Since Spring arrived, each time we visit Garner Valley, we see different flowers blooming and new birds have arrived for the summer.
The Western Bluebird is a year round resident here. His home is now being shared by a lot of other colorful birds, including the Bulloch's Oriole and Western Tanager.
The first migrant that I noticed was the Western Kingbird. They like the same perches as Bluebirds where they can be on the lookout for insects.
As the weeks have gone by, the yellow flowers have been replaced by purple, orange and red flowers. I haven't learned the names of the flowers, yet.
Recently, we went birdwatching in the valley and spotted this Lark Sparrow nesting in the meadow behind a Sagebrush. It was a great discovery since it was so well hidden.
Sometimes I see single, small flowers such as this Mariposa lily struggling to live in this dry environment. As Summer progresses, I expect to see less and less flowers so I am enjoying them as long as they last.
It has been getting noticeably drier. It hasn't rained in over 5-6 weeks. Today when we hiked in the mountains, we noticed the dripping water from a water tank that is providing much needed water for the local birds. This Stellar's Jay was one of many birds who came to drink while we stood and watched.
I was hoping to see a White headed Woodpecker today. Lucky me, he was one of the birds that showed up at the dripping water. Watching the birds drinking from this spot, reminded us of the importance of protecting our natural resources. Water is something we all need and take for granted much of the time.
