Good morning and Happy Saturday everyone! It is a cool, cloudy and very wet morning here again. It rained overnight, close to half an inch (11mm). We're supposed to get some more later today and tomorrow. But, if the forecast holds, it should be partly sunny on Monday and Tuesday, then it will return to showers for the rest of the week. This is shaping up to be a wet fall. That's the way it was two years ago.

A white pelican gliding silently past down at the river during the summer.

It gets very slippery back on that path and hills when it stays wet like that. I haven't gone down to the river since July 26. As you know, it's the bear situation that has kept me from walking to the river, which I think was a bad decision on my part. Now summer is over and photo opportunities will be limited down there, but it should still be better than here. So hopefully on Monday I can walk down there before it starts getting too wet.

A place at the river where the white pelicans like to gather.

Speaking of bears, there was one around again last night. I could actually feel the apartment shake as it walked on the deck, so I'm thinking it was the biggest of the three that come around. That one is about 400 to 500 pounds. That's rather large. But I have never seen that one during the day, only at night. I'm fine with that. Oh well, only winter will put an end to those bears.

Even though it's cool and wet outside, it still smells so fresh and nice. The blue jays are busy calling to each other. Yesterday I counted 5 babies, now grown up, and 6 adults. There should be more young ones around, unless they didn't have a good nesting this year. Having 2 or 3 babies seems to be normal here. Yesterday 3 of the young stayed together, while the other 2 stayed together. So each group was obviously from the same nest. Those young ones were fun to watch. They got along with the chipmunks quite nicely too.

Baxter the blue jay patiently waiting for me to toss a peanut to him.

There's no wind right now, the leaves are completely still and quiet. The chickadees are talking to each other with their tiny chirp. Blue jays are calling in the distance. I think my sparrows have gone, I haven't seen even one this morning. There were at least 3 families yesterday. Right now only the chipmunks remain and they are out of food at the moment. Look at that. A squirrel is picking the nuts off that walnut tree out back. Amazing he can carry those big walnuts. Even in town we can enjoy some quiet solitude along with the little critters. Well, time for more coffee. Have a wonderful day everyone and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2021 Steve McLeod.