Jeanz Farewell to Summer (sniff-sniff) -- A Short Walk Along the Russian River at Asti, California... (photo-essay)

(Note: Edited and re-posted 1/13/08 9:33 pm PST to include newly formed "Northern California Enthusiasts" group in distribution -- jean.)

Hubby having finally replaced my Jeep's radiator late yesterday, today I decided to go just down the road a mile or two to one of my favorite spots along the section of the Russian River that is crossed by the "summer bridge" in the now almost non-existent municipality of "Asti". The summer bridge becomes the short cut for us locals to points south during the summer months.

It will soon be closed off for the season, though (loud sigh), so I thought it would be an appropriate pilgrimage to mark the autumnal equinox there...

Before I even left the driveway, however, I was pleased to see that another one of our winter residents has made it back to spend another season with us -- the striking and colorful "red-shafted flicker":

I think the red-shafted flicker is one of the most beautiful and colorful birds we have here in Northern California! I just LOVE those SPOTS!

Then I heard what I thought was a towhee (of which we have many around here) scratching through the dry leaves on the other side of the drive but it turned out to be a visitor that we don't get around these hills too often, a "black-headed grosbeak":

(When you look at the size of his beak, you can see why they call them "grosbeaks"!)

They are quite a common sight in other parts of Sonoma County but here they are far less common...

The first thing that you notice about the Russian River at Asti that is somewhat different about it than along most of its length are the large rocks that almost look like they're made up of chunks of clay which dot the water -- Here's one of the strange looking rocks up close with a black pheobe sitting on top!

 And here's a view looking downriver toward the south:

One of the first things that caught my attention were all the little minnows in the water!

These next little water-birds are new to me -- I just learned their name today: "Palmated Plovers"!

You wouldn't BELIEVE how well the markings on their feathers camoflage them against the round river rocks when they're standing still! I "lost" them in the viewfinder of my camera dozens of times before I got that photo!

I took a roundabout way home that took me past the vineyards of the Asti Winery... Some of you might remember what they used to call it: "Italian Swiss Colony". But that was back when that "little ole' winemaker" lived there... ;o)

Still... Even though I'm not a "fan" of autumn, the red grapes do make a nice show on the hillsides:

Well, friends... I hope you all enjoyed this look at Jeanz neck o'the woods in fall... I'll just be in my room crying about summer being over, thank-you... Wake me up when it's April, okay?

luv,

jean