∞

Walnut trees in Northern California right now. 20 foot or so spaced rows of walnut trees with their bright yellow fall foliage.

∞

We had a distinguished visitor in our backyard today, hunting at our feeder. This is a Cooper’s Hawk or a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Absolutely stunning. A hawk perched in an elderberry bush. It has rust red bars on its white chest and a dark brown back. Both its yellowish eyes are looking forward toward something off to the photographer’s side.

∞

Good morning. The time changed so I’m now technically up an hour early but I got the usual hours of sleep. So here’s a likely Savanna Sparrow from the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge A small bird perched in dense brown reeds.

∞

I’m still amazed how the beta blocker Propranolol means I no longer have a physical tachycardic fight/flight response to normal situations like hobbies, people, and work. Game changer. Makes managing anxiety much easier.

∞

The Orange-crowned Warbler(s) is/are back! They found our cultivated native California grapes a few years ago and have been back annually. I like to think it’s the same one bird that returns. #OrangeCrownedWarbler #Birds An Orange-crowned Warbler, perched in a grapevine, feasts on a bunch of drying out grapes. The bird is slightly obscured by a grape leaf. The warbler is a brownish yellow with white around its eyes.

∞

KCIC (Chico Municipal) had an open house yesterday. Two BAE-146s, C-GRNT and N908AS, are stored there. Owned by Air Spray, a fire tanker company. I don’t know if they’re converted. Didn’t look like it. #AvGeek #BAe146 Two parked and stored BAE-146s with their high wings and four jet engines. They are stored so the engines are covered and doors taped off.

∞

Orland, CA government is pretty decent: “Groundwater recharge sites in Glenn County help provide water to households”

∞

I guess it’s good that the lost Budgie (parakeet) keeps returning to our bird friendly backyard. The neon green bird seems to be flocking with house sparrows. The sparrows constantly move while the Budgie preens.

A parakeet is perched on a Ceanothus branch. It has a neon yellow head and green body.
∞

I may have a breakthrough with my anxiety. A beta blocker. Forces my brain to stop being an adrenaline junky for low stakes things like… hobbies, people, & work. My heart rate is now not near to or tachycardic for no good reason and that hugely helps my anxiety. A cardiologist is in my future.

∞

Good morning from California, where Fall is finally reasserting itself.

A backyard with a weather station and native plants. Early morning sunlight is reflecting off the bottoms of low clouds, resulting in a bright orange glow.
∞

Some wildlife at the Red Bluff Recreation Area (managed by the Mendocino National Forest). Lots of amphibians at Ben’s Pond(?)! We also observed well camouflaged mule deer and a busy Downy Woodpecker. #RedBluffRecreationAreaA frog or toad sitting in an algae filled pond, sticking its head out into the air. At least three Mule Deer in tall brown reeds, looking back towards the human interlopers. A Downy Woodpecker on a tree branch with a slightly motion blurred head. It was pecking at the time. The woodpecker has a white belly and black wings with rows of white spots. Its head has some white with a black stripe up the middle and over its eyes.

∞

Happy new water year! According to WeatherCat software, my wx station recorded a total of 27.91” for Oct 1, 2022 - Sep 30, 2023 water year. Compare that to 13.66” for Oct 1, 2021 - Sep 30, 2022 water year! Nature gave us a 0.5” boost yesterday. I’m in the N. Sac Valley #CAWx

∞

Phew. No U.S. government shutdown for at least 45 days. I’ll take it.

∞

Someone lost a parakeet or a small parrot 🙁😳 #BirdsOfMastodon #NotFromAroundHere A bird with a green body and yellow head perched on an elderberry branch. It has black markings on its wings and tail. There are elderberries behind it.

∞

Three episodes into Silo on Apple TV+ and I’m loving it. https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/125988

∞

Whelp. I’m done with work for the week. So, it’d be great if I can show up for work this Monday and not have to complete an "orderly shutdown.” It’d be great to not have my anxiety start an upward climb. I’d rather not hear people invariably state government employees are lazy and not needed and a shutdown is just a paid vacation. I AM NOT LAZY AND IT IS NOT A VACATION. We’ll be fine but many won’t be. Especially contractors. They get nothing.

∞

About time Apple Music shows are available in Apple Podcasts. Now, imagine this, I can resume playing shows anytime & easily know what I’ve listened to 🙄 Mainly I listen to Strombo.

∞

In Northern California’s Fall, our whole house fan really shines. We can bring in cooler air at night when there’s no wind. The modern models are not very loud! So our AC (heat pump) is off for the season now. That’s a bit earlier than usual as we often need a bit of cooling at night for sleep.

∞

Got out to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge this morning. The White Fronted Geese are here (along with many small migratory song birds)! #WhiteFrontedGoose Five Greater White Fronted Geese flying in a clear sky. They have bright white chests and tails. Their belly is striped with black. Their wings are gray. The photo is very soft or slightly blurry.

∞

Covid 💉✅ Flu 💉✅