Good morning everyone and welcome back! It’s a cool, cloudy and damp type of morning here. A good morning for lots of coffee! I went out to feed the birds this morning, just after 6am, and it was quiet. It was an eerie type of quiet. Not a sound out there except for some cars driving by and a couple robins singing in the far distance. But here? Nothing. None of that wild chirping/singing that has been part of the morning here for some time now. Not a bird in sight. Even the crows and gulls were not around. I figured perhaps that little falcon was back again. It’s an American Kestrel, a small falcon, same family as the Peregrine falcon, quite beautifully colored too. I would like to get a pic of one but it’s hard to get close enough to these birds.

He has been around for a few days, I’m sure he has been picking up a bird or two. One day Baxter, the blue jay, was here and sounded the alarm so all the birds headed for the trees and bushes just as the kestrel flew through, not getting anything that time. Baxter did his job well again. It took half an hour after I put seeds out this morning before the first birds arrived. Everyone is here now but definitely less birds than were here yesterday. But that is to be expected, they will be spreading out to their breeding areas, though some always stay close each summer.

I had a talk with Jasper and Freddie. Jasper first. “I notice Sylvie doesn’t come around much.” Chip. “Oh, she’s getting the nursery ready at home. Loud chip. She wants to have a large family? How many babies do you want?” Chip…chip,chip. “Just one or two?” Loud chip. “But Sylvie wants 4. Well Jasper, here’s something you need to know. It’s normal for squirrels to have 4, sometimes even 5 babies.” Loud chip. “No, no, don’t faint here, I wouldn’t know how to revive you.” Chip. “Forget it, no mouth to mouth resuscitation.” Chip.

“I’ll rub your tummy instead.” Big sigh. “That’s the first time I’ve heard a squirrel sigh.” Chip. “Oh, you do it a lot lately. How’s it going with the other squirrels?” Loud chip. “Oh, not going so well. Freddie wants the whole territory. Maybe you could let him chase the other squirrels away, then you could chase him away.” Loud chip. “Hey now, don’t give up now.” Chip. “Oh, you gave up yesterday. That’s not the Jasper I know.” Chip. “No, you don’t need to introduce yourself.” Chip. “Okay, bye for now, here, take this big peanut.” Chip. “You’re welcome.” Well, I sure would hate to lose Jasper. Freddie is nice, but Jasper is special. Hmm, there’s a little bit of blue sky showing now and the sun is shining. It looks so nice. Perhaps I can get more pics today. Have a wonderful day everyone and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2021 Steve McLeod.