Birds of Spring

I saw a Robin today. The swallows arrived over a week ago.

 

I look forward to the return of spring because with this heatwave it already feels like summer.

 

 

Today's high 94.3°.

 

Say's Phoebe

December 28, 2025 6:51 am

"First Thing: Out the door at first light in my PJ's with Mattie and cats. A band of orange on the horizon."

 

 

7:24 am

"Second Thing: Walking to Pen - a bird the size of a robin but a different call, red rumped. Used Merlin to ID Sound: "Say's Phoebe", It flew ~ 10 ft ahead of me each time as I walked to Pen."

 

 

 (I had mentioned to The Man that I had not seen the wee bird since it stopped raining.)

January 11, 2026 7:16 am

"First thing: Saw/heard Say's Phoebe. Maybe it's an early bird." 

 

 

  

Sneaking a Peek

 

 

Turkey Aloft

 

 

 

Flock Foto

I have been trying to get a group pic of the Band-tailed pigeons. They are so skittish especially when they are on the ground. I finally managed (on two different days) to get a few pics looking down at them from the upstairs window.

 

 

 

Strolling About

We stopped by Atascadero Lake for a couple of laps again - sadly no frozen yogurt - but we were treated to other things instead:

Fishing in the lake and

 

 

a Wood Duck pair strolling down the path,

 

  

stunningly beautiful.

 

Wary Birds

I keep trying to get a nice flock photo of the Band-tailed pigeons. They won't let me.

 

 

 

 

 

Easy Bird ID

Early this morning, on my way to let the goats out, I noticed an unfamiliar bird near the pen. I stopped to watch it and it flew up into a nearby tree. I took several pics of it hoping the photos would help me identify it later.

After taking several tree shots of the bird it flew down to the ground in front of me and allowed me to get even better pics of it as it posed for the camera: face front, turn right, turn left, turn around.

 

 

Loggerhead Shrike, such a cooperative bird.

Beautifully Eerie

This morning the fog was thick and insulating. It was so quiet - no human sounds - beautiful and eerie.

 

Colors seemed more vibrant: the blue of the bench, the green of the hillside.

 

 

When the fog lifted - surprise - a covey of California quail.

 

We Wait

The Band-tailed pigeons and I wait patiently for the return of sunshine and blue skies.

 

 

Not today, but maybe tomorrow.

 

 

Good to the Last Drop

I notice that if I let the Hummingbird Feeder run dry it takes a couple of days before the wee birds show up again. This morning I thought I would be proactive and fill the feeder while it still had juice.

Just as I reached to take the feeder down this little guy showed up.

 

 

 

 

It was not concerned that I was standing a few inches away nor did it stop feeding. I left him to it.

A Mouthful

Fun to watch the birds gather fiber for their nest-building from the mesh round feeder.

This Lesser Goldfinch wasn't happy till he had a good mouthful beakful of the soft stuff.

 

 

Riding Thermals

 Such a breezy day - the wind before the storm - the turkey buzzards seemed to enjoy the free ride.

 

Nesting Zone

A few days ago I surprised a little bird while raking the narrow space between the house and the raised garden bed.

I wouldn't have thought too much about it except the bird, a Dark-eyed Junco, didn't fly away. It hovered close by and tsk-tsked angrily at me.

Which made me curious.

I moved my rake aside, contorted myself into the small space, and peeked under the wooden overhang.

The Lil Mama was watching me (still tsking) as I moved away from her nest.

Since then I've learned that I can water the garden and move quietly around the planter area without disturbing the Lil Mama off her nest.

Yesterday morning as I watered the garden The Man rapped on the window and made wavy motions with his hand. What? Oh.

I grabbed a stick to detour the garter snake away from the Nesting Zone. I hope the Lil Mama and her eggs will be okay because, you know, snakes can't read.