I know that last post was a little heavy.

So, today, I’m going to share some of my favorite bird + insect photos.

My invitation to you is simple: Enjoy.

These two nuggets were in my parents’ backyard. The squirrel is a menace, constantly stealing the food from my mom’s feeders. In the above, he’d parked himself on the first step down to the bottom deck and just sat there gobbling spilled seed. I suppose, at the very least, we can be grateful he wasn’t in the feeder, which he often is, shoving fistfuls of seed in his cheeks until my mom opens the sliding door and yells: “Hey, HEY, get outta there!”

Where the chipmunk is perched there used to be a bluebird house my brother made. Iowa winters have taken it’s toll. Now, the slender piece of wood is a chipmunk pit stop where they can take a little break and wash their face before heading down and taking their chances at the food bin in the middle of the yard.

The yellow bird on the right is a warbler. I was at the Montrose Beach Bird Sanctuary looking for our piping plover (Imani) when I turned a corner to head to the pier and found this little ball of sunshine having a bath in a puddle.

The coneflower is from my uncle’s farm. We visit in the summer so my son can fish (and swim) in his pond. I walk around and take pictures. On part of his land he spread a bunch of wildflower seed that brings loads of life during the summer, including butterflies and moths, hummingbirds and wasps.

I’d never seen a crow fledgling before I found this one. Unlike many, I’m not a huge fan of crows. (I know, GASP). I love their intelligence but I’ve watched too many of them rob nests, mother birds urgently chirping from a distance as their babies are taken.

I can’t end on such a gruesome note.

Be kind to yourselves. It’s tough out there right now.

(ps: If you have a little light you’d like to share, email me.)

The Light Links

Seattle crows are so smart, they’re challenging what we know about evolution

Crows are even smarter than we thought

Yellow warbler: “Sweet Singer”