Birdy
It was a birdy day. Saw some very nice birds! Some of my “first of season” birds were dark-eyed junco, white-crowned sparrows, and red-shafted northern flickers. Also saw chipping sparrows, vesper sparrows, cardinals, blue jays, red-tailed hawks, mourning doves, meadowlarks,black vultures and turkey vultures.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/22232BRed-shouldered2BHawk2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=490%2C640&ssl=1)
Got a great look at the Red-shouldered Hawk.
Meadowlark
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/22312BLoggerhead2BShrike2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=640%2C410&ssl=1)
Multiple Loggerhead Shrikes were seen.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/22262BLoggerhead2BShrike2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=560%2C640&ssl=1)
Another Loggerhead Shrike on this gray day.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_6502Indian2Bpaintbrushes2BCastilleja2Bindivisa2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
An Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa) to brighten the day!
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65132Bpurple2Basters2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
These asters were absolutely stunning along the road.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65142Bpurple2Basters2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Closeup
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65282BPrairie2BGoldenrod2BSolidago2Bspeciosa2Bvar2Brigidiuscula2B2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Prairie Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa var rigidiuscula), a favorite fall flower of mine.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65292BPrairie2BGoldenrod2BSolidago2Bspeciosa2Bvar2Brigidiuscula2B2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Closeup of the Prairie Goldenrod
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65352BFour-point2BPrimrose2B2528Oenothera2Brhombipetala25292B2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Another surprise today was this Four-point Primrose (Oenothera rhombipetala) that still had some blooms.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65262Bfall2Bcolors2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Soapberry trees and sumac are starting to show their fall colors.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65272B2BLotebush2B2528Ziziphus2Bobtusifolia2529.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Lotebush (Ziziphus obtusifolia) another cool find.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65102Btools2Bon2Bfence2BEtters2Branch2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Interesting farm implements parts welded on the fence.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65112BDon2527t2Brent2Bpigs2Bsign2Bgate2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
Not sure what they mean here…We don’t rent pigs.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65252BSmith2BTriple2BCreek2BRanch2Bgate2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Triple Creek Ranch gate has lots of stuff going on with it.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65172BWebb2Bgate2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Very clever gate and is one of my favorite gates.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65182BHales2BBells2Bsign.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Clever play on words for this ranch sign.
And finally for cuteness…
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65202Bsheep2Band2Btwo2Bbabies2Blambs2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=640%2C506&ssl=1)
Mama slow down!
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65212Bsheep2Band2Btwo2Bbabies2Blambs2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=480%2C640&ssl=1)
We are really hungry.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lookingout.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_65222Bsheep2Band2Btwo2Bbabies2Blambs2Bmontague2Bcty.jpg?resize=640%2C584&ssl=1)
Yum!
Fun day!!
Great post, Mary! I'm very happy you have a good shrike population. I saw my first meadowlark of the season yesterday too.