A pleasant stroll around Pineland Farms in New Gloucester this morning was not do birdy, but I did see a few juvenile Savannah Sparrows and a few Alder Flycatchers were still singing. Butterflies, however, were quite active.

Speaking of butterflies, Jeannette and I have adopted a handful of Monarch caterpillars that are now living on our kitchen counter. We have a small patch of milkweed (the only plants that Monarch caterpillars feed on) growing in a rather cumbersome spot along the side of our house. This week we are having our house painted, so of course a few plants are likely to be casualties.

The other day, I came home to find one of the milkweed plants broken, but with a caterpillar still attached. We placed the plant in a vase and brought it in. To be safe, we then collected caterpillars off of other plants that were possibly in the painter’s way (but I’ll give this crew quite a bit of credit for how careful they seem to be). So, we now have 7 monarchs happily munching away on milkweed on our counter. We had planned on putting them outside as soon as the painters finish (hopefully today), but we may have to keep a couple inside for a little while longer – we must say we have become a bit attached (how unscientific of us!). Actually, we have found it rather relaxing to sit and watch the caterpillars much away – you can even hear them. There’s something pleasantly blissful about their simple lives – eat, poop, sleep, eat, poop, eat . . .

Speaking of blissful, tomorrow at the store, we welcome Native American Flutist Dail Dragonfly Martin to our July Maine Artist Feature Day. If you have been in the store recently, you have likely heard the relaxing sounds of Dail’s CD being played. She will be performing from 10 to about 3 on Saturday, so stop by to have a listen. I just hope I don’t find it so relaxing that I don’t get my work done!

And, what can be more blissful than ducklings? Here are a couple of shots from our Tuesday trip to Plum Island of a hen Gadwall and one of her kids.

And, while I’m uploading photos, here’s one of a roosting Semipalmated Plover and a few Semipalmated Sandpipers from my visit yesterday to Biddeford Pool.