Winter at the Reservoir

Only the rosehips are abundant around the reservoir.  

No little birds, but a plenty of waterfowl.

"We are Northern Pintails."

"We are Northern Shovelers."

"I am Great Blue Heron."

Meditation

Early in the morning, a couple of crows were  making a commotion.  Do you know what?  

Red-tailed Hawk:
"The sun has risen.  A nice, clear morning."

Red-tailed Hawk to an American Crow:
"Don't bother me.  I am meditating."

A Warbler for Winter

It has been been cold.  There is one good thing about it.  With the very chilly air, here comes this winter birds.  

"Hi, I am a maleYellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon)."

"I am a female with a less bright yellow chin.  

Both of us like to eat the suet here."

"When the suet dropped on the ground, 

I get to clean-up the chunks."

Cold Months #2

It's been cold, often below the freezing in the morning and only in the 40's during the day.  The food in the woods are almost gone, so many birds stay in town.   The backyard owner is kept busy taking care of the birds.

"I appreciate your seeds. "

I change the sugar water every two weeks for hummingbirds.

"The juice is getting old.  Will you change it?"

"Don't forget to replenish the suet for me, too."

The Cold Months

Not many leaves are left on trees now.  

One morning several Swans flew over toward the northeast.

In my backyard, a Downy Woodpecker stopped by to nibble the suet.

"Thanks to you,  the backyard owner.  I can always depend on your suet."

Winter Waterfowls

         Last weekend, on a cold, sunny day, I saw many geese and ducks at the nearby wetland.

Mallard ducks:  "Nice and sunny.  Many geese are with us."

Crackling Geese:  "We may look like Canada Geese, but have rounder face, 

shorter neck, and stubbier bill.  We are Crackling Geese."

Common Merganser:  "I am a red-headed lady."

Autumn Nuts

Early in spring, there used to be several squirrels, but some of them seemed to be attacked by a racoon.  So at this time, I only see two in my backyard.

"Autumn is the best time of the year.  I can find many nuts."

Another nut lover is a Western Scrub Jay.

"I do like peanuts.  But you have not given me much lately."

"So, I just found another nut in the neighborhood."

Water Fountain

The fall in Oregon is very short.  All the yellow and red leaves will be gone soon when the rainy weather arrives to stay.

Despite the cooling temperature, a female Anna's Hummingbird has not forgotten the fun of water fountain.

"Yeah, I love the running water!!"

"Yeah, yeah, the noise of the fountain!"

"And delicious water."

Drilling My Way

During the cold months, a few times I have seen a Red-breasted Sapsucker.  Last week, I saw one on a cedar tree.

"I like to drink this sap."

The reverse light is good for silhouettes, but not for a regular photo.

"Drilling hard....  I also like to find a bug."

Welcome Back #5

In the fall, hawks returned from Alaska.  Cooper's Hawk is one of them.  One day I was looking  toward the backyard, then this one just landed on the fence.

"I thought I heard all the tweets.  Now everyone fled."

"I am back....  Come on out, friends."

Welcome Back #4

One White-throated Sparrow returned.  It nibbles the breakfast with House Sparrows, Song Sparrows, and Golden-crowned Sparrows.  They accept one another without a fight.

He is very careful.

"I stop by here for a few weeks during the fall and spring."

Welcome Back #3

When the weather gets cold, this little bird stops over too.

"Hi, I am Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  I like this suet in winter."

"Yum, yum."

Welcome Back #2

 The blueberry bushes are changing their color.  Several Golden-crowned Sparrows showed up here as the morning air became chilly.

"We are back!"

"Look at these red leaves.  Autumn is in the air."

Welcome Back

In the fall, hawks return to town.  Since the new neighbor does not turn on the greenhouse light during the night, a Red-tailed Hawk returned to a nearby Sycamore Tree.

"It is safe again here."

"I am off for breakfast."

Fall Scene #2

At the wetland nearby, the wild flowers are now changing into dry seeds.   American Goldfinches love to feed on those.

No more Yellow Warblers visited my backyard this summer (less trees around in town), but at the wetland, I finally saw one before it took off to the south.

Today's big catch by Great Blue Heron:

"Too big to swallow.  It takes a while to eat."

Fall Scene

A fall scene from the nearby wetland.  Some leaves are already red.

A Great Blue Heron overlooking the dried up reservoir.

Several ducks were eating their breakfast in the morning sun.

A female Mallard: "It's nice in the sun."

A Big Catch

Several juvenile Scrub-jays came around this summer.  The other day one of them hopped onto the neighbor's hedge suddenly.  What is he doing?

"What am I doing?"

"Here it is!  A big bug."

Special Treat for Summer

Last week I found a fountain at the lowest price now that it is the end of the season.

Knowing the hummingbirds love to hang around the sound of the water, I have waited for one to show up.  A brave Rufous Hummingbird.

"I just can't resist the cold water splashing."

"Slurp, slurp.  A delicious water."

"Next month I have to start the migration flight to the south.  I need to fatten up."

How to Protect Young Ones

For one week, the smoke from the California forest fires drifted toward Oregon .  The air quality warning was in effect and the sky was hazy.  Finally with the return of the northerly wind, the sky cleared and off we went to the wetland.   Although in the reverse light,  I saw several families of California Quail crossing the trail.  I stopped in the distance for them to finish crossing.

After the crossing was complete, one adult came back to pretend to go to the opposite direction, making  sure I do not follow the families.

"Don't you ever harm my babies.  Understand!"