Backyard Scene

 A female Mallard returned to my backyard.

"Today I decided to stop over  by myself.  My kids are growing up fast."

"I am a juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird."

"I am Anna's Hummingbird.  I am drinking the blueberry nectar."

May Wetlands Scene

 The water level is already low.  We want more rain.🦅💧💧

Bald Eagle:  "I want more rain."💧

Osprey:  "I don't know if we can raise a young this year."💧

Cedar Waxwing:  "We are back.  We like to eat berries and see friends here."💧🙏

Summer at the Wetlands

More wild flowers are in bloom.  

Before the Black Phoebe was in the reverse light, so today I walked in the opposite direction to take a better photo.👍

Black Phoebe:  "You can see me better."😁

Black-headed Grosbeak:  "I am a summer bird.  You can listen to my singing."😍

Lime Green Color

At the wetlands, it is the breeding season.  A Great Egret was standing in the half shade and was hunting in the morning sun.

Look very close between the beak and the eye.  Do you see the lime green color?  What does it mean?

"It means I am in the breeding season."🙂

"I also have the breeding plumage that extends beyond the tail (fine feather).  

Both male and female become very attractive this way."😍

"Today is bright and warm.   I hope I can find a fish and a mate soon."🌞👍

Wisteria in Bloom

 My wisteria is in full bloom now.🌞

White-crowned Sparrow:  "I like your flower."

Bushtit:  "I prefer this suet."

Chestnut-backed Chickadee:  "Me, too."🤩

April in the Backyard

 The apple blossoms are in bloom.🌞

A butterfly came over.😊

Several Golden-crowned Sparrows have been in my backyard for sometime this spring.

"I am nibbling the new Wisteria leaves now."☺️👍

Mallard Ducks are back a few times this spring.

"My wife likes to nibble the fallen suets here." 🦆🪿😍

(Squirrels make a mess underneath the feeder.)

Fluctuating Temperature

 Temperature goes up and down this time of the year.  Sometimes, it's like summer?  Othertimes, it is back to winter.   Now, Coral Bells are in bloom.  I divided them some years back and all of them are doing fine.🌷🌸🪻

In spring, one Mallard couple sometimes land in my backyard.

Male Mallard:  "It is hard to find food today because your lawn is a bit high."🦆🪿

Male Rufous Hummingbird:  "I am back.  I like your fresh sugar juice."😊

(This spring, I see more Rufous males.  Yeah!😍)

The Wetlands

 Most of the winter birds are gone to the woods or to Alaska.😿

Anna's Hummingbird:  "I miss them, but I am always here."😍

White-crowned Sparrow:  "I am back from the coast.  I will stay here in spring and fall."🌷

Bewick's Wren:  "I stay here most of the time, and often visit someone's backyard.👍

Changes in the Backyard

 March is still cold in Oregon.  But outside you can find flowers in bloom. 

Birds are getting busier.😄

"Do you know I am collecting the nest materials!!"🤔😍

"Do you know I came from south?

I am Orange-crowned Warbler, a summer bird here!"😁🤩

Spring Arrival at the Wetlands

 Spring has arrived at the wetlands.

"I am American Robin.  I like many buds on the bush."🌸

"Redwing Blackbird has a musical song."😍

"Tree Swallows are returned and busy flying around."😍

Spring Visitor

 Our camelia bush is under the big pine tree (cold and shaded), 

but a couple of blossoms were already in bloom.☺️

,

March 14 was my mother-in-law's birthday.  A male Rufous Hummingbird often returns here on this day.  When I looked out around noon, there he was, right on time.

"I have a good memory.  I know this feeder."😁👍

"I like to drink the sweet sugar juice after my long trip from south."☺️🌸

Spring Time

 A purple crocus is now in bloom.  

Winter birds are still around in the backyard.

"I am one of them."😁

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

"I am still all the year around." ☺️🌷

Black-capped Chickkadee

Going to North

 The other day the wetland was still in fog.  We found a total of eight Tundra Swans resting and sleeping after a long flight from south.  

"We came from south.  Soon we have to leave to north."☺️

"We are Bufflehead.  We stayed here during winter,

 but soon we will leave for Alaska."🌞

"We are Lesser Scaup.  We may leave for further north later."🌷🪻

Spring Backyard

 A week ago, I saw Mt.Hood far away.

In my backyard, a lone White-crowned Sparrow stopped over.  One or two usually comes during spring and autumn.

"I just stopped over on the way to the woods."🌷

"I can always find  food here.  Thanks a million for your kindness."😋🌸☺️

Happy Return

 The other morning a juvenile Cooper's Hawk stopped over.

He was looking around, shouting once in a while, and cleaning the feathers. He was relaxed and spent a long time here.

"I am a juvenile hawk.  Now that I landed here, everyone is gone and hiding."🥲

"I can shout loudly.  Everyone, please come back here."🙂

"This is my back.  Since my back does not have 

bluish grey color, I am not grown up yet."♥️🌸🌷

Spring is Coming

Look at my first crocus.  With the warm temperature, it just came out.  Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) is Feb 17 this year.

 

🌷🪻🌸

"Spring is coming per the lunar calender.  No wonder it is getting warm.

I still need to nibble the suet to warm up."☺️🐦‍⬛

"I am happy to know it is getting warm for sure.  

I like the suet here."😋👍

Sunny Flight

 On a sunny day,  many birds like to dry out their feathers.

"I am in the sun, drying the feathers and finding a fish."🌞🪽

"Moving to another fishing site."😉👍

"Look at my beautiful flight.  I will dry my feather at the same time."🤩