Rain at last

Early sun is leaking under the clouds which just makes them look darker.  It's wet and very humid and supposed to rain again in the afternoon.  But, for now, the sky is clearing and the overnight rain wasn't enough to spread wetness under objects. This is my first telephone photo.

Before lunch, cumulus clouds raced North.  It was windy on the ground too.  A sulphur and a black swallowtail flitted about, and all sorts of bees worked on the rosemary.  A cardinal and a mockingbird tussled over the berry bushes. 

After lunch, heavy clouds moved in from the SW.  A blue jay called from atop the sweet gum.  The sassafras has suddenly turned for fall.  

A heavy rain set in later in the afternoon. 

Farewell swiming

The pool is covered - no more beetles rafting on leaves or spiders walking on water.  Birds have not been much in evidence, possibly because of the pool guy.  I did see the squirrel with the white spot.  She's getting a bit long in the tooth and has a sore on her left shoulder.  It has been very dry but supposedly rain is coming in a few days.

It's quite warm, but there's a breeze.  Afternoon cumulus built up, then blew off East.  Something pale green flew by and resolved into a katydid when it landed.  Cicadas are still buzzing.  Jays are calling too.  Mallards paddled past and crows and cormorants flew busily hither and yon. The pink camellia is bursting into bloom. 

When it's this warm, it's hard to remember that the equinox is well past, so I get surprised by how early sunset comes.  And we are just past the dark of the moon too. 

Hot and bright

Cardinals and chickadees for breakfast.  A palamedes swallowtail visited a morning glory. Beetles and crickets were swimming and rafting.

The pink camellia outside the kitchen window has begun to bloom on the top branches. 

A Carolina wren paid a late afternoon visit to the grill. The day was mostly cloud-free. 

Mockingbird continued

A rim of clouds blushed pink just above the pines across the creek, but now they are creeping South towards us.  A titmouse, a wren and a sparrow joined the cardinals, chickadees and finches. The birds seem to enjoy the pea vine - I can see it move with their weight as they hop around out of sight.  A squirrel was up early.

The clouds did not hang around.  A mockingbird followed a cardinal, imitating it but at a lower pitch.  The mockingbird apparently needed a drink after that performance.  Then blue jays swarmed into the berry bushes - dogwood and beautyberry. 

Berries

A sparrow had a morning shower while chickadees and cardinals ate overhead.  Later a mockingbird came to eat beauty berries.  It is warm and sunny with a light SE breeze and some high haze.

A blue tailed skink crossed the steps and then the patio, moving a bit slower than they do on hotter days.  Despite the prediction, clouds moved in and the afternoon was cooler than I'd hoped.  The water is down to 70.  Spiders were rafting and a cricket attempted to climb me.

Another katydid perched on the pea vine.  A yellow-green spider was working on its threads and suddenly disappeared - I suspect the katydid.

I stepped outside at just the right moment to catch a spectacular sunset!

Clear sky

A finch and a flock of chickadees came for breakfast in the bright sun. A cardinal got up late. The pea vine has more blossoms.  It's beginning to look like Jack's beanstalk. 

It has been a beautiful day, and I saw far too little of it.  The setting sun made the west glow gold, though there were no clouds on the horizon, just a feathery streak high above.  The sun itself went red at the horizon.  

Early autumn

Overnight there was a heavy dew.  It brought out the smell of the rosemary where some bumblebees were already at work.  Two sparrows arrived at the feeder first.  Then, as the sun began to make the background glow, chickadees and a few titmice came to feed.  A couple of geese broke the reflections on the creek. The concrete is cold to bare feet.  Later a titmouse arrived. 

In the afternoon, a sparrow and a dove each had a visit to the spa (birdbath).  A Carolina wren investigated the basket where we dump the pool skimmer.  While yardwork was going on, I saw the first monarch butterfly in a long time.  I also saw a palamedes swallowtail and something pale and thumb-size that I'm guessing was a cicada.

K noticed a cooper's hawk perched on the fence.  Then it walked along behind the azalea bush.  There was a flurry of activity and a bird shot out of the other side of the bush.  I got closer and suddenly the hawk reappeared, saw me and flew across the creek, where it ran into the gang of crows.