Acadian Flycatcher
Early this morning the trees all around our yard dripped with rainwater from a good heavy rain that came with thunderstorms late last night. The air itself felt wet and heavy and warm. Against the background of rainwater dripping from leaves, and crickets and other insects chirping and clicking, I heard the sharp little check-mark call of an Acadian Flycatcher, my first bird of the morning. Because I had not heard its call for the past two or three days, I was especially happy to hear it, even though it sounded pretty far away, down in the woods. It has been such a sweet, constant summer companion, heard calling almost every day for many weeks now, so I’m glad to know it’s still around.
The sky was still deeply clouded with big leftover storm clouds, though no more likelihood of rain, and the day was still forecast to be very hot again. But the good drenching rain was welcome, and a few other birds seemed a little more lively and crisp this morning.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds came to the feeder, male, female and maybe juvenile, twittering and sipping, and snapping and humming now and then in quick encounters. The Eastern Bluebird pair made frequent trips to and from the nest box on the edge of the yard, feeding nestlings that we think have recently hatched. A Summer Tanager sang for a few minutes from trees on the east side of the yard. And a Brown-headed Nuthatch occasionally gave a squeaky-dee call. Carolina Wrens sang and trilled and fussed and burbled. A Carolina Chickadee sang, and others chattered their chickadee-dee-deecalls, with Tufted Titmice also chattering and singing.