seen.

"I have the brightest ruby crown!"

"The side way."

Before Christmas

Last week was very chilly and the bird feeder cover had icycles.

Before the cold spell, one White-throated Sparrow frequented my backyard.

"I am back right before Chirstmas.  I am

 also known to be the bird Santa."

"Today I will try the maple seeds."

Bright Crown

One of the smallest birds is Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  Around here it is a winter bird.  Lately he shows up everyday.  

"Yum, yum, I like this suet."

This winter I noticed the bird tried to eat the seed mix, too.

"When the food is scare, I have to try new
things in addition to the suet and bugs."

And only when excited, he may show you the bright ruby crown.

"Here it is.  Bright and colorful like the Christmas tree decorations!"

First Snow

The first snow fell here in town. A large flock of Canada Goose flew over my house to get to another feeding spot.

The Oregon Junco always looks fabulous with the snow.  They like the cold weather.

"Hi, this is my season."

The House Finch shows up in the white snow.

"I live here all the year around.  So snow is a cinch."

The pink headed Anna's Hummingbird is eye-catching.

"I live here all the year around, too.  I have the down feathers to warm me up."

Just One Flicker at a Time

After a heavy rain, there was a dry time, when all the birds tried to finish their late breakfast.  One Northern Flicker flew in to nibble his favorite suet.

Then, I saw another one just landed on the same branch kicking out the first Flicker.

"I was there first!"

"Ok.  I'm gonna eat at somewhere else."

A Wet Day's Activities

Last  week it rained everyday.   Amongst the dead leaves, bugs may be hidden.  Here it is.  Bewick's Wren just found a big bug for breakfast.

"I am an experienced bug catcher."

On a rainy day, birds like to clean off all the dirt and bugs so that the feathers will be light for flight.

"Usually I don't take a bath, but today I should get clean."

"I am feeling better."

Three Meals A Day

The other morning I counted a total of six squirrels.  Usually 3-4 of them are around.  They live  around a pine tree, because they are called ”松鼠” meaning a pine mouse in Chinese.

Together with the squirrels, little birds are busy eating 3 meals a day in my backyard.  Another bird who happened to try the beauty berries was this Spotted Towhee.

"A lot of berries!"

"See, this pretty purple berry."

A Foggy Day

It's been cold and foggy in the morning.  The leaves are mostly gone now.

A female  American Robin stopped over to check on worms in the lawn.

This male Robin decided to try the beauty berries.  They are not very sweet, but during the cold months any berry is appreciated.

"Not so bad.   I may be back later."

Return of a Winter Bird #2

I see many spider webs especially around  the porch light.  Halloween is over and enough chocolate candies are saved in the freezer.  

Around this time of the year,  another winter bird returned to  my backyard.  

"I've already tried out your suet! "

"I am an Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler. I will come

 back every day for the suet during the winter months."

Hidden

Most of the pear trees and the blueberry bushes lost their leaves.  I raked and put them on the garden for composting.  Look closely at the leaves.  Find three birds hidden there.

Mourning Dove:  "It's me!  I am camouflaged with the colorful leaves."

Golden-crowned Sparrow:  "I am sunbathing on the heated leaves and needles."

For the 3rd bird, I spotted the back of a House Sparrow to the left of the golden-crowned.  Everyone enjoys the warm sun when the weather turns cold.

Return of a Winter Bird

When the fall rain and wind bring in the chilly air, winter birds return to my backyard.  Today when the air warmed up a little in the midday, I saw a tiny bird stirring the dry leaves on the old pear tree branches.

"Hi, there.  I am back."

"I am as tiny and swift as before."

"Looking for little bugs on the honey suckle 

leaves before the real winter comes."

On the Way to the Winter Hideout #4

This fall I have seen a few species of  sparrows here.  One below was hard to identify, but finally I concluded it is an immature White-crowned Sparrow.

"What?  You called me an immature bird?"

"I am just like a matured except the crown is not white yet."

"But I am still good-looking."

On the Way to the Winter Hideout #3

One morning a beautiful sunrise lasted for 10 minutes.

Down on the ground, another sparrow species stopped over.  Someone with the fancy golden eyebrow and the white beard.  I call him a Santa bird.

"I'm back."

Nibbling the leftover clovers.

"Yum, yum, I like the clover seeds. 

Thanks for leaving them here."

Cleaning up the feathers before leaving for the winter hideout.

"My turn to take a bath."

On the Way to the Winter Hideout #2

The typical autumn sky with Canada Geese flying south.  

In my backyard, there are more visitors:  Golden-crowned Sparrows stopping over before leaving for their winter hideout.

"I like the red blueberry leaves in the fall."

"I can nibble the fallen seeds."

"My golden crown is not as bright as in the spring, but I still look fabulous."

On the Way to the Winter Hideout

During fall, several kinds of birds stop over on the way to their winter hideout.
Early in the morning, I saw one White-crowned Sparrow.

"I just stopped for breakfast."

"And just as important, I wanted to  take a bath to lighten up my feathers."

First Time to See it!

The autumn sky is high up with intriguing shapes of clouds.

With the slanting sun's direction, my backyard stayed dark in the morning.  But in that halfway darkness, I saw a Bewick's Wren taking a bath for the first time.

"When nobody is here, it's the best time for my bath."

"Wash, swish, and splash."

"Now I'm the cleanest bird in the neighborhood."