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Violet-green swallow flock returns to the lower orchard

8/29/2014

Violet-green swallow in fight

Returning to the house, I find the violet-green swallow flock that had been present in the lower orchard earlier in the summer, had returned - they had completely disappeared for probably the last four weeks or so.

The small flock lined the utility wires crossing the lower orchard

Their chattering presence enlivens the lower orchard

Must be the same flock, because there was also one barn swallow pair with them before -

Barn swallow

Barn swallow landing on lower orchard utility wire

Barn swallow, lower orchard

Barn swallows accompanying the violet-greens - one on left might be a juvenile

California towhee on fence post

Elsewhere on the property - rare daytime sighting, the sonoma county gray fox - cutting through the back orchard behind the house - mostly have seen these at night or early evening, when the light hasn't been good for a photograph.

Gray fox, back orhcard

BACK AT THE LAGUNA - Great egret on oak tree top next to the waterway.

Great egret on tree top

Male Wison's warbler, the Laguna

Pacific slope flycatcher, the Laguna

Chestnut-backed chickadee, the Laguna

Wasn't having much luck, until a flock of chestnut-backed chickadees came through, and with them were many other small birds - comfort in numbers.

With the chickadee flock was also a brown creeper

Brown creeper, the Laguna

Small flock of bushtit also traveling with the chickadees

Even the warblers seemed more active - female Wilson's warbler

Quite a few Downy woodpeckers as well - here is the male Downy

Dark shot of our black-crowned night heron - they roost in this tree

Belted Kingfisher, the Laguna

Making a racket in a far tree was the Belted Kingfisher, only I could not get any good photos - too far away. This is the best of some mostly blurry shots. However, hopefully I can surprise this wondrous bird in the future...

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More from the Laguna - a birder's paradise!

8/27/2014

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Snowy egret in flight over the water, at the Laguna

The park follows a natural waterway through a collection of oak woodlands, riparian forests, and open grasslands. The presence of the water way adds to the great diversity of birds...

Great egret, the Laguna

Great egret in flight

Great Blue Heron in the grasses along the water at the Laguna

Great Blue Heron in flight, the Laguna

Flock of Canadian geese on far side of the Laguna water way.

The song sparrow is seen throughout the changing ecosystems of the Laguna.

Song sparrow, the Laguna

While crossing the seasonal bridge in the park, I noticed a large bird hunkered down in the heavy canopy of a big tree overlooking the water. I took a few chance photos, and when I got back home I saw that it was a Black-crowned Night Heron!

Black-crowned Night Heron at the Laguna

Red-shouldered hawk along one of the Laguna trails - didn't have my lens hood extended all the way, so there is some reflection off the glass in the photo

A juvenile house finch asks an adult for a feeding, in some trees along one of the Laguna paths.

Juvenile house finch

Black phoebe in flight along the Laguna waterway

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Drought ridden and earthquake rocked northern California

8/25/2014

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One wonders how nature is going to proceed...and yet it does just proceed...

Snowy egret, Laguna de Santa Rosa

Another walk through the Laguna, distant photo of snowy egret, but look at this bird's feet - wow!

Black Phoebe, at the Laguna

Black Phoebe

Early evening walk through the Laguna, and the shrubs and small trees were full of black phoebe's hunting for an evening meal, and song sparrows.

Song sparrow in the hedges

White-tailed kite, the Laguna

In a tall tree not directly accessible by the trails, so my access was limited, sat a white-tailed kite. Wished I could have gotten closer -

Later, it or another one was hovering in flight as they do while hunting, and you can see the pure natural gracefulness of these birds...

White-tailed kite, hovering, at the Laguna

Hopefully as I continue to explore the Laguna with my camera, I can get some closer photos...

Goldfinch in the brush, the Laguna

Back on the Cherryridge property, Acorn woodpeckers still sorting and re-arranging their acorns...

Acorn woodpecker

This acorn woodpecker dug up one acorn, and jumped with it to another tree, where he began to rebury it in the bark.

Poison oak, deep red fall colors

I recently read that the drought is affecting the oak trees, and they are dropping their acorns early, and has forced the poison oak into its deep fall colors while still only August, and the blackberries are dried up on the bushes, all of which I have observed on the property.

Many of the blackberries look like this

Fallen acorns, two months early

Anna's hummingbird at the farm

Anna's hummer at the farm has lots of flowers to choose from in their garden.

Anna's hummer at the farm, moving to another flower

Goldfinch on a dried sunflower seed pod at the farm

Little hummer by the porch, looks like a silent scream - I think this is nervousness from my getting pretty close with the camera

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Laguna de Santa Rosa

8/23/2014

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With two or three almost rainy days here, and now the workers are in the orchards collecting apples, birding on the property has been rather limited. Have been meaning to take my camera down to the Laguna de Santa Rosa, accessible in Sebastopol, which is known for it diversity of birds, and recently got a short bird walk in -

Song sparrow

Laguna de Santa Rosa song sparrow

Song sparrow, Laguna de Santa Rosa

Male Wison's warbler, Laguna de Santa Rosa

There were lots of Wilson's warblers, however, just managed this one halfway decent photo (above); while I was standing under a large oak tree, a Cooper's hawk circled overhead (below):

Cooper's hawk, Laguna de Santa Rosa

Cooper's hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Male Downy woodpecker, Laguna de Santa Rosa

Red-shouldered hawk perched in tree canopy, Laguna de Santa Rosa

The park provided great cover and food for numerous goldfinches - often I would almost walk right past them, since they blended in so well among the grasses and shrubs.

Goldinch, Laguna de Santa Rosa

Goldfinch in flight

Anna's hummer, Laguna de Santa Rosa

There seemed to be quite a few Anna's hummingbirds in the park (above); as well as towhees, this could be a juvenile spotted towhee (below).

Juvenile spotted Towhee? Laguna de Santa Rosa

Male bushtit, Laguna de Santa Rosa

Female bushtit (females have pale eyes)

Backyard report - just a few photos of some of the usual suspects in the cherryridge back yard -

Chestnut-backed chickadee at the upside-down suet feeder, back yard

This chickadee photo really illustrates why this bird is called the "chestnut-backed" chickadee (above).

Pygmy nuthatches still taking sunflower seeds from the feeder, for storage in the tree branches

Juvenile pygmy nuthatch

Just saw this young pygmy nuthatch, which is mostly feeding itself by now, revert to its juvenile stance with one of the adults in the flock.

Below, one of the young nuthatches just went all around the hanging water bowl getting its tail feathers wet - might be its idea of a bath - or the water even in these small bowls is too deep for them.

Pygmy nuthatch at the water bowl, back yard

Pygmy nuthatch jumping away, half wet, after the "bath"

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Life on Mars

8/17/2014

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These goldfinch in a neighbor's sunflower plants, in the early evening light, make them seem placed in an extraterrestrial landscape...

Goldfinch

Juvenile goldfinch with adult in background

There was an adult with two juveniles, who would feed themselves for awhile, and then run over and pester the adult for food

Two juvenile goldfinch

Adult goldfinch eating sunflower seeds

Juvenile goldfinch among the alien fauna

Small flock of quail, one adult with juvenile chicks

Walking into the orchard, flushed a small flock of quail...

Juvenile quail chicks making a run for it

Intrepid scout quail, keeping a lookout

Spotted towhee with insect

Taking a shortcut through redwood grove, spotted towhee among the trees and branches (above); once back in the orchard, followed hammering sounds to this Downy Woodpecker.

Male Downy woodpecker doing some hammering, lower orchard

On a distant perch, a northern flicker!

Juvenile black phoebe, near the farm

Black Phoebe with juvenile markings on wings - probably from the nest seen in previous blog, at the beginning of the summer months...

Acorn woodpecker among the old oaks. lower orchard

Acorn woodpecker taking flight

Bushtit among the red hawthorn berries

Bushtit

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Nuthatch Day in the back yard

8/14/2014

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Mid-August weather has a feel of early fall, perhaps stirring these small birds to begin seed gathering and filling up on high energy suet...

White-breasted nuthatch digging in the back yard oak tree branch

Red-breasted nuthatch at the upside-down suet feeder

Pygmy nuthatch on branch above feeders

Pygmy nuthach

Where there are pygmy nuthatches, there are chickadees, as these small birds often group together

Chestnut-backed chickadee in back yard trees

Red-breasted nuthatch

This looks like a juvenile red-breasted nuthatch

White-breasted nuthatch

Two pygmy nuthatches with seeds

Oak titmouse was shooting in among the nuthatches to grab sunflower seeds.

These small birds unlike finches, cannot crack these seeds with their beaks, and must hold the seed on a strong branch between their feet and chip it open (chickadees, too)

Oak titmouse chipping at sunflower seed held in place with its feet

Red-breasted nuthatch, back yard

White-breasted nuthatch

Red-breasted nuthatch

Their tree-climbing claws curl up and overlap when they sit on thin branches...almost like small woodpecker feet...

Chestnut-backed chickadee, grabbing on the feeder hanger

Red-breasted nuthatch above one of the seed feeders

Overlooking the flurry of nuthatches was a little Anna's hummer

Young house finch pushed out of sunflower feeder by nuthatches, looks like it had been eating berries, too.

Front yard, early morning, the pacific slope flycatcher

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Acorn time

8/12/2014

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Acorn woodpecker shoots from top of utility pole with a large acorn.

The acorn woodpeckers are supposed to be digging holes to save acorns in for the winter, but this one dug around and pulled out a large acorn, and flew off with it!

Acorn woodpecker on utility pole

Acorn woodpecker dropping his prize

This acorn woodpecker stayed on the pole and seemed to find something and then dropped it, maybe an acorn.

Anna's hummer at the front porch fluffs up and flashes red when another hummer approaches the feeder

Anna's hummer

Brief visit of female nuttall's woodpecker on utility pole near farm

In the old orchard, found the group of juvenile turkeys looking larger and more adult like, still accompanied by a few mature turkey hens.

Turkeys head back into wooded area

Male lesser goldfinch in the thistle

For the goldfinches, thistle seed is still what's on the menu!

Male lesser goldfinch, lower orhard

Apples are large and dropping everywhere, in the areas left with trees in the orchard

Twin fawns and their mother often seen in side yard

Resident fawn

Dark-eyed junco eating a millet seed, blending in with its surroundings perfectly

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Early evening walk through the orchards...

8/8/2014

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Hooded oriole making a racket in one of the large oak trees between the farm and the old orchard.

Jumping around, too, so my apologies photos are not better.

Hooded Oriole

Hooded oriole - an elegant bird

When I went to step under the tree to see if I could get a better angle, a hawk shot out of the tree - so that's why the oriole was making all the fuss! Looked like the cooper's hawk, but it was moving too fast for me!

Probably juvenile female downy woodpecker

Thought I had discovered a new bird, but realized it must be a juvenile, it was making noises I hadn't heard before from these birds, and seemed to be chasing another downy, possibly the adult, indicating juvenile behavior, as in still needing the adult to feed it.

Female downy woodpecker, old orchard

Red-tailed hawk, leaping from tree

As I came around the corner into the old orchard, I flushed the red-tailed hawk from its high perch in the eucalyptus grove.

Red-tailed hawk, screeching.

The red-tail zoomed around to make one screeching pass over me, after leaping from its perch.

Female quail in a big stretch

Juvenile quail

Quail action shot (above). This female quail jumped up in a big stretch; it was out on a evening stroll with its mate and some of the remaining juvenile chicks, who are getting to be almost full size.

Male downy woodpecker, back orchard

Apple trees heavy with fruit right now in the orchards still with trees in them

Little male downy inspects all the boards again that have been placed under the trees to hold up the heavy apple tree branches full of apples, in the back orchard.

Male Downy woodpecker, back orchard, inspecting the boards

House finch, at the edge of the old orchard

Anna's hummer in the back yard

Goldfinch in the back yard near the feeders

White-breasted nuthatch, backyard feeder

All the nuthatches are gathering seeds to hide in the tree branches for the winter.

Pygmy nuthatch with a small piece of peanut

Two pygmy nuthaches competing for a seed

Pygmy nuthatch, back yard

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Neither bird nor butterfly...

8/5/2014

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BOBCAT! We almost bumped into each other - he was so well camouflaged, and I was walking in a part of the orchard where no one ever walks, so he could never expect to meet up with a human or other such critter most likely.

Bobcat in the open field where apple trees were removed last year, lower orchard

Bobcat, moving rather reluctantly away...

I had been working my way towards this little back area, where farmland ends and a small isolated woodland exists...here there were some lesser goldfinches eating wild thistle seeds as well as other grass seeds...

Lesser goldfinch eating thistle seed

First you have to pull out all the fuzzy parts...

Male lesser goldfinch

Female lesser goldfinch, eating seed grasses

Western bluebird juvenile

Walking past the entrance to the farm, one of the juvenile bluebirds sat on the wire fence.

After that, this small bushtit flock flew with me as I walked back to the house, just coincidentally.

Bushtit in a woodland oak tree

Bushtit

Bushtit, in poison oak bush

Below, this bushtit looks like it is using one of its feet like a hand, to hold a seed pod. Not sure how this bird is actually supporting itself in this photo except for hanging from the seed pod or poison oak berry by one leg.

Bushtit

Acorn woodpecker on an old tree top branch

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Western bluebird fledglings, maybe from the nest box

8/3/2014

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Western bluebird fledgling, one of six found at the farm

Noticing a bird commotion, I found six fledgling bluebirds "parked" 3 on each side of a large farm truck. The parents seemed flustered, and the youngsters seemed pretty hungry. These could be our young birds from the nest box, since definitely the box is empty and there has been no activity there.

Juvenile bluebird on bed of farm truck

Maybe one of the fledglings from nest box?

Walking through the orchard where it borders some private gardens, this Anna's hummer posed for me on a wire fence (below); also came upon some goldfinch feeding on some small black round berries.

Anna's hummer, doing a tongue check

Goldfinch feeding on small black berries of some kind

Goldfinch in private garden bordering orchard

Cliff swallows?

In the old orchard, swallows were still active - a small group of three different kinds: barn swallows, violet-greens, and cliff swallows zooming and chattering.

Otherwise, the swallows seem to be gone for the summer from the orchards closer to the house.

Immediately recognized me and changed direction

While photographing the swallows, my friend the red-tailed hawk took a left turn from first starting to land in one of its favorite perches overlooking the old orchard, to
come shooting over to my location and give me the old once-over.

Red-tailed hawk directly overhead and peering down at photographer. Doesn't like the camera, I think.

Juvenile house finch, back yard

Pygmy nuthatch on one of the suet feeder holders, you can see how small these birds are.

Two acorn woodpeckers on utility pole

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