Autumn Wetland

Before the autumn rainy season, we visited the wetland.  The fall sky was filled with honking Canada Geese landing onto the reservoir.  How many are they?  In the hundreds.

"We are a thousand, maybe."

In the midst of the noisy honking, others joined.

"We are American White Pelicans.  Fun to join the geese."

"Riding the warm air, we will hover up, up,  high."

The Harvesting Season

The autumn sky reminds me of this poem:

"In autumn,

 The sky is high.

Horses are fat."

「空高く、馬肥ゆる秋。」

In the fall, the Mongols used to raid China over the Great Walls.

Someone else is fattening up in the fall.

"I just love to eat these seeds.  So yummy!"

"Me, too. You can see my tummy is full."

Red Leaves

For the last two days, the morning temperature on the patio went down to 32 degrees F

 (=0 degrees C).

With the low temperature, the blueberry leaves are changing their color to red.

Right before the cold morning,  I found a summer warbler in my backyard.  Hurry up to south.

"I am finding more bugs here.  Yes, 

I will hurry back home to south."

Here is another one.

"I can feel the cold air coming.  I will leave today."

Right before the Trip

A week ago,  I saw many American White Pelicans feeding at the wetland nearby.

That day it was foggy in the early morning.

"I found one."

Just swallowed."

"Now the fog is lifting.  A warm sun is visible.  We will leave

 soon before the cold rain arrives here."

Von Voyage

We had heavy rain on Monday. But the next day was sunny with some clouds:   a good day for a flight to south.

Some fuchsia flowers are still in bloom, but it is the time to leave.

A young Rufous Hummingbird, fattened up, told me he was to leave now.

"Thanks a million for all the nectar."

"This is my favorite one.  Plant this next year again."

"See you next spring."

A Big Gathering

The other day we encountered a big party of white birds at another wetland nearby.   Probably a dozen Great Egret families, feeding, and flying around.   

Some are running around.

For a nice family shot, say "Cheese."

Beautiful birds indeed.

Sunflower

The sunflower season.   The bees are around collecting honey. 

Further, they help to pollinate the fruit trees and without them people get no fruits.

A few years ago, the city workers sprayed too much and the bees dropped to the ground in hundreds.  Since then, we learned the critical lesson.  I use no spray in my backyard.

Lesser Goldfinches love to nibble the leaves.

 "Now I am ready to eat  sunflower seeds in the feeder."