Monday night

This cool spell we're enjoying in these parts is exceptional. I promise I won't be posting bird photos every day now, but I was pleased with this shot of what I think is a Carolina chickadee that I took tonight and had to share.

While I was out I finished reading Mockingjay, the third book in The Hunger Games series. It's a marked improvement over Catching Fire, the repetitious second novel. All three books are pretty quick reads. I suppose they ought to be since they are young adult novels, but I also mean that they hold one's interest fairly well in spite of my quibbles with them.

My criticisms? Collins is better at building scenarios than characters. While all three books are first person accounts, none of the other characters are fleshed out all that well. (For that matter, I don't think the protagonist is deeply drawn.) The series is derivative of dystopian/post-apocalyptic stories, especially films. Those complaints aside, the series wraps with an unexpected toughness that should provide good discussion starters for younger readers.

And then I made a strawberry rhubarb pie. Just because.

Birding

It was a good weekend for sitting on the balcony, reading, and birdwatching. I can't say that I've previously paid much attention to the birds around me, but it was peaceful keeping an eye out for what flew into view. Although I didn't always know what birds were in the neighborhood, this striking male cardinal was unmistakable.

I think this little one is a kind of sparrow.

The female cardinal isn't as impressively colored as the male, but at least I can identify what it is.

I guess what I'm saying is all of a sudden I'm considering getting some kind of field guide so I can determine what birds are hanging out.

The other neighbors

True to my pledge to do some reading outdoors, I spent the better part of the afternoon on my western balcony enjoying the weather and completing Catching Fire, the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy. (Short review: reads an awful lot like a cynical cash-in to turn this into a trilogy. Not bad, just inessential.) It was a fantastic day to be able to sit outside and take it easy. The morning's rain had cooled things off significantly, and when the sun did emerge, there was a nice, soft breeze that kept the temperature comfortable.

The side of the apartment that I was on is relatively isolated. A culvert borders the grassy area and separates the green space from the back of a shopping center. I was able to kick back and listen to the birds chirping away and practically imagine that I was out in the countryside. I even stole a short nap with my head resting against the wall.

From time to time I'd look up to see what I could see. I spotted an ibis or a heron in the culvert getting a drink, so I was inspired to grab my camera and see if there were any shots I might be able to get of my non-leasing neighbors. I didn't have much luck snapping any photos of birds aside from the picture at the top of this post.

I had more success with the pair of squirrels you see perched in the tree. They stuck around for quite awhile. One of them explored some of the patio furniture below. The other was hassled by a particularly aggressive little bird for a bit. Eventually they took a break on a branch.

As the afternoon wore on, the heat picked up to the point that I moved inside. Still, I'm going to have to make sitting on the balcony a regular part of my routine, as long as the weather permits. It was nice to discover a new space in my apartment and observe what's running and flying around the neighborhood.

Nature calls

One of the small, pleasant things with warmer temperatures has been opening the sliding door and taking a nap while the cool air trickles in and the birds sing. A tree sits close to my west balcony, so I can watch my birds and critters come and go if I choose to. I saw a bright red cardinal perched in the tree about a week ago but wasn't fast enough to get a photograph.

As I was eating dinner after work tonight I noticed that I had a visitor sitting on the balcony ledge. A squirrel was hanging out. Again I tried to snap a shot, but my movement must have spooked him. The best I could do was get a blurred picture of the squirrel scampering up the wall. While I usually have the screen door closed, this encounter was a good reminder to keep it that way unless I want to let nature inside. Which I don't want to do.

Later on I went for a walk a couple times around the park and school and in the neighborhood. I always enjoy seeing the dogs playing in yards or on walks with their owners, and if I'm lucky I may get to pet a dog or two. We had a dog for most of my youth. I've not had a pet since I've been on my own, but I like giving the dogs a friendly greeting and scratch behind the ears.

During tonight's walk I also spotted a beautiful blue bird that, I'm guessing, is an Eastern Bluebird. It looked darker than those pictured on the website, but that's the best ornithological guess I have to offer. I suppose it could have been a Western Bluebird, although its name suggests it probably wasn't.