I'm not sure if it a sign of Fall, but the last two mornings have brought the most beautiful sunrises. I usually awaken with the sun, no matter when it rises. I need to sleep with my camera by my bedside. The Staghorn Sumac are putting on quite a colorful show in these parts. What I notice, however, is how the color seems to start from the bottom up.
Birds are molting.
I noticed that the male and female Goldfinch are barely distinguishable as they check to see if I have the feeder filled. The beautiful white head plumage of spring and summer is replaced with a mottled gray, making them look downright unkempt. We see these birds up close since they sit on our roofs to survey the tidal scene. The gulls are also announcing the surfacing of fish chased by the stripers. One can spot the fish activity by watching the bird behavior.