Had a hummingbird visiting the Jacob Cline bee balm, as well as trying out the feed, yesterday evening.

Haven't seen a robin in awhile, maybe a week or two, I forget. Google says: 

Where do robins go in summer? As most robins don't migrate, they don't really disappear over the summer – they just become a bit less visible. When food is more readily available during the summer, robins are more likely to forage out of sight in the woods rather than coming to your bird table in the garden.

Update: And of course, as if they can hear me, there's a robin.

Weather started out with a really nice couple of days this week (some people called it cold), then it started getting pretty warm and humid again. On the plus side, been finally getting a real dose of rain for a couple days now. Who knows, the grass might even turn green this summer yet, after our couple months of drought and excessive heat to start the season.

A white-breasted nuthatch has been visiting the finch feeder for several days, maybe a week now. I was kind of surprised to see that. Usually, in the past, they have just walked up and down the trunk of the giant spruce awhile and grabbed the occasional peanut.

I used to take down the feeders for rain, until I noticed the birds often show up, sometimes more so, on rainy days. So I've mostly been leaving them out unless the weather is, or is supposed to be, getting very windy. Today was the first day of this spring/summer that I noticed the feed having gotten wet overnight, so I cleaned and refilled the feeders.

Still no sign of any more hummingbirds.

Next up, after it dries bit, start trying to improve the soil around here, I guess. I've been putting that off, focusing more on getting plants in place to try to look better around the house. Maybe I got it backwards, should have spent a season working on the soil first. Live and learn. Maybe. Sometimes, if you're lucky.

Unfortunately, try as I might, the yard will never look as good as it did three years ago.

The stormy weather moved through, which apparently wasn't as bad here as elsewhere, and now it's much, much cooler! Relief hardly even sums it up.

Anyway, couple sightings of both woodpecker and hummingbird already this morning.

Good news, yay, saw another hummingbird, finally. Bad news, it was looking for the feeder where I used to have it, but I moved it under the giant spruce, because I thought it was too hot where it was. And then it took off, without looking under the tree, far as I could tell. So I gave up and put the hummingbird feeder back where it was. Within minutes, another one (same one?) came by, tried it out briefly, and took off. I guess I should leave well enough alone and leave the feeder where it is. My general conclusion being, apparently when it's stupid hot like it was, the hummingbirds aren't any more likely than me to be out there anyway.

And there's a woodpecker, must be either the weather is better (it is, for now, cooler, supposed to be more so tomorrow), or they're getting in before the storm this afternoon. Which let's hope isn't as bad as predicted (potentially damaging thunderstorm, conditions for possibly tornado).

And another goldfinch this morning. I guess I could try to google my suspicions, but I am beginning to think it has a lot to do with the weather - when I'm hanging out in the ac, the birds must be more or less dormant as well? Hanging out in the shade, or by running water, or something?

Saw the occasional cardinal here and there for awhile, but none of them with the stupid hot either.

And a cardinal just flew buy and grabbed a peanut. Weather theory confirmed?

Well, back to pretty toasty again, poor air quality, though not quite as bad as last week, yet. Finally had a bit of rain last night, so that helped a little, anyway.

The usual assortment of birds. Robin hanging out, making sure the wrong sort of robin isn't visiting, I guess. White-breasted nuthatch hanging out at the finch feeder under the giant spruce. Yesterday, saw three goldfinchs visiting the finch feeder, that's a record, lately, as they don't seem to be around much in the heat.

In the evening, a Cardinal stopped by for some peanuts.

Haven't seen any woodpeckers for awhile now, no more hummingbirds either. They hang out somewhere else during ridiculously hot, sweltering days that make a person feel they have difficulty breathing?

More blessed relief. So nice, apparently, the squirrels thought they could sneak back in. Naturally, they have been disabused of that notion.

Couple cardinals, couple goldfinches, and the sparrows and finches, so far.

And the robin, chasing away a different robin.

Blessed relief, 66 and a light breeze this morning, pleasant. Supposed to get to 85. Opened the windows in the meantime to get fresh air in here, so I guess we'll have to see how the day goes. 

Can hear the birds around somewhere but haven't seen them yet.

Thursday through yesterday were miserable, dangerous air quality, hot days. But later yesterday, some rain moved through, and so though still hot (hit our target of 90 and feel like 96), doesn't feel as suffocating at least as the last several days. 

Not many birds, they don't seem to like it either. The house sparrows and house finches, mostly, here and there. Saw a white breasted nuthatch earlier today, first at the finch feeder under the giant spruce, then later stopped by for a peanut. Been trying to get out several times to keep the water reasonably fresh for the birds during these hot days, but not even much action there. 

And as I type, a goldfinch shows up at the finch feeder.

Moved the hummingbird feeder to under the spruce, thought that might help it not be so hot, but not a hint of a hummingbird, far as I know. Which might not be very far.

It's hot, very hot. According to Accuweather, 86 and "real feel" 99. Don't usually expect this sustained heat until at least end of June, but more getting into late July and August, actually. At least, that's my vague impression, maybe or maybe not based in fact.

Moved the hummingbird feeder under the spruce, for it to be cooler. Of course, now I probably won't notice if the hummingbirds find it. 

Saw a goldfinch at the feeder, though, briefly. Seems like there is a spate of finches/sparrows in the mid-morning, and then later afternoon. But most of them, I guess, don't want to be out anymore than I do in the middle of the day.

Can chalk today up as the first day of summer that feels blech warm and humid even early in the morning. No relief in sight if you want to trust Accuweather.

Three squirrels here this morning, when I got up, and the columbine destroyed, laying over on the ground. I view that as not coincidence. The astilbe seems to be holding it's own now, after pruning the "baked" parts and giving it lots of water throughout the day.

Red-bellied here early for the sunflower hearts, and now the finches.

I think there has been a family, a mother and two juvenile finches here lately. One larger and two smaller. The larger eats and the two smaller ones crowd around the larger with their beaks open, and it looks like the larger one is feeding them. But I think at least one of the smaller ones has figured out the secret of the bird feeder, can often be seen just sitting there and eating for awhile.