Fall Ramblings. #3

Good morning everyone! It is another cloudy morning here, and continuing cool. We have had a few cool days now with daytime highs in the low 60’sF (mid to upper teens C). That is more normal temps for us though for this time of year. But it is going to warm up again this week for 3 or 4 days, then cool off once more. Yesterday was supposed to be cool, and it was, but it was also supposed to be sunny.

It was cloudy all day. It has been a warmer than normal September, but we do get that now and then, maybe once every ten years or so. The leaves continue to change color with some trees completely yellow and some trees have lost nearly all their leaves already. Nearly all the adult gulls have gone now but a few remain along with lots of young gulls.

Alsike Clover.

It is normal for the adults to leave first, then the young leave later. Some other birds will do that too, some species of ducks for example. Also adult Common Loons will leave about 3 to 4 weeks ahead of the young loons. It is so quiet out there now that most of our birds have headed south. But a few remain yet, like the American Robin. And the last of our warblers, the Yellow-Rumped Warbler (used to be Myrtle Warbler).

Clintonia.

Although, a couple days ago I heard a Downy Woodpecker chattering out there somewhere close by. I didn’t see it though. Then about an hour later I heard a Hairy Woodpecker chattering. I didn’t see that one either. Then, later in the afternoon I heard a Pileated Woodpecker. I do see the Pileated Woodpecker sometimes flying past out there, but have only seen the Hairy Woodpecker once. It was nice to hear all three in one day though.

There are a lot of Canada Geese around now and many of them spend the day, and even the night, at our little park across the street. No one else uses that park this time of year, so they may as well use it. There were nearly 50 of them the other day. I have given up trying to get decent pictures out this window. It looks, and feels, like a fall day today. That cool, crispness in the air does it.

Harebell.

I need to repot my geraniums and bring them inside for the winter. I should do that this week while the weather is still nice. My geraniums did well this summer and although they have slowed down a lot now, they still look quite nice. Seems like I was just putting them outside for the summer, and now it is time to bring them back in. Summer is so short.

Bicknell’s Cranesbill. In the Geranium family, it is about 1/4 inch (6mm) across.

And it was a bit longer than normal this year. Oh well. It was such a nice summer, even with all the rain. But that rain helps to keep things nice and green and lush. I will show some of our summer wildflowers today, hope you enjoy them. Have a great day everyone and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2024 Steve McLeod.