Pleasant

The weather seemed to have a theme for late August, post Erin.  The days have been sunny, breezy, and mellow 80s.  As usual, a Carolina wren and a house finch were the first visitors of the day.  Small, shredded cumulus clouds drifted out to sea.  Erin did not blow the hummers away, not even the male.  I got many pictures of his gilded gorgeousness today.  

Birds nibbled unenthusiastically on the shriveled wild cherries. A blue dasher obelisked on a perch but soon gave up.  I don't know why because there certainly were mosquitoes.  There were butterflies but they were unwilling to be identified.  I am still wondering what ate the leaves off one branch of the beautyberry.  I don't mind the leaf loss, I just want to know that king of butterfly or moth to expect.  The "authorities" all say beautyberry has no insect pests which is not helpful.  

While swimming, I rescued a black bee and a weary skink.  I thought I saw a frog but, if so, it disappeared.  Another blue-tailed skink crept down the steps.  The lobes of the fungus make it look a bit like an unfolding flower.  The largest black swallowtail caterpillar looked like it was thinking of pupating.  The largest Argiope caught its dinner while we ate ours.  They are so still most of the time that it is startling how quickly they move to secure prey.  A young cardinal foraged around the birdbath.