Fall around the pond

Northern Flicker-Yellow-Shafted Flicker hybrid                     © Diane B. Reed

Fall is a busy time for nature around the pond. The Flickers have staked out their winter perches and are busy feeding on berries and the like. They particularly like the Sourwood tree next to our kitchen window, where they've been gorging on berries for the last week. One of the Flickers is an unusual one, an apparent cross between the Northern Flicker and the Yellow- Shafted Flicker subspecies found in the East. Although this type of variant is not that unusual in our area, this one is particularly distinctive, with both the red malar (cheek patch) of the Northern Flicker and the red crescent of the Yellow-Shafted Flicker on the back of his head.

Buffleheads, Mallards and Muskrat share plant debris on the pond © Diane B. Reed

 We've started to see a few migrants on the pond, including the first Wigeon who arrived a week ago. The larger group of wigeons who winter at the pond should be arriving early next month. This morning three female Buffleheads stopped by, and a pair of mallards and a muskrat took advantage of the water plants their diving stirred up. We expect a few stopovers from migrants, although last year we had a single Coot and a Snow Goose who hung around for several months.

Great Blue Heron         © Diane B. Reed

The Blue Heron(s) are still hanging around, one of them was perched high in a Cottonwood tree the other day, soaking up a little sunshine. The birdfeeder is full of Pine Siskins, with House Finches and Chickadees jockeying for position. The Juncos have moved down from the Blues and are scratching around under the feeders along with the California Quail. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is lurking in the walnut tree hoping to pick off an unsuspecting visitor to the feeder. As you might imagine, with everything going on these days, it's hard to tear myself away from our window on the pond.

The End of Fire Season

Mid-day obscured  by smoke from fires, 9-21-12   © Diane B. Reed

 It turned out to be a smoky September in our neighborhood after a dozen fires, sparked by thunderstorms, tore through the mountains west of Wenatchee. Unfortunately, the Walla Walla Valley ended up in the smoke plume from the fires for days on end, resulting in air quality alerts on numerous days. 

Inner harbor, Victoria BC               © Diane B. Reed  

We escaped the smoke for ten days by heading over to Victoria, B. C., one of our favorite cities in the world. Driving through the Wenatchee area we passed through smoke so dense that we shut down the vents on the car.
After clearing Snoqualmie Pass the smoke cleared and by the time we arrived in Victoria, the skies were clear and the air was crisp. If you haven't been there, it's well worth a visit!  We've been there five or six times and we keep finding new and interesting places to explore. 

Table Mountain fire from I-90 west of Wenatchee 9-30-12       © Diane B. Reed

Unfortunately the fires were still burning on our way back to Walla Walla. Fortunately, the fall rains have since put them out and washed the skies clean.  Welcome fall!