Still Here...

Despite empty feeders, some of my regular birds have not given up.

I had the sprinkler on the new plantings out back very early this morning, preparing for yet another heat alert day and once I turned it off, I went out to sit in my rocking chair on the shady side deck and read. It is so frustrating that all winter we yearned for summer days when we could sit in our gardens and then summer came and it has been too hot to do so! 
Today I took advantage of being up early enough to enjoy some cooler moments of the early morn ..and what did I see? Birds! Birds I had assumed had moved on to greener pastures...but no, there were some still hanging around! Maybe it was the sprinkler that drew them back in? Nice cool rainy drops on their heads and a birdbath filled with water? 

It was something I had never seen before though...A flock of very fuzzy chickadees flew in and behaved in a rather strange fashion..flitting and dashing about in only slightly controlled flight, wings flapping, stopping for only a moment on the branches of the burning bush, the blooms of the hydrangeas, the feeder pole and the tree next door (extra) They seemed to be young ones just trying out their wings, not quite sure where to find food? They were SO cute. But in those numbers and acting like little kids? 

And then of course, the cardinals. They seem to have the feeding system under control; they tend to feed after the rush..when things have quieted down and they have the feeders to themselves. So it was not unusual to see them around when most of the birds are not. I just feel bad that there is nothing there for them to eat...at least temporarily, until I figure out the rat problem. 

Sitting out in the garden didn't last long as the heat wasted no time arriving, but it was a real treat, even if a fleeting one. The weather forecast now is that the heat wave will leave tomorrow- we can only hope. 

PS: Thanks to all for the understanding comments yesterday...they are much appreciated.