Birds or Bees?

I went out to do a bee count this evening for the Great Sunflower Project, but was diverted by the bluebirds splashing around in their water. 

Mother bluebird on top, adolescent to the left and new fledgling in the water.

The five new babies fledged Monday morning.  We think that they have all made it, but know for sure that we still have at least four of them.  There are two or three from the previous clutch who are still here and the two parents.  So this evening we watched the family of 8-10 bluebirds.  The "adolescents" help the parents take care of the new babies, they feed them, act as sentries, show them how to bathe.

Can you find the baby bluebird?

The male bluebird found it.

Baby bluebirds two days after leaving the nest.

So the bees on the sunflowers will have to wait for another day to be counted.  I was way too busy watching baby bluebirds and enjoying the shade of this big old walnut tree.

Old English Walnut

I love that you can see where it was grafted.

The bluebirds, their babies, the walnut trees!  I am so lucky.

The Weekend in Review

A nice bunch of coho salmon caught outside of the mouth of the Columbia on Sunday.  The first time that we have "crossed the bar" not to be confused with entering a bar.  Thanks to our hosts, Terry and Leonard, on the "On Call".  We had a great trip.  The fish are in the freezer.

We got home last night to find that one of the branches on the walnut trees had crashed.

 I would have liked to have been here to witness and hear the crash of this limb. Our friend Nanette was lazing in the hammock at the time.  What a wake up!

The trees are loaded this year. We should have enough to commercially dry and sell.

And on a different note.....

We have five new baby bluebirds.  These little guys were born last Thursday, so are less than a week old.  This is the second clutch this summer.  The first clutch babies (now adolescents) are about 6 weeks.  They help to feed and clean up after these little guys, learning how to be good bluebird parents.

And on an even more different note:

This most wonderful beaded bag has come to live here.  Thanks to my sweet sister over at Frost Creek.

Here's hoping your fishing is good, no branches fall on your head, and that good things come to live with you.