AAAyyyiiieee! Esta Muy Caliente!!

Well, it is June so the temps naturally move into the 90s! We've had little rain over the past month but on Tuesday, June 21, -- the Summer Solstice -- we had a terrific thunderstorm move through town with pea-sized hail! What a nice way to start the season. We were so happy to see the rain that we ran outside and got soaked until the hail began. We took pictures and video of it. That's the way it is when you live in the desert.

The bird news is really sparse. We have only the six hummer feeders up, we usually have ten. There are three small tubes on the window security bars and three small (3-port) saucer-types, 2 in the patio/carport and one on the front porch. It seems to be enough as our population is smaller this year. I have noticed a couple younger "spot" birds. I expect to see the new babies soon. Of course, July will get exciting when the Rufous birds arrive around mid-month.

Our Lesser Goldfinches are daily visitors to the thistle feeder. Occasionally, we have also seen an American visiting the tube. I think I heard a Mockingbird a couple mornings this week but it's been too hot to go out and look for it.

As for chicken news, we discovered that Chicken Little has another nest. This time it is in the front yard under the forsythia bush. This is a spot that Mazey used last year. She finally got off her nest about a week and a half ago. She's been out scratching around and doesn't seem ready to nest again, yet. Anyway, we are back to collecting eggs. I've done some further research on the 'net and apparently the birds are only good as layers for their first 18-24 months of age. After that the eggs are not as good quality. We found that out this last time. Every one I broke open would be watery and the yolk would not hold shape. So, I guess we won't be giving out our free-range eggs anymore. I wonder just what we will do with the girls. Keep them as pets, I guess. They are good for the yard as pest controllers. Now if we could train them to not start sqawking at 6 a.m.!

That's all for now. Stay tuned . . . .