Al Larson Photography

This is the mother to the elk calf shown in the photo below. Both of them returned the following morning. The cow headed straight for one of the bird feeders and proceeded to lick out the seeds. I stepped out of the door to shoo her away. I approched to within fifteen feet of her before she backed away. I retrieved the feeders for I am not in the business of hand feeding elk! She returned to the clothes line to find the feeders gone. Then both she and her calf wandered about the yard browsing on the willows and alders by the creek. They sampled the green grass I had uncovered with the snow blower and they nipped off the dried seed heads of the flowers left in the flower beds.

When I had first confronted the cow she stood solidly before me with her head erect. She looked me straight in the eye. I was somewhat intimidated for I knew her forelegs were powerful weapons.  I retreated back to the house and continued to watch them from the safety indoors as they continued to forage in the yard outside.

A group of elk came through this morning. Of course the gate was open so a couple entered the yard. This young elk is headed for the bird feeder. Man! The birdseed doesn’t last long with these guys around!

This morning I had another welcome guest, a Varied Thrush. It remained in view only long enough for me to snap its photo. Lucky me! I never know what will turn up next.

Varied Thrush is related to the American Robin through the thrush family. It is about the size of  a robin, forages like a robin on the lawn, but will also frequent seed feeders. I speculate that this may indeed be a robin on its way to a masquerade party.

Each morning this Hairy Woodpecker female joins me for breakfast. I sit at the counter by the window and eat my “wheaties” while she sits on the feeder just outside the window eating hulled sunflower seeds. She has been making regular trips to this feeder since last summer when she was aparently feeding young. I affectionally call her “Harrietta.”

Mountain Ash may be found in the mountains not too far from Boise. This photo was taken a few years ago in autumn on Clear Creek between Pioneerville and Coulter summit. This native shrub grows up to approximately six feet tall. The berries ripen in the fall just in time to be visited by robins, waxwings and other fruit eating birds. This means your visit must be timed just right to see this colorful display before the birds have their feast.