Back to work

It was a pretty busy day today in the Visitor’s Center, for a weekday, but I did manage to sneak outside occasionally to see what was going on.
I’ve always felt one of the signs of fall is the congregating of the swallows on the electrical wires.  They’re done with the breeding season, and are just fueling up on all the insects to increase their fat supplies for the coming journey south for the winter. 
These birds are pretty smart.  They line up on the wires so evenly spaced, and don’t tread into others’ personal space.  A good lesson is to be learned there… :)  Here’s a bit of trivia you can use at your next boring gathering to liven things up a bit.  Put your finger in the little dip where your collar bones meet below your neck.  Do you feel that semi circle?  Well, birds have the same thing, and that’s where they store their fat for upcoming migration journeys.  Just before they’re ready to move on, that little area will just bulge with yellow fat.  That’s where they get the fuel to accomplish their amazing journeys.  I sure wish that was the only place I stored extra fat!  :)  I could just wear a scarf around my neck or something.  :)
As I went to take the picture of all of the swallows, this was the view of the marsh and surrounding mountains from the visitor’s parking lot.   The amber colors of fall with one swallow not following the crowd on the wires.  I guess he flaps to a different drummer.  :)
This fawn was skulking about the front yard underneath the crab apple tree looking for tasty morsels.  She/he is usually accompanied by its mother.  The mother has a huge hematoma growth on her leg, and I did not see her at all this morning.  A visiting veterinarian said it may just fall off, but it makes you wonder if maybe the coyotes got her.  That huge tumor like growth made it difficult for her to walk.  We all will be looking for her to show up again.

As I was busy inside with visitors, there were a couple of reports of a Calliope Hummingbird visiting the feeders today.  I’ve never seen a Calliope hummer, so out I went every chance I got with camera in hand.
The Calliope is the smallest of hummingbirds at only 3.5” in length.   I thought I had captured one in my pics, but upon editing discovered that this was a very young hummingbird just growing in it’s tail feathers.  That’s why it appeared to be so small.  By the curve of it’s wings, I’m thinking this is just a very young black-chinned hummer.  Notice in the middle pictures how it is extending it’s tongue to catch some small insects without expending much energy.  :)
I then moved to a different feeder, but see the rounded wing on the right that is shorter than the tail?  Another black-chinned youngster.  There was no Calliope for me today.  :(
           Oh, oh, what happened to Tim, the refuge manager, that was out netting carp???
                                                  I guess he missed the step up!!  :)

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy