Gardened a bit today before the week of rain. Pruned the big Joseph's Coat climbing rose and cut back the flowering perennials inside the deer fence. For the third year, I was surprised to find that the native Hillside Gooseberry
(Ribes californicum) has begun blooming. I never remember to look for it in the "dead" of winter. The hummingbirds find it, though.
Here's a female Downy Woodpecker using her stiff tail feathers for stability as she examines oak nooks and crannies for insects and spiders. She holds on with her zygodactyl feet – two toes pointing forward and two toes pointing backwards – a woodpecker characteristic that's uncommon in birds.
Seriously, I believe that I will make magnetic signs for the sides and rear of my SUV for my next bird count. "I AM COUNTING WILD BIRDS." People react suspiciously to people that stop in front of their home and stare at their yards thru binoculars. Always get at least one person who comes up to ask what I'm doing (which is fine, I'm happy to share my eco-messages). They say, "Just trying to keep out the riff-raff."
@checkervest Miners in the Yukon at the turn of the twentieth century woefully referred to the Golden-crowned Sparrow as the “no gold here” bird, because its song resembled that depressing phrase.
My photo from the Marysville CA Audubon bird count, Dec 18.
Rain coming, just in time for the Marysville #ChristmasBirdCount on Monday. Would not be the first CBC I've done soaking wet. 🌧️
Sacramento NWS: "There is growing confidence that there will be multi-day event of rain and mountain snow sometime between Sunday and Wednesday. By Sunday night, there is a 30-50% chance the western portions of the Valley and across the Sierra will see greater than 0.25" of precipitation and 15-25% throughout the Valley and Northern Sacramento Valley." https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=STO&issuedby=STO&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1
Photo: This Red-shouldered Hawk was hunting earthworms in my #NevadaCountyCA yard in the rain. Dec 3 2022.
GM from a point slightly NE of the Sacramento airport, where one can see the eastbound flights over the #nevadacountyCA foothills and be happy to be going #birding but not flying. #cabirds
There were a lot of birds active in the neighborhood this morning, including this California Scrub Jay doing its winter-prep acorn gathering. (Click photo for best view)
Others included an unusual flock of 8 Yellow-rumped Warblers ("butterbutts") – they usually come in ones or twos.
Later, on Lake Wildwood, I found the first-of-season winter ducks: a dozen Common Mergansers (11 females and one male).
So, the winter residents are starting to arrive here in the Sierra foothills.
The Merlin app identifies birds making calls and songs in real time. Product of Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. It's a sweet thing for anyone who hears birds and wonders, "What is that?"
Absolutely zero learning curve.
Here's a sample report from my yard (screenshot).
One day recently, I started recording and just let it run for 30 minutes while I gardened. If I had been paying attention, I might have had eight species.