So I had a little walk in 99 degree heat. *pant pant pant* Got as far as the cove and found a shady spot to sit down and catch my breath.

I sure do miss living right above that cove. I sat and watched one of the Least Terns fish. Not the most successful Tern I've ever seen. He dove over and over and over until I began to think he must be giving himself a headache, splashing in headfirst like that.

That didn't keep him from engaging in a fierce little aerial battle to keep possession of his fishing grounds when another Tern tried to slip in on the far end. The argument was brief, but quite to the point! Various insults were hurled in squeeky little voices. The intruder circled away then tried to sneak back again, only to be repelled decisively.

I figured it was about time for me to get back to work so I dragged my sweating ass up only to hear a burst of bird noise out of an overgrown bushy tree by the path. It happened to be shaped just right so there was a spot I could stick my head almost right into the tree. I was hoping for some warblers or something else exciting. All the tiny birds hid the moment my big ugly mugg appeared. I kept my station and stayed still, hoping they might peek back out.

Instead a young Mockingbird peered out of a screen of leaves. We stared at each other a few minutes. I still didn't move, so he decided to be bold and stepped into full view.

He had about 80% or so of his adult plumage. I'd say he is venturing from the nest, but probably not quite ready for flight.

Feeling quite confident now, he crept along the branch a bit closer to me. An adult hidden in the tree top started peeping at him loudly in warning.

Like a typical adolescent, he ignored her and crept a little closer. I grinned at him. He cocked his head curiously and took another hop closer. The adult was peeping louder. He ventured another hop closer and stared hard at me to see what I would do. Finally, he peeped back at the adult.

You know what he said, of course. "Shut up, Ma, I'm just fine - SEE!" I could tell he really wanted to get a bit closer, but his nerves finally failed him. Still keeping an eye on me, he hopped back into the screen of leaves.

Good birding!