h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Tied up the past couple of days installing new ac in the studio bedroom.

(Projected high for the day, 114F/46C, 110F/43C when I last checked at ~ 1:40pm.)

Its cooler already with new paneling over the window where the ac is to be installed and that should be up and running tonight or tomorrow morning.




Heard a coyote howling in the wilderness area around this housing development a few nights ago.

I've been getting daily visitations by a big black bumble bee, servicing the flowers around the front porch, also a monarch butterfly and a few smaller butterfly species I also raise caterpillar fodder for.

Regular daily visitations by the house fly catching red dragonfly.

Occasionally see the jackdaws patrolling the neighborhood.

A clutch of three coastal mocking bird fledglings have just moved in.

I'm putting out their water and their favorite cat food for them on the front porch.

The local troop of feral cats, having run out of pest birds (though kangaroo rat population continues unabated) has deserted the place, though I occasionally still see the matriarch of the troop across the street, keeping a neighbor's hemiplegic tom company.

Apparently, the feral cats simply prefer birds.

Saw a turkey vulture cruising the 'hood, including a vacant lot 3 doors down.

Two species of pest rabbits seen on the grounds, the native cottontail desert hare and a non-native blacktail hare illegally introduced from the central coast (San Luis Obispo) area) and they have been doing some damage.

'Bring them back alive' type trap out, no captures as yet.

Prickly pear cactus and a domestic cherry tomato still fruiting.

So long as the mocking birds are about, I'm going to let them help themselves.

"house fly catching red dragonfly" I picture a majestic slow motion image of that

They're awesome when they go into action, especially when travling in a swarm.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/531776668470511210/

http//youtu.be/p5PXF12D1aA

Ooops!

http://youtu.be/p5PXF12D1aA