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Borrego Springs, CA

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Back to the birds, and a goodbye

Time to drive the refuge roads and do trash detail again this afternoon.  Yesterday I went on a drive to specifically see birds and got skunked.  Today, I went to look for trash and found birds galore.  Go figure.

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Before I left, I watched an interesting way to plant a field.  The other day, a tractor came by the field next to the RV pads and mowed and disked the area.  Today, staff was out there planting.  Two guys shoveled seed while one guy blew it off of the trailer with a leaf blower while the truck slowly drove along.  Then a tractor came by with huge rollers to flatten the seed into the ground.  I’ve never seen this kind of planting before.

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                      Found one of the gazillion Savannah sparrows that inhabit the refuge in the winter.

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           I then came across a meeting of egret minds.  What do you imagine they were discussing?

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In a rice field along the entrance road, about six thousands snow geese were working the harvested field.

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In amongst the snow geese where several Ross’s geese.  They kind of look like miniature snow geese.  There are two in this picture.  One smack dab in the middle of the pic behind a snow goose, and another about three feet in front.

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Then I finally found my first alligator of the year.  With the drought, they’ve been harder to find this year.  I’m posting this pic especially for DONNA  of Cave Dwelling fame.  This will be a safe way for her to see one.Party smile

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While the gator lay there sunning, several white ibis and great egrets flew into the wet area.

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Don’t think I’d be feeding this close to a ten foot alligator.  I was hoping to get an action shot of the gator procuring dinner, but nothing ever happened.

Late this afternoon, I read that my friend PIDGE has decided to come off of the road with her husband.  She has been experiencing medical issues and now has her truck and fifth wheel up for sale.  She has also decided to quit blogging.  I’ll miss reading her Frugal Traveler posts.  Best wishes Pidge!  I know that’s a decision all of us RVers will have to make at some time, but I can’t stop feeling that the decision came sooner than she wished. 

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

24 comments:

  1. It seems to happen sooner than we all wish but that's life!

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  2. What beautiful pictures. Have you always been a bird lover or is this something that happened after you started volunteering? And how did you learn to identify all of those birds? I'm glad the alligator decided to skip dinner tonight!

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  3. Growing up in the Midwest I'll have to say that is a unique way of laying down the seed. Love the pictures as always.

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  4. Interesting way of planting. Great shots, too bad you didn't get a chance to see the alligator eat a meal. Maybe next time. Have a great tomorrow!

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  5. Very interesting seed planting method. Any idea what they were planting?? Poor alligator with so little water. Lucky you to be there and take the great pictures to share with lucky me.

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  6. Beautiful pictures... love the Egret minds... HAhaaa... glad you didn't get the gator catching one of those beautiful birds!

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  7. Guess when you don't have the proper planting equipment you improvise....LOL The part with the leaf blower shows imagination, don't you think?

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  8. Judy, great pictures. I have a video I took in a Montana preserve. There was a flock of pelicans that flew in perfect sync--beautiful site...and who knew we'd find pelicans in Montana?

    How's your back?

    How's the mouse? Smooches to Emma

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  9. Take a tomato juice bath, it'll help you get "De-skunked"... ;c)

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  10. you need to do more trash hunting when you want to see birds eh?

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  11. Gorgeous blog, Judy. Love the grass seed dispersal technique. And I just shared your goose pics with my housemate guys. Here we have only a couple of blues/1000 whites. There it is 25 - 30%.

    But we have lots of Ross geese. I can finally tell them apart because I get daily practice.

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  12. What no mouse update? Birds are better anyway.

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  13. Good to see bird pictures , I was very sorry to read Pidge's blog today. She was one of the first blogs I found

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  14. I read Pidge's blog and will miss her too. I wish her better health soon.
    Great pictures of the guys seeding I have never seen it done that way either.

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  15. the birds may have been saying?..'bird lady of blogville armed with her camera at three o'clock'..make sure she gets our good side!!'

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  16. Personally, I'm glad you didn't get to see the gator get a meal!

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  17. Great photos ~ Glad your enjoying your time there!!!
    Have fun & Travel safe
    Donna

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  18. How do you tell the difference between an egret and an ibis?
    possibly gator has become vegan like so many

    dont know why but when I try to post w/ google account, tells me I dont have permission
    Donna W, of sam and donna

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  19. I did not know we had geese named for us!!! lol

    and what do you call a group of ibis?

    perhaps that is the poor mans (minus machinery) method of planting?

    loved this post! I have alligator photos from when the cathouse went missing.... guess I should share them!

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  20. I am curious too as to what they were planting.

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  21. Looks like you are having fun -- good for you. Great pics as usual!

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  22. In addition to Sue and Doug's comment " or you'll end up at the end of her blob as an "The End" picture. :)

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