Northern Mallards have not been on The Stockpond since early May, but one male in eclipse plumage is there this morning, giving another sign of winter’s steady approach–no Kingbirds today, no Vermillion Flycatchers, and it’s been eleven days since I’ve seen a Vulture, making us even luckier that Brindle the Cow holds on still through her mystery illness, still eating, still drinking, still (at least) trying to keep up with the herd.
Pipits have been passing overhead for a week, and today they at last suddenly turn downwards in descending curves, and land on the ground all around me.