Ah, Summertime . . .

The calendar says it is still Spring but our temps are in the 80s and this week even the 90s! We are keeping the water dishes filled so the birds can keep cool. The hens are still brooding even though we've removed all their eggs. Maybe they are cooler in their nests. No new birds to report, just an increase in the number of Hummingbirds. We now have the females and juveniles to feed. The Red-winged Blackbirds are really being pigs at the seed feeder. The females spend a lot of time there.

Last weekend I got to go up to our family's mountain cabin. It is truly a birder goldmine. There were Black-headed Grosbeaks all over and their calls echoed all through the valley. I also saw Yellow-rumped Warblers. I only heard the Mountain Chickadees and Goldfinches. There were other birds that I heard but couldn't ID. Silly me, I forgot to bring my binoculars! My brother-in-law had a small pair of folding ones that I used but they were not as good as mine.

At the lake, we watched Tree Swallows dive to the water to catch bugs. They were so fun to watch. So graceful as they glided just above the surface scooping up bugs. They are so striking to look at with their irridescent dark blue coloring and white underbellies. Also, overhead was a big hawk, maybe an eagle, just gliding lazily over the valley. It was really a great day to watch birds.

So, that's the latest news from the Rancho. Hasta la vista!