Still at it

The other day when I posted pics of the soapberry patch in the arroyo I mentioned how they're expanding toward the dam, but I didn't take a photo of that, so I did today. You can see a sapling here coming up through the juniper on the left, and there are a couple of tiny ones along the right side too, but not visible in this photo. A ways to go yet, but every year should be better, provided we get rains.

Saw 6 species of hummers today (Black-chinned, Ruby-throated, Lucifer, Calliope, Broad-tailed and Rufous). And I hung some additional feeders because some that were up weren't full and won't last until I get back down. Calliopes like low feeders so I lowered one for them.

When I saw this female Western Giant Swallowtail I thought it was a new fresh one, but looking at my photos of it, I see it's damaged. So I don't mind as much that it wouldn't perch for a second.

The hummers wouldn't sit still either. They're really hyped up during migration.

When I went into the guesthouse for something today I noticed a window rotted out. 

So even though I was already worn out from installing a couple more feeder hoods I did the best I could to temporarily patch it. Don't want mice getting in, although I probably didn't help that much. I just fastened a board over the bad area for now. Next time I'm at the oasis I'll try to seal it better.

That window was installed 40 years ago by my dad. Things don't last forever, but I would have used treated wood if it had been me. I plan to redo the outside ledge so water won't get inside there. All this endless maintenance wears me out. At least the weather was perfect today.