Last Bits of Summer

[yourlibrarian]

As we finished lunch last week I looked out the window and saw what seemed to be a hawk riding thermals. When I went on the balcony to get a picture turns out it was three of them. The close-ups aren't very good but it doesn't look like vultures to me.



Also, the hummingbird was very put out that I was standing under the feeder and kept buzzing by. I don't expect they'll be around past this month. I think the latest they've ever been here are the first days of October. But there is a lot of eating going on so they should be around for daily viewing several more weeks.



I figured this month is also the last we'll get of blooms around here. These plants look like they're doing well but I've noticed others are dying back. As the nights turn colder and days shorter, I expect these will be all gone around the same time as the hummingbirds.

Comments

[vriddy]

Those pictures are all lovely!! The plants feel very summery still :D

[yourlibrarian]

They're still blooming as of this morning but I think they'll start dying back by degrees soon, given other plots.

[shirebound]

What gorgeous colors!

I've seen three hawks soaring, but never three. That's a good sighting.

[yourlibrarian]

I've never seen more than one a time here -- either flying or perching, so that was a unique sight for us 🙂

[pameladean]

I really love that last exuberant burst of flowering at this time of year. Keats talks about it in "Ode to Autumn."

P.

[yourlibrarian]

It's somewhat melancholy I think, as it's like that final vibrancy. I do love autumn though.

[evergreenspire]

Wonderful photos, thank you for sharing! What growing zone are you in?

Very cool that you got to see three vultures/hawks! I used to see two that would travel above a roadside I used to walk to and from work, but never three.

[yourlibrarian]

No idea, the flowers aren't mine!

I'm wondering if it might not be a mother and two grown chicks?

[evergreenspire]

I looked up vulture behavior. According to this, they are relatively social, so they could also just be friends.
https://www.thespruce.com/fun-facts-about-vultures-385520

[yourlibrarian]

A true Rat Pack 😀

[jellyfishlover]

Lovely pictures! The flowers look very nice! It's a shame that we're moving into fall season, but hopefully the leaves turning diffrent colors will make up for it...
The picture of the humming bird is lovely too! It's hard to get a picture of them that isn't just a giant blur (at least, that's my luck with photographing them)! The light filtering through the feathers on it's wings makes for a nice sight!

[yourlibrarian]

It definitely is! I probably only got anything because, since it was mad at me it hovered more, whereas usually it's zipping around.

[adafrog]

Love the flowers.

[yourlibrarian]

They are colorful, aren't they?

[ranunculus]

Ok, with a brief Google search; If you are in Northern America that may be a Northern Harrier hawk.

[yourlibrarian]

Oh cool! I know that we have Cooper's hawks in the area but at that distance I was just guessing they were even hawks.

[cmcmck]

Nice to see the raptors.

We get five species around here if you don't include the owls.

[yourlibrarian]

I know we absolutely must have owls in this area given all the farmland but amazingly I've not only never seen but also never heard one in 20 years. Someday I hope we will.

[apachefirecat]

Beautiful flowers!

[yourlibrarian]

They were so bright it wasn't until my second look that I realized there were two different shades of pink among them.

[thenewbuzwuzz]

Pretty! :)

[yourlibrarian]

I loved the blooms 🙂

[lot]

The flowers give me hope.

[yourlibrarian]

Aw, glad they've brought some good things.