Eastern Chipmunk

This Eastern Chipmunk was eating sunflower seeds near a birdfeeder at Elm Creek Park Reserve.

( Something too much of this )

Meanwhile, a big flock of White-Throated Sparrows have been eating sunflower seeds under our birdfeeder and kicking up leaf litter in the neighbor's yard. Interestingly, they are not doing their usual "Ohhhhh Saaaaaaam Peabody, Peabody" call that I'm used to hearing up north in their summer range -- it's more like "Peabody, Peabody, Peabody." Apparently they start out knowing only the surname of their target, and refine their search as they go. Those that cross the border switch to singing "O Canada Canada," presumably because they don't have jurisdiction.

Owl expressions

I think this is just a yawn. At least, it didn't come with a sound.

On the other hand, this may really be a dirty look. This owl lives at the Nature Center in Elm Creek Park Reserve, and occasionally they bring it outdoors into the yard for viewing. Its enclosure is just a random quadrilateral between sidewalks, and I eventually got the feeling that maybe it didn't like people coming up to the fence on the closest sides. They're just about to knock down the building and replace it with a new one, so maybe they'll include a larger owl paddock.

( Two more photos )