the Ides of October

Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca

Another week deeper into fall weather. We've had cold fronts push through, with temps just under 40 degrees at night, followed by sunny but blustery days. Our feeder birds have chosen their favorite feeding stations -- sunflower seeds in a tube, thistle seeds in a "sock", suet cakes, or sunflower in a shallow tray.

At the feeders this week we've seen:
1. Downy Woodpecker
2. American Goldfinch
3. House Finch
4. Black-capped Chickadee
5. House Sparrow

Under the feeders - the clean-up crew:
6. Mourning Dove
7. Song Sparrow

Other birds seen in the courtyard this week include:
8. American Robin
9. Eastern Phoebe

In the shrubs and tangles around building A-21 we've also seen:
10. White-throated Sparrow
11. Chipping Sparrow
12. Dark-eyed Junco
13. Northern Mockingbird


Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, with fruit and twigs of Rosa multiflora

Campus-fly-overs this week include:
14. Osprey
15. Red-tailed Hawk
16. Sharp-shinned Hawk - pursuing juncos
17. Herring Gull
18. Ring-billed Gull
19. Monk Parakeet
20. Red-winged Blackbird

And the ever-present:
21. Rock Dove
22. Canada Goose
23. European Starling

And saving the best for last:
24. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, seen by Lynn on Thursday
and
25. Brown Creeper, reported by Tom, also on Thursday


This is under the pines - what is it Lynn??
Looks like a young Amanita muscaria var guessowii or formosa, depending on which authority is recognized.