A new month started quietly, with few animals, birds, or insects visible on a cold. overcast day. I walked around my local marsh for a couple of hours and experienced nature in a series of small encounters, signs of the changing season.
A lone swallow sang softly in a tree; (CORRECTION: A sharp-eyed reader noted this is a female or immature Red-winged Blackbird)
A mallow flower bloomed unexpectedly in the water;
A squirrel peeked out from behind some branches;
The trees showcased their muted autumn colors; and
An advance party of Canada Geese came in for a landing.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
A lovely collection of autumnal photos. That squirrel looks healthy and svelte. I have some really chubby squirrels in my garden. Seriously, one had rolls and a distinct beer gut.
Thanks. It’s great to try to take spectacular photos, but sometimes it’s enough for me to post photos that capture the everyday reality, the beauty of the commonplace.
Sometimes the small encounters are the good ones. I had a similar experience yesterday.
Nice to see the tree scene — after the wind storm we had yesterday I’m not sure there are many landscapes like that left here in southern Maine. Oh, and I think your bird is actually a female or immature Red-winged Blackbird.
Thanks for the assist on the identification. My bird skills are definitely rusty after a summer of photographing mostly insects. With the temperatures dropping into the upper 30’s at night, I’m not sure I’ll be seeing many more bugs this season.
It’s hard to watch summer go sometimes.
Just a small lull until the wintering ducks come in. Wonderful captures Mike.
Yes it is a redwing! I love them and am waiting for them to appear in the fields and gardens nearby 🙂 Lovely autumnal collection!
I have no trouble identifying the males, but the females sometimes fool me. There was a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds that recently flew into my local marsh and mostly they hang out in the cattails.
I had trouble telling the females apart from the song thrush! There was a large flock overwintering at RHS Wisley Gardens last year, enjoying the ample fruit of a large wild pear tree. I had such fun watching them 🙂