flyfshrgrl's Journal

Today was the hottest day of 2017, with temperatures reaching 101 according to our local Weather Bug and our temperature gauges.

Yesterday and today, farmers began reaping the Sunflower crop, and the Northern Mockingbirds came out of the woodwork, so-to-speak. We probably had two dozen Mockingbirds calling to one another in our backyard, across the street, and catty-cornered from us. They were emitting all their call-types and stayed in a relative close range to one another. Interestingly, in the past several Mockingbirds in one tree could be readily observed. Tonight, each Mockingbird had its own tree; they also did not chase or harass one another, either.

We are down to only one Common Nighthawk and two Bobwhite Quail. The two Bobwhites I have observed at the SE and SW corners of our property are nowhere to be seen, heard, or found. The most vocal one is across the street and sings regularly. The second one began calling out at dusk and is west of our next-door neighbors.

23 July 2017

The last time it rained was 15 July 2017. I had the luxury of seeing seven Common Nighthawks flying around our yards and the cotton field behind us eating bugs at dusk. Beginning 16 July, only two Common Nighthawks have been observed. While their appearance is not typical for this area, especially this time of year, I am convinced their presence this year was tied to heavy rainfalls.

Saturday 22 July 2017

We moved in to our home in 2011, and when we arrived, we inherited many plant and bird species. It was a joy seeing all that spring and summer brought, but of special interest to me was the Mockingbird who sat on the chimney and sang to me in the mornings. As the long days peaked, he grew even braver and would fly down to the sidewalk, and we would just stare at one another. I tried getting closer, but 10 feet was close enough for him. Then he would fly back to the chimney and just sing to me. Being utterly tone deaf and a poor whistler, I tried to "sing" back to him best as I could. Sad though my efforts were, he afforded me leeway and sang back to me. Usually, he would leave around the Fourth of July, and just prior to leaving, he always sang longer and roosted longer on the chimney. He would follow me, hovering just above as I walked around watering my plants and puttering in the garden. He would be gone the next day. I always wished him well and eagerly awaited his return the following year.

Memorial Day 2017 came and went, but my special Mockingbird did not. I had a Mockingbird family nest in my Knockout Rose Bush which I have let become a tree, and still, my Chimney Mockingbird had not arrived. After enduring a really rather dry April, both June and July were record rainfall months, with more than 11 inches of rainfall by mid-July, my Dad and I came to the conclusion that he must have died. However, as I was bent over picking okra mid-Saturday morning (22 July), I was strafed from the south. When I looked up, there he was on the chimney singing. This Mockingbird trills just slightly different from the other Mockingbirds who visit our home, plus, he is the only one who has ever sat atop the chimney. It is his spot, and his spot alone. I was ever so glad to see him, and am curious about his appearance, which occurred after we had no rain for the eighth consecutive day--a first for this year's May, June, and July. I wonder if he is farther south during the rainy parts of the season, and makes his way farther north as the lack of rains dry out an area? Either way, I am glad to know he is well and trilling his beautiful song.