Rode my bicycle to work today to get at least a few miles in before the 50-60 mile days of next week. The ground in the park is parched despite some rain on Monday and the poplars are dropping their leaves. I saw Mom duck and 3 ducklings crossing the road to the zoo; a kingfisher chattering his way up the river; a song sparrow sitting in the morning sun in the tall grass next to the martin house, singing his beautiful morning song; the martins were in their house, minding young, I imagine.