Busy birdbath day

By Mary Alice Murphy

Our birdbath is conveniently located in the front yard, with the window over the kitchen sink offering us a direct view.

The first bird I saw when fixing my breakfast was a male Gambel's quail sipping in between keeping watch for his mate. She wandered in to also have a drink before heading to the front patio where the bird feeders hang and where the birds generally knock a lot to the ground.

The ground-feeding doves and quail appreciate these sloppy eaters.

I was just finishing drying a plate when I saw a larger animal approach the birdbath. He (she?) too kept a wary eye out for intruders. The sleek, with very bushy tail, coyote had a long drink at the birdbath before heading back from the direction it arrived, down the driveway.

Our dog, Jackie, was up early yesterday morning when a coyote chorus was sounding off at 5:30. Several times yesterday, she barked at something, but it was never visible when I looked. Perhaps that coyote has been visiting the birdbath regularly.

At lunch, when warming some leftovers and passing by that same window, I saw some action at the birdbath.

A thrasher did not want this intruder at "its" source of water. With jumps and feet extended, the annoyed bird "thrashed" out against a smaller furry animal. This one, a fuzzy squirrel, in general, paid no attention to the creature trying to interrupt its drinking.

While I watched, the thrasher tried at least five or six times to drive away the trespasser. Undeterred, the squirrel got its fill before loping away and leaving the thrasher to imbibe.

Reminded me of those feisty hummers that will show up in the next month or so'the rufous hummingbirds, who seem to think that every feeder belongs to them.

We do have a pair of hummingbirds lowering the level in the feeder every day. The male and female black-chinned hummingbirds have often raised a family here. I often wonder if it's the same pair coming back or their offspring returning to a familiar spot.

Oh, and did I ever tell you about the herd of elk, about eight or ten, and all cows, that wandered across our next-door neighbor's yard one morning a couple of weeks ago? Our neighbors up the hill also reported seeing the same group.

Hope you are enjoying the spring-like weather, which I'm hoping has passed its allergy-causing, pollen-raising and windy phases.

May your musings bring you beauty!