Recently in Riverside

Lisa Rest

Oct 29

Two walks in Riverside, 10/18 and 10/23. One morning sunny, the other less so. Fall leaves and the sparrows that fade into them start to dominate.

There wasn't a big change in the trees until after the 23rd, which is the second photo, but for the record, here they were changing.

For a couple days, I was seeing more White-crowned Sparrows. Views directly below are of an adult, and below that, a first-winter bird.

I try not to take White-throated Sparrows for granted. I feel a kinship with them.

Yellow-rumped Warblers were becoming less frequent.

A young Red-tailed Hawk was considering its options, perched in a tree close to the water.

I dare to think the two birds below might be Rusty Blackbirds. There's a hint of a light-colored eye in the bird on the left.

Sometimes it's easier to see White-breasted Nuthatches these days.

A Great Blue heron was fluffing out all its feathers.

On 10/23, I was treated to a good look of a Fox Sparrow.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets have been here and there.

The rocks in the river by the shore were still somewhat of a draw for this American Robin.

Dark-eyed Juncos were beginning to appear more frequently.

Here are a few more photos of White-throated Sparrows. The ones with the white median crown stripe, like the bird at the top of the post, are less frequently seen.

I don't always get a chance to see or photograph a Northern Cardinal, however ubiquitous they seem.

I may have seen two Great Blue Herons on the 18th, but for the most part I have seen just one and one Great Egret since. I will check tomorrow to see if one or the other is still around, but I have a feeling the cold front we are now experiencing may have sent both birds packing.

I spent the last two days draining 50 gallons of water out of my rain barrels. That's how many gallon bottles I had available to fill. There's still a lot of water in both barrels so I have set them on slow drip, but I will have to empty them out tomorrow night as we dip into sustained freezing temperatures. As for the water I saved, I will use it to fill the heated birdbaths all winter.

I also harvested the rest of the peppers this morning. There are a lot more jalapeños this year. In lieu of a cold, gloomy, rain-threatened walk this morning, I also made a pot of Ecuadorian Quinoa Vegetable Soup. I feel fortified for the cold days ahead.