We visited with some friends in Walnut Creek, CA on our way south. They have a couple of bird feeders in their back yard and it is fun to see the different birds that we don't see at home but that are common in their yard. Here is what we think is a Nutall's Woodpecker. It is similar to a Downy Woodpecker but just a little larger with different markings on the head and different markings on the back. Neat bird.

This little fellow is called an Oak Titmouse. The Cornell All About Birds Guide has this to say about them - Nondescript save for its crest, the Oak Titmouse might not wow many bird watchers at first sight. But these vocal, active birds characterize the warm, dry oak woods from southern Oregon to Baja California—they’re “the voice and soul of the oaks,” according to one early naturalist. Mates pair for life, and both partners noisily defend their territory year-round.

This bird is called a Phainopepla and was a surprise to us. We had seen them all over the south west but did not realize that they came this far north. In doing some research we found that they have quite an extensive range in California going much further north than Walnut Creek.

In addition to these birds we also were awakened but a Western screech Owl on two late nights and had Northern Mockingbirds singing from the trees. There were lots of other birds in their yard as well. it is fun seeing the common birds in other yards as we travel about.