Dark-eyed Junco, Pink-sidedBlue Jay (young one)Western Scrub Jay caches peanutsDark-eyed Junco, glad to be out of the snowBlue Jay ~What do you hear?~Western Scrub Jay “I’am going to miss you, my Scrub!”Blue Jay ~What do you see?~
White-crowned Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos showed up, at my house, a couple of days ago – winter is on its way!
Northern Cardinal (female) – 03-22-2013 ~Bad Hair Day~Northern Cardinal (male) – 03-22-2013 ~Sunlit~Northern Cardinal (male) – 03-22-2013 ~Swinging~Northern Cardinal (female) – 03-22-2013 ~Peaceful~Northern Cardinal (female) – 02/19/2012 ~Hunting~“Are you still there?” ~Great, see you next time~
I went back to my archives, for these photos, of the Northern Cardinal. While camping at Stephen B. Austin State Park near Katy, Texas, earlier this year, we were entertained watching them swing on these vines. I can’t wait to see them again along our route heading south.
SBS: Sheila’s Bird Shots: ~Broad-tailed Hummingbird and Eurasian Collared-Dove~
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
The hummingbirds love to sit on one of our Amateur Ham Radio antennas. During the summer, I have captured a few of them sitting on this wire.
Today, I walked outside and she was sitting, pretty as you please, in a Juniper tree, no more than ten feet away. She did not seem to be in a hurry to fly away. Did I have my camera – no! I know she was telling me: “Ha, no camera, I think I will just sit here.”
I could have gotten a photo without the wire, maybe!
Another frequent visitor to my yard, this summer, has been the Eurasian Collared-Dove. I was enjoying a little sun, out on the deck, and I happened to look into the Apple tree and this Dove was asking me to take its picture. It then fly over to the Pine tree and posed again for me.
Sitting in an Apple Tree (looks like a juvenile to me)Now sitting in a Pine Tree
I took the Broad-tailed Hummingbird photo on September 15, 2013 and the Dove photos on September 18, 2013.
Sitting at the top of a pine in my yard on the morning of September 14, 2013, as we enjoyed a brief break from the rains, this Western Scrub Jay seemed a little upset, perhaps because of all the rain we were having, plus the fact that his peanuts kept getting soaked. I tried very hard to keep all the bird seed dry, but it was difficult. I have never seen so many totally soaked birds.
Scrubs Jays have personally plus, are extremely smart and are quite sociable. They should charge entertainment fees, because we are always treated to a “Scrub” show when they are around.
I enjoy having them visit my yard everyday; I am the lucky one!
☼☾☆
Birding List for September, 2013
A few different birds, in my yard or flying over, these past two weeks:
American Goldfinch (one male)
Lesser Goldfinch (one)
**Orange-crowned Warbler (one)
Osprey (female and male, flew over, one carrying a fish)
Townsend’s Solitaire (one) [last time observed in my yard-April]
Western Tanager (female and male)
Wilson’s Warbler (one male)
Common visitors, in my yard or flying over, these past few months:
American Kestrel
American Robin
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Canada Geese (fly over)
Common Nighthawk (fly over)
Eurasian Collared Dove
Northern Flicker (red-shafted)
House Finches
House Sparrow
Hummingbird (broad-tailed)
Morning Dove
Red-tailed Hawk (fly over)
Spotted Towhee
Western Scrub Jay
White-breasted Nuthatch
** I think this is an Orange-crowned Warbler: help me out Katie, Mia!
Memorial bouquets planted, remembrance of love ones,
This park, a park of my heart, loved by many.
A river runs through it,
Usually gentle, calm,
Its presence marked by time,
Its strength, boulders small and large, at its side.
A river runs through it,
Creating melodies of sound,
Leaving notes of joy,
As it flows by.
Tall reeds leading,
To the lagoon at its center,
One can get happily distracted,
Sitting, gazing into these pools.
What will we all do,
Our hearts have been broken,
A drive through The Narrows, can’t be done,
I am sad, a park of my heart Is gone.
Pleasing Fungus BeetleA River runs through itMagpieSteller’s JayWildflowersReedsA Lagoon at its Center
I took these photos and those I have been posting of my September 5, 2013 outing to Viestenz Smith Mountain Park.
This note from my dear friend Gale about the flood that has destroyed ~A Park of My Heart~. It is also a park of her heart.
From Gale: The metal you see is what remained of the hydro-electric plant that was devastated in the 1976 flood which crested at 9.31′ this flood crested the morning after this photo at 10.55′ – might not be much left…
Photos, of the flood, Gale sent as captured by reporters:
Viestenz Smith mountain park about 9 AM Thursday (9/12/13)Big Thompson Canyon (Hwy 34 from Loveland to Estes Park, CO
Wolf Song Blog 