Walk with me. I’m systematically doing the rounds of all my special places that will close certain hiking loops after September 30th, to protect migrating birds. Wednesday I was at Tualatin River National Wildlife Refugee.

Fall already visible in the colors. Oaks turning red, yellow poplar leaves dropping, ponds green with duck grits, the whole landscape begging for water colors. Henk Pander, Erik Sandgren, where are you when we need you?

I had come expecting a few straggling flowers and was not disappointed. You have to imagine them bathed in strong smells of wild Thyme, Camomile and something quite sour, hinting at fall.

The usual suspects were still hanging out or taking off for a spin:

Cedar waxwings were stocking up in the Hawthorne,

And then there was this guy, out of the blue, having me stop in my tracks. An adult male harrier, otherwise known as a “gray ghost”, my learned neighbor told me when I asked for help with identification.

You know how during fire works they wait until the end for one final mega explosion? I felt that nature was celebrating the end of summer with a similar display – the pelicans flew over my head, landed in the water, circled and then spread out. Likely on their way down south. Just a stunning sight, and auditory experience, with their wings flapping so close to me.

Anyone with a tendency to anthropomorphize would swear he was grinning at me…

And yesterday off US Hwy 30, some mix and match of the traveling parties, ibises looking on :

The muskrat decided to get out of the way fast, camouflage and all.

Squirrel, on the other hand, was unperturbed, just watching the pelican show while nibbling.

I felt reminded by nature – and in turn want to remind the many people who are dear to me and having a rough time right now – that we aren’t done yet! Change is in the air.

Music is about the Equinox (9/22/2022,) the mood fit.