Photo taken from the glider on the porch.
I heard screeching this morning and stepped outside. From my position on the porch, I saw some big bird of prey in one of the pines across the street. I suspect it was an eagle, but the photos I took just show him in silhouette because it was early morning. I suppose it could have been a hawk, but it sure sounded like an eagle. While I was adjusting my lens, the bird flew away.
After that, I decided to sit on the glider because the humidity had yet to make itself known and I figured I’d take advantage of that. After about 15 minutes or so (I’d already checked on Mama Catbird who was sitting on the nest) I heard a catbird call from the direction of the maple. It was a warning call. (The eagle was long gone at this point.) So I got up and peered into the hydrangea and there was mom, out of the nest, perched on a branch just above the nest, ready to fight off any predator. It was pretty neat to see, but I didn’t want them to stress about me, as I’m definitely not a predator, so I went back inside the house. A few minutes later, I snuck back out there and mom was back on the nest. I guess Papa Catbird thought I was a suspicious visitor, rather like robins do when you walk near their nest.
It’s so humid and hot that my sinuses and allergies are complaining loudly. I don’t know when this pattern is going to break, but it can’t come soon enough. My back is slowly improving, thank goodness.
Yes, they’re everywhere – in front of the house, in the big garden bed, in the little bed by the porch, on the driveway side of the house, and on the far side of the house. Coneflowers are a gift; they reseed everywhere and if you love country gardens as I do, they provide most of the set design from mid-summer until autumn, The black-eyed susans are about ready to bloom, and some of the David phlox has bloomed. The rest of the phlox will bloom later because the nibbling deer delayed things.
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
You have a whole universe of plants and wildlife in your garden. Enjoy! Glad your back is getting better. Have a great weekend. Hugs, Elaine
Thanks, Elaine.
Stay safe.
sounds like a very nice way to start your day. and you took beautiful photos of your beautiful property; thanks for sharing.
glad your back is getting better. hope your sinuses follow.
i’ve been trying to pinpoint the area around here that might hold a catbird’s nest. seems to be almost straight north of us, across the trail in the wooded area (which at that part is a couple blocks deep). we can also hear the catbird(s) after turning a corner (where the wooded area is about ten blocks long before being interrupted by a street). sound can travel funny and there’s no way i’d go into that area, so can’t know for sure where the catbird calls home. would be fun to see one and add it to the list of birds seen in real life (especially on the deck; currently more than 20 and including lots of cooper’s hawks). that’s okay … am glad to hear them and know they are there.
best i get to doing a chore or two before it gets stickier and hotter.
hope you, don and everyone else have a wonderful weekend. stay cool and safe in every way.
kathy
They often nest in bushes, if that’s any help.
Thanks, Kathy.
Stay safe.
thanks, claudia.
if that wooded area was flat and bug/ snake-free, i would go into it and gently look around … but it is not. it is uneven for crossing a creek and train tracks, and is surely full of critters that i don’t want to disturb or scare or necessarily have near me. :)
happy saturday.
kathy
xo
Following the birds is such an amazing viewing. I love it. You have a ringside seat.
I really enjoy it. I’m fascinated by them.
Thanks, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
I love when you post pictures of the grounds around your cottage, and inside. You have so much going on in all those trees and bushes. I love coneflowers too. Do you see a lot of butterflies? Glad your back is feeling better. Hopefully the humidity will disappear soon. Thank God for air conditioning!
Take care!
I saw a monarch this morning, he loved the zinnias.
Stay safe, Deb.
I love coneflowers, such beautiful color. How lucky you are to have such a beautiful garden. I know you have worked so hard to create it, but how rewarding
I have followed you for years and I really envy country living and the wildlife.
Thank you so much, Diane.
Glad you’re here!
Stay safe.
It is so much fun to have all that nature around you. I love watching the birds also. I adore your cone flowers and would love some in one of the planting beds in front of my duplex. I am so happy to say I’m improving each day as the healing is going well. Breathing so much easier now and while my endurance isn’t back to much of anything I am working on it every day.
You’ll get stronger, Linda. Just give it time, my friend. That was major surgery you went through!
Much love and stay safe.