As Chuck said in reply to my complaint that I had so much to do I didn’t know where to start, “Then it doesn’t matter where you start.” I’m not completely persuaded he’s right about that, but I guess that starting here after an eight-month hiatus is as good as anyplace.
I haven’t done much birding for quite a while, but have seen creatures of interest from the kitchen window and have had a couple of additions to the yard bird list. The most recent was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that flew over the yard and landed in the Silver Maple next door, as it happens, on a branch that overhangs our yard.
Yesterday evening we were treated to two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, a male and a female, visiting the feeder and various garden blooms. They tolerated each other well, even to the extent of perching at the same time one the tomato cage nearest the feeder. It’s not too late for another brood…
The yard flora have gotten ridiculously out of hand—some of the Sweet Coneflower clumps are five-plus feet across, and the New England Aster, Swamp Milkweed, Common Milkwed, Wild Senna, and Sweet Coneflower are taller than I am.
There have been very few butterflies in the yard this year. Very few in Forest Park, too. I did manage to get a few photos of a spectacular dark Tiger Swallowtail female and of a battered Great Spangled Fritillary (a yard first)—you can visit my gallery at NABA St. Louis for a look.