Morning Visit With a Hummingbird

The sun was still behind my neighbor's roof line. This is the time of the morning that the lighting is magical and the birds are just getting active and searching for food. I decided to take my small camera (250mm lens) to the garden to take some photos of what was in bloom this time of the year. Suddenly a hummingbird buzzed by my head. Wow, this was a close buzz. It was busy chasing away other hummers from the newly placed hummingbird feeder. He appears to have claimed this area of my backyard as his territory.

Here are some shots I took of the hummingbird that buzzed me. He posed so sweetly while we both waited for the sun's rays to clear our neighbor's roof line. He appears to be a sub-adult male Allen's Hummingbird.

I call this part of my backyard my rose garden even though it has lots of fruit trees, vegetables, and many types of flowers. Can you spot my garden's tiny guardian?

Here are some photos of my plants. The veggies are doing great and some flowers are in bloom. 

his image below is of my first lotus plant that has reached the surface of the water container. I raised this one from seed and with much luck, I hope to see it produce a flower this summer. You first have to sand one end of the seed and place it in a glass of water. When it sprouts and is as tall as your water glass, you can plant the seedling in a one gallon container filled with clay soil. I topped it with small pebbles and placed it in a 5 gallon container filled with water. Do it real slow so that there is minimal disturbance of the soil so the water stays clear. I will place some mosquito fish in there as soon as a few more leaves open so there will be a place for the fish to hide.

 

Rainbow chard are delicious!.

 

Here is my cookie jar rooster fountain. I love the sound of all my solar-powered fountains in the garden. It is a soothing sound and all the flowers are quite the mood boosters.Here is a short video.

My solar-powered apple fountain by the apple tree.

 

My angel fountain is one of my favorites. The water bubbles over from the bowl. I have watched birds land on her head and drink from the bowl as it bubbles out. 

This is the first time that this tree has produced a load of Kumquats. It sat for two years with only a couple of fruit. I was ready to move it to another spot when all of a sudden, it is loaded with fruit!

 

Walking back to the patio, I pass my orchard area and couldn't resist showing you these wonderful bright color blooms.

A few of these are in bloom too.

 

My new purchase for this year was a Longan tree. I can't wait for it to produce the wonderful tasting fruit.

This is a Lychee tree and I just found this a few months ago. I finally spot some new growth on this rare fruit tree. Hope it does well.

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year! I have been fighting the flu so I probably will not be posting until the new year. Stay safe and healthy everyone!

 

Reddish Egret at Oceanside Harbor

Today was one of California's finest when you talk about beautiful weather in November. The sky was blue and the temperature was in the mid-seventies here in San Diego County. I drove by Oceanside Harbor a day before just for a quick look from the car after a trip to In-N-Out Burger for dinner. As I passed the bridge on the south side of the harbor, I spotted a Reddish Egret hunting for fish below the bridge!  The bridge is located on the south side of the harbor and spans the San Luis Ray River mouth. The river mouth has been open all year but now it has closed and the river mouth has become a large lagoon filled with algae and wildlife again. I couldn't wait until morning to go and look for the Reddish Egret at Oceanside Harbor!

It was still early morning when I walked to the bridge on the south side of the Oceanside harbor. I spotted the Reddish Egret standing near the western shoreline. He stood relaxing for quite awhile but finally decided to stretch his wings and do a fly-by!  Here are the flight shots that I got of this beautiful egret. Notice that he is not in breeding plumage but the head and neck feathers are still a beautiful red.

Reddish Egret, Egretta rufescens, measures 30 inches long with a wingspan of 46 inches. He is probably a first year juvenile.

The water was full of American Coots, maybe in the hundreds! Also, several ducks such as the Gadwalls in the photos below and several pairs of Pied-billed Grebes. I also spotted several pairs of Western Grebes and noticed a lone Bufflehead in the shallows. Lots of Snowy Egrets, Gulls, and the regulars that are always here such as the Osprey, the Belted Kingfisher and many Cormorants.

And we have a fly-by! Look at all the small fish in the water! No wonder he is hanging around.

 

He does not land but makes a smooth U-turn and heads back towards where he started.

What a super morning this has been watching this beautiful bird. I'm so happy that he did a fly-by to top the morning of birding at Oceanside Harbor!

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, everyone and stay safe!