Western Scrub Jays at the water bowl.  

Nov. 10, 2013

No Stellar's Jays today or yesterday.  I suspect the Western Jays are keeping them away.  I put out two handfuls of peanuts in the shell, but they were gone by the time I got out of the shower - all either eaten or buried, safely hidden, in the arroyo.

All the birds are eating as fast as they can.  Perhaps they know that rain and cold weather are on the way.  It's beautiful today though, about 60 plus degrees and sunny and clear.  There's still a lot of color in the yard, but the native plants are all tucked in for the winter.  The vine cholla has lovely bright yellow fruits - but don't get too close - those spines are vicious.  The grasses are dried and have dropped most of their seeds, either to blow on the winds to a new beginning in the spring, or eaten by tiny birds - keeping them full and warm on long, cold winter nights.