Even though we have received 1.12 inches of rain this week, the ground is still cracked but not as much.  A soil moisture content meter was reading 17% before the rain and today, it is reading 21%.  After a rain, the readings are around 30%.  Some of the grasses have revived a little.  They have not recovered.  The cooler weather is preventing evaporation at a faster rate.

Other than the grasses, it is difficult to find a natural indicator of ground level moisture content.  The Forsythia leaves are my normal indicator but we have watered it to keep it from drying our and dying.

The birds are enjoying the use of our bird baths.  We still have hummingbirds visit our one feeder but the other feeder has no indications of any activity.  Among the new visitors have been a Rose-Breasted Grosbeck, Catbird and Tufted Titmouse.  We have spotted Bluebird parents feeding their recently fledged chicks.