the storm / May 31

Well, it's been another day of heat, around 30C, feeling like around 37C with the humidity, breezier than yesterday, and sunny with a few fluffy white clouds, until about 20 minutes ago.  A few minutes before 6pm, the wind picked up rapidly, clouds moved in, and it started to rain.  I've also heard some thunder and expect more.  Hopefully this will break the humidity.  It's been too stuffy outside for gardening, but I have been watching.  I've seen two male goldfinches chasing each other, two male and a female house finch, starlings feeding their fledglings, a woodpecker on some dead branches of the apple tree, and a hawk overhead.  Oh, I also saw a swallowtail butterfly (likely Eastern Tiger swallowtail). 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), starling (with young), house sparrow (possibly with young), house finch (pair), downy woodpecker (male), goldfinch (male), robin

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

May 30th / the heat alert

A heat alert was issued today - 6pm and still 30C outside, feels like 37C with high humidity and possible thunderstorms this evening, though it's been clear most of the day.  The birds have been showing off today.  The grackle was displaying to another, and the starlings already have fledged young and were feeding it/them.  Two birds were flying high overhead, I'm sure they would have to be hawks.  Sometimes they sit high in the evergreen over the back fence (where the crow was the other day), which gives me a much better view of them.

My cat took herself for a walk around the garden yesterday evening, she doesn't go outside much as she's a bit old.  The cardinals and red-wing were making quite a fuss over it, but she was more interested in chewing the grass. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), grackle, starling, mourning dove, house finch, robin

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (pair), brown headed cowbird (female)

Overhead: red-tailed hawk

May 28 / the rain

There has been a light fall of rain most of the day, and may be thunderstorms overnight and tomorrow.  I think most of the birds found dry places to sleep, but the snails are enjoying it. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house sparrow, starling

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird (male)

May 26 / the noise

It's been warmer, sunny, and breezy outside.  I planted some poppy seeds, and tended to things planted a few days ago.

Earlier this afternoon, there was a bit of a face-off between a crow on one side, and several grackles with two blue jays on the other.  Over the back fence, there is a tall evergreen tree.  I watched the crow get chased in that direction, and as it landed on the very top of the tree, it was flown at by the other birds in turn.  It flew off after a few minutes, and I have no idea what started it all, but it was quite entertaining.

Common birds seen today: crow, blue jays, sparrows, cardinals (pair), mourning dove, robin, starling, grackles, gull.

Spring visitors: red-wing blackbird, chipping sparrow.

stealth / May 25 birds

That black and white cat was at it again yesterday - this time I saw it go into the bushes with a bird in its mouth.  The feathers left behind tell me it was a mourning dove.

The weather was sunny, somewhere in the mid-teens, not as warm as I would like it to be, but nice.  Likely to be much the same today.

Common birds: robin, house finch, cardinal (pair), sparrows, mourning dove, grackle

Spring birds: red-wing blackbird (pair)

Birds of the Day / May 23

We spent much of today outside, planting, pruning, moving, weeding and seeding.  Good thing many of the birds don't seem overly intimidated.  The weather today has been more humid, partly overcast, with short periods of rain. 

Common birds seen today: sparrows, grackle, robin, mourning doves, cardinals (pair), house finch, starling, downy woodpecker

Spring visitors seen today: red-wing blackbird, chipping sparrow, cowbird (female)

Heard: blue jay

Seen overhead: gull (I am unfamiliar with what types we get here), two red-tailed hawks