Mondays, Magpies, And The DMV

 

"Hell is not other people, hell is the DMV."

~Unknown

Actually, I kinda think Hell is both other people AND the DMV. I have to be there in a little while, because it seems that my new license plates have not arrived, and it's been nearly a month! The dealership said it would be in a couple weeks. Sigh. You know how things work, it's a Monday, and I am going to the DMV so that means by the time I get home, the plates will be in the mailbox.

I will report back later on how it all went. 

In the meantime, enjoy these Yellow-billed Magpie photos!

Rainbows And Woodpeckers

 

"A lion does not flinch at the laughter coming from a hyena.

 A gorilla does not budge from a banana thrown at it from a monkey. 

A nightingale does not stop singing it's beautiful song, at the intrusion of an annoying woodpecker."

~Suzy Kassam

Rise Up And Salute The Sun: The Writings Of Suzy Kassam

The weather was a gentle mixture of sunshine, rain and rainbows. Well, I guess rainbows are more of a weather phenomenon then weather itself, but the point is, we didn't actually get all the apocalypse predicted. The Sierras, saw heavy snow, and the Bay Area was slammed pretty hard, but here in the San Joaquin country, we made it through pretty well! Louis Park was pretty today, that's where I photographed this gorgeous Acorn woodpecker, resting among the last leaves in the park. Birds were easier to find, as you might imagine, but I didn't get anything new, what I did get was beautiful, and it gives me an idea for what to plan for when we begin a new year of birding, on January 1st! There were lots of birders on the roads with us, which was nice, it's always good to see!

More Of My Autumn Moments

 

"It was one of those perfect fall days,

 when the air is cool enough to wake you up, 

but the sun is kissing your face."

~Anita Diamant

And there are many, many more photos that I didn't post. Perhaps I will show them off in 2026, but for now, these photos represent some amazing feelings. It was part of my life. It was Autumn 2025!

Just A Bird In Autumn Leaves

 

"I can hear a new story in each leaf that falls."

~Isabelle Izzie Meditates Baker

This gorgeous bird is an Audubon's warbler, but he looks very much like the Yellow-rumped warbler. You have to look closely, and know the differences to be sure. For me, the main difference is that Audubon's warbler has a bright, beautiful patch of yellow under his beak. That splash of yellow is a very much welcome sight, as we head into the dark days of autumn. Oh my, I am apparently already grieving autumn's death. I'm trying to take heart, because I have more beauty to share, like my sugar maple in the front yard, which will hit full autumn glory in a few days. What would I do, if I didn't have my birds, my maple tree and so much color, to look forward to?

The world's best husband, and the kitties are pretty nifty too!

Getting Lost In The Colors Of Autumn

 

"Enchantment and fulfillment were on the gold and garnet horizon... autumn's breath, a dormant dream reawakened, a yearning nearly satiated, a tender thank you with a brush of the lips, and a connection as fingers touch and go hand and hand."

~Donna Lynn Hope

I just want to concentrate on the colors of autumn and the sky. The spider webs I have seen, and the birds visiting for autumn and winter.

You know... real life. 

Autumn Leaves Like A Koi Pond

 

“October, baptize me with leaves! Swaddle me in corduroy and nurse me with split pea soup. October, tuck tiny candy bars in my pockets and carve my smile into a thousand pumpkins. O autumn! O teakettle! O grace!”

 
~Rainbow Rowell

   Attachments

 

Beautiful October! My favorite month of the year! Our wedding anniversary is tomorrow, our made up holiday, "Family Day" is coming up on the 23rd, and of course, Halloween is just 2 weeks away! There's so much more about October, and autumn in general, that make this the best time of the year! It's all there, just waiting for me! The rain brings me new opportunities with lighting and colors that my camera has craved. We had a brief rain a couple weeks ago, and I went leaf peeping afterwards. I found these leaves curbside, and right off, to my imagination, they reminded me of Koi pond! What do you think? Soggy leaves, or Koi pond?

 

 

Western Bluebirds And Autumn Leaves

 

“Autumn
The cheerful sundial;
it falls in the shadow
of thy leaves.
there
where your branches
brace themselves
against the gate of heaven”

 
     ~Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann 

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #67

 

“How beautifully leaves grow old.

 How full of light and color are their last days.”

 

 ~George Burns

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #66

 

“Even if something is left undone,

 everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn.”

 

 ~Elizabeth Lawrence

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #64

 

“The Sussex lanes were very lovely in the autumn . . . spendthrift gold and glory of the year-end . . . earth scents and the sky winds and all the magic of the countryside which is ordained for the healing of the soul.”

 

~Monica Baldwin,

 I Leap Over The Wall

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #63

 

“Why did the leaf go to school? To turn over a new leaf!”

 ~Unknown

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #62

 

 

“Fall colors are funny. They’re so bright and intense and beautiful. It’s like nature is trying to fill you up with color, to saturate you so you can stockpile it before winter turns everything muted and dreary.”

 

 ~Siobhan Vivian

 

 

The Birds Of The Enchanted Forest

 

“Everything you can imagine is real.” 

~Pablo Picasso 

 

While birding in Louis Park/Pixie Woods, I spotted this wonderful sight! A gorgeous Great Egret perched amongst the art work at the volcano. Pixie Woods is a small amusement park, as called the Enchanted Woods, within Louis Park. It is a cute little place, but it is now mostly open in the summer months, however during the rest of the year it tends to fall into disarray. One thing that's nice about having a hobby like birding, is that I can use the park year round, but autumn is my favorite time to be there. It's a terrific resource, I have found some fascinating birds such as the magpies, mergansers, wood ducks and as you can see, the Great Egret. As of late, a pair of White-tailed kite are nesting there, its one of the most interesting finds, at least for Pixie Woods. I have been lucky to add the Red-breasted Sapsucker to my birding life list. The day I spotted it, was the first time I had ever seen a sapsucker of any kind. That was another really good day, and to think the park is just next door!

 

 Just a few birds from Louis Park/Pixie Woods

 

White-tailed Kite