Bird and Garden Diary - October 14

Lots of bird news to report. Sorry I haven't kept track of exact dates, but I've been busy with work, and getting the dance group and language classes under way for the season. I ordered the "pond" that I'd been wanting all summer and it came and is set up. You can see pictures at http://public.fotki.com/llawryf/home-and-garden-2007/page4.html

The birds do indeed love it! The one chickadee I had in early September must have invited ALL of his brothers and his sisters, and his cousins, and his aunts! Because now there are dozens of them everywhere. And I love them! Whether it was the pond, or not, I had an entire flock of yellow-rumped warblers here in late September and early October. For at least two weeks, they were also everywhere. And they thoroughly enjoyed the pond. I have a wonderful picture of that - still in the camera at this point - but it will be added to the above photo album in the next month as soon as I use up the film. I am trying to get a picture of the red-breasted nuthatch who showed up here again today. It seemed to be having a bit of a discussion with a chickadee in the platform feeder!

My white-breasted nuthatch has made several appearances in the last few weeks. And the downy and hairy woodpeckers are back. Have also seen blue jays. Early October brought a one-time appearance of a northern flicker. I THINK I may have had a purple finch in the birdbath, but he flew away before I got a positive ID, and I haven't seen him since. The house finches are back. I have a female that has been sleeping regularly on the feeder hanging by the window. She has also been trying very hard to get stuck in one of the ports of the combo feeder, so I decided I had better fill it up with more seeds! I also think I saw the first junco of the season today, but it flew away before I could grab the binoculars. Anyway, it was dark above, white below, and had the definite flash of two outer white tail feathers as it flew away. Haven't seen any goldfinches today, but they have still been around lately.

The last hummingbird left probably in the last week of September. Seemed earlier than last year but I don't remember for sure. We had a hard freeze around September 10. Definitely too early! I put blankets over all of the veggie garden that night. It has stayed above freezing since then, so I am still getting eggplants, peppers, and lots of tomatoes. I will need to pick the last of them soon though. The mums are gorgeous! Three different shades of pink and burgundy across the fence around the front window. They look like velvet. The aster is in full bloom. The osteospermum is still blooming. Also the large yellow rudbeckia or whatever it is. And the white swan echinacea.

Ha! Just got a picture of the red-breasted nuthatch, the downy woodpecker, and some chickadees at the feeder all at the same time. Just two more pics and I can go get the film developed. Now where was I? Oh yes, one of the delphiniums has rebloomed, and the alyssum and other wild flowers along the front walk are still blooming. Yesterday I had a rabbit sitting for a long time right in front of the front window. It was sitting in the little depression left by the bunny birdbath which I moved over to the other side of the garden. I love October!