Towhees

  First the male then the female came prospecting for seeds. Two smaller doves are industriously pursuing a larger third - suitors or offspring?  Lots of cardinals including the fledgling visited.  Titmice showed up too, and a few finches.  A mallard drake tried to go for a swim.

My third case of poison ivy is about healed - time to weed some more. The dove question is answered.  Two were drinking at the birdbath when two more arrived.  Suddenly three all attempted to mount the fourth which got away.  The others then flew off after it.

A female hummer appeared briefly at lunch but the arrival of the cardinal family scared it off.  There are ants in the feeder again.  The adult cardinals tried to use the feeder together and it went tilt.  But then they seemed to get the hang of it and were able to feed together.  A female spangled skimmer dragonfly perched briefly on one of the stakes I put out for that purpose. 

Several skinks came out on the patio.  I think one was full grown with the tail no longer blue.  It still had stripes though.  The only butterflies I've seen today have been cabbages.  Two of them circled each other in the air - territorial or mating behavior?  A mallard drake landed on our roof of all places.  Tiny yellow Syrphid flies (I think) with the ability to hover are feeding on the rue flowers.  One hovered in front of my face for a time before returning to the flowers.