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."