After several years of near absence, the chimney swifts are back. At least four adults and likely a nest of young in the old southern chimney. Very nice to see them again! Also barn swallows next door (I hope the neighbors tolerate them for once, pity I can’t explain to the birds that we would be happy to share some space with them, but they do like the big dairy barn better). And two pairs of phoebes.

Almost makes up for the over territorial catbirds that seem to have taken over the gardens. Only the hummingbirds seem to be able to deal with them, seeing as they were happily checking the bergamot. The hummingbirds not the catbirds like the bergamot; the catbirds like the currants, the blueberries, the strawberries, the peaches, the apples, the….