Yard Birds

I don't always get photos of the Blue Gray Gnatcatchers that pass through our yard, so don't have them on my yardbirds list some years. I was out on the patio thinking I'd grab some hummingbirds shots when I first heard and then spotted this wee bird flitting around the cherry tree.  Eventually she came out and perched on a branch with the shadowed woods in the background, giving an almost-black canvas.  I actually could have adjusted the background to render it black, but I kind of like this better.  Gnatcatchers are very tiny birds and they find prey by flitting and darting around in vegetation and trees so they are somewhat challenging to photograph.  I'm guessing this is a female, although it could also be a juvenile.  

In addition to the gnatcatcher, there was also an American Redstart flitting around so I grabbed a few shots of it also.  Loads of Tufted Titmice as well as an adult cardinal feeding a fledgling, probably the last brood of the season for them.  

Hubs had his follow up appointment with the optometrist for his vitreous detachment (both eyes).  She dilated both eyes and had a good look, and declared that there is no signs of retinal detachment (a much more serious condition).  So all good there.  Of course, with fully dilated pupils, he had to suffer having me drive us home.  

I decided to go out after lunch and pick up some peaches and tomatoes at one of the local farms so put Jax in the backseat with the windows down just enough for his nose to get a good workout.  His nose was glued to the window crack the whole way.  Amazing how much dogs get out of sniffing.

I have six newly emerged monarchs in my nursery but will hold them until tomorrow to release.  Between the rain and the cooler temps, they are showing no signs of wanting to do anything other than hang quietly.  Typically, butterflies do not feed for a day or two after they emerge, so no worries there.  There are now 11 chrysalids on the side of the house next to one of the milkweed patches and it looks like one might come out tomorrow.  Loads of caterpillars of all sizes happily munching away at the milkweed in my garden.  It's definitely been a good year for the monarchs in this area.  I hope that bodes well for the species.  

It's been raining for a couple of hours now and supposed to continue through the middle of the night.  We are very dry right now so happy to have the rain.  My gardens all need a good soaking and hopefully this will do the trick to get them perked back up again.  

xoxo
Debbi