These persistent days of searing sun, arid humidity, and bone dry soils 
means lots of watering of perennial flower beds at our house in the 
driest part of the Champlain Valley.

Of late, when I use a mist-spray waterer in the gardens, in the heat of 
the day numerous birds have been congregating in the mist.  Some just 
sit on the ground in the mist, others on branches.  Chipping and Song 
Sparrows spend time on shrub branches constantly fluffing their soaked 
feathers, flapping their wings, and preening as they might in a puddle 
bathing.   The Hummingbirds fly through the mist, and also sit on wet 
twigs appearing to drink from droplets.  Downy Woodpeckers just park on 
the bark of a tree, soaking.

So far these species have regularly availed themselves of the mist 
sprinkler:

American Robin
Eastern Wood Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Downy Woodpecker
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Sparrow

Ian
Southern end of Snake Mountain, Cornwall