Still gray

A gleam of sun and a rabbit both disappeared quickly.  I think there is an occluded front just sitting South of here.  I assume the rabbit is nursing and staying up later in the morning to get enough to eat.  The usual feeder birds are out - cardinals, finches, chickadees, and a titmouse.

It cleared at noon then clouded back up.  The street corner where I was campaigning was chilly with the wind.  A mockingbird visited and a bug tried to hitch a ride. 

Another gray morning

Cardinals, finches, chickadees and squirrels.  The newspaper was wet.  A little sunshine and then the clouds close in again.

At lunch, we got some action.  The cardinal couple tried to canoodle on the feeder perch and it dumped them.  The weight of two cardinals was too much for its less-than-a-bluejay setting.  The male was feeding the female right there instead of bringing her a seed.  After that, a hummer appeared.  Then a lone grackle showed up.  They are never alone and they rarely visit except when the flocks are gathering to migrate South.  It is still gray with heavy clouds.

Early evening and the sky is clearing at last.  The money plants have gone to seed. The cardinals have moved their courting to the back of the bench.

More of the same

Clouds and intermittent sun.  I surprised something that I didn't get a good look at - rabbit?

Only today, instead of the clouds clearing, they just got heavier.  Mid-afternoon, the rain began.  After a brief window around 4pm, the clouds boiled back up.  It was a bit scary.  The overcast went from featureless to faintly pleated, to bright spots, to a rolling boil.  Low ragged clouds rushed South but the overcast moved to the Northwest.  There were bits that looked like they were thinking about becoming tornadoes.

Gray, intermittent sun

Much like yesterday, early on.  Roses are blooming.  The clouds cleared off and the day warmed up

I was running around a lot, but I did manage to catch some Club Mallard tourists.  Also a spangled skimmer dragonfly.

Wet

It was raining lightly when I got up.  Now it is just overcast.  An osprey cruised under the cloud layer.  Cardinals, chickadees, finches and squirrels came out despite the rain, which was not enough to do more than dampen the birdbath.  The cardinals were feeding each other.

Around 9, the sun shone briefly, though it is still overcast.  At lunch, the clouds are still hanging heavy.  Robins and mockingbirds are out along the street, but not the back yard.  A jay fussed at a crow but I couldn't see a nest in danger. 

One of the squirrels has a distinguishing mark, as the police call it.  There is a spot of white fur on its left hip.  I first noticed this squirrel last year so I wonder how old it will get. 

Sunny so far

There are high, thin clouds, but the sun is bright.  Cardinals and squirrels are out and about.

The thin haze cleared and cumulus puffs are sailing on an intense blue, as was this heron. It is room temperature.  The skink ventured out and a hummingbird paused, then saw me and left.  Butterflies and dragonflies ignored the wind.  The feeder drew the usual birds.

Chilly with sun

An osprey circled in the early light.  Cardinals visited.  One male kept his crest up the whole time.  The pool was opened yesterday. A couple of squirrels chased each other.

Two chickadees visited the feeder with different intentions.  One was chowing down.  The other did the baby bird feed-me wing shaking, moving progressively closer.  Finally they were both on the perch, one (I assume) courting while the other obliviously kept eating.  Finally the suitor gave up and flew away.

I've no idea how the sexes sort out in terms of courting, if that's what this was.  Usually (I thought) males feed females to get them to mate.  But I doubt it could be a fully fledged offspring this early in the year.  But now I'm remembering that a few days ago I saw a female cardinal feed a male.  Hmmm.