It was an astonishing day!

. Firstly, I was waiting for my coffee to brew. Cinnamon and I were on the back deck. We heard TWO barred owls calling to one another. Back and forth, deep in the forest, down the hill. Now, I could have gotten dressed, it was a cold 10 ℃, but I thought I'd just leave them alone. I have photos!

June, 2014

 

Friday I'd found owl mute, and searched around. I found an owl pellet. I brought it up to the house to dissect it. Too bad the grandies aren't around to see it! 

Barred owl hoots twice, robin harasses her! June, 2016:

Standing on the back deck, still waiting for coffee, Cinnamon had his head poked out between the glass. A hawk of some sort swooped by, right under our noses. You should have seen Cinn's eyes! Big and wide, and greatly concerned. He's been watching the phoebes coming and going. As well as Fred.

It was silent, and glided on by. Grabbing my camera, still in housecoat and jammies, I threw on my clogs and ran around the house. All I found was a red squirrel, sitting twitching its tail. Very concerned. That'd be breakfast for a hawk.

I am thinking it was the broad-shouldered hawk. There aren't many photos of hawks from above them, on a fly by, but I distinctly recall the black and white stripes. 

Also Friday, there was a pair of Brown Thrashers in the lilac tree. Horrid photo with my iPhone, but proof of life! You can sort of see them. Happily they were calling, which helped me spot them.

The bird bath has a new pump. It took me 10 minutes to find the pump. It was still in its box. Ah, old age!

The fountain is working in the goldfish pond. This keeps the mosquitoes out of it, as they don't like moving water.

I have my tractor back! All cleaned up, mouse nest removed, new oil, so I toodled around the back. 

Today I'll plant a few things that are hardy. It's been chilly. Caitlin and Aster planted Saturday. Jordan came back to town Saturday for a trivia tournament. 

Jordan posted his first year report: GPA 3.9! Darn good! We're so proud.