Yesterday’s sunshine lit the last of the golden leaves in the trees as a gentle breeze fluttered them. When walking this week my eye was drawn here and there to the brightness of the season. It will soon be gone. Many of the leaves are already on the ground and trees that were at the peak last week are mostly bare. If the forecasted snow comes tomorrow, it will be our first good snow of the season.
Early morning sunlight highlights the feathery seeds of mountain mahogany, a common wild shrub. The feather tail on the seed curls when dry and straightens when wet. Once on the ground, the seed plants itself by curling and uncurling.
The aspens were beautiful this week. The trails, if I went out early, were quiet. 
The butterflies and hummingbirds were in love with the flowering shrubs around the pool in Castroville, TX. I took my camera to the pool and watched for hummingbirds while I swam. I’d climb out of the pool, dry my hands and the hummingbirds would usually leave, but the butterflies stayed and posed with the yellow and red flowers. The shrub has common names of Pride of Barbados, orRed Bird of Paradise, mimosa-like leaves and seed pods.
“Don’t take my photo!”, he crows as he runs for cover.
I have been away from consworld, photographing life in and around Castroville, Texas. It was hot, hot, hot and I am happy to be back home. The running rooster was one of the first images I made on the trip, but the rooster wasn’t the only bird running around on the farm.
This chaparral bird, or roadrunner, was roaming about gathering plant material. I’ve read the nest is made of sticks, but this bird was gathering softer green plants, perhaps to line a nest(?).
She (or he?) seemed friendly as long as I was still. Once, she ran toward me only turning away at about 10 feet. She took a dust bath within 30 feet of me.
More to come. I took several hundred photos while away and have been happily shooting sunsets and sunsrises here in Colorado since I’ve returned.
Summer is coming to an end, many of the flowers have gone by, but these few still bloom. We may have a frost or a dusting of snow next week at my house, so I have spent the past few days photographing bees, mushrooms, flowers, and the few hummingbirds still about.
Golden sunlight on a big mushroom made me grab the camera for this image. The south side of the hill is usually too dry for mushrooms, but not this year. The almost daily rains have provided enough moisture to support a wonderful wildflower season and, now, big beautiful ‘shrooms!
Tippy, the little runt of the litter with the crooked nose, is still in the area. I saw him (or her?) once in August running across the road. That distinctive face is easy to recognize.
Last week, I thought I saw one of Tippy’s siblings running by on the hillside. I haven’t seen the mother fox since spring.
Tonight, just after sunset, as we drove up to our house, there sat little Tippy almost grown. I set the ISO to 800 and hoped for the best in the fading light. The young fox moved a bit farther away into the tall grass after I took the first image.
And here’s a crop of the face from the 2nd image:
The offset jaw doesn’t seem to be a problem for Tippy. He is still small, but looks quite healthy. I hope that means he’s been catching lots of mice, especially the ones near my house. I’ve read that the red foxes’ favorite foods are mice and voles. The foxes eat as many as they can and then bury any others they kill for later meals. I like the idea that this little fox may be ridding the area around my house of rodents.
