• Animal Tracks •

It almost seems magical how at this time of year, when the rain and temperature is just right, we suddenly have clouds of insects. The Eastern Bluebirds have been hanging out as well as many other insect eating birds and the bats. I found myself wondering how they would manage with the chilling weather and what that would do to their food supply, the insect population. Today everyone was fanning away at the bugs. You couldn't move in any direction in any field and not have a mob of bugs wanting to get up close and personal. Like in your eyes and up your nose personal. Also this morning I was really impressed with the number of Monarch butterflies. One phlox cluster had five insects on it; To the extent that it looked like a blue and orange flower.

Winter Nellis Pear & Macoun

Walking up the road from this morning's school bus stop was a serenade of sparrows and other small fall warblers in the brush along the margin. The geese are still doing their morning warm-up fly overs. I saw a few hawks in the afternoon when the sun was quite strong and felt great.

Chestnuts ready to drop

The squirrels have moved in in force. They just cant resist the pears, apples and nuts. Of course that is a problem since we are competing for the fruit and they are much better climbers than I am. Of course, I wouldn't mind them getting a few if they didn't knock so many to the ground as they peruse the options in the upper branches. The chipmunks are another devotee at the fresh fruit bar and we are now seeing piles of nut husks on every preferable dining rock or stump. Unfortunately, at this time of year, all of the small gnawing critters begin their move to find a berth in the houses, buildings, and machinery. I could make a full time job of setting and tending traps in spite of the troup of cats we have. It's definitely headed into winter and everyone of them is busy, busy, busy.

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