American Goldfinch
We've had 90+ degree weather each day for more than three weeks in a row, and the forecast is for the same through at least the end of the month. It was already in the 80s when I left for a short hike here in Old Trail at 9:30 in the morning. I ended up with 19 avian species. Many of the birds were hunkered down in shady vegetation to keep cool, and I was too hot to look for more species.
American Goldfinch
Northern Cardinal
I saw a feather on the ground that looks like it might have come from a Red-shouldered Hawk.
Feather
The highlight of the morning for me was a Northern Mockingbird. It landed about 10 to 15 feet in front of me on the gravel trail, and did its wing spreading to stir up bugs. And then, it turned and starting walking right up to me. I had my camera focused on the bird, and was amazed that it was getting so close. Finally, it stopped, bent down, and picked up a large grasshopper that I had not seen.
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbird
This evening, Alice and I drove up to McCormick Gap Overlook on Skyline Drive to look for Comet Neowise. Although it was not a bird, it did have a long tail :-) This was our second drive up there, and after not seeing it a few days ago, we had success this evening.
Comet Neowise
Comet Neowise
Comet Neowise and meteor streak
Comet Neowise