July 15th Raindance (Monday)

I met Mrs. S at Bookman's where I found a nice book on birds of Alaska.   That would be a nice trip indeed if I ever make it there.   Mrs. S found a rain stick made of cholla, which apparently works.  She shook it in the store and when she brought it to the register it was pouring outside.   The rain didn't make it to our eastern neighborhood, though threatened throughout our late afternoon walk as it attempted to pull it's dark gray shade over the afternoon sun. 

Our excursion was rewarding, though, and Kino did some nice "laps," in the grassy area.  As I watched the Purple Martins over the pond it seemed with every communal dive to the water's surface more birds were in the flock, until at least 30 individuals could be seen over the watery surface.  I'm still puzzled as to their nightly roost, though, and hope the mystery will be solved before summer departs. 
A couple Northern Rough-winged Swallows were on schedule as they hovered within feet of Kino and myself, almost as if greeting us as friends, meeting nightly on their walk/flight through the neighborhood.   Just before dark a Tropical Kingbird called, and a few Lesser Nighthawks flew above us in undulating flight, the light crescents in their narrow wings easily visible to our naked eye.  

The humidity was closing in and the storm seemed close, yet I still only saw falling rain visible in the foothills.  Kino and I saluted another sunset over the lake, happy for each other's company.  
After returning home I feared the storm would fade as others had these past few days, so I took the rain stick and gave it a shake toward the heavens.   The sky gave a low rumble, and lightning danced through the clouds, encouraging them to release their heavy burden on the parched desert landscape.  Three hours later the battle continues, and I am still hopeful the scales are tipped in favor of a rainstorm during the night. 
Thank you for appreciating the natural beauty of our earthly inhabitants, and the ever changing earthly forces which shape this living planet, whose worldly power and influence can humble presidents and kings alike.