Fifty

Cedar Waxwing peeping out at us

Bird number fifty showed itself late yesterday afternoon. It was raining in a dull and dreary fashion, but the yard was alive with birds, including lots of LLBs that just wouldn't show themselves.

Crows having a discussion

I was watching and listening carefully, when I heard the diagnostic "wheep" call from the old horse pasture. I watched the area from whence it came and saw something about the right size. Yup, there it was, a great crested flycatcher. It engaged in a racing argument with a smaller flycatcher...could have been a phoebe...was NOT the willow flycatcher that frequents the same spot. Then it obligingly sat about as still as a flycatcher ever sits while I got a good, long look.

My little friend, the willow flycatcher

Just color me tickled pink. There are a lot of birds around that I am not getting identified so I don't think the count will stay at fifty very long.

The catbird seat

Wish you could have seen the fireflies the night before last. It was just after dark when I went out on the porch, just to listen and enjoy the fine, gentle breeze. There they were in their hundreds sparkling everywhere you cared to look. When we were kids we simply had to catch all we could and put them in jars with holes punched in the top by some obliging adult. Now it is enough just to see them.