Graduation

There are fledglings everywhere.  Some bird fathers are working hard, some are long gone.  But it sounds like all the kids have graduated from the nest.  A juvenile towhee came to kick mulch.  Titmice are back in force.  I guess they quit eating seeds while they have nestlings.  Doves seem to follow the same pattern.  A female hummer got breakfast.  The sky is hazy and it should be hotter today.  The gladiolas are showing red. 

Two pileated woodpeckers just swooped through.  One landed on the feeder post 10 feet from me, but on the back side.  One seemed to be following the other, maybe a graduated offspring trying to cage a last free meal? Then a tiny wren appeared with no eye line and smaller than a Carolina.  At lunch, dragonflies and butterflies passed by, including a tiger swallowtail laying eggs on a cherry tree. 

The wind was very gusty all day, hard on critters with wings.  I saw a dragonfly give up and seek a more sheltered perch.  In the evening, the male towhee showed up to grab a snack. The first quarter moon was very hazy in the west. 

Perfect June morning

It's cool enough to have windows open to hear the birdsong.  A Carolina wren, a mourning dove, and a female hummer have joined the usual crowd.  I think the chickadee brought the family as there was much excitement about who would perch where.  They also made a fuss around the birdhouse.  A pair of squirrels raced across the yard and circled back across the roof.


It's getting warm fast.  The seed feeder is empty but a Carolina wren found some bits left.  The dragonflies have resumed their widdershins circling of the house.  A black swallowtail got all excited egging the herbs.   A cabbage butterfly passed through.  I think I identified a small mantis nymph on the gardenia.  The orb spider is still camped between the gardenia and the ferns - beware pollinators! 

The afternoon was full of fledglings.  The Carolina wrens were particularly bold - the fledglings are trying to feed themselves but haven't figured it out yet.  And then, the fox cubs appeared.  I believe there are two.  The birds were scolding so I went to peer over the fence and saw one.  Later two came up to the fence.  They seemed to be playing hide and seek.  I saw no sign of the parents - probably in exhausted sleep under the neighbors' gazebo. 

Back to spring

The cold front yesterday dropped temperatures back into the 70s. I don't think any measurable rain ever fell.   It is still windy and the early blue sky has gone overcast.  Squirrels never stop.  One appears to have been bitten on the eyelid.

The usual bird trio was joined by a Carolina wren.  A female hummer visited several times and also took an interest in the lavender.  Egrets are haunting the bulkhead across the creek.  A smaller bird chased a raptor across the clouds but all I could see were silhouettes.  The first day lily has bloomed and the Egyptian pea vine has some blossoms. Since yesterday, the gardenia bush has burst into bloom.  Spatters of rain appeared around 9am and the sun has come-and-gone since.

The afternoon brought more blue sky but with menacing clouds lurking on the horizons.  I cam home down Witchduck and saw a turtle crossing.  It arrived safely at the lower lake. 

Hot haze

Squirrels are foraging and chasing each other.  Otherwise, not much is going on. I filled the birdbath and tied up the gladiolas because severe weather is predicted.  As soon as I went in, a titmouse appeared, as did the usual three.  A parade of large dragonflies crossed the patio from East to West and over the roof for about 10 minutes.  One diverted to bang into the window and knock itself onto its back.  It recovered quickly, but first I got this shot.  I think it is a Swamp Darner. 

The storm finally roared in a little after 5pm.  The clouds were very dark but the sun found some cracks.  The wind whipped the trees and drove the birds under cover.  Rain didn't begin for nearly an hour. After the winds died down, the birds were very hungry.  The female towhee showed up along with the usual suspects.

Early birds

The titmice have returned and were busy on the feeder early.  The female towhee came around as well. Dragonflies are battling for the perch I set out.  I believe this is a goldfinch eating pine buds.

I cleaned and refilled the hummer feeder.  It is really hot today.  I also set out a new dragonfly perch right at the corner of the steps, beside the birdbath. 

Widow skimmers, amberwings, and pondhawks are perching on the herbs and snatching the smallest bugs attracted to the flowers.  Larger wasps have tried to drive them off.  I tried to photograph them against a background in shade but the camera could not figure out the focus.  This is a female eastern amberwing on lavender. 

I had meetings all afternoon.  A sliver of moon is descending behind the pines and fireflies are winking.

Threatening clouds

Patches of blue open and close but the clouds are dark and heavy.  Mockingbirds are everywhere but my yard.  A dragonfly buzzed my car, the shiny blue may have looked like water.  Squirrels continue their antics.  The male towhee came for breakfast along with the usual species.

Well, the clouds have not carried out any threats.  The seed feeder was empty and it was time to change the hummer feeder.  While the seed feeder was down, a titmouse landed on the hanger, looked at me and defecated.  The thanks I get.  Dragonflies have come into their own today. A huge fly appeared while I was in the pool.  It looked like a horsefly.  I left.

Toward evening, an osprey flew over, hovered, then landed on our side of the creek.  Apparently that was far enough that the crows didn't notice.

Dull sky became downpour

K saw two adult foxes and a cub when she went for the newspaper.  I glimpsed a hummingbird that didn't stay.  I think I need to check the feeders.  Both towhees came to forage.  Egrets are out on the creek.

The feeders were fine.  The overcast broke up, a few sprinkles fell in the morning, and thunderheads climbed up the sky to the South.  The first downpour began the minute we got lunch off the grill.  Thank you, whoever was responsible! 

After a while, the clouds moved off Northeast and the sun came back.  Birds and squirrels hurried to stock up.  Then another deluge began and it rained the rest of the day, alternating heavy and light. Thunder and lightning have been in evidence, but nary a rainbow.  The soggy finches and cardinal overloaded the feeder.