I have to keep updating this post because I can’t seem to finish it… I decided to stay home last Sunday. Originally I was going birding, but I had been to the Portage Saturday morning and subsequently needed two naps to get through the rest of the day, so I decided to stay home instead and see what I could get done around the house. I have only one more weekend before I travel. As much as I look forward to my trip, I start to feel like I never want to leave my crazy house.
So after feeding the birds and having breakfast, I grabbed the camera to go out into the yard, with the idea I would do some weeding and cleanup but have the option of taking some pictures if I felt like it. No sooner did I step out onto the back porch than I saw the only bird in the yard. It’s that time of year again, when the young Cooper’s Hawks come and sit in the middle of the yard, thinking their breakfast will come to them.
He wasn’t there long. He flew to sit in the redwood tree for a moment but it was too dark already shooting through the window and the screen to capture a decent picture of him there. Then something caught his attention and he left. I just felt lucky to have happened upon him in that moment.
The most numerous birds in the yard at that time were House Finches.
I was impressed with this squirrel’s technique. He can actually hang on the peanut feeder and eat a peanut at the same time.
The yard is in bloom, finally, after all that rain that made everything grow to towering heights. As long as the pollinators seem to be happy with it…
I couldn’t take enough pictures of this Tiger Swallowtail enjoying the Echinacea Forest.
Ironweed 
Goldenrod, don’t ask me which one! 
With any luck I will be back once more before I take off for my next adventure, but I’m making no promises. There were things I could have gotten done ahead of time, I suppose, but other real-time priorities seemed to obliterate the best of intentions. And why those thoughts of hating to leave my birds, missing the first week of choir or feeling guilty about flying start creeping in I’ll never know. It’s too late to turn back! Ambivalence won’t cut it anymore, I have to get ready! And I am looking forward to this trip. 🙂
Hi Lisa,
Safe travels!
For the first time in a long time I have seen multiple monarch butterflies together. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Thanks, Jim! That is great news, about multiple monarchs! Maybe I’ll get lucky too and see more of them in…Canada! 🙂
I imagine that your weather has improved. You may see many butterflies and flowers now. I was showing my wife a tiger swallowtail butterfly today bigger than a small sparrow. I have butterfly bushes in the front of my house, their aroma of flowers attracts bumblebees and butterflies of all kinds. Nice post. 🙂
Thanks, H.J.! The weather is hot and on the dry side with lots of sunshine. I’m glad you’re getting lots of butterflies. I’ve also been enjoying the fireflies at dusk.:-)
Bon voyage Lisa. That must surely be two squirrels!
Thanks, Tom. I wish I’d kept my eye on the squirrel longer to see if the tail stayed there when he left…!
Great pics! I especially love the swallowtail butterfly and the cooper’s hawk. Have a good trip!
Thanks! Butterflies are so ephemeral in my neighborhood, at least when I’m around, so I’m grateful to have had such a nice visit from the swallowtail. The Cooper’s was back in the yard this morning…getting bolder. 🙂
Wonderful sightings and captures, Lisa! Safe travels and enjoy!
Thanks, Donna! It’s hard to prepare for my trip with all the intrigue in the yard. Lol. Cooper’s was back this morning… 🙂