Oh it doesn't sound good, I think it's unusual for a goose to be by itself. The geese here are just beginning to flock for migration. According to BNA ... "Breeders are monogamous, with life-long pair bonds formed usually during the second year. Offspring remain with their parents throughout the first year of life, traveling together in large flocks of family groups" Their diet ... "Canada Geese depend primarily on grasses, sedges, or other green monocots during periods of increase in lean body mass, primarily the growth period in summer (Sed-inger and Raveling 1984) and spring premigration and migration periods (McLandress and Raveling 1981a, Coleman and Boag 1987a). Postfledging and during fall and winter, most populations rely pri-marily on foods higher in carbohydrate, such as berries (Sedinger and Raveling 1984) or seeds, including agricultural grains (Joyner et al. 1987). Almost all populations of Canada Geese have readily adapted to use of agricultural crops, which predominate in diets of most populations during portions of annual cycle in which they are available. Canada Geese, primarily B. c. maxima and B. c. moffitti, have also become ac-climated to urban environments, in which they graze on domesticated grasses throughout the year (e.g., Conover and Kania 1991)." Also, according to BNA, not all flocks migrate, some stay in the same area as they breed. The map shows all of California as their wintering grounds. Sandy, I'm not sure if the dogwoods here were affected or not. I don't remember hearing about it but it could be. I believe that dogwoods here are not as prolific as the redbuds, nothing like the dogwoods that I remember in Virginia as a kid. I do have elm trees here, although they are young trees - I'm hoping they are related to the elm trees that were found just 40 miles from here that are dutch-elm-disease resistant and have now been cultivated. The birds seem to like the elms, ecspecially the warblers. I am worried about the ash borer getting here, my woods are full of ash with two large ones that shade the house. I will be very unhappy if I lose them!

Dock, Rumex sp..

Well being new to this bird watching I looked up Orioles and found a site where I was able to listen to one sing. They had their little song with a chatter afterwards. Going to this site paid off this morning because I was in my bedroom and two oriole came up to my window where a humming bird feeder hangs. The one perch where I had a very good look at it. Plus I heard them sing and chatter as they flew away from my window. As I'm looking I can see them flying around in they yard. Now seeing them I still am unsure about this other bird. It had such a long beak and the colors were so difference from the Orioles. My sister said maybe it's some kind of a woodpecker or maybe it was too early in the morning and my eyes were playing tricks on me. I'm a 61 year old diabetic and sometimes my eyes don't focus like I like them to. :) But I seen my first oriole so if I never figure out the other bird I can live with that..lol.. God bless

I think I had a senior moment here! I took it from inside the kitchen, looking east. I used the zoom with Macro setting. I think it is the macro that blurs the background. I am cheating on the camera and not using the manual much. A sweet person on the Cooking Forum has posted a course on how to take inside food pictures. I am reading and rereading it and followed her suggestions for the bird pictures. The only thing is I can't control the light like you cant taking food photos. I have vowed to learn to use this darned camera beside pointing and shooting. She goes into all of the settings. I think they are listed on FAQ on cooking forum. Here is a link that might be useful: photo tips blog.