The Sweet Sound of Rain

We haven't had rain for weeks. The ground was cracking and the flower gardens looked like July-all yellowish and wilting.  Today we got a full day of much needed steady rain fall. I actually wore jeans and a jacket outside.  The cloudy sky was a wonderful reprieve from the scorching sun.  And this I am complaining about in May already. Pipsqueak spent the entire day alternating between digging a new nest and dodging rain drops by hunkering down in the rabbitry. 

(lower left corner of photo)

Beautiful Cecropia Moth

This spring I procured a cecropia (Hyalophora cecropia) moth cocoon from the woodlands near my in- laws house.  We put it in a habitat with some other moth pupa that we have waiting to hatch. We photograph them and then they are released unharmed.  Mr. Cecropia (as noted by his bushy antennae) made a grand entrance last night.  Isn't he beautiful. The Cecropia moth is North Americas largest native moth and is in the silk moth family. Photos by Andrew.

Chip

Andrew couldn't resist luring Chip out of the woodpile for a photo. Chip can't resist hickory nuts and was a willing participant.

The Bird Bath

The bird bath was dry this morning. I've been filling it every couple days. The birds love it. Especially in this awful heat.  It's nice to watch the birds bathing in the clean water. We've seen a good variety of passing migrating birds at the feeder, the bath and in the yard this spring. Among them are a black pole warbler, oven bird, hooded warbler, black throated green warbler and a Swainson's thrush. Our regulars are the cardinals, chipping sparrows, blue jays, robins, gold finches, cowbirds, crow, and Carolina wrens. The Cooper's Hawk is seen upon occasion but I chase him off on the outside chance he might go after Pip and injure her.

Chipping Sparrows

Chipping Sparrows are the sweetest little birds with a loud trilling song that makes them easy to identify by sound.  We've enjoyed listening to them all throughout the spring and Andrew was pretty sure we had some nesting nearby. This morning on the way out to take Daisy for a walk I found a fledgling in the front yard.  I picked him up and stroked his head while mama and daddy looked on from the weeping cherry.  Later I saw the entire family on the wire fence by the side yard and baby was getting a hardy meal. Usually there are 2-7 eggs in the clutch. This may be the first one to fledge.  I'm fondly referring to him as "Chip". Chipping sparrows eat grasses, herbs and insects; and prefer to nest in evergreens.

 Baby "Chip"

Mama and Daddy chipping sparrow

Rabbit Antics

Daisy and Pipsqueak are friendly with each other have actually played chase and lounged together in the yard.  I know-crazy-but nothing about Pip's behavior is standard for a wild rabbit. The other night Daisy must have startled Pip because Pip vaulted over Daisy and even pushed off of Daisy with her hind legs to get leverage and put distance between them. I laughed out loud as the entire incident was very comical. Daisy didn't seem to know what hit her and continued sniffing about in the yard. Eventually Pip came back over to Daisy. This evening Pip had two friends over and one of them accepted a hand out, while keeping a safe distance, from Andrew.  Both of the visitors seemed unfazed by us. We figure Pip told them we are ok.

 

Pip (foreground) and a friend.

Another friend

 Daisy says, "Hi Pip-let's play!"

Chillin'

Unicorn Clubtail

The garage lab is teaming with activity. Everyone that has been quietly resting all winter is coming forth with the warmer weather.  Below is a Unicorn Clubtail larva and the same as a newly emerged adult.

See the little tiny horn on his head for which he is named?