Special Treat for Summer

Last week I found a fountain at the lowest price now that it is the end of the season.

Knowing the hummingbirds love to hang around the sound of the water, I have waited for one to show up.  A brave Rufous Hummingbird.

"I just can't resist the cold water splashing."

"Slurp, slurp.  A delicious water."

"Next month I have to start the migration flight to the south.  I need to fatten up."

How to Protect Young Ones

For one week, the smoke from the California forest fires drifted toward Oregon .  The air quality warning was in effect and the sky was hazy.  Finally with the return of the northerly wind, the sky cleared and off we went to the wetland.   Although in the reverse light,  I saw several families of California Quail crossing the trail.  I stopped in the distance for them to finish crossing.

After the crossing was complete, one adult came back to pretend to go to the opposite direction, making  sure I do not follow the families.

"Don't you ever harm my babies.  Understand!"

The Mischievious One

In my backyard, the most mischievous one is the Blacked-capped Chickadee.

At this time, there are several of them coming to feed here.  Here is one who is trying to find out how the hummingbird juice tastes like.

Does he like it?

"Yuck!! What kind of taste is this?  I 

like seeds and the suet, not this sticky water."

So he found out that never, ever he will be messing up with the hummer food.

Looking for a Summer Bird at the Wetland

Every summer I look for a summer bird at the wetland.  Some like

 to nest near the water. Today I finally encountered with such.

"Hi, I am the one.  A Common Yellowthroat.  

I am juvenile male, so the black area on my cheek is 

just a little bit dark."

On another outing, I saw a couple of young ones.  No photo of two together, but here are the cuties.

"What are you doing here?  I was born here a month ago. "

"Ready to go.  See you later."

A Summer Bird Visit

The summer heat has arrived here:  95-100 degrees F for a week or two.

The Honey Bees and Bumble Bees have been busy collecting the nectar from my flowers.

Another summer visitor just showed up a week ago.

"Hi, I am a young Vesper Sparrow."

"I have no problem finding food here."

Two Generations of Americann Robin

A couple of Swallow Tail butterflies floated in on and out.  This one just landed on a pear leaf.

A young American Robin just born this summer is learning to feed himself now.

His mom loves to swallow a blueberry whenever coming into one of my blueberry bushes.

"Here it is.  The size of the berry just fits my mouth."

An Early Morning Scene

We arrived at the wetland around 8 am, earlier than usual, due to the high temperature. 

 Scenes from the wetland:  a yellow cabbage patch  butterfly: the first time I saw one around here.

An early morning landing of the Great Egret.

A busy Mallard mom with two young ones.

"I am training my littles ones."