Sun and wind

And an early squirrel. Finches on the feeder. Robin and dove out front.

At noon, more finches were on the feeder. The pollinators were busy, both flies and bees, but none of the photos are in focus. A dragonfly and a damselfly were out. Later a tiger swallowtail flitted past.

And in the late afternoon, an osprey came circling intently over the creek.

Heavy clouds

Gray and windy, but no rain. The wind is pushing the full moon tide even higher. Finches and chickadees are visiting the feeder between gusts and the squirrel forages below. Occasional patches of sky appear, but no sunshine thus far. Somehow I have managed to get into poison ivy or else I'm having a reaction to gnat bites. Ugh.

The tide and the clouds are finally in retreat after lunch. Wind from the North is pushing the wall of clouds, but of course the sun's in the South. Finches were driven off the feeder by a cardinal. Then he was chased away by another cardinal. A pause, then a pair of cardinals appeared, she on the feeder and he on the ground. They left and a puffed out chickadee took possession. The wind is fierce and the chickadee looks like a perfect egg with black on top and a tail pasted on the bottom. Meanwhile, a white-throated sparrow wandered around the patio briefly.

Later it became clear and sunny but still windy. A titmouse was hammering hard on the feeder perch - usually they take the seed to a branch inistead of staying in the open.

Gray and gusty

Titmice and finches on the feeder. It rained overnight enough to fill the birdbath and wash away much of the egret splat. Gusts of wind are blowing an oak leaf around the patio as though it is alive. When the direction of the wind is just right, the L-shaped corner of the house pushes it into a spiral dust devil. The sun appeared briefly but now it's gray again.

It stayed chilly and now, mid afternoon, it is drizzling. The laughing gulls have definitely gone to summer plumage.

Gorgeous dawn, squirrel antics

Lovely cream puffs at dawn have now dissipated.

Meanwhile two squirrels came to forage. One decided to investigate the source of the seeds. He climbed the pole, prowled all over the feeder, and even checked out the hanger. But to no avail - human ingenuity prevailed.

Lots of butterflies are out. A black swallowtail is laying eggs on the rue. Several queen yellow-jackets are house hunting in the mulch below the pool. Other wasps of all sizes have joined the bees.

After 3pm it clouded up and rained lightly. Now the sun is back and the birdbath is dry. The hummingbird feeder developed mildew which I believe I've eradicated with bleach. I hope it doesn't offend or poison hummers when they arrive.

Beautiful morning

The sky is clear and the sun bright, The creek is smooth as glass and it is not windy. The squirrel is up, hunting for breakfast seeds.

A breeze has disturbed the water enough to make reflections waver. Dragonflies and damselflies are busy. An osprey circled overhead and a little green heron rested on a piling.

Wind and rain, then wind and sun

The rain may be over now, though new clouds are smoking out of the North. The paper calls this breezy, but petals are whipping off the dogwoods and birds' feathers are sticking up. The feeder is very popular and the finches are battling over it. Two couples are not sharing. A handful of blackbirds landed on the post and set off a food fight. Meanwhile, a titmouse and a chickadee slipped in.

A sparrow and a squirrel fed on the ground. I think the new feeder hanger spills more seed, or else it is easier to find in the mulch. Or else I didn't realize how much seed was falling below the steps where I can't see the birds.

The sun is out now but the wind is roaring. A cardinal contested with the finches for the feeder.

Gray sky turns blue

Clouds sat like a cap overhead. Light leaked in sideways at dawn. A cardinal and titmice came to the feeder.

It continues breezy and the gray is beginning to break into distinct clouds. Now, as the clock strikes 10, the clouds are mostly gone.

Toward evening, a big dark bird circled over the creek. At first I thought it was a buzzard, but now I wonder if it could have been a young eagle?