Mid-Autumn Mix

Here we are approaching mid-autumn and the activity at the feeders has picked up a little, as well as quite a bit of butterfly activity in the yard. 
Enjoy this week's offering.

 This Black-crested Titmouse has been coming to the office window and fighting his image in the glass. So far,no serious injuries!

 The leaves are slowly turning on the cedar elms, and pond weeds dying around the perimeter. It was a cool autumn morning on the porch.

 The salvia survived the summer, has been enjoying some fall rains, and now is attracting some butterflies.

 They're here! They're here! A couple of Gadwalls showed up one morning on the pond and I spent the day trying to sneak up close enough to get a good picture. This female is stretching her wings.

They spent the day cruising the pond and enjoying the pond weeds.

 One day these yellow butterflies were all over the flowering plants. They are Southern Dog-face Sulfur butterflies. Who woulda known?

All I know is that when that tongue comes out of the flower, it really curls up!

 This day at the office I got to leave the window open most of the day. The Cardinal came for a bath.

 He was having so much fun that the House Finches came to see what the commotion was.

 Even the black squirrel looked like he wanted to get in on the action. 

 House Finches enjoying the water.

 They have nice rosey glow.

 Then the hoarse call of the Scrub Jay told me they were in the neighborhood. He flew to the deck and filled up his craw with peanuts.

The Chickadee gave me a nice pose on the feeder.

 Mr. Mockingbird continues to come around. He was eyeing the bird bath, but didn't come in for the dip.

Back at the yard, a bee getting some nectar.

 Here is a winter visitor we haven't seen for some years; the Red-breasted Nuthatch.

 He's quick and nervous, so you better be ready to shoot.

 He grabs a sunflower seed, flies to the nearby oak, and crams it into the folds of the bark.

And he uses that beak similar to a woodpecker. He also nests in holes in the tree, and coats the opening with a sticky pitch. We'll be on the lookout for a nest.