October 2006

October 30, 2006

Today’s frosty morning punctuates a glorious month of gray-scale misty mornings and brilliantly colored sunny afternoons.

On campus the fall transition is nearly complete. Most of the migrant birds are gone, though even last week a few hearty hummingbirds could be hear buzzing the treetops along the dam. With the migrants gone and the breeding season over, the resident birds have expand out across campus. Juncos come together, then disband, as they search conifers and ground cover for insects and seeds. Bushtits, in their extended family groups chatter non-stop as they dart in and out of bushes and trees. If you hear them coming, stop and wait by the closest tree and you may be blessed with a close-up view of these smallest of passerines. Standing still you are just another obstacle to fly around and they will enter your tree, one after another, like so many feathered puff balls blown by the wind.

Other creatures are spreading out as well, taking advantage of the changing moisture levels. The morning fog has created a path for roaming tree frogs and they have begun moving away from their wetland reserves--calling now from vegetation all over campus. Known as cricket frogs in much of the U.S., their call reminds some of a finger rubbed along a pocket comb. The trill of their call in tune with the cackling of geese overhead - classic sights and and sounds of autumn.

Late morning now, and the fog has lifted, revealing another sun-filled day. Glorious. Word enough to describe today, this month, this autumn. Simply glorious.

with an eye on nature,

Wally