BirdsbyBill: Sunflower Jungle

We cut down two gangly fir trees in the backyard this spring. We didn't have the stumps removed, but wished we had as they were rather ugly right next to the pond area. As spring progressed, we noticed a bunch of sunflower plants starting to grow in the area around the stumps. We decided to just let them go. They turned into a sunflower jungle hiding the stumps. They have also attracted a flock of American and lesser goldfinches. They have been a joy with their constant song and bright colors. They continue to feast on the sunflowers everyday, and have completely cleaned out maybe a third of the flower heads. They also enjoy bathing and drinking at the smaller of the pond waterfalls. Hopefully they'll stick around for the winter.

Our butterfly bush has attracted a number of butterflies this summer. First it was a number of tiger swallowtails, and now in the last week a bunch of painted ladies. I did a story once on an elementary school program where students grow and release painted ladies as part of a biology project. I think they still do it, so I wonder if these are freshly released from a nearby school. Butterflies are just amazingly beautiful.

We don't get a lot of hummingbirds during the summer, but we do get a few in spring and late summer as they migrate. They love the butterfly bush in the backyard. They like the pond waterfalls, too, hovering at them to get a drink. Haven't gotten a good sharp photo so far.

Rocky and I took a trip down to Pueblo a week or so back. It was a nice cool, showery break towards the end of August, almost fall like. Don't usually go down to Pueblo until later in Sept., but the cooler weather made it appealing. Camped next to a large clump of western red cedars that was home to family of little lined lizards. There were large adults and tiny little babies. I think at one time I counted up to a dozen visible at one time. When the sun was out, they came out in force to sun on the south side of the cedar clump. They drove Rocky crazy. He kept trying to catch them, but had no luck. They were bold, yet very fast. They would watch him as he stalked them, then dart under the cedars at the last minute when he lunged at them. He finally grew tired of the chase and just sat there watching them.

One morning I saw a flash of yellow and black at the pond. At first I thought it was one of the regular goldfinches but it looked to big. I grabbed the binoculars - male western tanager! Grabbed the camera and managed to get a shot before he jumped up into the nearby dogwood. We had one visit the pond this spring during migration. I wonder if it was the same one, passing thru on his way south. The red on the head appeared somewhat mottled, but maybe it was just because he had just taken a bath in the waterfall.