More dry weather

After a wonderfully wet spring, the spigot has turned off. We haven't had anything more than a sprinkling of rain since early June. I'm trying to deeply water the vegetable garden at least once a week (and avoid the temptation to water a little bit every day), but it's hard to keep up, with high afternoon temperatures and sunny days.

The goldfinches, brown thrashers, squirrels, and others are depending on the bird bath for water, while the mystery woodchuck is becoming more interested in well-watered squash leaves. It's hard to be too annoyed; there's certainly no succulent fresh growth out there, aside from what's being watered.

The U.S. drought monitor is still showing that we're OK (that's good) and the long-term projections are fine, so this is just a normal LONG droughty spell. But definitely even native drought-tolerant plants that have been recently added (perennials in the last year, and shrubs and trees in the last couple of years) and all of the water-dependent vegetables and container plants need water.

Bird feeders

In my non-wildlife gardening days, I figured birds were on their own. There's generally plenty of food out there, I thought, although habitat might be in short supply.

But putting out bird feeders (sunflower seed, thistle seed, and suet) some years ago opened a new arena of observation.

All of the usual suspects (speaking in 'now' terms) appeared -- and they're great -- I know all the songs and call of our regular garden birds, and whether they eat seeds or suet, or kick up insects in the leaf litter or eat earthworms in the spring.

In the mountains, we added all of these, and it didn't take long for the seeds to be discovered. There was a parade of cardinals, tufted titmice, and Carolina chickadees at the sunflower seed feeder, and this male goldfinch loaded up.

A pair of American Goldfinches

By the time the thistle seed ran out in the last 'thistle sock,' the goldfinches had figured they'd better forage elsewhere. So a full 'thistle sock' -- pretty ugly, but effective, has been quiet for the last week or so.

But early this morning, a pair of American Goldfinches were avidly snagging seeds, and I managed to snap a halfway decent photo through my study window.

Birds at the feeders

A goldfinch on the thistle feeder caught my eye from the study window.

When I went outside, I heard a woodpecker up in the oak tree, and saw him finally. Then, he dropped down to get some suet.

Then, looking back towards the feeders, I saw a male hummingbird, getting a long couple of swallows, then the male goldfinch back on the thistle feeder. Shortly after that, a female goldfinch came to the feeder, followed by another male. Then, they all flew off.

It was a lovely way to spend a few minutes in the garden.

Goldfinches in the meadow

Another dry morning (I do so wish it would rain) was brightened by a pair of American goldfinches in the front meadow. I've seen a pair frequently in the last couple of weeks, the brilliant yellow of the male drawing my attention. I'm hopeful that they may be working on a nest nearby - they're one of the last species to breed in the summer, presumably depending on abundant seeds in fall to nourish their young.

We apparently had several fledglings a couple of years ago that practiced flying from the big oak towards the bird feeders near the porch.