August 28, 2009 - 1
There are two big sunflowers that opened in the planters earlier this week. These are probably grown from seeds that one of the squirrels put in the planter back in the spring before I realized that the planters would be better off not left at ground level for such critters to play in. Either way, the volunteer sunflowers were a welcome sight and both were covered with bees as soon as they opened. By yesterday, the larger of the two sunflowers was so full and vibrant that its pollen was strewn all over the leaf beneath it. Sunflowers are particularly interesting to watch throughout the day as their flowers will turn with the sun!Meanwhile, a ruby-throated hummingbird was seen skimming the blooms on the mimosa tree last Sunday and moving about like a harrier jet. The hummingbird soon departed, taking to the sky straight and swift like the harrier switching into jet mode. Also this week, a small sparrow was spotted sleeping on a tree branch and a lovely cool breeze was found to have replaced our recent heat wave with comfortable ease.
Backyard Tip of the week:
Keep an eye out for any interesting activity in your yard this time of year. Watch for birds or animals finding side benefits in odd ways that you've perhaps never noticed before. Just recently in this backyard, I weeded the horseshoe pits and added fresh sand to get ready for the big party coming up. The next morning I awoke to find nearly a dozen house finches gathered in one of the horseshoe pits and playing about in the sand. See if you can observe any similarly intriguing behavior among the creatures in your yard this weekend. Try it, you're sure to love it!
Backyard sightings for last week:
Including blue-jays, northern cardinals, brown creepers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, song sparrows, tree sparrows, American robins, Carolina wrens, Carolina chickadees. Catbirds, bluebirds, mockingbirds, ruby-throated hummingbirds, house finches, goldfinches. Red-bellied and downy woodpeckers. Northern flickers, white-breasted nuthatches, tufted titmice, mourning doves, crows, starlings, grackles, red-winged blackbirds, grey squirrels, red squirrels, chipmunks, skunks, bunnies, a ground-hog, bull-frogs and toads. Some deer, a few hummingbird moths, still a few fireflies and lots of butterflies.
Continued on next page...
August 28, 2009 Part 2 - Cool Sightings
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