Observations by joykrauthammer

Dove in nest under back porch roof today. Other dove bringing more little twigs constantly last few days, many twigs on ground. Other dove sits on fence or in orange tree waiting for me to leave.
Joy Krauthammer, Porter Ranch, CA (South of 118 Freeway. West of 405 F.)

Maybe a Mockingbird and feathered friends.
Bird sitting high up and not visible, chirping, singing.
Hear bird frequently, and especially early in morning. (I sing to it.)
In hot dry north San Fernando Valley, LA, CA.
2nd time using iNat iPhone App.
Submit on iPhone for the LA City Nature Challenge.

PS
I've seen Mockingbirds and their wings with white areas, and heard their varied song so I do believe this invisible bird I taped is a Northern Mockingbird. Almost midnight and I'm listening to the Mockingbird now, and also do early in the morning. They are having a midnight party.
Definitely primary song is not an Anna Hummingbird, although I have seen Anna hummers flying in the very same area.
Danieldas - Were the very first fast short chirps from the hummer? They sounded familiar to me.

Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui butterfly migration through garden in Northridge, landing on pretty yellow and purple flowers on hillsides. Swarms every second for days and then couple weeks later more smaller swarms. Exhilarated feeling of bliss to witness them. (Difficult to shoot a good still perspective.) They came through also 15 years ago for 2 full weeks. Bursts of wild flowers from needed rains probably kept the Painted Ladies here lingering longer. Sometimes the Painted Ladies are mistaken for Monarchs.
© Joy Krauthammer

Little patient bird, House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) wanting my lunch 6.15.2018 as I ate at sidewalk table outside Chipotle restaurant on a Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910 USA pedestrian only downtown street. 907 Ellsworth Drive at Fenton Street.
© Joy Krauthammer
Thanks RG for ID.

Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) plant seen 6.14.18 about 6 feet tall with many clusters of flowers and insects in a home garden by the street in Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910 USA. Extra photos of same plant include wider view and from views a year ago June and August 2017 in flower form and seed pod form (when I visited the area from LA). The garden is a Certified Wildlife Habitat from National Wildlife Federation. Milkweed attracts Monarch butterflies where they lay their eggs on underside of high leaves. Plant has latex, an allergen. I love walking past this garden on Fairview by S. Mansion Drive because "The property provides 4 basic habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive: water, cover, and places to raise young." (Added my watermark on 7.29.18)

Yellow flowered stalk, just beginning to sprout, 6 feet tall volunteer in home garden that has wild deer and wild bunnies. Maybe they don't like Mullein because of the fuzzy leaves. Camera was set for Pacific time but garden is in the east coast on South Mansion Drive at Fairview, Silver Spring, Maryland. Time was 9:58AM EST on June 17, 2018.

Last few days I've seen this Red-tailed Hawk sitting early morning and early evening and during day on top of the tallest tall pine tree. Bird of prey looks in all directions turning head wide at least 180*. It shrieks with a shrill cry. A local small bird I've seen 'dive bomb' this hawk, and hawk didn't budge. I've seen over the years 2, 3 or 4 hawks soaring together overhead. Once a hawk landed in my garden sitting only a few feet above ground. (It doesn't have a mean look as most hawks so I think it is young. It also flaps wings many times before the soar gets going.) - Joy Krauthammer

I counted ten American White Pelicans at Lake Balboa swimming in the Lake at the same time in one area on 12.14.2016 from about noon to 4pm on a sunny day. I photographed them taking off to soar and was surprised to find black feathers hidden under their white feathers, so I'm sharing one of these images. The pelicans mostly swam quietly on the water and later in afternoon lowered their beaks to maybe preen themselves. -Joy Krauthammer