Split Season Mix

The first cool front has come through, the light is changing, and you can tell even now some birds are coming through, and some are gettin' ready to head south. Enjoy this week's offering of a split season mix.

 This furry-tailed tree rat doesn't even show the courtesy of using the provided eating utensils!

 The Yellow Warbler was spied out at the office, and now we've spotted one here in the yard. An unmistakable splash of yellow.

 The female Cardinal preparing to check out the drip for a quick bath.

 I heard the call of the Red-shouldered Hawk and just had to try to get a shot. Of course, as soon as I stepped into the clearing, he spied me and took off. I followed, and was able to get a couple of blurry long-distance shots. He was calling, another was calling, and he eventually flew back toward the other hawk.

 This Ruby-throat Hummingbird gave me a heated coal look!

 The male Lesser Goldfinch seems to like the black oil sunflower seed as much as the thistle, but more shells get dropped than eaten!

 Cardinal enjoying the water dish at the office deck. That's a young male House Finch getting a drink.

 Then the House Finches take their turn.

 The Chickadee dropped by and provided a pose.

 And the Black-crested Titmouse (Texas race) followed not far behind.

 A rare sighting at the yard bird bath; a Scrub Jay. 

We close with a special blessing on my birthday. A Blue Grosbeak dropped in below the old church feeder. I'm not sure that we've ever seen one here, and he was back this morning. Maybe we'll get some better shots before he moves on.