I took this picture just after I netted this guy in our pool this morning He had landed there overnight. About 2.5 inches long. From inaturalist site I suspect he is a PONDERous borer beetle, meaning he and his larva feed on roots of conifers like the many Doug-firs around our neighborhood. He was impressive and not long after I rescued him he flew off to bore another day.
At Jor Dancer this morning the weed field was alive with seed harvesters: finches and sparrows.
In the dead top of the tallest riverside ash was the (same) wood-pewee, and this morning he was joined by a preening flicker:
There were two male Anna’s hummers fussing with one another. Here’s one at rest momentarily. The squirrel, of course, was having breakfast at our bird feeders:
I am teaching two nature classes this fall here in McMinnville:
Joe Dancer Park, Yamhill, Oregon, US
Aug 17, 2019
13 species
Anna’s Hummingbird 2
Turkey Vulture 1
Northern Flicker 2
Western Wood-Pewee 1
California Scrub-Jay 1
American Crow 1
Violet-green Swallow X
Barn Swallow 12
European Starling 2
American Robin X
House Finch X
American Goldfinch 40
White-crowned Sparrow 10
Towheeblog 
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