Eastern Kingbird youngster

What a huge storm we had last night - so much lightning and thunder and rain. After the serious hailstorm that hit the city the day before, and which I missed because I was out of the city photographing birds, I thought I would go for a short drive to my 'usual' area. There is a risk for a thunderstorm developing this afternoon and the same for tomorrow. Our temperature is only 17C as I type (at 11:15 am).

How is it that one of my favourite pairs of Mountain Bluebirds is good at seeing and catching Tiger Moths? Two years ago, the male of this pair also caught a Tiger Moth and gave me the chance to take a shot or two (seen in a comment box below the last photo posted this morning). I have only ever once seen a Tiger moth species, and it was unlike the ones in these two photos. They really are beautiful. I wonder if they taste as good as they look : ) I am always thankful when the Bluebirds are active, though before too long, their babies will have fledged and all will have disappeared.

I was happy to find a few different birds, including a family of Eastern Kingbirds, a Cedar Waxwing, a Bald Eagle, Red-winged Blackbird, and a very distant Great Blue Heron standing at the far edge of a pond.