Lazy Saturday

Other than getting a latte and a donut, and making pastrami for lunch, we sat around waiting for birds to come by. The Hermit Thrush is a special guest.



Hermit Thrush


Scrub Jay


Nutmeg Mannikin

Birdy Weekend

On Saturday, we noticed some rare visitors, bluebirds and cedar waxwings, coming to our bird bath. So, on Sunday we took the camera out with us.



Here's a photo of this unusual pair, a Western Bluebird and a Cedar Waxwing.



Cedar Waxwings usually travel in large flocks. Here's three at the bath.



The Scrub Jay is also a infrequent visitor to our yard.



The Nutmeg Mannikins have been making nearly daily, often brief visits. We are hoping for a nest somewhere.



We're not sure how much longer the Dark-eyed Junco will stay before heading to Oregon for the summer.




We eventually found the reason for the Waxwings, Bluebirds (and robins). A nearby palm tree was providing them with food.

Birdy Saturday at home

We stayed home!  Chris had been seeing a Wilson's warbler visiting the bath during the week, so that was enticing enough to keep Mike housebound Saturday.  We sat outside and waited for the birds to come to us.  Such a nice day - not too hot for most of it.  Sometimes we just get a feeling in the air that an unusual bird will drop by.  Today we had that feeling, and our hunch was correct.  Our infrequent visitors, the nutmeg mannikins, came by.  We also had an orange crowned warbler hanging around.  Does this mean fall is creeping up on us?  Maybe so, but it's still hot enough that the water features seem to be the biggest attractant bringing in the birds.

Anna's Hummingbird

Nutmeg Mannikins

Hooded Oriole

Scrub Jay

Wilson's Warbler

Orange-crowned Warbler

California Backyard birds

Who needs to go out birding when you have this variety of birds coming by the house?

Spotted Towhee


Scrub Jay


Cedar Waxwing


Bushtit


Hermit Thrush


Western Bluebird


Orange-crowned Warbler