And that makes six!

Fall has arrived at last, and temps fell from the high 60s yesterday afternoon to the high 30s this morning. Plus, the skies were crystal clear, and the air was nearly still, so there was even a bit of radiation frost on the grass at sunrise. That warm sun, the blue skies, and still a bit of fall foliage left on the trees made for some nice pictures, and here’s a red-bellied woodpecker rustling up its breakfast.

Here’s a song sparrow that I interrupted from its foraging, and now it is giving me the evil eye until I move on so it can get back to work.

At the far north end, I thought I saw an eagle flying north, but I couldn’t get a good enough look to be sure, and then I heard a raptor call from across the river. It turns out we still have an osprey around, but I couldn’t get a picture to turn out.

Instead, I found a pair of red-tailed hawks perched high above our side of the river, and here’s the one that wasn’t too buried in the branches.

On my way back south, I found another young-looking red squirrel, who paused from its busy schedule to keep tabs on me.

And then I saw the osprey again perched over the water just east of the southern island. Counting the Cooper’s hawk and peregrine falcon on Monday, and the bald eagle and pair of merlins on Tuesday, that makes six raptors for the week. Sweet!

Then, as I tried to reposition for an even better shot, it took off while I wasn’t looking, but I soon found it flying north with a fresh catch in tow!

At the southern tip of the same island, this great blue heron was basking in the sun and could barely keep its eyes open, despite the commotion above.

Even crazier, at the southern-most staircase, near where I had seen the pair of merlins on Tuesday, I found the osprey again, and this time I could get close enough for a portrait. What a morning this was turning out to be.

At the far south end, I was surprised to find an easter phoebe still hanging around. I bet it will struggle to fill its belly with flying bugs today.

Lastly, here’s a mourning dove that was hiding deep in the leaves that remain.