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Saturday mid afternoon, there was a bit of a kafuffle in the neighbourhood as a number of barn swallows arrived and settled on the wires and airspace over by Gerald's pond (for those who know the area). There were 30 + and a few tree sparrows were in the mix. Too far for me to see what else, Sorry, but no doubt the majority by far were Barn swallows. There has been a solitary bird obviously feeding a family in the barns down the road a touch further. Exceptionally late. When I got up Sunday am they were still gathered and more were arriving. A family of crows happened to move through the neighbourhood and they were not long leaving let me tell you. The Swallows were not sharing their space. Leads me to thing there were fresh fliers there in the group. They attacked those crows from every angle and drove them away very quickly! They fed awhile then started heading off. I went down to the barn to see if the young there had fledged and I think they did. It isn't safe to go into the shed where it appeared they were. I visited awhile and a number of the birds came back circling around and through again and again and flew down the Valley between the two roofs. Once in awhile one would shoot into an opening in the eaves and back out again. I wonder if there was still young there being coaxed out. This went on for about 1/2 hour then it went pretty quiet. I had to leave. Today I haven't seen the barn swallow but there is a tree swallow moving back around. This am we had a late nesting of Juncos come out. The birds seem quite small to me. 5 young I think. Last Friday we had 3 freshly fledged Blue Jays one of which was being fed by a song sparrow! There have been a few Wood Nymphs in the yard, no more than 3 at a time, mostly on the oregano blooms. One is very badly damaged, missing a good piece of its left wing and I see that again and again. There was a mourning cloak that flew by the truck as we drove down the LaHave River to Lunenburg yesterday around 1 pm. I don't think we hit it. It was close. With the oregano in bloom all over the yard we are finally attracting insects. A number of bees. Not nearly the numbers we would normally expect but a precious few for sure. Nice thing we have noticed is after all the rain and damp we were expecting to be invaded with earwigs. Not so, at least not so far. Fingers crossed. I am not fond of them. Also slug/snail numbers have dropped again. We still have a few hummingbirds but last weekends big rush has passed. I haven't ever used so much sugar water. I had to fill each of two feeders at least twice a day, once just at dark so it would be full at daylight, and by mid morning they emptied them. They are checking the jewel weed and a few other plants but mostly at the feeders. The small bird is still hanging in there. Appears to be feisty and seems quite plump now. I watched this am as they feed for some time and drew up the syrup quickly, long and hard so I expect them to be gone possibly with the wind that is coming. As always I will miss them. Best regards, Marg Millard., White Point, Queens http://MargMillard.ca
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