NEW RESIDENTS, AND A PHOTO OP

WHO BUILDS THE NEST?

WHO SITS ON THE PERCH?

ARMED FORCES DAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE

Monday, 8:00 AM.  44 degrees F, wind NNW, moderate with stronger gusts.  The fog has lifted but the sky is  overcast and we got 2.25" of rain from thunderstorms last night.  The roadside gutters are all brimful and running like mountain freshets.  The barometer stands art 29.79 in. and the humidity is  96%.  We will get more rain.

   We have new residents!  We put up a new bird house this spring and my first thoughts were that

it might be too large, but our fears were unfounded, as a very determined pair of chickadees have begun to build a nest within it.  One of the pair constantly flits in and out with nest materials.  The other spends a lot of time sitting proudly on the perch, looking rather important.  Can you guess which is the female, and which is the male?

   Also on the bird front, Joan reminded me late yesterday afternoon  that it was May 19th and the hummingbirds usually return on the 15th.  I immediately made feeder solution and got the feeders up within the hour, and as soon as I   was finished a large and colorful male hummingbird showed up to claim one. " About Time!" he seemed to say as he looked me directly in the eye from about six inches away.

   Armed Forces Day was Saturday.  Our intrepid President was photographed making a speech in the rain in the Rose Garden with a Marine holding an umbrella over him  so he would not get wet.  I'll bet the Marine would rather be holding an AR15 with fixed bayonet.  Even a Papal Swiss Guard at least holds a halberd.