Little finch makes the snowflakes fly as she feeds on the sumac.
Birds of a feather
Two bluebirds among a flock feeding on sumac growing around the house.
All y’all, it’s fall!
Fall has definitely made its presence known here in the Arkansas Ouachitas!
DOGWOOD — Dogwood leaf’s red glows more intensely as the morning light hits it.
CONTRAST — Color contrasts against the autumn sky.
GOLD — Hickories light up the forest with their yellow leaves.
COLOR – Fall color spreads through the valley.
FALL VISTA — Fall is ramping up to its peak here in the Arkansas Ouachitas.
Birdland
Been a while since we posted. We had a couple rounds of heavy winter weather and being trapped away from home for days at a time. Nice to be back home. Between bouts of wintry mix, the birds came out and did what birds do.
One of several bluebirds availing themselves of sumac seeds.
Red-tailed hawk takes flight over the office parking lot.
Tufted titmouse in tree with open hickory nut. He flew the half-nut into the tree and spent a few minutes brunching on it before knocking it to the ground and flying away.
Sparrow on his takeoff roll.
Yellow shafted Flicker in the sumac.
Busy bee
Busy bumble working in the sumac.
A question answered with a question mark
Saw this beauty in the sumac below the deck this morning and wondered what he was. My question was answered by the orange page of University of Florida butterfly guide. He’s called a Question Mark and has a lovely Latin name too: Polygonia interrogationis.
And speaking of things orange, there’s a new sunset posted. Well, not really new. One from a snow-covered day in March.
Bluebird
The eastern bluebirds have really been hanging close to the house the last few days. Maybe it’s because of the warmth radiating from the house, the plentiful sunshine from the south, or perhaps because there are still a lot of sumac berries for snacking. (There’s plenty of competition for those berries from sparrows, juncos, chickadees, flickers and wrens.)
Breakfast on a frosty morning
Hardly anything was moving during yesterday’s storm, but with the return of the sun this morning, birds were out seeking breakfast in the sumac bushes.
Autumn colors 2013
Here it is late October and the Ouachitas are just beginning to turn. Even though the woods are mostly green, there’s still plenty of autumn color around. Photos taken today and yesterday.
Sumac leaves.
Muscadines.
Grape leaves turning.
Yellow hickory leaves.
Purple aster.
Dogwood leaves.
French mulberry.
Poison ivy in pine.
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The (Urban-Wildlife) Interface 