Weekend walk report: But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling

 Saturday, April 8, 2023. The walk wasn't much of an adventure, certainly not in the photo department so I held off until today, April 9th, to combine the two days into one stunning walk report.

Here's Saturday, through the lens.

Wait, but first, in part because of the lack of photos during the walk but also because I liked this image. Here's the male Selasphorus sasin hummingbird who is the king of the hummingbird feeder outside of my bedroom window, taken Friday evening from my front door. This bird has been valiantly defending that feeder for over three years now. The rose bush, is probably 70 years old and the smell of these roses is unparalleled. 

Okay, onto Saturday.

I have to assume this is male Calypte anna hummingbird, Dusty. I honestly didn't hang out in the garden long enough to observe his behavior. He was the only hummingbird I saw during yesterday's excursion which is pretty unusual. Dusty was often the only hummingbird in the garden from fall though winter.

This desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) kept kicking up the ground on the the trail so it could roll around in loose dirt.

A lesser goldfinch on prostrate rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus).

There's always a mockingbird. I am, in fact, experiencing more mockingbirds singing around the house than I have since I arrived here in 2011. I woke several times last evening, always to hear a mockingbird outside in song.

I went up to the top of the hill hoping to find some birds of prey, a raven or a crow or two but nothing. Maybe they're all busy with springtime activities? Goats, however were out doing what goats do best.

Sunday, April 9th, today we celebrate the spring equinox as I have been for over 20 days. Spring and fall are my favorite seasons. Thanks again to Docken for walking with me both days via the phone.

Before the walk, once again there was Stan. Stan has had me donning my Dr. Doolittle hat for the past four days. He had an encounter with another cat quite early on Thursday morning and I noticed he was injured. I don't think it occurred during that encounter but then I don't know exactly when their spat started. It appeared to me Stan was simply trying to get to his house on the patio when I interceded. This was well before dawn. I did my best to separate the two without frightening Stan. Again, search "Stan" on this blog if you don't know about him. Stan is both feral and is a dear friend of Docken and I. Stan returned for breakfast about an hour and a half after the incident and got a first dose of Amoxicillin, just in case. He had a significant open wound. Stan had an infection in his right eye back in December of 2020 and it was getting pretty ugly. I'm not sure what I would have done had Docken not gotten an antibiotic to me. This round he had his 6th and final dose this morning, He looks AOK today.

Yes, he looks quite the ginger in direct sunlight.

Onto the walk...

I just noticed yesterday, suddenly there are Southwestern fence lizard everywhere.

Something else that's everywhere and I'm struggling to keep off my property, Urtica dioica, often known as common nettle, burning nettle, stinging nettle or nettle leaf. This little crop is right next to the garden. All going to seed.

Some variety of Lampranthus. Intentionally planted.

From a distance I saw what I believed was a prairie falcon so I headed up the hill. As soon as I got to the top I noticed this lovely common raven (Corvus corax) sounding off from atop a lamppost.

After the lamppost photos I went back to my car for a bag of dry cat food I've been saving for such an opportunity. The raven was prudently attentive as I shook the plastic bag and spread out the kibble onto the parking lot below. Before I could put the bag back in the car the bird was making haste going after the cat food.

I talked to the bird. I also tried to imitate it's croaking sound. My biggest question is, will this Corvid remember me? I believe I have seen this same raven nearby before but typically hanging with its mate.

Yes, I've used this song before. Did you listen to it?