A Fall Day

 

Here is the truth about living in California. In the Fall. Autumn  really is only in my mind. It is still hot, and still dry and dusty. This fall the trees are loosing leaves, but only I think to water starvation. The sunshine is abundant and the air you breathe is still crunchy and brown too. Walking in the mornings, is like pulling a loaded wagon. All up hill. But this morning, I saw that the  Northern Flickers have arrived!!! I had heard them screeching in the trees about Wednesday. They always scare me at first because they sound very much like a hawk. I had let my chickens out in the yard that morning, so when I first heard it I start scanning the trees.

Not my Picture.

This morning, I was watching Mr. and Mrs at an ant hill. They were just vacuuming up those unlucky ants this  fine morning. I guess they were tired and hungry from their trip.

 Mr and Mrs Pointy Head ( Black Phoebe)  are back too.  They also have Junior Pointy head with them and they had a terrible row in the back yard. It seems Junior wanted some food, and Mom and Dad have decided enough is enough. So while I ate breakfast with my binoculars in one hand, I watched Junior cry his heart out at the top of the redwood. No one listened. Well except me, that sound he makes drives me crazy. I did notice him fly off and do a double back flip,  to catch a bug in mid air so he does know how to feed himself.

Not my picture either.

The Blue Jays are extremely put out because of the new comers.

Also not mine.

They sit around on the fence and make that sound of two marbles being ground together. While cussing and complaining under their breath. I have one blue jay who has found the cat food dish. First it flies to the swimming pool fence. Sits there and watches and makes sure no one is watching. (I am crawling around on my knees peeking out the window so this is how I know.) He then flies to the back of a chair on the patio. He flies down to the table, eats some cat food then grabs a beak full of  food to eat on the road.  He flies off like a bugler, laughing all the way.   Every single day, unless of course I forget to fill the cat food bowl. Then he sits on the swimming pool fence and yells at the house. Birds are very bossy.

This morning while watching the flickers. The male flew towards me like this.

How I wish this was my image.

It was lovely. I can tell you honestly, being able to see birds in the fall. Is such a gift!! To be able to see that color, I just stood there and said, "Thank you God for giving me back my sight." It is so nice to be here, right now.

Have a lovely weekend,
~Kim~

This photo is mine.

“After the keen still days of September, the October sun filled the world with mellow warmth...The maple tree in front of the doorstep burned like a gigantic red torch. The oaks along the roadway glowed yellow and bronze. The fields stretched like a carpet of jewels, emerald and topaz and garnet. Everywhere she walked the color shouted and sang around her...In October any wonderful unexpected thing might be possible.”
― Elizabeth George Speare, The Witch of Blackbird Pond