Yes, if your out mowing the lawn be aware of a bee/fly like insect that is probably looking for moisture and it bites hard and itches like hell. Grabbed a Benadyrl real quick so didn't get any after effects. The insect is the size of an average housefly and it's more gray like and it's abdomen is blk/gry stripped. Ran into it last year and only saw one this spring. A small bee like Richard R described was insistent in annoying me and consequently bit me and left it's stinger in my wrist. I felt strange immediately and ran for the Benedyrl but it took 6mos for the bite to heal. Wud close and then open up again. I won't go into the weeds as have some in my garden I can't even id even though I have OR/WA weed guide and a
few others. Birds...what did you think of the loss of the eagle in the Hornby Isl nest?? How about the Redtails down in Portland. One of the three died young and momma ate it. One of the others fell out of the nest and was taken to a vet clinic for x-ray b4 being put back in the nest and "it" did fledge but it did not look healthy. Locally the Merlin nest appeared to have three but then only two really advanced but then one of those disappeared. One seems to have survived and flew off but didn't appear that healthy. Just stopped by the Farm Store and bought a case of suet cakes as the Hairys, Downeys and Flickers plus young are eating us out of the house at home and don't talk about the Blackheaded Grosbeaks. Seems to be an abundance of young males. Juncos nested locally here in our bushes which is a first for us in 25 years of living here. And of course there is an abundance of Starlings. Seems there was an exceptional crop this year. Wonder what will be next......Happy Birding !!

Cleo Andreasen
Anacortes, WA
andie777 at isomedia.com