Sun again

The crow called its family to the tree down from the bedroom window early in the morning. Geese were up as well. Breakfasting at the feeder were cardinals, chickadees and house finches, with a jay below.

Cardinals, finches and a titmouse for lunch. A cardinal gets to eat before a finch - note the red tail below the perch on the far side of the feeder.

Back to sunshine

Rainfall for the year is down one third, so despite a preference for sun, I am grateful for yesterday's rain. A jay was scolding a crow on what remains of the cherry tree. The male house finch was on the feeder. The gardenia is in bloom.

I spoke too soon - clouds are rolling in. Two crows on the rim of the pool were joined by one that had been down inside. 15 goslings and four adult geese are debugging the grass. The goslings are not all the same size and some have the white tails of adults. I think it must be a goose playgroup.

While the clouds looked serious, nothing precipitated. Fireflies came out in the dusk. I thought I saw one a couple of days ago, but there were lots tonight.

Rain at last

This is the first rain since the storm on May 24. I hope it helps heal the parched and trampled yard.

The rain stopped around noon after a good soaking. Mimosa, trumpet vine, and Queen Anne's lace are all blooming along the highway. They seem early, but I have not recorded previous years, so I cannot be sure.

Bay in bloom

The birds have planted some bushes that appear to be bay - both the look and smell of the leaves. This year, for the first time, I have seen flowers. They don't seem an exact match for bay laurel, though the tiny individual flowers look right they aren't in big clusters. There's a tiny wasp on this one.

Breezy and comfortable

I refilled the feeder and I guess a squirrel could smell it. One came to investigate and perched on the back of a chair peering thorough the door screen at me and sniffing hard. Unfortunately the camera was out of reach.

It's been sunny and a lovely temperature all day. I believe some birds are fledging as I'm hearing cries of "food, mama, food!" I saw a crow family with the young making a sort of "Maaaa" sound instead of "Caw."

Haze over the creek

Lots of birdsong, mixed with the sound of saws, but few birds in sight.

The rabbit ventured up the hill and along the busted fence, then took off back down. A squirrel inspected the pool. There are spider threads everywhere in the early morning light. It is warm but not unpleasant this early in the day.

At midday, a black swallowtail flitted from herb to herb.

In the late afternoon, a baby rabbit appeared under the camellia by the outside faucet. I just got one photo while it froze, then it panicked and ran away. I saw it later peeking around the corner of the house, but it saw me too. I wonder if it was following the scent of the rabbit I saw in the morning?

Smog expected

Hot and stifling and sticky. Wasps and dragonflies like it but the birds are keeping to the shade.