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| from last year's visit |
My friends in the garden have left, but, happily, this little guy has taken their place at adding to my daily watering joys.
A few days before the garden swallow family left, I was watering the deck flowers.
As I moved to the north half of the deck, I saw a little bird fly from the deck roof across the yard and land on the limb of the scotch pine tree.
The first such appearance didn't arouse my attention much, but the next day when exactly the same scenario occurred, I took note.
That day I realized that this may be the same bird which entertained us last year, often perching on a little metal pole amidst the deck shrubbery.
As memories of last year's appearances clicked into clarity, I stepped to the front of the deck and eyed the nest which the bird or birds had been occupying.
I could faintly see what looked like the outline of bird in the nest which is tucked a corner of our deck beams.
Yup, the Western flycatcher had returned, as promised in explanations provided by my birding friends.
Seems they'll return to the same spot year after year.
About three days ago, I noticed no swallows sitting on the garden fence like they had done every morning for weeks as I had watered. I also heard no sweet tweets coming from within the bird house that they and at least one baby had chosen as theirs.
I kinda missed them and hoped that maybe they had just gone off for a day trip with the little ones.
Well, there has been no sign of them.
They were an enjoyable family, very trusting of me---never dive bombing as I've often seen swallows do in the past, lest one step too closely to their home.
It was as if an instant trust had been established with Ma and Pa Swallow. They knew that I was out there with my hose, only to water the garden, not to bother them.
So, we all got along just fine.
The Western flycatcher may not have that much trust, or maybe it just wants to remind me, by flying off to the Scotch pine when I show up with the hose, that it has returned home.
Since first realizing that the bird and probably its mate have returned, I've looked forward to deck watering because I know it will make an appearance or two AND it will sit on that same pole where we first noticed it last year during a Friday-night dinner.
The beauty and regularity of nature becomes more apparent to me with each year of life spent walking the same pathways around this place each day.
I'm kinda glad that these phenomena don't appear all at once because the gradual realization of each provides us a nice dose of awe as we move along following our routines in our own lives.
Sad to see the swallows leave, but happy to see the flycatcher(s) back at the deck.
And, it was nice to sit on the deck yesterday and catch up with another segment of the family.
My niece Laura and her two daughters Lusitina and Grace came for a visit.
We'll be seeing them again this weekend when Annie and Laura climb Scotchman Peak and at the Spots of Fun Horse Show.
Just like the Western flycatcher's return, there's always a Spots of Fun Show the second weekend in July.
We're all looking forward to it and hoping that Mother Nature will turn down the heat dial so we can really enjoy having some fun with the horses.
In the meantime, daily watering will occur in the garden sans swallows. Plus, discoveries, like yesterday's first ripe tomato will be made, new, beautiful roses will pop open.
And, when I pull out the hose on the deck that cute little bird will add some fun to my watering program.
Happy Tuesday.
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