Activity at the gound level birdbath in January 2018

Here are some pictures from the BirdCam, taken in January 2018.

A rabbit that turns out to like the taste of begonias!

This is starting to look like a Disney moment with rabbit and House Finch

Squirrel

White-Crowned Sparrow

Nutmeg Mannikin 

Spotted Towhee

Aloes in Alice Keck Park

Here are some pictures of the Aloes in bloom at Alice Keck Park in January 2018.

A visit from a Bewick's Wren

A Bewick's Wren flew into the house.  After taking it's picture, I showed it the door!

Agave Salmiana Sunset

A visit to Idyllwild California

This weekend we visited some friends in Idyllwild California.  Here is some of what I saw around the cabin and on a hike.

Stellar's Jay

Stellar's Jay

Mountain Chickadee

Mountain Chickadee

Mountain Chickadee

Dark-eyed Junco

Pine Siskins

Pine Siskin

Tahquitz Peak

Furcraea foetida, a close relative of the agave!

This plant sent up a tall bloom stalk in the past month.  The base of the plant is about 8-9 feet wide but it is hard to see as it is among a bunch of brush on the hillside.  The bloom stalk is about 25+ feet tall.  At first I thought it was another agave, but the blooms were different than the other agave's.  After some research I believe this is Furcraea foetida, which is a close relative of the agave.  It is grown for it's hemp fiber.

Furcrae foetida

Furcrae foetida

This is looking out the kitchen window and down.  You can see the top of Furcrae foetida, but not the base.

Base of Furcrae foetida.  This plant is about 8-9 feet wide.

Black Phoebe

It's been years since I have seen a Black Phoebe and never near the house.  My other sightings have been at Ellwood Beach near the Monarch Butterfly preserve.  Today I looked out into the garden and saw a pair of them.  They have decided to visit the foothills!

Black Phoebe