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One advantage of staying home on these hot summer days is having the chance to get reacquainted with the critters that often share our address.
Like this handsome little Costa's male hummingbird, perched just a few inches outside the front window this afternoon.
A tiny winged wonder who keeps us company almost year-round.
It's good to be reminded to take notice of them.
This was the view through the window by my desk just a little while ago.
A male Costa's hummingbird was perched on an aloe, just in front of the recently reactivated mourning doves' flowerpot nest.
It's almost as if the hummer is guarding the dove, but really, he's just chosen a shady perch from which he can defend "his" nearby nectar feeder.
Today we're headed up to 112 and the sun is about as strong as it gets here, so even this early in the day, most creatures are seeking a spot in the shade.
As for the doves, this is their third nesting session this year, and they're incubating 2 eggs again. Unfortunately, both previous nests were abandoned when the eggs ultimately failed to hatch; each time, I checked afterward and the eggs were just eggs, no babies within. This time, I hope their diligent efforts are rewarded.
And yesterday afternoon, I had my first sighting (this year) of quail chicks with their parents in our front yard. So I've scattered some seed for them, and hope to get some through-my-window baby quail photos soon.
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6 p.m. update:
The Gambel's Quail family stopped by for dinner.
Love those tiny quail chicks!
