Yup! it's the changing of the seasons. The winds have been blowing strong. The night temps hover in the 30s and even dropped into the teens this week. Still no precip though. Our front yard was a real mess due to the famed "Mulberry Leaf Drop" after the coldest night. It always amazes me how those trees just drop all their leaves at once after a frost. It looks pretty until you have try to walk through it, then it is just a mess to rake up. Oh well.
We worried about our two chickens in the cold and wind because they sleep in the wysteria vines by the front gate. There is no shelter there for them since the leaves all dropped. But they made it through the night, apparently OK.
As for new bird arrivals, we haven't noticed any more yet. They could show up any time though. We have seen the Sandhill Cranes visiting the nearby fields. We see, and hear, them when the come in for a landing and when they take off. Haven't gotten over to a field yet to view them and try to get photos. Hope to do that soon.
Happy December!
01 December 2005
14 November 2005
"The falling leaves drift past my window..."
The leaves are falling! Our cottonwoods have all turned golden yellow and now their leaves are covering the ground. How beautiful!Well, the newest bird to show up is a White-crowned Sparrow, seen all puffed up like a balloon after bathing in the bird bath. He was hopping around on the ground under the thistle feeder along with the usual sparrows and finches (known as LBJs or little brown jobs) and the Juncos. Haven't seen the Kinglet lately but I'm sure he's still around. Hope to see a White-breasted Nuthatch soon.
We have also been watching the flights of Sandhill Cranes almost daily. They are on their way to the Bosque del Apache NWR for the annual Festival of the Cranes which runs November 16-21 this year. This is becoming quite a big event with visitors from all over the world coming to see the Cranes and other birds at the refuge. One big photo op! Check out their site for more information: www.friendsofthebosque.org
