Lovely day

A Northeast wind dispelled the humidity and the temperature was just warm enough.  Fluffy clouds made the sun blink.  The trees were still shedding desiccated leaves and needles though.  Rain or dew left droplets on all the plants.  The regular seed eaters came for breakfast.  A downy landed on the post but there was a cardinal on the feeder so he didn't stay.  Robins flitted among the trees. I went down the bank to get a better look at the argiope spider and discovered two yellow crowned night herons, one on a pine branch, the other on the fish-cleaning sink rim.  The argiope had another meal all wrapped in silk.

A skink darted into the hole beside the steps.  There was a frog in the skimmer but it had so many leaves to sit on, it wasn't out of breath.  I saw a June beetle but other bugs seemed to have the sense to keep out of the water.  A couple of skippers circled each other in the air.  It looked like one was defending access to a sunflower, but they could have been courting for all I know.  A few dragonflies braved the wind - I saw a blue dasher and a Halloween pennant. 

At lunch, a hummer visited the feeder, and later the canna. After lunch, I had to go to the Municipal Center.  Dragonflies were thick there as usual.  A beautiful green pondhawk almost came home with me.  When I got home, the birds were having a party on the patio.  A hummer was hitting the juice.  A blue jay argued with the wrens about the mealworms.  Cardinals and robins ate cherries.  A grackle hung around like a bad date.  A fledgling cowbird begged.  To my surprise, a song sparrow appeared for the first time in months. 

Down by the dam outfall there were fewer egrets but they were joined by a little green heron.