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Animal Tracks •
Barn
Swallow Visiting the Office
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Allies
and Guests
Last
week's image was of a swallowtail butterfly. Here is
a visitor to the office. I often like to keep the door
open and a Barn Swallow flew in. You've heard,"
Close the door! This isn't a barn!" from a parent
or friend or relative once in your life probably. Well
this isn't a barn but it must have looked somewhat attractive
to the swallow. was in the middle of a phone call about
the aerial spraying that took place that morning and
in flew the swallow. After it was clear that he couldn't
make it out on his own I caught him, took a portrait
in hand and set him on his way. Swallows are marvelous
allies who eat tons of insects and are both beautiful
to see and hear.
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As I have said over and again, Swallows are the most amazing
flyers and I love to watch them fly.
 Another
ally is this jumping spider eating a gypsy moth caterpillar.
Kind
of tough to get a good image with the camera I have especially
since I haven't taken the time to study it and learn all the
tricks. Too much else to do.
It
looks like this is the year of the Oriole though. I am certain
that I have never before seen this many orioles here. I can
clearly remember when we had our first pair build a nest in
the choke cherry tree at the end of the kitchen garden. That
was about 20 years ago. We have always had a few pairs but
this year they are legion. They are also very difficult to
get a good picture of for the newsletter.
In
other bird sightings, a belted kingfisher flew by on it's
way to the lower meadow and a black crowned night heron flew
overhead with the same destination. Really neat to see these
birds here but fleeting.
I
evicted the mice from the sawmill to cut the wood for the
market stalls and there's never a cat around when you need
one. I suppose they have too much else to do. 
WE
set this old commode outside, a really neat 60 or so year
old piece of industrial art, not wanting to just throw it
out but uncertain about what to use it for. The cats, of course
were not uncertain and it has become their favorite watering
hole.
What
a hoot!
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