A Saturday in November

The American River:







Well, it's back to work, but not to worry, Christmas is just around the corner!
Have a great week!! :D
TVH

Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area

With a little free time to myself on Saturday, I recognized a chance to head out to one of my favorite birding spots. The Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area is a very unassuming spot just outside Sacramento on the way to San Francisco. Thousands of people drive over this area everyday without realizing the importance the wetland area plays in the migration and breeding of birds each year. Located along the Pacific Flyway, the Yolo Bypass provides birds traveling from Alaska to Mexico a place to stop and rest.

This time of year doesn't seem to have the large amount of birds that will arrive in the spring to breed. However, there were still plenty of birds to see and it's always nice to be outside a crisp November day. So come along with me as I drive through the wetlands and hike along the levees.

















Thanks for checking in, see you next week! :-)

TVH

Welcome to Fall

I have been asked, in the past, what my favorite season is. I used to answer, "what ever season we're in". But upon further reflection, I think "Fall" is my favorite season. The weather here in Sacramento is pretty nice. Cool nights with warm days. For the most part, no rain. Perfect.

I also enjoy all the birds migrating through our area this time of year. My back yard gets pretty empty during the hot, hot Summers we get here. That, and I don't spend much time back there as the temps get up into the 100's. Now with temps in the low 70's, it's a pleasant walk out the back door to enjoy the sounds of all the birds singing.

Today was no exception. These to Anna's hummingbirds spent plenty of time at the new feeder outside the back door. That is, when they weren't chasing each other away from it. We currently have about 6 Anna's that regularly visit the yard. There are also plenty of finches (gold, purple and house), scrub jays, mocking birds and a flock of bushtits that noisily pass through twice a day.

Pictured below was a first for the backyard. A pair of magpies were up in the cottonwood. This was the first time I have seen these guys in our neighbor hood. They are usually a couple blocks away. I guess they were just passing through.

Yesterday, we were up early and out the door to Sloughhouse to get pumpkins for the kids to carve for Halloween. On the way we spotted this hot air balloon just lifting off from the Rancho Mureita airport.

The kids carved their own pumpkins this year. A little scary for me, letting them use the knives on their own. But everyone survived unscathed, except the pumpkins that is.

I thought about dressing up to go trick-r-treating, but ended up going as my everyday scary self instead.

Hope everyone has a great week. Don't over do it on the left-over chocolate! LOL

TVH