Damp

The day began gloomy and gray with a foggy mist.  Everything outside dripped.  Even a pine warbler looked gray.  The pileated woodpeckers came and went while my hands were occupied.  The female red bellied woodpecker tried to get her beak inside the seed feeder - it must have been close to empty.  The suet was nearly gone too, disappointing a bluebird.  The orioles weren't happy either.  The barkbutter dish was full of water and the jelly dish was covered, so their fans were looking elsewhere.  A mockingbird explored the mountain mint thicket.  

After it became clear that the rain was over, I took the lid of the jelly and put out some fresh barkbutter balls.  The orioles and blue jays were right there.  So was the orange crowned warbler.  The house finches started courting or, at least, he did.  She seemed a bit taken aback.  A white breasted nuthatch got seeds from the feeder.  A goldfinch prospected for mountain mint seeds. 

Some glimmers of sunlight emerged.  Pelicans made many passes over the creek.  Three turtles hauled out on their log.