Ravens Quail and Hummingbirds

With triple digit weather expected today, I had planned to fill all the hummingbird feeders and get them back out there. I was standing at the sink and a tiny hummingbird made eye contact with me as if to say, "Mom, it's hot out here. Please get your act together." So I'm waiting for the solution to cool now.

Two ravens were taking a bath in the water buckets. I grabbed my camera only to find the batteries dead. So I got up from my desk to get my boyfriend's camera but I guess my movements scared them away. Pooh.

Now there are quail hopping around the yard. There is a family of juvenile quail and their dad. Don't know what happened to the mom. I never see her anymore.

Woodpecker Couple

I finally got photos of a woodpecker I hear all the time. Upon closer inspection I found there were 2 woodpeckers in some photos. I believe the uncrested woodpecker may be the female.They were way up in a cottonwood tree in my yard in Lucerne Valley, CA.

Can you find both woodpeckers?

Red headed woodpecker and another one to the left with no crest.

tap tap tap

I love this view of the wings.

A distant view.

Hawk Sighting

Today I was glancing out my window like I do a hundred times a day and to my surprise there was a hawk sitting on the water bowl. It seemed to be staying awhile so I grabbed my camera and took some photos through the window blinds. I wish I had a better camera, but here are the best photos I could get. I've never seen one low to the ground before. And I can't get a good photo if they are on the power pole or up in the trees. Fantastic!

Everyone Wants To Get Into the Act

Contact Juggling Practice

Yardwork Day

We were helping the neighbor remove dead trees and the quail were squirting out everywhere. So I got a photo as one of them ran from bush to bush.

Nest in a mulberry tree. I've walked under this branch countless times and never spotted it before.

First tree down.

California quail running for cover.

Christmas Eve Bird Spotting

Today I spotted a small flying bird backlit by the sun. The wings were definitely red. It landed high up in a tree and I didn't recognize it's call.

Then an hour later I spotted a robin in the yard. I've never seen a robin out here, and certainly wouldn't expect one in the cold of winter. I could be wrong, but it had a red breast and dark wings.

A friend left us a bale of straw on Sunday. On Monday the guinea fowl were all over it. They kept sitting on it while pecking and scratching it to pieces. By afternoon, it was clear they just weren't going to leave it alone so I had to stack stuff on top of it. I don't know if they were after insects or seeds but they were making a terrible mess of it.

Last week a cold snap dumped snow on the hills. Now it is warm again in the days but cold at night.

The snow hasn't reached our yard yet. Does this count as a white Christmas or not?

Bacon Grease For the Birds

I've been collecting bacon drippings for the birds. I have a metal can on my stove top. I layered the bacon grease with wild bird seed and corn meal. I finally had enough gathered to hang it from a tree today. Tomorrow, I'll see if they went for it. It's another idea I got from the bird reference book from the library.

Neighbor's chicken. Can't wait to get our own.

Hummingbird Feeder