Autumn Birds

 At the wetland, there are not many birds at this time of the year.   Most of the birds must have left for their migration.

Here is a male Anna's Hummingbird who stays here all the year around.

"I am lonesome since most of my friends are gone to south."

A male House Finch shares the same feeling:

"Me, too.  I soon have to go to the backyards to find seeds."

Many sparrows are halfway migrants who move between the woods in summer and the coast in winter within the Northwest or just Oregon.  One of them is a White-crowned Sparrow.

"I am on the way to the coast.   I usually 

visit this area in autumn and spring."  

Return to Backyard

 Cooper's Hawks returned to town from the woods where no food is available now.  On a sunny fall afternoon, I saw one hovering high in the sky.

"I feel so good!😊"

"On a nice day like today, it's ok to fly 

together.  Usually we bully each other, though."

"Who could be a better flyer?"

Fall Day

The day is getting shorter, but the fuchsia flowers are still in bloom.  

 After all the summer birds are gone, there are some birds who stay here all year around.  Anna's Hummingbird is one of them.

"This is my favorite flower."

So do American Goldfinches.

"I stay here most of the time whenever I can find food."

Lesser Goldfinches were here everyday last winter.

" That's right.  You know me. "

A Crowded Bath

When the weather gets cold, Bushtits fly in a dozen or two at a time.  They come in like a grey cotton ball blown in by the wind.

"We are four right now.  But a lot more are coming in."

"We are taking a bath in the sun."

"Too crowded!"

Back at the Wetland

 Now the summer heat is gone and the fall weather is in.

Last week we stopped over at the wetland after a month.   As soon as we arrived,  I spotted a hawk up on the tall evergreen.  He often perches there at the entry to the wetland.

"You already saw me!"

As I anticipated, all the summer birds are already gone.  The quiet trails...

"We are still here," answered a female Redwing Blackbird.

Autumn Arrival

Oregon had been dry.  Big forest fires have been going on and the smoke even invaded the northern area where I live.  Finally,  the other day the long-awaited rain storm came with thunder during the night.  Now the summer is gone.  So did the summer birds flee right before the storm hit here.  A lonesome backyard remains.

Hummingbirds fight for their territory.  Lately Anna's Hummingbird was bullied by the summer hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbirds.

"Now, I got my flowers back.  Yeah! 😜"

Some birds returned to my backyard from the woods.  A Song Sparrow is one of them.

"I am back.  I will see you more often."

Just to confirm the change in temperature, I found the Japanese maple leaves changing its color.

Return to South

 More summer birds are passing by here on the way to south.  

I saw this bird perched on a branch where not many birds do, so I took a photo.  Sure enough it turned out to be  a Dusky Flycatcher.  Last fall I found one stopping by.

"Hi, I remember your backyard."

In spring, I saw Wilson's Warbler a few times and on the return to south he again stopped over.  

"Hi, I am back, hungry for your bugs."

A rare visitor:   A 1st year Western Tanager,  who is a bit bigger than a House Finch and House Sparrow.  They all wanted to take a bath at the same time.

"I am new here and hope to return next year."