My Friend Flicker

After a recent rain, Piper and I discovered a young flicker taking advantage of the water captured in the top of an old wine barrel. He watched us watching him get a drink. 

He didn't seem to mind our presence, though. 

I really love the flicker's markings. I did a carving of one a while ago, just to try and capture all those spots and stripes. 

This pose got the cuteness prize for the morning. 

An adult flicker was foraging nearby. You can see that his bib is more complete and the red feathers on the back of his head are more brilliantly colored. The youngster's patch of scarlet is still muted by some baby brown feathers. 

See? The spots on the front and the stripes on the back (not to mention the dramatic moustache!) Then, to top it all off, when they take flight a flash of bright yellow under their wings is an extra treat. They're called yellow-shafted flickers as well, because rather than being white, gray or brown, the feather shafts are that same bright yellow. 

These beautiful birds fly south for the winter, too, so I'm appreciating them while I can! :)

Ducking and Diving

Piper was too spooked by all the booms in the vineyards to go on a walk to the wetlands, so I had to wander off by myself. As a result, I got to sit and watch the ducks for a little while. 

Once this picture was downloaded from the camera, I noticed that I had not only captured the duck in the foreground, but also a painted turtle in the background. Serendipity!

Madame Wood Duck was sailing along through the water lilies looking regal and serene.  The white of the flowers highlight her strikingly beautiful eye markings, making them even more dramatic. 

Speaking of strikingly beautiful, Monsieur Wood Duck was way on the other side of the marsh, so the picture is a little bit grainy, but I thought it worthwhile, if only to see the way he found the perfect camouflaging background to blend with the greens, reds and browns of his handsome ensemble. 

Prickly Personality

Piper and I encountered a porcupine while out on the trail. It was shimmying down a tree not far off the path. 

Little Miss Piper was very curious about this new and exciting creature. 

Happily, she was on a leash and didn't have an unfortunate meet and greet. 

There was, however, a lot of sniffing and observing (and a lot of me telling her to "leave it"). 

Yikes!

Back Yard Buddies

 I always enjoy keeping an eye on the creatures visiting my back yard. 

Chickadees are regulars, of course, but every now and then I get a fun picture. This pert little bird was peering out from the middle of the miniature lilac bush. 

Baby critters are always a delight. The red-winged blackbird fledgling above is starting to molt into its adult plumage. Check out the red patch just starting to blush on the shoulder. 

Finally, this gray squirrel is taking full advantage of the low hanging bird bath. She's being so well mannered as she slakes her thirst. 

Piper is frightened by all the cannons going off in the vineyards to keep the birds from eating the ripening grapes, so we've been sticking closer to home. There's always something to watch and enjoy, though. :)

In the Nick of Time

The last time I went down to the family homestead to pick beans and tomatoes and otherwise puddle around in the gardens, the zinnias were absolutely glorious. 

The brilliant colors and beautiful blooms were a feast for the eyes. 

I'm so glad I took a moment to snap a few pictures of our wondrous row. 

Why? Well, we got nailed by an unexpected frost. So, all these amazing plants are now brown and wilted. 

They were amazing while they lasted, though! 

The Commuters

This time of year is always bittersweet. I love the crisp air, clear skies and autumnal colors. 

On the other hand, my favorite birds, both large and small take flight and head south. The sandhill cranes are molting, exchanging their rusty summer feathers for their winter silver gray plumage. This particular pair has been coming to our family property for several years now. They've gotten to know us well enough that they don't fly off as soon as we show up at the field. Unfortunately, they weren't successful at raising a colt this year. That always makes me sad - we really enjoy watching the family groups and love seeing them bring up the next generation. These two will soon fly away south and I will miss these tall beauties until they return in the spring. 

I miss the tiny ones when they abandon us for warmer climes. There are only a few left and I will be leaving the feeders out and ready for them until at least a week after the last one departs, just in case there's a late commuter desperate for some extra energy. 

They're such amazing little emerald gems - the miles they fly on those tiny wings boggle my imagination. 

The bright side is that winter visitors will soon arrive to take up residence for the cold months. Nature would never leave us bereft of beauty! 

Trail Cam Thursday

I love it when the trail cameras capture the candid antics of various creatures wandering around on the family property. 

This doe looks like she was caught while totally absorbed in pondering the mysteries of the universe, staring at the heavens and thinking deep thoughts. 
 

The twins look like they're discussing mischief and finding a way to sneak some extra snacks. It's always tempting to try and get one over on mom, after all! 

We have to look through hundreds of far less interesting pictures to find a few that are delightful, but it's worth the effort! 

Hail to the Queen

Queen Anne's Lace, that is. 
 

These amazing and unique beauties are in full splendor these days. Each blossom has its own special design and character. The one above has a brilliant red center standing out against the lacy white petals. 

Piper has a tendency to try to photobomb almost everything I stop to photograph. She's always curious about what I've found. 

This blossom still has pink around the edges as it unfurls. I love the way the spotted knapweed in the background complements and brings out the color.  

This one has the look of a twisting spiral. I can almost imagine it spinning like a pinwheel. 

I've already done a carving of one of these flowers, but they still call to me. :)

Another Little Dear

But, this one is a deer.  

Piper and I were out walking in the big field and this sweet little fellow came walking up to us bleating hungrily for its mother every step of the way. It came within about ten feet of us and was clearly curious about both Piper and me. 

Piper sat beside me, behaving beautifully and after giving us a good perusal, the little spotted buddy turned around and continued its bleating march back in the direction from which it had come.

It was a magical way to start the day. 

Little Deer

 ...Killdeer, that is.

There are a couple spots along the shoreline where Piper and I walk most mornings that seem to attract killdeer. They nest nearly every year somewhere near there and I love getting to see them going about their business.

The picture above actually has both parents in the frame. One of them is taking full advantage of its camouflage ability - can you see it? 

For some reason, these birds always look worried to me. (Of course, I'm usually walking the dog, so they probably have cause.)

I love their markings. I have a feeling that one of these will eventually become a carving. They're just too striking to resist. :)

And Another Chipper

It's a chipmunk this time! This busy little critter has been stuffing its face and storing food for winter just as fast as its legs can carry it to and from its nesting area. 

These greedy guys may vastly increase my bird food bill, but they're cute enough to get away with it. 

Seriously, who can resist that earnest little face?? Not I! 

Of course, Piper does give chase from time to time, if she happens to see one before I do. 

Oh, Chipper One

 I've been busy with family stuff again and have fallen way behind in ... well, just about everything. 

Here's a little chipping sparrow singing its heart out at the tip of a small spruce tree. It made me smile and I hope gives you a grin, too. :)

Many sparrows head farther north in the summer to nest, but these cuties stick around pretty nearly all year. Some will head south for the winter, but some are hardy souls that brave the cold and snow. 

Sparrows might be plain brown birds to some people, but I find them quite delightful, with markings and habits that make them anything but plain.