...of a Phoebe begins its vigilant ritual during the nesting process in spring. As they seem to post up on anything that is relatively near the nest, it makes for a lovely opportunity to photograph them yearly. The phoebes have been coming to this property since before we moved in. I came upon remnants of nests gone by in the alcove of a little barn, and to my surprise, they have made full use of it every year since. Naturally, the area becomes off limits to us during this process.

This year, two different sets of phoebes have taken up summer lodgings. They just seem to love using the manmade items to build their nests around. The other pair have - inconveniently for me; not really - decided that under the decking is the perfect place ...and it is! ....however again, I have to tread so lightly all the time until all are fledged....sigh....as a full fledged birder, nothing makes me happier!

Thank you for your visits and conversation!

heavy ground fog taking away the distraction of color

many thanks for stopping by to visit and share....risa

Red-shouldered hawk

Western Gray Squirrel peeling the husk off the California Buckeye seed pod

many thanks for stopping by to visit and share....risa

Early this morning, off in the distance, I could make out a small flock of cedar waxwings warming up at the top of a tree. A bit later, I noticed a couple had flown over closer to where I was and an adult was feeding what I guessed was its offspring small dark pokeberries. I was surprised since it's mid November but hey, kids are leaving home later....or coming back to visit! This shot was of the adult continuing to warm up after breakfast was served

Thank you so much for your visits and conversation

Many thanks to those that take the time to visit and/or comment and fav...it is sincerely appreciated!

Canada Goose -Branta canadensis - on the attack

Many thanks to those that take the time to visit and/or comment and fav...it is sincerely appreciated!

a white contrail lit up by the setting sun with no embellishments

of course it should end with "hills"

"That comes from Mark Twain’s 1892 novel The American Claimant. He supposedly got it indirectly from a Georgia assayer, Dr. Matthew Fleming Stephenson, who said, “there’s millions in it,” to keep locals from heading to California for the Gold Rush in 1849. The phrase later became corrupted to the above."

Thank you for your visits and inspiration!

and Van Morrison came to mind...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIaKy1vM9hs

Thank you for the visits and conversation!

two flickers going through one of many poses as they hung out on the remains of a tree

thanks always for stopping by to visit and share....risa

Wilson's Warbler - Cardellina pusilla

many thanks for stopping by to visit and share....risa

Thank you for your visits and conversation

thanks always for stopping by to visit and share....risa

Heat waves and torrential downpours have left the petals of most in the garden with the stain from the battle of our changing climate and they still fight on....will we do no less

Thank you for the visits and conversation!

Thank you for your visits and conversation

All fluffed up and everywhere to go!

juvenile white crowned sparrow showing off the emerging white stripes to his crown. one difference I've noticed is that the juveniles on the west coast seem to have a more yellowish beak

Thanks for visiting!

thank you for your visits!

many thanks for stopping by to visit and share....risa

and One for All...

I hope All are enjoying the summer as much as this berry loving Red Bellied Woodpecker

Passerella iliaca

Happy to find him up on a branch rather than on the ground where they like to forage

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit, comment or fav...very much appreciated!!

budding agapanthus

Thank you for your visits!

immature Red-tailed Hawk

it's turning cold.......

many thanks for stopping by to visit and share....risa

Golden-crowned Sparrow

I'm just seeing if my stream is working yet....

male acorn woodpecker

thanks always for stopping by to visit and share....risa

No matter the designation...which I'm happy to hear from the experts on...this Golden-crowned sparrow was found in a large flock on our hillside. He/she definitely seemed to stay undercover far more of the time - (probably instinctually) - due to how noticeably it stood out from the crowd. It took many days to finally get a shot that really showed off this buffy coloring and delightful beauty. It is definitely not white in coloring.

"Isabelline refers to a situation where the darker pigmented feathers are faded to a light beige color."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabelline_(colour)

Many thanks to those that take the time to visit and/or comment and fav...it is sincerely appreciated!

thanks always for stopping by to visit and share....risa

a dutiful male Baltimore Oriole busy with the work of tending his youngster

Thank you always for the visits and friendship

lovely female Acorn Woodpecker in the fall

Thank you for the visits and conversation!

many thanks for stopping by to visit and share....risa

taking in the last rays of the day

Thank you for visiting!

Great Egret hunting in the meadow

Every summer this Great Egret comes to our house and hunts the open land around us. He knows precisely where to find his summer fare of lizards, snakes and voles. His movements bring to mind nature's form of Tai Chi as he slowly and precisely moves through the landscape always coming away quite satisfied...

Golden-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia atricapilla

Taken in Northern California

Thanks all for the views and comments...always so very appreciated...

thanks always for stopping by to visit and share....risa

Anna's Hummingbird in the rain - Calypte anna

Thanks so very much for the visits, comments and favs....it is very much appreciated -risa

I hope all are enjoying the transition to fall

Many thanks to those that take the time to visit and/or comment and fav...it is sincerely appreciated!

American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos

Many thanks to those that take the time to visit and/or comment and fav...it is sincerely appreciated!

I'm putting all my cards on the table and identifying this bird as a male Scarlet Tanager. The females and immatures are greenish/yellow with olive wings. Apparently, as fall approaches, the males shed their red plumage and take on a similar appearance to the females who are yellow. So in any event, this bird has some changes coming possibly!

I was thrilled this morning when I saw this tanager eyeing the pokeweed berries and when he hovered mid-air to secure one, I did capture his wings up and there, right where our armpits would be (I'm sure there is a technical name!) a small hint of red!

I do feel pretty darn confident it is a tanager but would always be glad to hear from people who know more about this than me!

Good weekend to all and thank you so much for your visits!

his beautiful blue eyes give me clues to his young age.

I have been off for quite awhile and have truly missed ALL my flickr friends....I will continue to be off and on throughout the summer and hope to slowly catch up with the collective vision of the flickr universe! Hope you are all having a wonderful summer!!!!!

Many thanks to those that take the time to visit and/or comment and fav...it is sincerely appreciated!

thank you for your visits...always appreciate the conversations!