September Days

 Country Road - Benton County Oregon

We took a backroad drive one day last week with no particular destination.  We're still having hot summer days and  walks have been limited  so it was good to get outside.   There's some smoke in our valley from fires in the hills up the Willamette River  (not dangerously close to us).  Summer means fire season here in the west -- more than ever nowadays.

 

 Pied-Billed Grebe

Like magic, our unplanned destination turned out to be the Finley Wildlife Refuge.  (But really because the person driving the car knew where he was going all along.)   We arrived in early afternoon, not the optimal time for birding, but we saw a few in the Marsh.  

 

 Great Egret

That's a fish at the Egret's feet.   He must have already eaten his fill.

 

 

 It's good to see green especially at the end of  a summer that's been hot and dry in most of our area.  

September is my month to feel nostalgic.   Probably because our life revolved around the school year for so long, it really seems more like a New Year to me this month than does January.   So with nostalgia in mind, this week's collage is  a look-back at early September days from a few past years:  

 

 

The top two photos are from roadtrips in 2019 -- Fall color in Portland Oregon and the hawk at Arcata Marsh California.   2021 and 22 were the Covid years -- we did some self-isolated camping  during that time, but we were home in Oregon in September of both years.  I photographed the bushtits in our daughter's yard  in 2020; it  was a new bird for me (I had ID help from  wonderful  bloggers  when I first posted about them).  The other two photos in the bottom row are from our grandson's backyard at a family gathering last year. The center photo is California Redwoods in the mist -- another road trip to the state south of us in September 2018.

And back to the present (well, last week anyway):

 

Just a beautiful blue sky with  a few fluffy clouds for interest -- on the way home from our  weekday drive  last week.   September really does start a new year for our older great-grands and their parents (several of the grandchildren teach as well as parenting)  and for our daughter and son-in-law who are helping out with their not-old-enough-for-school grandbabies.   For us, there's really no regular schedule to keep, but it still feels like new.  

September mornings still can make me feel this way!

Links this week with thanks:

 

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;   TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS;  THROUGH MY LENS; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS;   SATURDAY CRITTERS   and RATHER B' BIRDING 

Comments

[Lavender Dreams]

I'm checking in with you this morning to tell you I am praying for the Ft. Myers area and all of Florida! Let me know how things are where your house is there when you hear. We have light rain and wind this morning and hope and pray we don't get anything worse! Take care! Hugs, Diane

[Anni]

September is a great month ..and you prove it with your photos. Loved seeing your birds of course

Sorry for my late visit. A computer glitch yesterday! Thanks for sharing & linking in.

[Andree]

You're right: September is nostalgia. Perhaps that is my problem with the month. Another year ending, memories that I cannot relive. I make new ones, but always want the people I have lost to return.

The bushtits are adorable. Never heard of them before. Stay safe!

[Ms. Donyarific]

The sunrise is a delight to behold!

[riitta k]

Stunning September sunrise!!

[Eileen]

Hello Sallie,
Wonderful variety of birds. I would love to see the Bushtits, they are cute little birds. The Grebe, Egret and Hawk are awesome too, great sightings! Love the pretty flowers and sunset. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend!

[Breathtaking]

Hello Sallie :=) September is a welcome month after the horrific heat of the summer months. I love walks in cooler weather but since my husband's demise, am limited to walks on the farm, unless my daughter takes me out. I used to feel a sense of great excitement getting into the car when hubby was alive, and we went out for a drive, and just like you, returning with great images of nature. I enjoyed your nostalgic look back at previous September months in your collage, especially the Hawk and Bushtits, and also your recent photos of the grebe and Great Egret. Lovely scenery seen on your drive, and your the jewel in the crown sunrise.
All the best.

[diane]

That sure is a nostalgic post. Sounds strange to us because our school year starts in January to December.

[mae]

After a lifetime of September always being a new beginning, it does seem strange for it to be just another month!

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

[Jm, Illinois, U.S.A.]

Looks like the drive was eventful. You came home with lots of beautiful nature images. I welcome Fall... Cooler weather, trees of many colors, Canadian Geese flying in a V formation, the sound of leaves crunching on the ground and the smell of leaves burning.

[Traude "Rostrose"]

How nice, dear Sally, that you had so many unexpected bird sightings on your trip. I can understand that September makes you nostalgic. But for me, that's when the most pleasant time of the year begins - not so hot anymore, you can go on extensive hikes in nature, the leaves change color attractively, I love autumn.
You show beautiful photos!
Best wishes,
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/09/juli-august-2022-teil-1-was-fur-ein.html

[Jim, Sydney, Australia]

Beautiful shots.

[Peter B.]

I like the nostalgic look-back. Great idea! We have wildfires in our area too, along with daily flex alerts and extreme heat warnings. Crazy!!

[Bob Bushell]

Beautiful images Sallie, I do love the Great Egret, and what catch.

[tomthebackroadstraveller]

...that road look like one that I would love to drive down.

[A ShutterBug Explores]

Gorgeous sunrise photo and love the 'country roads' photos too ~ Xo

Sweet poem ~ and photos ~ Xo

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

[Lorrie Orr]

I agree with you about September being full of nostalgia. The beginning of a new school year still feels more like a new beginning even though nothing much is changing for me this year. A lovely drive is a good way to spend a sunny day. The egret looks quite satisfied.

[Alan]

September is kind of nostalgic isn't it? Here, my outdoor life real begins in September with the drier cooler weather. I get out lots in the summer but the summers are brutal. September weather is milder.

I love all your photos. You are really a great outdoor photographer.

[NatureFootstep]

loved to see the Pied-Billed Grebe. I have not seen any grebe where I live since April I think. A few arrived but did not stay. I think the small lakes they usually visit did not have much food for them this year. The last shot the rising sun, sooo beautiful.

[DeniseinVA]

Wonderful look into what you have been doing Sallie. Thanks for more great photos. Happy September!

[Alycia Quiltygirl]

Those are beautiful photos. I love seeing the green too. I hope the smoke doesn't get you too bad, we are getting in from the No Ca fires. Those birds are just amazing!! Enjoy!!!

[Roentare]

Beautiful photography. Great bird captures. Nice roadside scenes. Thank you for visiting my blog too

[Veronica Lee]

Beautiful photos, Sallie and your lovely post makes me think of Neil Diamond's September Morn.

Have a wonderful fall! 🍁🍂

[Beatrice]

As you know from my blog posts, Sallie, we also enjoy just getting out for a drive. Thanks for your recent comment letting me know about your Amtrak adventure. We have considered doing that as well, but not sleeping in bunk beds. Hopefully your sleeping quarters were different.

[Pat]

Hi Sallie! Happy September! My grandchildren went back to school in mid-August so it is already an old routine here, but when we lived in NY school always began after Labor day and I remember the "the new box of crayons" feeling about September. I was telling my oldest granddaughter, who is in fourth grade this year, about how she should write down her homework assignment in a little book, and she told me "Grandma, there is an app we look at for our homework list!" I felt so old....lol,
Your country road photo is beautiful and so nostalgic looking
I loved your September collage --and especially the cute little birds in it. Your last photo is breathtaking!

[William Kendall]

Excellent shots.

[Carol]

I love going for a drive out in the country - especially in the fall. Lovely photos - September has always felt like a new start to me too.

[Margy]

It's nice to explore close to home and rediscover favourite places. Fires here in BC have been mainly in the interior and little smoke has made it through to the coast. Some years it can be really bad though. We are enjoying cabin life on the lake and boating on the ocean. Haven't taken the time to blog about it through. Soon it will be time to head south to Arizona to follow the sun. I assume you will be heading to Florida. - Margy

[Juliet (craftygreenpoet)]

Lovely photos. I too think of September as a New Year. There's something beautiful about the lower temperatures, the light drizzle and the autumn colours. Certainly it's nice to see the end of an overly hot and dry summer

[Angie]

Sallie - several people have been posting about the start of the school year and the nostalgia they feel. I have good memories about school, but I don't experience the same emotion with it as I do, say, Christmas. At this point in my life, I associate September with the end of summer, and it makes me a bit sad. Lovely photos of all the critters, and the September sunrise. Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!

[Heidrun 🎃]

Yes, walking without Destination can sometimes be an adventure ... with little lovely surprises. We have had this in Bozen, in Südtirol...

...fire is in this Summer often. And we heard the Alarm again and again.

Thank you for sharing. Happy MosaicMonday

Hugs by Heidrun

[Life Images by Jill, West Australia]

It is difficult to get out and explore when it is mid summer. I am enjoying the start of spring here, and the beginnings of the spring wildflowers. My favourite time of year. Enjoy your week, stay safe, I am joining you at Mosaic Monday

[Su-sieee! Mac]

I’ve noticed that since I retired, I come alive in September, wanting to actually execute what I daydream about doing, such as sewing fabric scraps into something. Instead of winding down, I’m ready to start up, ha, see how you got me thinking, Sallie. :-) You’ve also got me itching to drive a backroad when it stops being hot down here. Happy trails!

[ellen b.]

September makes me nostalgic, too, and other emotions come out as well. What a nice long shot of that road. Glad you saw some birds. Your September past collage is a nice collection. Have a great week!

[Lavender Dreams]

I love taking drives like that and seeing things on the backroads! And how neat to get to that wildlife refuge. You can always see something no matter the time of day. I am very happy for this month to roll around and see our highs for the week ahead in the 80s! lol Enjoy your week.

[Jennifer Jilks]

It is a wonderful time of year!

[Sondra]

Excellent I love the September sun...great shot. Blogs are my window on the world for now so keep them coming...:o)

[Eileen]

Beautiful photos, I love the birds, sky captures and the lovely scenic views! Take care, have a great day and a happy new week!

[Linda P]

Your recent drive out to a nature reserve is interesting. The thought of wild fires even though far away not so good. I think of September as going-back-to-school-time too as it will soon be the beginning of a new term and year for children here in the UK. In some ways I miss my days of teaching but hear about school life from family members. What wonderful skies you've captured in your photos! Happy September!

[Amy]

oh yes, that heron does look like he has a very full tummy, must be lots of fish there.

[Gaelyn]

Looks like a delightful drive. Welcome to the ber months.