Please sit down with a mug of tea and have a relax. After three years of hearing but never seeing Great Horned Owls that were calling from the pine stand on neighbor Bob Dylan’s property in Malibu, we were delighted to hear these crepuscular (active at twilight) birds hooting in our new home in theContinue reading “Great Horned Owls”
Category Archives: Birds
Autumn in the Canyon
Summer cobwebs are catching dust now, their architect/owner’s duties complete. Here are recent neighborhood sightings which deserve to be shared. After a summer of nocturnal harmonies, calls of the Baja California tree frogs are making way for the crickets’ jingling bell calls. It was glorious when they were performing together. Great Horned owls’ calls areContinue reading “Autumn in the Canyon”
Hummingbird at Alstroemeria Lilies
Known as Peruvian Lilies, Alstroemerias are often found in grocery store flower bouquets or bunches. After the debacle with the squirrels devouring the sunflowers (click on August 5 2024 post here for the particulars), we brought home Alstroemeria Lilies. Arranged simply in a pitcher on the patio table, they’re colorful and cheery. To our delight,Continue reading “Hummingbird at Alstroemeria Lilies”
Acorn Woodpecker
In nature, never say never. Just because we haven’t seen something doesn’t mean it cannot occur. Case in point: an Acorn Woodpecker visit to our birdbath. During the first visit observed and filmed by Bob, this Acorn Woodpecker landed, perched, plumbed the depth of the water, and promptly took a bath. Click here to watchContinue reading “Acorn Woodpecker”
July 2024 Notes
Our Mojave Sage is blooming for the first time. As the name suggests, its range is a little northeast of us, and for that reason, I wasn’t sure it would thrive in this chaparral microclimate. This is one of several native plants purchased last autumn in an attempt to provide local insects and birds withContinue reading “July 2024 Notes”
Late Autumn in Birdland
Checking in with the Southern California bird scene, two locales yielded an assortment of species. First up, an estuary on the coast. During a recent visit to the Malibu Lagoon with the Santa Monica Bay chapter of the National Audubon Society, several familiar bird species caught my attention for their plumage and bill displays. TheseContinue reading “Late Autumn in Birdland”
Notes from the Canyon – August 6, 2023
~ This year’s juvenile Common Ravens have moved from newly hatched to branchlings to fully fledged birds. This group, occasionally harassed by Red Shouldered Hawks and heard outside our windows, continued to beg earnestly for food whenever the parents flew back with snacks. Starting this week, we heard no begging calls whatsoever. It’s time toContinue reading “Notes from the Canyon – August 6, 2023”
Oddments
~ The American robins have found the seeps in Santa Ynez Canyon and are flocking to drink, en route north. Larger than their European counterparts which are house sparrow-sized, they are reliable visitors to birdbaths and often found around hackberry trees in winter. In spring and summer, they’re easily spotted with earthworms and insects in theirContinue reading “Oddments”
Lesser Goldfinches
California sycamore trees are frequently seen in gardens and on public property around Southern California. The seed pods of the trees that dangle in winter are brown orbs, about one inch in diameter. But to lesser goldfinches, these seeds are lunch! Malibu Lagoon has sycamores growing between the Pacific Coast Highway and the estuary. OnContinue reading “Lesser Goldfinches”
Red-Tailed Hawk
A noticeable decline in birdseed consumption in our back yard has us wondering: what’s changed? There’s a new cat prowling the neighborhood, and we’ve had a couple of Santa Ana wind events. The birdseed didn’t smell rancid. Why the downturn in our feeder traffic? This juvenile red-tailed hawk might be a key. Notice that itContinue reading “Red-Tailed Hawk”
Mashabu 