30 Jun (Sun) ◦◦◦◦◦ Walked out to catch the horses. Walking past the sandpiper nest I noted that the egg-sitter didn’t take flight. (With spotted sandpipers, ♂s do most of the nest sitting.) Figgered he/she was out getting a bite to eat. Grabbed my guys—easy as of late; with all the good Piute hay at their feet, they just stand there looking at me vacantly as the halter goes on—and stopped on the way back to check the nest. Again, no adult to be seen. Only two eggs left. The nest had been abandoned. I was momentarily overcome by that old “sinking feeling”—in this case, a sweeping sense of pervasive small-scale tragedy and loss. I was really looking forward to watching those ‘piperlings grow up right here in my front yard where I could keep an eye on them. But, assuming both adults are still alive, I expect they’d try to raise another brood. It’s not too late to start over. ◦◦◦◦◦ Saddling Red, got to see something new and totally unexpected. Got a real kick out of this one—horses do the darndest things!—but, as anecdote, it probably falls in the category of “youda-hadda-been-there”: those events where you have to be there in person to fully appreciate whatever it is. ◦◦◦◦◦ Those jumbo-sized “greenhead” horseflies (aka Darth Vaderflies) are bad right now. They drive the equines bananas. During peak greenhead season, the poor things never rest easy while the sun’s up—tails always swishing, muscles twitching…heads toss and dip continually in a futile effort to oust the tiny monsters from their chests, legs, flanks. I feel sorry for them. ◦◦◦◦◦ So I’m at the hitchrail cinching up Red’s saddle, finishing up the latigo. A big ol’ nasty ol’ greenhead lights on Red’s near shoulder, a foot from my face. Red’s head whips around—like lightning!—and he snaps the thing up with some deft lip action. I watch as he stands there placidly munching away on his tormentor, with obvious relish, then swallowing with a pronounced Gulp! By the look on his face (I swear, there was a hint of smugness in there) he seemed to enjoy his little treat. Revenge is sweet….
©2023 Tim Forsell 2 Jan 2023
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