Fall Rocks

Fall Rocks at Running Deer.

Fall at Crow Valley

Cold enough to wear my sweatshirt and still feel a little chilly this morning at Crow Valley.

Sunrise outside Ault

There were a few commotions at Crow Valley today.

One of them centered around this puddle; robins and jays yakking

all over the place in between morning drinks.

Another commotion involved a pair of Merlins and some Blue Jays.

At one point the battle raged on directly above me. In my

excitement I think I saved the Jay, (at least temporarily)

but lost the shot.

I figured I'd get to see a lot of Wilson's Warblers hopping around CV today.

Expectation met.

Plumbeous vireo....judging by recent posts anyhow.

Don't know about this one...feels like a Warbling Vireo though.

UPDATE: Um, let's just say this is confirmed as Warbling. 

Cracks me up :)

On the way home, I looked for Burrowing Post Owls. No luck, only 

this guy. I was sad to see a recent fire had burned some of my 

favorite Burrowing habitat.

Also at Crow Valley Today:

Hermit Thrush

Brown Thrasher

a scruffy immature N Mockingbird

House Wrens

Flycatchers

On the Way Home

I stopped at Running Deer this evening. It was so quiet, again... I think I'm beginning to realize the quiet makes hearing certain things easier (the really quiet sounds.) Tonight I enjoyed this kind of listening practice.

My first surprise of the evening (I didn't have high expectations) 

was the little chirp of a pair of fledglings.

I got pretty excited as I realized that they were almost surely

Marsh Wren fledglings. Look at that ridiculous hairdo!

I know the photos don't do them justice, but they were a little shy.

Another great sound: the hilarious squeak the frogs make as they

jump in the water at my approach.

Frog Head at Sunset. :)

Very few birds tonight at Running Deer. I was chased away from 

a pair of Wilson's Warblers by mosquitoes. 

This Black-crowned Night Heron seemed more concerned

with the prospect of fishing than my presence.

Surprise #2: Look at him, isn't he gorgeous? I have no idea on id, but 

I sat and watched him nibble on his leaf for quite some time.

ID Update: Dave Leatherman, entomologist extraordinaire has confirmed

he is a White-lined Sphinx, what most people call a

Hummingbird Moth. Cooler than cool news really, since 

that is one of our very favorite garden visitors at home!