The Joy of Summer and a Cat and Rabbit Game...

- What pleasant and refreshing weather the last few days....brilliant skies....highs in the 70s/lows in the 50s....low humidity.....mid-July? Go figure. Below average temps are forecast for the next several days, with perhaps a bit of rain tomorrow. Normal day/night is 85/66 this time of year on the mountain properties (about 2,000'-2,200' above sea level).

- Driving from Stone Creek this AM, spotted a mom turkey and maybe 12-15 litttle ones....going under a fence after crossing the road. The young appeared to be 5-6 weeks old.

- Anyone living within our mountain developments has no doubt noticed the nighttime serenade in the trees. This annual nocturnal expression is that of the Katydid (Order: Orthoptera...Family Tettigoniidae). There are several similar species in this family. Though it started some time ago, the decibel level seems to be peaking, and at times the din is almost deafening. These scratchy sounds will continue through most of the summer and then begin to subside by September. Only the males make the noises. The top photo is of a Katydid perched on my doorstep this morning.

- Sitting in my backyard recently and enjoying the pleasantness of the late afternoon with yet another good mystery novel, I watched, and attempted to photograph a standoff between a house cat and a rabbit....Beginning with the bottom photo.....

- The cat rests silently at the base of an oak...the rabbit emerges from the thick tangles of vegetation......

- Vantage points have changed a bit....now the rabbit seems to be losing interest at this latest threat in its life...while the cat seems to stare intently.......

- The rabbit rears on its hind legs for a better look, and now the cat seems to have lost interest.......

- While understanding the predator/prey relationship is a necessary part of all ecosystems...it is hard not to feel a bit of compassion for the rabbits.....seems most of the animal predators, both winged and terrestrial, are always interested in them as a food source. As the afternoon faded into twilight, the rabbit disappeared into the weeds without the cat making an attack.

Summer Thoughts

- Partly cloudy and seasonably warm today on the southern Cumberland Plateau....nice breezes at 2,200' have made it a quite pleasant summer day.

- More typical summer weather patterns have finally taken in our area...after a very pleasant spring and early summer characterized by cool weeks, one hot week, cool week, along with timely rainfall. Mid 80s today with just a slight chance of a summer thundershower.

- The blackberries are ripe! And what a crop.....they seem to be everywhere.

- Getting reports of fawns all over the mountain...as well as broods of young turkeys.....but in both cases the progeny are never found very far from mom at this point in the summer. Still waiting on the perfect photo.

- Can't help but hear the distinct call of the Bobwhites around the mountain., especially late in the day. A great story of recovery and there seems to be more this summer than ever before.

- Seeing lots of small winged predators this summer...particularly the Cooper's and Sharp-Shinned Hawk. Also a Broad Wing now and then, as well as the usual Red-Tailed.

- Attached are a few photos....new and not so new....that I came across recently.....from top to bottom....

1) A place meditation, in the forest, along Stone Creek in Mother's Park......Why is it that natural sounds...be it wind, water or moving leaves, has such a soothing effect on the human spirit? Answers are as unique and many as there are minds that receive such stimuli.

2) A great shot of the largest species of woodpecker in our forests.....the Pileated, enjoying a suet snack.

3) The male American Goldfinch. 'Nuff said.

4) Caught red-handed! Watching a game, gentle rain falling, look out the glass on to the back deck...and you realize a friend has come to call (without knocking)......