A damp morning dawns

Air temperature 63 F, wind northwest about 6 mph, partly cloudy. Roads still wet from rain overnight. Aspirations for the day include a foraging run and a bike ride, not necessarily in that order.

Morning catbird news

Nest still active this morning. We are at the point where natural departure may happen.

Tuesday floral report

Cattail spikes are showing the yellow of flowers, earliest mullein, a few of the tall sweet clover are blooming. Curled dock seeds turning brown, as are the earliest lupine seeds. New rambling roses flowering, pale pink.

One soggy gray squirrel corpse, one roadside turtle that may not have been dead because it was right-side up and the legs were retracted.

Out on the bike and through the soup, air temperature 77 F and humid, upriver and inland and back through the bog. Did not die.

15.31 miles, 1:24:01

Afternoon catbird report

Youngsters are working their way out of the nest. Fluttering around in the azalea bush, one has nearly reached the edge. We have confirmed four fledglings, two out of the nest and two in. Adult birds are supervising and bringing food to where the beaks are. This may be your last report.