Around these parts, if they start talking about a weather event days in advance, you learn to pay attention to the skies around you.  As predicted, Iowa got at least a handful of tornados yesterday.  Fortunately none came close to home but I did take this image from above my backyard as a fairly strong thunderstorm made its way over Davenport to the East.  We ended up with only rain and a bit of wind.

I watched the backyard birds closely throughout the day.  They were more quiet than usual in the morning…maybe just sitting around waiting for what was to come.  In between the heavy rains they would feed as usual.  I worry mostly about hail with them…most will take cover of course but if the pellets are really big, they could put a hurt on some critters and birds.  

This warm stormy weather has got me thinking about our summer birds and their arrival.  Hummers should show up soon, along with Catbirds, Grosbeaks, and Orioles, just to name a few.  It won’t be long now.