An Autumn Day At Yolo Bypass

 "Be thankful for what you have,

 your life is someone else's fairy tail."

~Wale Ayeni

The last time I visited Yolo Bypass Wilderness Area was about late September, and it was unbearably hot, with temperatures left over from summer, so I wasn't photographing autumn lit trees, I was photographing praying mantis and gorgeous dead thistles. Wednesday it was all about the seasons, moving the year along. I don't think winter is insinuating itself in autumn's life, but it autumn was entertaining winter with moody lighting, beautiful ducks, and a lot of potholes along the unpaved roads, from two recent storms. We are now in the between season!

American Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal and Northern Pintail

Autumn's Pacific Flyway

 

"Autumn is a place where words fall short. It is a magic that must be felt breathed, experienced, and treasured."
~Laura Jaworski

Pintails. Shovelers, and my favorite of all, the Greater White-fronted goose! That's him in the background, photobombing his friends, but of course, he'd call it watching over his pals. Northern Pintail, with their elegant lines, blue bills, and gorgeous tails are a pleasure to photograph. As is my favorite goose. A lot of different birds are starting to come into the valley, from the Pacific Flyway. Pretty soon the Snow geese and the Ross's geese will arrive. I am betting it will be next week, or maybe the first week of December. I can't wait for their return! The more the merrier!

Four Seasons In One Day

Crowded House

Four Seasons In One Day
 

 

 “Seek out the things on the edge, the things in balance. There's a reason why we see beauty in the sunrise and the sunset, in the change of the seasons, and where the land meets the sea.” 

~Kevin A. Kuhn,

  Do You Realize?

 

Desmond road was absolutely beautiful last Saturday. While I crave, and basically live in autumn, the beauty of witnessing four seasons in one day, especially when it was 70 degrees outside, was not lost on me, in fact, it produced a zen like calm I haven't felt in almost a year. That time it was a late winter day, and again I was out birding. I got to witness about 50 Tundra swans, swimming in the water near the roadside on Woodbridge road. You see, the atmospheric river last year had produced a pool of deep water, and the wonderful swans made it their home for a little while. But as soon as the water reseeded, the swans were on their way. But in that moment, all was right with the world. And on Desmond road the other day, you could see influences of all four seasons, with the presence of some beautiful ducks and geese. Give me every day like this. I know you thought I would say just give me autumn and I will be fine, but no, having that balance meant something to me. I have needed to balance my feelings about the car accident my niece was in, and the suicide of my nephew. It's time that heals, and time brought me to Desmond road last Saturday, and I am grateful. 

 

 

 

 

Elegance... The Northern Pintail Duck

 

   "When I am out, and it's autumn,

 my thank you’s to the universe seem infinite.” 

~Darnell Lamont Walker

 

All birds have something very special about them. For the Northern Pintail its pure elegance. God is truly and artist!

 

Desmond Road In Farm County And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #23

 

"His eyes reflected the open grey of the autumnal sky."

~Juliet Marillier

Daughter Of The Frost

 

The farm country added some new ducks to it's various ponds this week. Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Ring-necked ducks, Green-winged Teal, and mallards all showed up in the pond on Desmond road. It's a happy feeling to see the birds enjoying autumn as much as I do. Soon, I hope, the Snow geese will arrive, and after that, who knows? All I know is I enjoy the annual migration of birds, and I can't help but marvel at their ability to survive and thrive. I didn't sit and count how many different species of bird flew past me today, because I was too busy enjoying the sounds of farm country and the world of Desmond road, in Galt, California.

 

 

~Me

No really I am. Seriously, I am. Seriously. And #13

 "I cannot endure to waste anything so precious

as sunshine by staying in the house."

~Nathaniel Hawthorne

The American Notebooks

Seriously, I am going to write about something other than birds and leaves, now that I am back to blogging for the next six months. Other things do actually exist for me. Like what you ask? Well, like baking and using my new air fryer that we bought around/near my birthday. I haven't actually used it yet, but my sweetie husband has made a steak and some sweet potato fries that were to die for! Yum. So, he has inspired me to make something soon. Also, the bread maker is finally unpacked and ready to be used. You remember how much I used it was used in my former life on Alturas.

 

 At one point I think I made some kind of baked item at least every couple days, but until I am less obsessed with birds and leaves, I am afraid this is the course I am on. But hey, it's October, which means vacation has officially begun for 2022. We will be going here are there, and then there is Movieapalosa. This year, I think we broke a record, on DVD purchases. There are at least thirty new movies, just waiting to be seen. Most are horror movies, but we also added some comedies too. Maybe that will be a subject of an upcoming post, how I overspent on vacation. I bet you can't wait! So, into the autumn sunshine I go, and hopefully I will see, and photograph, more beauty than I did the previous day!

 

Click Photo To Enlarge

Tuesday's Leaf Of The Day... #13

~Me