Since arriving on the West coast, I have been filling my nature journal with new sightings of birds (and lizards,snakes,insects, mammals) adding to my "life list". Birders use that term when they see a new bird for the first time.
During migration, whether it is Spring or Fall, birds will pass through an area temporarily on their way to their wintering ground. This gives birders like me a chance to go on a treasure "bird hunt" looking for new birds.
It is truly exciting when you look in a tree or bush and see a bird that you've never seen before like this Orange-crowned warbler. For me, getting photos of birds is a huge accomplishment.
Most warblers like this Hermit's warbler are Neotropical birds meaning they migrate to Central and South America for the winter returning to North America to breed each year. Some birds travel thousands of miles each year during migration.
The Black-throated Grey warbler is another migrant. Most songbirds will migrate at night for 8-10 hours. Then they seek food, rest and shelter for a day or more along the way giving us a chance to see them.
Seeds,insects and berries like this Chaparral Honeysuckle are a welcome sight. Many times you can find migrants mixed in with local birds. Most of the warblers that I have seen were mingled in the tree or bush with a flock of Mountain Chickadees or other resident birds like the Pygmy Nuthatches.
Many birds are residents year round but if they are elusive and don't visit bird feeders, it is hard to see them.
This Red-breasted Sapsucker is one of those birds. When I was least expecting it, this woodpecker came into the open on a nearby branch. Wow!
When birdwatching isn't going so well, there's always other cool stuff to see like this dragonfly. I was watching about 10 green and blue Common Green Darner dragonflies which are migratory zooming back and forth over this meadow near the lake. (They are worse than warblers to photograph.) Then I saw this golden winged dragonfly land. I'm not sure what it is called but the wings sparkled in the sunlight. Time to write in my journal. Enjoy the treasures that surround you.
Autumn is a beautiful season full of changes. If you would like to share a nature photo taken from Sept - November 10, please send it to me with a description so I can post an entry in November from various places where we live and visit. We are looking forward to seeing photos from your "patch" in the world!
