The Wetlands in July

 The wetlands nearby have many birds during summer.

"Hi, I am a male American Goldfinch.  

I fly around here in a small flock."👍

"Hi, I am a female House Finch.  I am busy eating the berries."😋

"Hi, I am an Osprey.   I just woke up from my nap on the branch."

(I do not fall easily!)🤩😎🎶

Friends at the Wetland

  A week ago, a couple of Cedar Waxwings and an American Goldfinch were looking far from the top of the fir tree.

"A nice day to look far away."👍

"A nice day to munch the delicious berries."🤩

Cowbird, male: "A nice day for me, too."🌞

Every bird seems to enjoy being in the wild place."

The Wetland Scene in June

 At the wetland nearby, Song Sparrows are very friendly.

"I see you often."😍👍

"I like to catch a fish early in the morning."👀

"I like to find some bugs inside the reed."😉

"I like eating the dry seeds here."👍

A Hello from the Backyard

 We returned on a sunny day, but it has been rainy since.  This is Oregon and it is nice to be back.

"Welcome back!"

"Welcome back!"

"Welcome back.  I am new here (a juvenile American Robin)."

Frequent Backyard Visitors

 We see the blue sky more often these days.

"I like the blue sky."

"Look at me!  I am already dressed for summer."

"I am the prettiest of the visitors here."

(He/she posed for me; it is one of the clearest photos.)

Fall

 Now in October the sunrise is quite late.   It is dark in the backyard  when early birds come around for their breakfast.

        "Surprise!  These flowers (Crocosmia) are still in bloom here😍. "

 

Northern Flickers have returned to my backyard.

"We are back from the woods.  I like your suet👀😊."

"We like your thistle seeds and sunflower seeds😋."

Summer is Over

 At the wetland, there are many Goldfinches munching the weed seeds at the end of summer.

"Fall is a nice time of the year for the seeds.  Munch, munch...😄"

Early in the morning, I can see one or two Belted Kingfishers catching a fish.

"My eyes are super good to see a fish moving👀😎."

On a lucky day, I can take a close up photo of an Osprey.

"I have a better vision to catch a big fish👀👀😁."

Bright for Summer

 The American Goldfinch has changed its color for summer.

"I am so bright in the moring sun."

"I like the roasted sunflower seeds here."

"Ready, go to the feeder."

Note:  I will be busy for a while and start writing again in the beginning of June.

Enjoy your summer.

Hot Temperature

 The real hot weather has arrived here.  The temperature is around 100F for a few days.  Too hot.   Lately at the wetland, the wild rabbit has been friendly.  It comes close to us when we are walking.  

"I know you like to take my photos.  Here I am for a close-up."

In the early morning sun, a Western Wood Pewee is perched on the branch.

"I look like a flycatcher, but I am Western Wood Pewee, a summer bird around here."

"We are bright yellow male American Goldfinches."

Busy Families

 At the wetland, there are many families at this time of the year.

Here comes a Mallard mom with kids.

"My kids are growing up, but they still need someone to watch out👀👀."

Northern Shovelers are here, too.

"My kids can swim pretty good now💨💨."

In the bush nearby, a family of American Goldfinches were also busy feeding the young ones.

"I am hungry.  Daddy, hurry up!😋😍"

Fall Day

The day is getting shorter, but the fuchsia flowers are still in bloom.  

 After all the summer birds are gone, there are some birds who stay here all year around.  Anna's Hummingbird is one of them.

"This is my favorite flower."

So do American Goldfinches.

"I stay here most of the time whenever I can find food."

Lesser Goldfinches were here everyday last winter.

" That's right.  You know me. "

Mid Summer Morning

This summer I try to visit the wetlands once a week to see any changes.   This time in mid summer, there were many young American Goldfinches and Lesser Goldfinches (smaller).

I saw a couple of Belted Kingfishers diving for food and at the same time fighting for territory.

"I am a better fisher!"

Young House Finches were busy munching the new flower seeds.

"Munch, munch... fresh seeds are so delicious."

Food in the Snow Weather

This week more snow fell.   When snow was forecasted, I placed more food underneath the bird feeder so that the seeds were not covered with snow.

Northern Flicker:  "It's a relief to find food for breakfast 

early in the morning.  My friend, Bushtit, agrees with me.  Thanks a million."

House Finch, male:  "Thanks for the seeds.  I like your sunflower seeds."

Ruby-crowned Kinglet:  "Thanks for the suet.  I can always find it here."

American Goldfinch:  "I like your thistle seeds.  The Lesser Goldfinch told me about them."

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."

At the End of Summer

Lately a flock of American Goldfinches stopped over.  They are changing their color from the bright yellow to dull yellow getting ready for winter.  The right bottom one is a male with the changes taking place.  The left top is a mom teaching the young one (left bottom)  to feed on its own.

Aha, here is another young one who is still being fed from a step mom, who is a Oregon Junco.   The young one looks like a Cowbird.   This summer, just like last summer, this junco raises a cowbird young since mother Cowbird must have laid her egg in the junco's nest again.  God bless the mother Junco for her devotion.

"No wonder you are always hungry.  You are now twice as big as me."

Young Ones

Young ones are still around with their parent in my backyard.  One hot day I saw a mother Spotted Towhee and its young together on the fence.

"Ready for a nice photo.  Say "Cheese."

On another occasion, I saw a American Goldfinch dad with its young.

"Dad, show me how to take a bath here."

All summer long they are busy raising their young ones.

The Autumn Harvest Time

Our apple tree has some apples, but they are all worm eaten.   I used some of good ones for an apple cobbler.  When my friend gave me some of nice apples, I made apple sauce and dried apple slices.  They were all delicious.  

Birds must be enjoying the fall harvest.  Lately several American Goldfinches stop by every morning.  Their bright yellow coat have now changed into their winter coat.

A female Goldfinch:  "My coat has more brown."

A male Goldfinch:  "My beak is brownish, too."