Drops of Beauty #131

September 8, 2023

“The quickest way to change the world is to like it the way it is.” A.R. Ammons, “Old Geezer”

Hello friends! The crazy weather patterns lead to interesting birds this time of year. Yesterday morning’s cold front brought wildfire haze and low clouds so the light was poor - but the birds were interesting! It’s a little like a treasure hunt where you have no idea what kind of treasure you might find.

Here’s a few samples and some other recent photos for your Friday:

Sunrise after the cold front, September 6, 2023

The yellow-rumped warbler is one of my winter friends, but eBird flagged it as rare for September 6th. Ragged looking little bird, but a very clear butter-butt makes it easy to identify!

A bird I’ve never seen before in our county, a yellow-headed blackbird (female I believe). I had no idea what this was when I looked at the photo, I had to phone a friend! IRL the light was too poor for me to see the color. Now I wish I had followed her and her two friends a little further!

A tern, which I assume is a Forster’s tern (it’s so much harder to be sure of the ID in shoulder season). Spectacular to watch them dive into the water.

Lots and lots (and lots!) of cedar waxwings.

First Franklin’s gulls of the season. The last few years I feel like I haven’t seen a large flock at all - maybe this year?

Clearly not a migrating bird, but the first time I’ve seen this beautiful salt-marsh moth! I photographed the caterpillar in June in the same location. (Posted here.)

And a closeup because I was so fascinated!

Does this say, “I live on the prairie?”

Ah, yellow flowers definitely tell me it’s late summer.

It’s been nice to see the moon again too.

Take good care, friends. The world can be a challenging and scary place. It can also be amazing and beautiful. Whatever is happening, it will soon change.