Summer Solstice

Friday, June 20, 2025 at 9:42 pm Central Time

The first day of summer is here with the longest day and shortest night of the year.

6-5-25 Fawn 6-5-25 Fawn

Fawns are growing quickly and moving about the neighborhood. We often see them early in the morning or at midday when they get up from their naps to stretch their legs. They aren't as cute after a while. 

Mornings are my favorite time of day. We're outside early to enjoy the peace and quiet along with the dawn chorus of birdsong with our breakfast. I also go out at noon to watch bird activity as they visit the water features.

A few days ago, a Gray Catbird was bathing in a hidden corner of the stream bed, its usual spot. It flew up to a nearby shrub, grabbed a fruit and then raced to the next shrub before zipping over to the east tree line. Wait a minute, I thought. Was that a currant in its mouth?  That shrub hadn't fruited before!

6-15-25 Clove Currant composite #1

Sure enough! The fragrant flowers on our two clumps of Clove Currant, aka Golden Currant, were bountiful in April, and must have kept the bumble bees and other pollinators busy cross-pollinating. That amps up the fruit production, and for the first time, we have a lot of fruit. The clusters hang below the leaves which give added cover to the birds as they come in to grab the currants. They turn from a soft green to a beautiful deep red, then to black when fully ripe, and that's what I saw in the catbird's bill.

The first shrub was planted near the pond in fall of 2007, the second was planted in 2016 up at the corner so passersby could enjoy the fragrance. Two genetically different plants are needed for proper fertilization and fruit set, so it has taken some time for that to happen. What a bounty we have this year! 

6-15-25 Clove Currant composite #2
 

Plants in this genus, Ribes, attract and support at least 60 different Lepidoptera, or moth and butterfly species. They provide excellent cover for insects and birds. We see activity all year long in these plants, resident and migratory birds alike find food and a place to rest in the twiggy, protective branches. The fall color can be beautiful, too. Clove Currant is a productive native shrub in the right conditions. Read more to evaluate it for your yard:  

Clove or Golden Currant

6-11-25 Eastern Bluebird carrying fecal sac 6-11-25 Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebirds had a challenging few evenings when utility work needed to be done near their nest box. The workmen were careful, and the intrepid birds just kept calm and carried on! Insect food has been taken in and fecal sacs have been carried out. We should be seeing the second brood of fledglings in the near future.

  6-15-25 Eastern Phoebe chicks 6-17-25 Eastern Phoebe chicks

It always amazes us how Eastern Phoebe chicks can hunker down and remain hidden until the last few days before fledging. Wednesday, 6-18-25, was their big day! We were outside early, Dan had his breakfast, I was working on my first cuppa. The male Phoebe was calling a lot, and the female was flying back and forth to perch on this antique cultivator in the garden. 

6-18-25 Eastern Phoebe 6-18-25 Eastern Phoebe fledgling resting

One little fledgling was resting on a viburnum branch.

  6-18-25 Eastern Phoebe fledgling being fed 6-18-25 Eastern Phoebe fledgling being fed 6-18-25 Eastern Phoebe fledgling being fed 6-18-25 Eastern Phoebe fledgling being fed 6-18-25 Eastern Phoebe fledgling being fed 6-18-25 Eastern Phoebe fledgling being fed
6-18-25 Eastern Phoebe fledgling being fed

It's not often we get to see the adults feeding the young birds, what a privilege. Caterpillars and moths are the top tier food for chicks like these. Adult birds are so patient, encouraging them to catch up with their brood mates. They were soon off on the little one's first adventure.

6-18-25 Arrowwood Viburnum x Blue Muffin composite

This plant is the Arrowwood Viburnum x 'Blue Muffin" cultivar. It has many of the attributes of the straight native and has a good crop of fruit this year, too. It needs a second plant, which we don't have, but the pollinators must know where to find one.

6-18-25 Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawks have been visiting the yard recently, including Wednesday when the young phoebes were learning to fly. The adults were nervous and calling a lot, teaching their chicks of the danger. Typically, these hawks prefer voles to any other food, though they will take a bird in hard times.

6-16-25 Common Grackle and Blue Jay 6-17-25 Northern Flicker 6-17-25 Gray Catbird

The water features have been busy with the likes of Blue Jays, Common Grackles, Northern Flickers and Gray Catbirds as regulars. Temps are heating up and water gives the birds a way to cool off. 

Doug Tallamy's latest webinar answers many questions about

how we can help save nature with our own yards. Check it out!

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