California Thrasher

One very hot day last week, we were privileged to spot a California Thrasher foraging for insects in the backyard. I've seen these birds in the chapparal but this is a first so close to human environment.

He's back.

Here is a bird that my youngest grandson would have enjoyed seeing. This Greater Roadrunner hung out in my backyard, today, while temperatures were in the triple digits. I saw him capture and eat a lizard, first, and later caught him drinking stagnant water out of a non-functioning water fountain.

How Lucky I Am

Camped with daughter and her family, Dan and the grandsons, at Serrano Campground in Big Bear and was delighted to get this shot of a Northern Flicker. It had been poking its beak into the dirt, finding and eating ants.

Glorious Sunflower

Even in this oppressive, triple digit weather, there is beauty in the bloom of this sunflower.

Still here!

Absolutely love seeing Bullock's Orioles! A brilliant male at my feeder enjoys some home-made nectar and a female bathes in my solar birdbath during the last stretch of June!

My Passion...22 years later.

Since Dan had his kidney transplant, I've been fairly busy with his care and trips to UCLA's transplant clinic so I haven't been a very good aviarian photographer lately. To celebrate my youngest grand daughter's 9th birthday, the family went horseback riding in Acton, on an intermediate trail with lots of varied terrain. (I did manage to spot a Great Tailed Grackle on the trek!) It was a 2 hour ride which, during the last half, I learned to fully understand why older people opt for knee and hip replacements. This was Wednesday and I still have some aches but have managed the pain well (however some family members say that I'm walking "bow legged.")

Earlier in the morning, I had made a mental note to take down the Oriole feeder and put it in safe keeping until next year, as I hadn't spotted any Oriole activity for quite awhile.

Later that evening, we were eating dinner and Dan and my daughter both saw a male, Hooded Oriole picking at the orange on the feeder. My hopes were renewed.

So, this morning, around 6:45, I took the feeder down, cleaned it and replaced the nectar, jam and added fresh orange wedges. Before I could get it back outside, I saw a female Oriole land on the feeder top and seem bewildered that food was not there.

The lesson: Just because I haven't observed much colorful bird activity, that doesn't necessarily mean they are not there! Needless to say, my Oriole feeder awaits its patrons, and I have moved my computer to the dining room where I'm most likely to see these beautiful birds!