Blue grosbeak!

The hail storm at 11pm last night left evidence that hadn't melted by 7am.  A drift of ice flowed from the gutter downspout.  Fortunately, plants did not seem too badly battered.  Later I discovered that the dark crust on the patio concrete was scarred with spots that I believe were made by the hail. 

Several egrets were taking advantage of the stormwater flowing out of the lake which always seems to attract fish.  Rain continued to fall sporadically throughout the morning. 

Right after bluebirds breakfasted on bark butter mush, a darker bird about the same size showed up.  It was the first blue grosbeak I have ever seen in my life.  It didn't eat anything though.  I wonder if the storm carried it in?   The male downy checked to see if the suet had come back.  It hadn't so the downy had a little bark butter mush. 

Evening sunshine lit up the wet leaves as a bluebird ate.

Hail, yes

K put fresh sunflower seeds in the feeder which got the squirrels excited.  But the feeder defeated their efforts.  The male hummer returned. I wish he would face the camera and flash his ruby throat. 

I found a lacewing on the sprig of mint in a vase indoors.  I've no idea how it got there but I released it outside.  The Argiope spun its zigzag at an angle.  A monarch finally noticed the milkweed.  However, I'm not sure the plants are big enough to support caterpillars yet.  A female widow skimmer showed up instead of the male I saw for the last several days. 

I picked about ten figs, the first of the season.   Clouds flowed out of the West and gave some relief from the heat and sun.  Saddlebags dragonflies cruised beneath them.  We had lunch outside, in the shade. 

The thunderstorm we weren't supposed to have arrived about 2:30 in the afternoon. The rain was as blinding as snow and shot off the roof over the gutters.  I think an inch fell in 20 minutes while lightning and thunder were simultaneous, and loud.  Hail was rough in shape and as big as a sugar cube.  (And melted nearly as fast.)  The temperature dropped nearly 20 degrees, but of course that didn't last. 

The clouds parted but the sun didn't dry the windows.  And later the sky became overcast.  A fiery sunset poured through a rent in the West. 

Cold gray wind

But apparently the fishing is good.  Gulls and pelicans are patrolling the creek while cormorants are in it.  The feeder regulars and the sparrows are also hungry. 

Light rain began in the middle of the morning and turned to ice pellets around noon.  It's more like hail than sleet.  The pellets are piling up on insulated surfaces. 

The towhee pair has been around hunting seeds.  Both male cardinals have been jockeying for position while the sparrows struggle in the wind.  A blue jay passed through quickly.  The creek is mostly deserted now but I can hear gulls.

The ice pellets have changed over to snow.  There is no way I'm setting foot out in that mess, just to block the feeder.  Let the raccoons have a freebee tonight if they dare venture out.  Sparrows are grabbing an evening snack as darkness falls.