Sticky

Morning was overcast and we were supposed to get rain, so I was cautious with the bird food.  Blue jays and bluebirds were our guests at breakfast.  One blue jay insisted on diving at the bark butter balls instead of climbing down like a sensible bird.

Then the sun burst out and stayed all day.  There was little wind so it felt hot and sticky. At lunch time a yellow crowned night heron stalked the edge of the creek.  Several crows had a domestic dispute.

When my meeting was over the tide was out and bubbles were rising near the water's edge.  I don't know if it was methane from decaying vegetation or respiration from crabs or insect larva.  I saw a couple of dragonflies and a butterfly, but too fast to identify.

A downy woodpecker had difficulties with the shepherd's crook feeder hangers. He bullied a bluebird into leaving but then tried to cling to the upright of the slick metal pole and went down like a fireman.  He then tried a tail prop and swung under the food dish.  Next he landed on the wall of the house.  Finally he got right in the dish with the bark butter.  He had the biggest red patch I've ever seen on a downy, but he cringed when the female red bellied woodpecker flew over it. 

The red bellied woodpecker landed in the oak and inspected a limb I think is dead.  A great crested flycatcher poked its head out of the leaves.  A magnolia green jumping spider walked around on the window glass. The storm finally arrived near midnight.