Teh day began cloudy, cleared, and then in the late afternoon puffy cumulus flowed out of the West, tinting rose at sunset. Dogwood berries were starting to color. At lunch, we saw an adult skink and a very tiny skinklet. A squirrel licked the screen we keep over the pool steps to keep raccoons out. (Not that it works.) I wonder what attracted the squirrel - salt?
The enormous spiderweb in front of the outside spigot had a silk wrapped June beetle. Sulphurs, swallowtails, and snout butterflies flitted around, as did a cabbage white. A hackberry emperor was kind enough to perch and a duskywing fed on the mint. The mint was nearing the end of flowering but still held interest for a great golden digger wasp. A southern purple mint moth preferred the rosemary. Great blue and slaty skimmers and a blue dasher cleared the air of small stuff. I found a dead amberwing in the water.
Blue jays were everywhere with their noisy fledglings. Mockingbirds finally took an interest in the back yard, including one that was either a fledgling or a bad molt. Of course, the mockingbirds and blue jays were also attracted by the figs. Fledgling titmice annoyed the seed feeder regulars and the hummingbird. One titmouse tried valiantly to perch on the slippery railing. Young robins visited as well. A young (or molting) grackle snatched a meal off the pool ladder.
An egret paced below the dam. Hungry hummer(s) visited frequently. One took an interest in the cedar. I've observed that resinous plants attract them. A Carolina wren poked into the mealworm dish. A downy woodpecker appeared to be sunbathing on a dogwood branch. I saw the first great crested flycatcher in about a month.
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