15 July 11
Turkeys and Jackrabbit
A hen turkey has been hanging around with her three remaining chicks at work, often taking a long break under the walnut tree in the afternoon, where they are often joined by a jackrabbit or two. This one was at lunch, though.
29 June 11
16 May 11
Wilson's Warbler
Cold spring, long migration. Lots of Wilson’s warblers have been singing and eating.
15 May 11
Western Wood-peewee
Western wood-peewees are in suddenly. It’s quite cold here and I don’t know how much they’re finding in the way of insects, but it’s they’re looking!
13 May 11
12 May 11
Black-crowned Night-heron
Finally they flooded the field. Finally I’m drawing birds again. (I did a birdathon by bike last week and it was fabulous, but my drawing’s been suffering a little…)
22 April 11
Bullocks Orioles
A pair of Bullock’s orioles was working the walnut tree outside the kitchen window while I had lunch today. Hope they find it a suitable nest tree!
13 April 11
Scrub-jay in the Toyon
The grosbeaks were back today; up to 30 were seen. I only saw about 20 of them. The scrub-jays seem to be busy on the nest.
12 April 11
Evening Grosbeaks
Yesterday the Center’s director came in brandishing his iPhone which was emitting a call that wasn’t familiar to me. Evening grosbeaks, he said. I looked at him. They’re outside, he said. I grabbed my binoculars and ran out and sure enough, there they were high in a conifer that’s been butchered by overzealous groundspeople.
The grosbeaks were on the ground half an hour later to coincide with my lunch hour. It’s very hard to get that outrageous green on the bill right. Hoping they stick around so I can have another try.
28 January 11
Red-breasted Sapsucker
When you hear soft irregular tapping on a tree it’s always a good idea to check it out because it’s going to be something different than a normal woodpecker. Dense, dense fog this morning and a soft tapping in the almond tree….