Red Grass and Loggerhead Shrikes

While I have been in the house resting my injured back, 

red grass has completely overtaken our property. Each spring, this hillside is covered in blue, yellow, and purple flowers. 

As you can see, it's all red now. I'm fascinated by this phenomenon, something I have never seen before. It's almost a little sinister; a mild way for nature to demonstrate her power. 

With gray clouds hugging the canyon walls and the distant field covered in yellow mustard weeds, it all made for an interesting, many-colored, nature picture.

The grass in the foreground that my husband mowed and whacked has now turned yellow with red grass growing wild in the background.

Everywhere I turned, I was greeted by this red grass. It grows up on the hillsides in the distance; instead of yellow spring flowers, the hills are now covered in red grass.

Then there were these birds that I hadn't noticed here before.

I managed to get a couple of pictures and enlarged one:

With the help of my new book, the one I had planned to use to identify spring flowers: The Laws Field Guide To The Sierra Nevada, I identified them as Loggerhead Shrikes. Their habitat fits with the canyon and they have the clear white markings above their wings. And a raccoon mask covering their eyes. 


As always, my friend Upupaepops and others who may know: If you have an explanation for this red grass, I would love to know. And did I get the birds right? Thanks in advance......


Finally, if you want more information on the little dog, Kezia, please go here: http://texan.blogspot.com  Thank you, so much.