Waiting

Hurricane Matthew was off South Carolina and there was little rain and wind at breakfast.  The birds looked where they expected to find the feeders but didn't seem to see them down on the patio concrete where we'd put them in case of high winds.  Two Carolina wrens poked around in the rosemary and left after disturbing the tiny mint moths.  Cardinals were testy.  Only the mourning dove seemed satisfied as it foraged on the ground and drank from the birdbath.  Bumblebees visited the herbs. 

An orange bodied, daddy-long-legs harvestman clung to the window screen.  An egret perched on the dock bench.  I saw the kingfisher, but it flew off.  The feeder birds continued to hunt for the seeds.  Maybe they need a trail?  No, by noon the cardinals knew where to look.  Titmice  appeared but didn't hang around to investigate. The yellow-breasted bird flicked through the cherry. 

Rain showers began around 1:30pm and the wind picked up. The windows facing North were soon too streaked for photos. No more waiting, by 4pm it was really storming. When dark fell, the slap of rain on the windows, lightning, and roaring wind were frightening.