Today's walk report: How’s Your Bird?

 Another fine walky talky with Docky.

First up, with my sunglasses still on and considering the location, I thought this was going to be the male Calypte anna hummingbird known as Dusty. As soon as he took flight I realized it was not but wondered, could this young male be Dusty's offspring? I think it's highly probable since there haven't been many male Calypte anna in, at least, this part of the garden competing for territory for a long time. Be that as it may, Anna's hummingbirds are not at all social, nor do males ever associate with offspring.

Meanwhile, Dusty appeared moments later right where he typically greets me (of late). For anyone who has paid attention, you may have noticed the tiny white dot under his right eye over the last few weeks. It won't last but it's an easy way for the uninitiated to confirm his ID. Come to think of it, it's been a couple of years now with Dusty and just scratching my head over it, I can only think of perhaps a few (as in three) times I've seen another male Anna's in his territory and they never lasted very long. (Click to enlarge and you'll see the white dot).

The Catalina Cherry tree (Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii) is loaded.

 Mexican lime cactus (Erocactus pilosus).

Onto the walk. It was a "Vintage Fair" day so the ancient car worshipers had to move to another parking lot. To be honest, both events tend to cramp my style. This is a small fraction of the vintage fair scene. Appears to me it's predominately people selling their old crappy clothes.

Up on the hill I was able to walk around again. After at least 2 years of fenced off construction, I really couldn't tell much had been done. These are the fine arts and music education buildings. I never figured out where they moved those disciplines in the interim. Topside, I missed out on my only bird of prey photo op but found this red-tailed hawk down in the flat-lands. It flew off to join its companion. 

Before departing, I went back up the hill and did a lap around the parking lot and surrounding buildings since most of uphill/downhill activity was via automobile. I stopped to take a picture of this small flock of common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Recently, YouTube has been offering me videos of starlings vocalizing. They can have an amazing vocabulary. I had no idea that both mynas and starlings were both in the starling family (Sturnidae). The starlings never talk to me.

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