Good morning and Happy Friday everyone! The weeks are going by too fast, already closing in on the half way point of the month. Fall is in full swing and soon that other season I don’t want to talk about will be upon us. Went on a short trip yesterday to where I used to live as a teen and to get some pics which I will be starting to share soon. It was a beautiful fall day, sunny and a high of 66F (18.8C). Though it was very windy it was still fantastic, stopping at a number of lakes where I used to spend a lot of time, including the small lake where I lived back then. More on that at a later time. It’s another beautiful morning, such a deep blue sky, sun shining on the leaves which are fluttering in the breeze. The birds, chipmunks and squirrel are busy, busy, busy! Poor Jasper, I really think he’s developed quite a nervous condition. Maybe he’s just hit his head too many times, landing on his head when trying to fly and who knows what else. He’s also putting on more weight which is making it harder for him to get through the doors on the boxes.

He was chasing Skamper this morning who ran into one box and Jasper followed, but his back end got stuck. What a scramble trying to get through so he could continue the chase. Skamper got away quite easily. But Jasper got a peanut and upon his return he spotted Pocket and the chase was on until Pocket jumped off the deck. This time Jasper decided not to follow, he just watched intently to see where Pocket landed. While doing that he wasn’t paying attention and Skatter came up right beside him. Jasper turned and he and Skatter jumped straight up! Skatter jumped off the deck and Jasper ran around in small circles like he had been terrified! While this is going on Coffee showed up and got his peanuts and left without Jasper even seeing him. Hmm, no peanuts left so I went out to give one to Jasper. I didn’t notice the half peanut shell on the deck and as I got close to Jasper I stepped on it. They can make quite the crunch sound. Poor Jasper. He jumped straight up again and ran down the steps. Sorry Jasper, didn’t mean to do that. Up pops his little brown head from the steps and I call him back. He came and I gave him a nice big triple peanut. Off he went quite happy looking. Oddly, there is more, but I’ll save that for tomorrow morning.

The featured image at the top is a female rose-breasted grosbeak. It looks somewhat like a large sparrow or large female purple finch. They are only here in summer and unfortunately I never saw any males this year. I keep hoping to get a picture of one, they are very beautifully colored. And in the pic above is our little female ruby-throated hummingbird once more. They have all gone south now. There are really not many summer birds left here now. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2020 Steve McLeod.