A harrier hovers while checking the surroundings for dinner.
What’s for dinner?
Preview
This is lavender country. There are dozens of varieties planted around the area and some of the early varieties are starting to come into bloom.
Next month is our annual Lavender Weekend or Lavender Festival, July 19-21, when tourists flock here and celebrate all things purple.
Out the window
I caught this male house finch through a window at sunset.
Trumpersticker
Love him or hate him. He’s certainly not happy unless he’s raising the opposition’s blood pressure.
Kildeer again
I went into our backyard on Tuesday. As DH warned me, we have another kildeer nest. No one was on the nest but I disturbed one of the nearby parents as I gingerly searched for the eggs.
I prompted quite a drama as the panicked bird attempted to draw me away from the nest zone.
The poor thing engaged in every kind of broken wing histrionics it could think of. I tried to be quick but was fascinated by the unfolding display.
Here is the next generation of kildeer that is coming to our garden. This little nest is likely a different family from the three that hatched last month. Kildeer generally have one brood per year unless they loose a clutch.
The eggs are surprisingly large compared to the size of the kildeer. They seem no smaller than a typical chicken egg.
Mt. Rainier
We took the Edmonds ferry to get to Seattle on Monday and were treated to a clear view of Mt. Rainier. We don’t see Rainier from Sequim. It’s located to the east of Seattle. You can see taller Seattle structures at the left side of the shot, including the famous Space Needle that looks like a tiny flying saucer on a pole.
First of the season
As best I can tell this is a painted lady butterfly. It’s the first I’ve noticed this year.