HAPPY NEW WEEK!
I hope everyone has a wonderful and healthy week!
I have a small natural sack hanging from a branch next to my front door. It feels like papery leather, and there's clearly something inside it, because it moves on its own! It's oddly heavy! I've been concerned that it may have been made by a swarm of wasps or a large bat.
I think I've finally figured out what built it and is living in it. I believe it's a Cecropia moth, a giant silk moth. These are the largest moths in North America, and they can be more than 7 inches wide or 18 centimeters. They appear as big as a human hand. I hope I'm outdoors when the cocoon opens. Here's a photo showing what the cocoon looks like (mine is wider than this one):
Cecropia Moth CocoonPhoto labeled "Public Domain" (copyright free)
Here's a photo showing what the moth will look like, if that's what comes out:
Cecropia Moth, giant silk mothPhoto labeled "Public Domain" (copyright free)
Oh ANNETTE, I remember the humming birds in California and also seem to remember that they are drawn to anything red...
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
LINDA, DIBNLIB & HEATHER - I have not inspected my new library books yet. When I arrived home, I wiped the outsides with disinfectant and I am going to wait at least 24 hours in case any little coronas are lurking inside on the pages. I am not keen on selecting books from the catalogue & its precis. I can’t see if the text is too highbrow, or too flippant, or the font too small. Yes I am very picky! Dau#2’s & my libraries both offer the click & collect option. Despite its large size, that of Dau#1 is completely closed.
ANNETTE – Hunter gatherer outing. Love it.
ROSY - It is about 3 years since, unexpectedly, eldest g-dau asked for a knitted jumper. All through her teen years home-made was a no-no LOL.
Monday (I think) I disturbed 2 rosellas in our backyard abelia. Yesterday as I hung the washing the two flew into the crab apple tree and serenaded me. I continued pegging and they flew into the abelia. Now its branches are very whippy and not really strong enough to hold their weight, so there was quite a lot of movement. When I finished pegging, I crept inside without disturbing them. Here are two pics of the Eastern Rosellas last year in the abelia.
Evening all:
Heather: We are seeing more hummingbirds this spring than last, when we had such a fabulously wet winter that the desert bloomed madly and they had no need to seek out paltry gardens I'm hoping the trend will continue through the summer. They do like red flowers, but we have a violet-colored salvia and they're partial to those too.
Rosy: Thanks for asking about golden chippings - I was puzzling too.
AQ: Aren't the grandkids a bit young to be so picky - or maybe I mean discerning, which is a good thing (except when it comes to hand-made goodies from grandma). I didn't make it to the library's honor book table yet... Very exotic birds indeed you have there. Re books, I typically go to the Amazon website before I reserve anything form the library. They have the "See Inside!" invitation to look at various bits, including the first chapter and I tend to give a lot of weight to the first few paragraphs. Re the quotes, it would appear that our clueless leader is a fan (albeit an unwitting one) of de Beaumarchais. Or maybe Mark Twain, except Mr. T doesn't get the facts first.
Bought a soaker hose for the orange tree so I can deep water it regularly through the summer. Some of the current oranges are split, which is one sign of not enough of the wet stuff.
Take care all.
EDIT: Was just in garden to put sprinkler on a corner where the irrigation is useless and lo and behold! here comes a hummingbird for a quick evening shower. :-)