Cooling down

A gentle rain fell overnight, bringing welcome relief to the lawn, which much prefers natural precipitation. The wellpoint is still providing us with adequate water to keep roughly 800sq m of garden in good shape, but somehow the rain gives an extra boost. One of my proteas has decided to die on me - these plants are terribly temperamental and I think this one didn't like the guinea fowl scratching around its roots every day when it came for a sand bath.
There have been fewer guinea fowl around over the last few years, mainly due to the predation of crows. I have had three as regular visitors for the last year, but suddenly the flock has grown to thirteen with three teenagers - perhaps they have decided that there is safety in numbers. When we first moved to Kommetjie, flocks of around forty dashed about manically all over the village, but no more. They are very amusing and pretty to watch, but can be so destructive in the garden. They scratch out seedlings, kill sensitive proteas(!) and peck away at the vegetables. And as for the cackling noise they make when they roost! I think their only rivals for decibels are the hadedahs.
There seems to be a lull in birdlife this week. Either the cats have chased them away, or the feeding frenzy of summer has come to an end, but the Cape white eyes, sunbirds and little flock of grey-headed sparrows have been missing for the last few days. Even the fiscal flycatcher that I photograph nearly every day in the gum tree has gone. I hope this is temporary, as the garden has become very quiet without their activity among the shrubbery.
The sun is still in bed when I get up now, and autumn is on its way, but we will still be caught out by some scorchers before summer is finally gone. In the meantime, we are grateful for nature's ever-changing face, which makes every day a fresh start.