It was about Wednesday of last week that I heard the first Whippoorwill start his calling near daybreak. Just a few times and then silence. The next night, it was from dusk on to dawn with several other voices calling back. Max doesn't appreciate it at all but I thought I heard an owl this morning and neither he nor the Whippoorwills like them at all.  The rabbit population has been increasing to seeing them all day all over the yard. The hawks are making an increased showing all of the sudden so I hope they will feast on the rabbits and not even look at our little hens now outdoors.

This past week, Wanda had mentioned in her diary notes that she'd heard a bob white quail calling. They are not wild where she is but we have lots here. Like the dove, there are plenty, and they all have such a beautiful voice. I had to take the time to tell Wanda about one of our first years here when I'd heard the call and no reply, I called back. All summer he was everywhere I went. If I walked down the driveway, he'd be on a fence post along the way. He'd be in a tree in the yard just looking at me. This year, there are lots of replies to his call every evening. Such sweet notes to make me smile!

I heard the turkey in the pasture the other day and just after, the sound of gunshots. I told Randy and he said, this isn't turkey season. So what is a person to do about it? These folks are not hurting for food and hopefully they missed their target. Randy said that the other day when he and Max were out on a walk, a fellow stopped to ask if we allowed hunting on our place. Uh, NO! He must have seen a herd of turkeybirds. Go away!

I saw a bird I'd never seen before about 3 weeks ago now. It was a crowned sparrow but it had a splotch of bright yellow on the front of its head. What a sight. But gone in a matter of seconds not to be seen since. About that same time, I spotted the snowy egret out in the pasture following the cows. So beautiful but long gone by the time I was back with the camera. I've had a few photos but all were at a great distance and not at all clear.