The Saturday Update

Yesterday began with a bit of excitement.  It was about 7:30am, and I had been at the front of the house refilling the peanut and suet feeders.  As I came around toward the backyard between the house and the garages, I happened to see a Bobcat loping along the backyard from right to left.  A truly beautiful, healthy animal with bob-tail up.  Before I could fully process this sight, Padma-Cat took off chasing the Bobcat!  I screamed which only served to excite Tom-Cat who then also took off as part of the chase.  After more heartfelt yelling on my part both of my cats stopped before turning the corner around the garages - while Bobcat disappeared around the corner.  I truly think that Padma had no idea who he was chasing other than a "Strange Cat in Padma's Backyard".  Tom-Cat, while he willing joined the chase, appeared to have second thoughts and was a bit jumpy and skittish about the entire affair.  That was far closer to a Bobcat than I ever expect to be, and given the proximity of our domestic cats, worrisome as well. 

Here is a male Lesser Goldfinch.  I like the little puff of white feathers at the junction of his leg and body.

I miss having Barn Swallows.  For a couple a years a pair built a nest on the edge of a pillar on our back porch.  This year we do not have any, so it was nice to see several pairs at a plant nursery.  

It is nest building time.  While they prefer rafters, they can daub mud against a wall and create a nest that way.

This pair seem to feel the perfect site was over an outdoor seed display.

The nursery had an open shed structure.  A perfect home site.

I have just two pair of Evening Grosbeaks this year - far fewer than I've had in the past.  Even so, it is amazing how much noise these four birds make for their contribution to the Morning Chorus.  

We had a pretty hard frost Thursday morning - that causes Puffy Quail.

I've counted as many as fifteen male Goldfinches at the feeders in the backyard.

Here are two Goldfinches and one Lesser Goldfinch.