Rain, Rain, Rain

The typical winter weather in Oregon: it's rain.

"I have to shake it off."

"Even with the wet weather, my yellow
colors show up.  Have a Happy Holiday!"

Little Help for Birds

Every year I send in a donation to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  The other day they sent me a little brochure, "7 Simple Actions" for a Bird-Friendly life.

So, I checked on whether I have followed their list.

1)  Make windows safer: Done. I placed some plastic stickers on our windows.
2) Keep cats indoors:  My cats stay indoor all the time for their safety.
3) Reduce lawn, plant natives:  Reduced the lawn some and  will buy more native plants.
4) Avoid pesticides:  No pesticides in my front and back yards.  For roses, I use dish soap to get rid of aphids.
5) Drink shade-grown coffee:  A new thing.  We will try this.
6) Protect our planet from plastic:  Recycle plastic bags around home.  Use recycle bags for shopping.
7) Watch birds:  I watch and take photos to understand them and spread the info on my blog.


Here're some new photos for you:

Yellow-rumped Warbler: "I like your suet.  But 

when you peek from inside, I am scared."

Anna's Hummingbird:  "Don't worry.  She won't hurt you.

One day, many American Robins landed here to peck on the fallen organic apples.  It is a good idea to keep some left on the ground for winter.

"Thank you for saving the apples for our winter food."

On a snowy day, many Mourning Doves landed searching for seeds.  I have never seen this many at one time.

"This morning the snow covered food, so we came here to eat seeds."

Any Bug Here?

Some summer birds can be found here in the cold months.  The other day I found one Orange-crowned Warbler flying around with Bushtits.  They are almost the same size.  So I did not pay much attention at first.  When I followed it with my camera lens, I found this bird.  

"I am trying to find a bug in the honeysuckle bush."

"Little bug, little bug, come out for me in the rose bush."

"Any bug around the beauty berries?"

"Wish me luck.  I will have to move onto a warmer area soon."

Big Birds

Many Canada Geese against the blue sky in winter

Red-tailed Hawk at the favorite branch
This must be one of the two hawks I saw a month ago.

Sentinel at the pond
Right in front of me, he/she was posing for me on that sunny morning.

"I am photogenic.  Right?"

Big Whites in Winter

At the wetland, we can see Trumpeter Swans in the cold months.  The other day we saw a couple of them, flying around together with ducks.

"Today is a nice day!"

"Acrobatic flight!"

"Finally down on the water."

Bright Yellow in Winter

The day is getting shorter everyday till the winter equinox, Dec. 21.  This week it's been dark and rainy, a typical winter weather in Oregon.  In this darkness, there is something showing up.

"It's me.  My bright yellow tummy feathers keep me warm."

"I am Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle).  

I visit here in winter to nibble the suet."

"I am also a Yellow-rumped Warbler( Audubon).
 I am a male with the bright yellow chin."

Anna's Food for Winter

Autumn colors

Now that all the flowers are gone due to freezing temperatures, Anna's Hummingbirds have to depend on sugar water.

"I appreciate your fresh sugar water.  I know you change it every 2 weeks."

I have a tube feeder, too.

"I like this better."

On a Sunny Winter Day

On a sunny day at the wetland, I noticed a couple of Red-tailed Hawks on the old tall tree.  They were sunbathing for some time.

On the other side of the reservoir, a Great Egret was fishing.  Do you notice a little fish on his beak?

And a lone Mallard duck was trying to wake up from the warm slumber.

"Don't make any more noise."

Fall Scene

The temperature went down to below freezing.  It's been cold.  This year the leaves are extremely colorful due to the early cold temperature we had at the end of September.  

On Sunday, at the nature Reserve nearby, I saw a Bald Eagle early in the morning.

In my backyard, a Gray Squirrel was busy munching the fallen suet.

"This is my favorite."

Red Maple Leaves

The maple leaves have changed their color.

White-crowed Sparrows comes around during the fall season.  While Golden-crowned Sparrows come in a small flock, this one always comes by him/herself.

"Golden-crowned Sparrows are related 

to me, so there's no problem."

"Many Oregon Juncos and Black-capped 

Chickadees are here.  They are all my friends."

Autumn Wetland

Before the autumn rainy season, we visited the wetland.  The fall sky was filled with honking Canada Geese landing onto the reservoir.  How many are they?  In the hundreds.

"We are a thousand, maybe."

In the midst of the noisy honking, others joined.

"We are American White Pelicans.  Fun to join the geese."

"Riding the warm air, we will hover up, up,  high."

The Harvesting Season

The autumn sky reminds me of this poem:

"In autumn,

 The sky is high.

Horses are fat."

「空高く、馬肥ゆる秋。」

In the fall, the Mongols used to raid China over the Great Walls.

Someone else is fattening up in the fall.

"I just love to eat these seeds.  So yummy!"

"Me, too. You can see my tummy is full."

Red Leaves

For the last two days, the morning temperature on the patio went down to 32 degrees F

 (=0 degrees C).

With the low temperature, the blueberry leaves are changing their color to red.

Right before the cold morning,  I found a summer warbler in my backyard.  Hurry up to south.

"I am finding more bugs here.  Yes, 

I will hurry back home to south."

Here is another one.

"I can feel the cold air coming.  I will leave today."

Right before the Trip

A week ago,  I saw many American White Pelicans feeding at the wetland nearby.

That day it was foggy in the early morning.

"I found one."

Just swallowed."

"Now the fog is lifting.  A warm sun is visible.  We will leave

 soon before the cold rain arrives here."

Von Voyage

We had heavy rain on Monday. But the next day was sunny with some clouds:   a good day for a flight to south.

Some fuchsia flowers are still in bloom, but it is the time to leave.

A young Rufous Hummingbird, fattened up, told me he was to leave now.

"Thanks a million for all the nectar."

"This is my favorite one.  Plant this next year again."

"See you next spring."

A Big Gathering

The other day we encountered a big party of white birds at another wetland nearby.   Probably a dozen Great Egret families, feeding, and flying around.   

Some are running around.

For a nice family shot, say "Cheese."

Beautiful birds indeed.

Sunflower

The sunflower season.   The bees are around collecting honey. 

Further, they help to pollinate the fruit trees and without them people get no fruits.

A few years ago, the city workers sprayed too much and the bees dropped to the ground in hundreds.  Since then, we learned the critical lesson.  I use no spray in my backyard.

Lesser Goldfinches love to nibble the leaves.

 "Now I am ready to eat  sunflower seeds in the feeder."