![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_c8753f198f3c42f28cb5842f50c64c69~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_c8753f198f3c42f28cb5842f50c64c69~mv2.webp)
![Happy 2020!](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_c8753f198f3c42f28cb5842f50c64c69~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_c8753f198f3c42f28cb5842f50c64c69~mv2.webp)
Happy 2020!
I hope your new year is starting well. Let's all make this a better and brighter year!
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_576420347e7142e3a3aa12a958c27adc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_576420347e7142e3a3aa12a958c27adc~mv2.webp)
![Sparrows foraging in the garden](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_576420347e7142e3a3aa12a958c27adc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_576420347e7142e3a3aa12a958c27adc~mv2.webp)
Sparrows foraging in the garden
During a break between light rain showers, a group of sparrows and a California towhee descended on the front yard. I observed the...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_794c55fd55fc41b4a60be4a8f14a4ba5~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_794c55fd55fc41b4a60be4a8f14a4ba5~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.webp)
![Golden Crowned Sparrows in the Mist](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_794c55fd55fc41b4a60be4a8f14a4ba5~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_794c55fd55fc41b4a60be4a8f14a4ba5~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.webp)
Golden Crowned Sparrows in the Mist
Rain and mist creates so much atmosphere. These are silhouettes of golden crowned sparrows perched high up on dried blackberry vines....
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_312ad911011c4df3a6156f558a1798d8~mv2_d_2015_1343_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_312ad911011c4df3a6156f558a1798d8~mv2_d_2015_1343_s_2.webp)
![Bewick's wren and a dandelion plant](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_312ad911011c4df3a6156f558a1798d8~mv2_d_2015_1343_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_312ad911011c4df3a6156f558a1798d8~mv2_d_2015_1343_s_2.webp)
Bewick's wren and a dandelion plant
Every day I am reminded by local wildlife why it's important not to remove every single "weed" from the patio and garden. I took these...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_c922329ce72b47af825129ed7cd4ffea~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_c922329ce72b47af825129ed7cd4ffea~mv2.webp)
![A Ruby-crowned Kinglet visiting](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_c922329ce72b47af825129ed7cd4ffea~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_c922329ce72b47af825129ed7cd4ffea~mv2.webp)
A Ruby-crowned Kinglet visiting
These days, we just never know who we'll see around the backyard. This is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a small olive greenish songbird with a...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_35bcfa3b30ec49b8ac8f81fb27626def~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_35bcfa3b30ec49b8ac8f81fb27626def~mv2.webp)
![Ooh, it's a Northern Flicker](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_35bcfa3b30ec49b8ac8f81fb27626def~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_35bcfa3b30ec49b8ac8f81fb27626def~mv2.webp)
Ooh, it's a Northern Flicker
This was a surprise. Usually I can hear the northern flickers calling, up in the redwood tree. Or now and then I can hear one drumming...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_5210b03ce5f34bb2960dfa52c109b39e~mv2_d_2258_1505_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_5210b03ce5f34bb2960dfa52c109b39e~mv2_d_2258_1505_s_2.webp)
![Even when it's raining, a bath a day is a must...](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_5210b03ce5f34bb2960dfa52c109b39e~mv2_d_2258_1505_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_5210b03ce5f34bb2960dfa52c109b39e~mv2_d_2258_1505_s_2.webp)
Even when it's raining, a bath a day is a must...
...according to the hermit thrush. As long as it's not a downpour, the thrush enjoys splashing in the bath.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_dacabad7b3f34c9595f50297c0905aac~mv2_d_2201_1468_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_dacabad7b3f34c9595f50297c0905aac~mv2_d_2201_1468_s_2.webp)
![Anna's hummingbird in the drizzle](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_dacabad7b3f34c9595f50297c0905aac~mv2_d_2201_1468_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_dacabad7b3f34c9595f50297c0905aac~mv2_d_2201_1468_s_2.webp)
Anna's hummingbird in the drizzle
It's been raining non-stop for several days now. During the heavy showers the birds are hunkering down in the trees. But when the rain is...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_220803127b134f8ca53196dee346c0bd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_220803127b134f8ca53196dee346c0bd~mv2.webp)
![Golden Crowned Sparrow's delight](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_220803127b134f8ca53196dee346c0bd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_220803127b134f8ca53196dee346c0bd~mv2.webp)
Golden Crowned Sparrow's delight
During a lull between rainstorms, this golden crowned sparrow enjoyed its time in the bird bath. Other golden crowned sparrows attempted...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_425f920e5b7244abb294f191564af6c1~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_425f920e5b7244abb294f191564af6c1~mv2.webp)
![Sharing the Bath](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_425f920e5b7244abb294f191564af6c1~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_425f920e5b7244abb294f191564af6c1~mv2.webp)
Sharing the Bath
We observed a lot of birds in the bird bath today. The bath seems to be a welcome relief for them, since we still haven't had rain for...