This is the weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count, which we use as a census point for birds (and whatever else we can find.)  Often it's been a weekend of rotten observing weather.  This year it's gorgeous: sunny and warm.  And I'm sick, so I can't make it out to the far ends of the place.  Drat ( Read more... )

In the past we've been subject to rodent incursions of the rat variety (well, the mouse variety too, but they're somewhat less daunting, Hanta virus and all.)   So when I started hearing little scritchy noises on the screen of the bathroom window at night and early in the morning, I worried.   Going up in the attic to deal with rat incursions is no ( Read more... )

Another hot day today, this time with no chance of rain.  Hard blue sky, puffy white clouds that did not turn into thunderheads...definitely a normal mid-July day.

Down to the creek woods I went, not needing boots at all, and though it was hot and humid and nearly still, it was also beautiful.  Clear water in the south swamp overflow; clear water ( Read more... )