[Magdalen] wildlife and not-so-wildlife report

[Jay Weigel]

Hawk migration is in full flight currently, and S/O reported seeing 6 of
them in our yard this morning, some of them quite big. I am really sorry to
have missed them! They seem to overnight in the wooded area behind our
house. We are also hearing owls calling one another back there at night, so
 it appears to be courtin' time for them. Now that the leaves have mostly
fallen we can see the deer as they make their trek back and forth down the
hill. There seems to be lots to eat as they look very well-nourished this
fall.

Yesterday S/O was standing at the kitchen sink and called to me, "I think
Cat the Younger has caught something out there." I joined him to look out
and it soon became apparent to me that the black and white Rodent Control
Officer, the one I call Deputy, was simply having a wonderful time playing
in the leaves, rolling in them and kicking them up into the air. He's a big
cat, I think quite likely the son or brother of the one who took up
temporary residence with us last summer, who he greatly resembles except
for being black and white instead of gray and white. He's also a good deal
less approachable, but yesterday he was just like a kitten, playing in
those leaves in the sunshine for about ten minutes. Such a joy to watch!