Renewing My Botanic Garden Membership

A trip to the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas to renew my membership was a good reason to do a little bit of birding. 

Here are a few shots from my short birding day at the Garden. Also some photos of what is in bloom at this time of the season. I spotted a cute little Ruby-crowned Kinglet on the native plant trail located on the west side of the parking lot.

See the small dark rectangular patch behind the white wing bar?  That's a good way to tell this winter visitor apart from our lookalike year-round resident the Hutton's Vireo.

The ruby colored plumage of his crown can be seen in this photo but only a tiny bit.

A male Anna's Hummingbird keeps an eye out for his competitors.

A male Townsend's Warbler checks for insects or nectar.

You know this handsome fellow is an adult male by the strong black and yellow coloring and the full black throat.

A Yellow-rumped Warbler makes an appearance.  Can you guess how he got his name?

This appears to be a very young Anna's Hummingbird getting some nectar from this beautiful lavender flower.

Take a look at the above photo close-up of the left wing. Just an observation but the wing facing us in this photo looks as though there is a metal wing tag on this hummingbird. What do you think? Is it just an illusion?

Found a rabbit nibbling on the grass lawn by the gazebo.

Another beautiful day to bird at the Garden and now it's time to head for home.

Have a fun filled weekend everyone!

 

Morning With a Mockingbird

Enjoying the beautiful weather and nice bright morning. I am at the dining table having my coffee and toast when suddenly there is a large bird at my patio fountain. Reaching for my camera slowly, I whisper, "Welcome to the fountain".

Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos measures 10 inches long with a wingspan of 14 inches. Here are a few shots from a morning of watching the Mockingbird from the dining table. This beauty has been in my yard from his fledgling days. He first lands on the plumeria tree and gingerly flies down to the fountain.

The Mockingbird is done bathing and flies off. I want to show you a shot from the dining area to see how close my fountain is from my camera. My camera is resting on my dining table. The only reason I think the birds are calm coming to the fountain is that the dining room sliding glass door is closed. I am shooting my shots through the glass with all lights off and that probably makes it harder for them to see me. LOL, yes, that is an Orange-crowned Warbler in the bath. 

Here are a few more birds that came for a quick bath. Here a nice looking White-crowned Sparrow enjoying his bath.

A male House Finch wants his turn.

A female joins him.

A Townsend's Warbler makes a quick visit. He has been visiting and bathes at least twice a day. One healthy clean bird!

Back to cleaning my flowers on the patio.

A White Crowned Sparrow makes another visit.

Look who followed him in. A Mourning Dove!

Comes closer.

The dove finally hops onto the fountain.

The Mourning Dove measures 12 inches long. The fountain is only 9 1/2 inches wide at the top deck and it has a 1 inch lip so the water area where the bird can bathe is only 7 1/2 inches wide. The dove checks out the fountain but realizes it is a bit too small for his body and does not make any attempt to hop onto the top tier.

The dove is startled off by a new visitor.  It is our Hermit Thrush!

He has become more comfortable and now he appears to really enjoy his bath.

Time to fly off and dry out in the sunshine. What a special sight to see all these wonderful visitors to the fountain. 

Have a super weekend everyone!