Babies at the Wetland

The weather is nice and warm.  At the wetland, many young ones are seen with their mom.

Mallard:  "I am busy teaching my kids to swim and feed themselves."👍

 

Tree Swallow: "We are nesting now."🎶😊

Killdeer: "My young one is on my left.  He is almost independent."🤩

September at the Wetland

The other day, we had a big rain storm over night.  The weather is now cooling.  Most of the summer birds have left our area for south.

 

"I am a Lesser Goldfinch and we stay around here during winter."

"I am a Killdeer and am back from the woods.  

We stay here during the cold months."

"I am Anna's Hummingbird and move to backyards pretty 

soon.  We appreciate the sugar juice the backyard owners prepare."

Summer at the Wetland

At the wetland, I saw a Killdeer.  It is the busy time for them to take care of babies.

"Just stay out of my nest, please."

 

Osprey was high up in the sky looking for a fish down below.

"I have to find a fish for my babies."

California Ground Squirrel was just relaxing and stretched out on the old log.

"I feel so good this morning. "

Spring Scene

Spring at the wetland.

A couple of Tree Swallows decided to nest around here.

"We are going to make a nest nearby."

One Killdeer wanted me to follow her.  There must be her nest nearby and she wanted me to stay away from it.

"I just don't want you to hang around my nest."

Majority of waterfowls are gone to the north.  Some Greater Scaups were still paddling in a pond.

"I can still take time before moving up to the north."

The Last Day of Summer

The other day we went to the wetland one more time before the rainy season begins.  Snow berries were abundant for little birds and animals to nibble.

Some summer birds already left for south, but others were still around.

Great Egret:  "Just enjoy the left-over summer."

Spotted Sandpipers:  "A warm day for fun."

Common Yellowthroat, immature male:  "Last time you took me for someone else.  

I am immature male; that is why it is difficult to identify.  Soon I will take off for south."

Fallen and Injured?

Yesterday we went to the nearby wetland again.  In the midst of the real summer, many birds have left here for the cooler mountain side except a few kinds.

While walking along the pond, I came across a strange scene.  What's going on here?  A dead bird?

A Killdeer fallen on a trail?  They like to nest on open ground, usually on gravel.  That is why when anyone approaches their nest, they put on a "broken wing" show to lure predators away from the nest area.

"Come over and look at me. 

(Don't you ever get into the

bushy area where my nest is)."

"Hurry up.  Come on."

After we started following her, she stood up and walked away.


Just to make sure everyone knows how a Killdeer normally looks like.  Here it is.  He/she likes to hang around grassy fields and on shores.

Revisit to the Wetland

In the U.S. the 4th of July is the Independence Day.   People celebrate the day with parades and fireworks.   Many people take a few extra days off to go out for camping at the coast or in the mountains.

My backyard garden is getting Chinese peas, blueberries, raspberries, and lavenders. The sunflower is forming a bud, while small green tomatoes are hanging from the plants.

This morning we went to a nearby wetland after a month.  The sky was blue and birds were chirping all around.  Many Cedar Waxwings were flying around catching morning bugs and eating berries.

Dancing on the thistle

On the pond, Killdeers were walking on the shoreline getting their breakfast, too.

"I don't like to be looked at."

Many young ones are now getting food themselves.

According to the weather forecast, this week will be hot everyday.  Yeah!!  I need it for my veggies to grow.