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.👍

Dark and Rainy Days

 It has been dark and rainy.  After a long absence, I saw a Mourning Dove.

"Hi,  it's nice to be back here.  I can find some food during winter."😉

Bewick's Wren:  "I like your suet here."🤩

Western Scrub-Jay:  "I like your seeds, too."👍

Fall is Here

Our schools are starting after Labor Day holidays.  Butterflies are still on the last of lavenders. 

Summer Hummingbirds are in a hurry to fly down to south now.

Rufous Hummingbird:  "It is already getting cool lately."😉🌻

Western Scrub-jay:  "I have to grow up fast before the cold weather arrives."👍

Bewick's Wren:  "I am already grown up and ready for winter."😊

Summer Backyard

 A summer bird, Rufous Hummingbird, stops over once in a while.

"I love these hotlips."

Bewick's Wren is busy, sand bathing.

"Not a dead bird.  Feel so good."

"I need to clean my feathers."

"My favorite summer flowers are back. "

Summer Visitors

 A summer bird, Wilson's Warbler, came to see me after a long absence.

Wilson's Warbler, male:  "I still remember your backyard."

Bushtit:  "I am a regular visitor."

Bewick's Wren:  "Me, too."

Global Warming

 This winter is warm and short.  We had only one snowfall, which melted away quickly.

"It is getting warm here. " 🌷🌸😄

 "I can eat bugs in the air.  I do not eat the suet on a nice day."🪰🐛

"I always like to eat the suet all the year around."😁☮️

Time to Grow Up

At the end of summer, birds have to finish raising their youngs.

House Finch dad is helping out feeding the young.

"I want more."😁

"Today is a flight practice."👍

"I am already grown up, all by myself now."🤩😊

 

A Popular Spot

 At the new bird fountain

'Wow, it is new.  It is big enough to swim."

(Later, I saw the bird swimming around the waterfall.)

At the old bird bath, I saw a Bewick's Wren taking a bath for the first time.

"Everyone is taking a bath here.  This is my first time."

 Three Golden-crowned Sparrows gathered here a few weeks ago.  They have already left for the woods.

"It is crowded here.  It's been a long time since I took a bath."

Back to Rain

The rain returned after a couple of weeks' cold spell.  Now that it is warmer, the snow in the mountains is melting and can cause flooding.

 

"I like the rain, but not the flooding. "

"I definitely do not want flooding."

"Rain is ok, but not too much, please."

Spring Scene

 Spring is here.  The rose bushes began to grow.  I need to remove the old branches.

The Northern Flicker was busy munching the suet fallen on the ground.

 "I like the suet, fallen or on the feeder.  They both taste good."

The other day, I saw four House Finches on the wisteria branches.

"It finally warmed up.  We are back from the 

coast.  We like your sunflower seeds."

The Bewick's Wren comes all the year around.  This time it was shouting at the Yellow-rumped Warbler.

"This suet is mine."

A Fall Song

 The weather has been still hot in October, a record high temperature in Oregon💦💦.

At the wetland, a Bewick's Wren was singing a fall song😍😁.

"It is still hot.  Feel like singing again💟."

"Can anyone hear me?😏"

Golden-crowned Sparrow:  "Do not sing so loud.  It is already autumn😕. 

 I am back from the woods and on the way to the coast for winter. "

The Wetland in Spring

 At the wetland nearby,   for weeks I find several Anna's Hummingbird at the same spots.    This is one of them.

"This is my territory.  Stay out of here."

The other day I found a Bewick's Wren at the wetland.   

"I usually stay in someone's backyard.  But it 

is getting warmer, so it is ok to be in the wild!"

Most of the waterfowls have already left for the north.  But  this Bufflehead enjoys the calm water.

"We can take time here.   Our secret summer

 home has plenty of space for us."

Meeting at the Feeders

In the spring, birds are busy.  They often meet each other at the feeder.

Bewick's Wren to Downy Woodpecker:  "Good to see you.  You are my suet friend."

Black-capped Chickadee to Bewick's Wren:  "I am first.  Just wait a minute."

Yellow-rumped Warbler (left):  "When are you leaving for the woods?"

Townsend's Warbler:  "Not yet.  I love the suet here."

Three in the Family

 The season for lavenders.  Butterflies love their nectar.

For many years, one or two Bewick's Wrens have visited my backyard.  But today was a special day:  three of them were here.  Just count one, two, and three in total!

"We are a big family this summer."

Out at the wetland, I found a young House Wren.

"Hi, I am a House Wren.  I 'd rather live 

in the wild place.  I can hide better."

Little Ones Season

During the summer months, birds lay eggs, feed their babies, and train them to be independent.

A month ago, I saw a Bewick's Wren feeding a couple of little ones.  

"My mom said this backyard is safe for me."

A couple of weeks ago, House Sparrow dad was feeding a young.  

"I AM busy feeding this one."

Everyday Lesser Goldfinches come and feed on thistle seeds at my feeder.

Now I noticed they brought their baby to teach how to find food, etc.

"Yum, yum, tasty, Dad."

Big Foot

At the flooded nature preserve last week,  I saw a couple of American Coots.  Before I always saw them swimming, but today they were out of the water.  Their feet are rather big.

"Yeah, we got big feet."

Back at my backyard.

Gray Squirrel:  "I got a big tail."

Bewick's Wren:  "I got a big mouth."