There was a pretty serious sunrise this morning. When I first looked at a little after 5 o'clock, it was very red, but as it got higher in the sky, that went away. We've had a little sprinkle here and there and some clouds, but lots of sun in between, and there's a nice breeze. I was surprised at where the sun was coming up this morning - it's sort of in a northeast position, so I took a picture from the living room window where I've taken so many "comparison" seasonal shots. I guess the position of the sun now is because tomorrow is our summer solstice, and from then on it will edge back to the east and later southeast. I have to admit, I'm generally not up to witness where the sun is coming up this early, but sometimes when I have something troubling on my mind or when I have a big project going, I wake up early, and that happened this morning.

It was good to get an early start on the day, and with Fred's help I've managed to resolve the cause of my wakefulness, but I may have to take a cat-nap later this afternoon. Right now someone across the pond is getting a start on the 4th of July by the sounds, so a nap is out of the question. They were setting off a lot of fireworks last night, too. I can't help wondering about how the loons manage with all that going on, but I guess it's no worse than a thunderstorm. I had more from Evelyn on the loons this morning - I had mentioned to her that Joe's Pond must be a special place for loons now, and this is her reply:

You're right, it is very special!  We actually have plenty enough acreage
of water to support two families of loons... it was the questionable
habitat that made it not so likely to happen.  But because Joe's Pond has
been producing and supporting so many loons over the past 13 seasons they
were bound to reconsider the possible habitat for nesting...

You no doubt have noticed the past several years that there have been a
couple of loons establishing themselves on the first pond... that is the
beginning of developing a 'territory' for possible future nesting. That
is why those loons have been suspect for nesting over the past year.

Eric has even gotten to the stage at other lakes of trying to remove some
of the floating nesting platforms to see if the loons will adapt and nest
naturally.  I have not heard the results of that new project yet, but
judging by the determination of other loons it would seem they will now
be more likely to adapt.  The nesting platforms were needed to encourage
nesting but now I think our population increase has helped to encourage
their natural nesting instincts.

Have a wonderful Father's DAy!!

Blessings, Evelyn

Interesting stuff.