They are here for the berries...

 

A few days ago I mentioned that we had some visitors at the bird bath. Like every fall the American Robins flock together in larger numbers and are joined by some Cedar Waxwings.

The waxwings are some of the prettiest birds we see here occasionally. Their main target at this time are obviously the juniper berries on the Red Cedars (which is not a true cedar but a juniper), that grow here between the rocks and on the steep valley slopes.

Finally I got a shot of the female Yellow-rumped Warbler that we have seen several times lately.

First warblers moving in

 

I spent an hour this evening to find the young Great Horned Owl in one of the numerous trees near the nest site but had no success. I wonder if the mother has called the owlet over to an island-like dam in the river, where I have seen her hunting while the young bird was still in the nest during the last couple weeks.

Later, while trying to capture one of the Tree Swallows or Barn Swallows, who fed on insects along the edge of Mud Lake, I suddenly discovered the first Yellow-rumped Warbler this year. It was the fifth rainy day in a row, cold and with gray clouds. Fill flash was agin the answer to reveal some colors. A little later I saw a couple Palm Warblers in the bushes along the Mississippi River. I made only one click of the Palm Warbler but the picture was not in focus. At least it helped me at home to identify the bird 100 percent. I really look forward for some warmer days and hopefully some more opportunities to see Warblers moving in from the south.