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?"