Well, that’s what it feels like. The deer flies nailed the back of my head yesterday (without me knowing it) and today I feel like I have additional mini-me’s sprouting out of my medula oblongata. And did I mention itch? Oooh yes, they do.
Some guy at the weather network said the bug count was medium yesterday. How the hell he calculates that I’ll never know. Thing is, it only takes a few deer flies to make you sorry that you don’t have a full covering of knarly leather for skin.
Coming up to the first of June and it feels like mid-summer. On the plus side, the flowers are looking wonderful. Vines are revelling in this unusual warmth and wildlife (of the kindlier type) are full of energy. Dragonflies, hummingbirds, finches and feathered friends of all sorts and of course the marvellous butterflies abound.
Jane spotted a Great Crested Flycatcher the other day. The ‘all about birds’ website says that many, but not all, Great Crested Flycatcher nests contain shed snakeskin. Other crinkly materials, such as plastic wrappers, cellophane, and onion skin, may be used.
The Great Crested Flycatcher is a bird of the treetops. It spends very little time on the ground, and does not hop or walk. It prefers to fly from place to place on the ground rather than walk. The Great Crested Flycatcher makes the same “wee-eep” calls on the wintering grounds that it makes in summer. Huh! How about that.
I’ll focus on the beauty and try and forget the little beasties. But man, those are big bumps!
Oh, and a public service message … the Haliburton Highlands is the perfect place to watch the G20 nutsiness. City folk, pack up now, come north. We’ll look forward to seeing you.
Mike Jaycock 