Before the Fall Rain Arrives

Before the fall rain starts, we made another trip to the nearby wetland.  We saw a few Great Blue Herons.

"I am patrolling over the reservoir this morning."

Due to the dry summer and the redesigning project still going in the area, the water is diminished to 1/3 or less of the previous quantity in the area.   I hope Canada Geese can find a rest spot at the time of the fall migration.  Here are some ready to land.

A few Cedar Waxwings found the berries.  Enjoy the fall harvest.

"I like the fall berries.  Yum, yum."

Back for Winter

During the summer months, many birds temporarily move into the woods to stay cool.  Downy Woodpeckers are one of them.  Now that the weather is changing, one female Downy Woodpecker returned to check on the suet supply in my backyard.  Actually she stopped over a couple times earlier when I did not have any suet hanging.  After that I jumped into making suet for her next visit.

The other day she showed up at the branch.  Thanks for your patience.  I was too pokey this autumn.

"I am back!"

"Finally I found some before anyone else finishes it up."

A Whole Bunch

Autumn is here with the morning temperature down to 40 F, but the daytime is still warm in 70's or so.  My cucumbers are almost over and today I made dill cucumber pickles.

With the winter coming near, Bushtits have returned in a big flock.  Last week I made my own suet block for them.

"We like to line up.  We are four brothers."

"We are now six brothers and take turns to take a bath."

"I am looking for a bug on the apple tree.  After this, I will be pecking the suet."

Lesser Goldfinches

Our roses are still blooming.  I  feed with compost every month, water well, and clip off the finished flowers.

This summer Lesser Goldfinches stopped over with their young ones.  It's easy to tell because the young ones always flap their wings to be fed.

Lesser Goldfinches do not change their coat colors as American Goldfinches do.  Maybe because they are not as bright yellow.

"Yeah, we stay greenish yellow-colored all the year around."

Chilly Morning

The morning temperature was down to 48 F, although the daytime temperature still climbed up to the 80's. Cabbage Butterflies float around my veggie patch.  One landed on a flower for a very short while.

"I still like the lavender juice.  Slurp, slurp..."

With the cold morning temperature,  a predator already returned to town.  He/she just landed with the wings wide flapping on the neighbor's backyard.  Upon seeing it, I sneaked outside and waited.  A squirrel stayed frozen for a while.    Just about to give up, I saw a Cooper's Hawk hopping up onto the neighbor's shed.

"No one is here."

"Next time I will grab one."

A Big Family

American Goldfinches stop by once in a while.   By the end of the summer, they have added up some young ones.   With a lot of tweeting, one big family appeared. 

Here is a young one.

"I am on a practice run."


Here is a male with faded colors for autumn.

"I am still bright and need to hide from you."

Sugar Water

Every summer I have the hanging baskets filled with fuchsias.  Hummingbirds enjoy the sweet nectar.

Close to the end of summer,  hummingbirds are now ready for the sugar water again.

At Feeder #1: "I just didn't know how delicious the sugar water can be."

At Feeder #2:  "Me, too.  A new discovery!"