Phoebe, chipping sparrows, vireos and a toad!

 Things are pretty busy out there. The chipping sparrows  are so cute. They are eating bugs like mad!

A phoebe visited us on the back deck railing. It was going after an LDD moth. Bless its little heart. I think it was one of the babies, as the adults never did that. (archive photo)

Everyone loves the lilac tree. I've noticed red-eyed vireos in it, as well. I figured out why. Saturday, I could hear a noise from the catalpa tree beside the house, just around the corner. 

I poked around a bit, and found a red-eyed vireo  nest. I could see a bird hopping around it. Sure enough, a little fledgling!

 

More critters... I was fiddling with the kiddie pool on the middle deck, it got wet and I'm trying to dry it and put it away. We'll be at the beach this week. I moved it, and found a toad. We moved here in September, 2010, and have not seen a toad here. What a lovely surprise!

On the front deck, the monarch has broken out of its chrysalis and flown away! One more still waiting. 

I hope the chrysalis ecloses when the girls are here, later today. We've a hostage exchange at noon. The driveway should be cured, and we can park in the garage. I took out the garbage in the sturdy green wheelbarrow at 7 a.m., and hope they stay off the end of the driveway.