I’ve had an interesting couple of days in the yard. On October 1, 2021, I logged our first confirmed sightings of (two) Ruby-crowned kinglets. I’ve seen at least one Golden-crowned kinglet just about every time I’ve been in the yard in the last two weeks, but the Ruby-crowned kinglet has been more elusive. I have yet to get a good photo of a Golden-crowned kinglet this fall but not so the Ruby-crowned kinglet. I’m assuming that both birds were female since I was unable to see any ruby crowns on either bird, but I’ve learned over the years that the males can very effectively hide their crown.

On October 2, 2021, we had the first warbler we’ve had in some time… a Yellow-rumped Audubon’s warbler which was probably a juvenile.

On the same day (and on the next day as well) we had a leucistic Dark-eyed (Oregon) junco visit the yard. Interestingly enough we had one that spent the entire winter with us last year… I have yet to compare the photos of the one we have this fall with the one which spent the last winter with us. Stay tuned!

Here are a couple of other more normal Dark-eyed Oregon juncos…

A female Northern flicker, entering the yard for suet…

And a male Anna’s hummingbird which will probably be with us for the winter…