THe Observation....

I wanted to go someplace cool for this assignment, I was thinking Box Springs Mtn., sit on a rock up top, check out the Cliff Swallows and the lizards. I ended up having entirely too much homework to do, so my front yard was a good stand in. I wanted to get out early so I could see everything before it got warm. At 7 am me and my lovely companion were sipping coffee under an overcast sky, with strict orders to remain silent, we observed. This is what I saw:

The setting: My front yard has several trees, one Oak, two Junipers (Very tall, 60 ft.?) one Olive tree, one Ash tree, and a Mulberry. The grass and weeds are mostly dry and dead.

First thing I saw was an ant crawling on me, not surprising since they have been on a war path this week, I think the lack of moisture is really impacting them, I think they are Argentine Ants, I look down and see a trail bisecting the ground underneath my chair. Gopher mounds are scattered across the yard, dry piles of sandy soil. The crows are around, yelling loudly and quarreling over who gets what tasty morsel; they keep their distance, alighting on my neighbor’s roof. A Hummingbird comes in and lands on a branch above us, it chirps and takes a rest for a moment before it is humming away. A mockingbird is hunting quietly through the branches of the Ash tree, staying close to the branches. I spot one of my resident squirrels all the way up the trunk of the palm in the front left of my yard, all the way up into the canopy! It’s a risky move considering how many hawks are in the area. Shortly after I stopped observing a Cooper’s hawk came flying overhead, easily identified by its long straight tail. The same Squirrel, or another now makes its way through the Mulberry and spots us, flicking its tail it decides whether we are a threat. He Squirrel jumps from the Mulberry to the Juniper, to the Oak, stopping for a snack. The Junipers have cones that are a favorite of the Squirrel family, soon it has moved to the Juniper, dropping leftover cone pieces as it forages for seeds. Across the roof of the house it runs, over to the Ash, watching us the whole time. The Crows pick through the field next door, loudly. Our time is up, a good amount of action for a cool morning in the front yard. Afterwards the neighbor’s cat, Mr. Magoo came over to stalk careless gophers. That’s my yard, awesome!