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Borrego Springs, CA

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Tales of the wild, and a wild tale

Rachel and I continued our journey yesterday afternoon on the Teacracker and River Road Trails.  Part of the Teacracker Trail is in one of my breeding bird survey blocks, so we were able to add the presence of a red-shouldered hawk to the list, and a confirmation of breeding Canada geese as we saw a pair of proud parents with their recently hatched goslings.

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As we continued down Teacracker, outside of my survey block, we came upon a massive beaver dam.  Can you imagine the amount of work it took these busy beavers to build this?

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We got out of the truck to investigate it further on foot, and found one of their runways for transporting logs to the other side of the levy.

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That’s where their enormous lodge was located.  Sorry to say, we didn’t get to see any of the beavers themselves, but I’m sure they knew we were skulking around.  I think it was along this stretch of the trail that we became aware of the recent hatch of deer flies.  They were swarming the truck.  Annoyed

We also visited a couple of the historic Native American sites located on the refuge, but I’m going to save that information for a rainy day.  It deserves a post of its own. 

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After Teacracker, we headed along the River Road Trail.  Quite a ways in we encountered a parked car.  That piqued our interest since it was a privately owned vehicle, not a refuge vehicle, didn’t have Chippewa Nation license plates (the Chippewa are allowed to do leaching at this time of year), and this is a locked, gated, sanctuary part of the refuge with no public access allowed.  A little further down the trail this apparition appeared popping out of the woods.

It turned out to be Donna Dustin and her bird dog, Annie.  She is a local person that is working on the ongoing woodcock studies.  That’s why she has that big net, her dog, and all kinds of banding paraphernalia crammed into the pockets of her vest.  Also notice that she is properly dressed for traipsing through the tick infested woods.  I seem to meet the most interesting people in the most unusual places.

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After chatting for a bit, I asked if we could accompany her and Annie for a while.  We headed off into the bush with Donna and Annie leading the way.  Sure wish I had brought my walking stick along.

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Here’s what they do.  Annie has a radio receiver and bell on her collar, and has been trained to sniff out woodcock nests.  She courses through the woods hunting for them, and when she finds one, she stops and her bell stops ringing.  Donna then bushwhacks to her location.  She is hoping to catch and band the young woodcocks.  That’s why she has that big net along.  Sometimes she has to pluck them out of the sky if they take off or cover them with the net if they can begin to run away.  Of course after banding and taking down needed measurements, she releases them back into the wild.  She has banded 91 young woodcock so far this season.

After some time, I decided it would be best for me to start heading back to the truck.  Rachel opted to continue on and complete the big loop back.  That was fine with me.  I know my limits, and I didn’t want to go past my abilities.  Being directionally challenged, I was glad I was able to retrace the trampled path we had made through the bush over hill and dale.  By the time I got back, the sun had come out and I was sweating bullets in my sweatshirt, but it was better than being eaten alive by the mosquitoes and deer flies.  Anyone want to guess how many ticks I pulled off when I got back to the truck?  You’ll need more than your fingers and toes to count them.  Surprised smile

After Rachel returned, we headed off for our last scheduled stop of the day.  We wanted to check on the chestnut-sided warbler nest that we found the other day.

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As a little refresher for you non bird nerds, here is what the female looks like.  Slight chestnut streaking on the flanks, a small pointy bill, and the top of her head is yellow.

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Can you find her yellow top knot, white eye stripe, and big black eye in the upper center above?  She’s sitting on four eggs in her nest.  See how well that nest is hidden about chest high in a dense shrub?

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She got a little nervous as we approached and flew off the nest, so I quickly took a picture of the little white eggs with brown mottling on one end, and got the heck out of there.  Rachel got a better picture of the eggs, and none of them were from the parasitic cowbird.  That is good news.

I know this post is extremely long for me already, but I just have to tell you my wild tale of what happened late last night.  Picture this… It’s about 11:00, and I’ve had my evening shower to scrub off any remaining ticks and bug spray, and I’m smelling marvelous after using my Jean Nate after bath splash.  I throw on a pair of sweatpants, a sweatshirt and my Crocs to take Emma for her last outs.  I flip the outside light switch on, and we descend the stairs.  Emma quickly does her business, and I notice that I have forgotten to put away the bird feeders for the night.  We head over for the pole, and as I’m about to reach up and grab a feeder in my hand, I see a pair of beady eyes and a black mask out of the corner of my eye.

Sorry to say, in mid-grab Emma also notices the bandit.  She lunges toward it catching me off balance.  She is strong enough to pull a loaded sled through the snow pack, and my Crocs act like skis on the dew heavy grass.  She is off downhill after the retreating raccoon, and I am tethered to her by way of the leash.  I stumble and do a header face first partially down the hill coming to rest just before a fallen dead tree.  I’m in a bit of a shock over this.  After a moment, I get to my hands and knees and crawl back up the slippery slope.  I don’t trust myself standing on my feet just yet.  Emma gives up on the coon and comes back and gives me a look that says, “What are you doing crawling around on the ground like that?”

I stagger back to the chair on my patio, sit down, and try to begin to collect my thoughts.  It’s at times like this that I wish Emma lived somewhere else.  In a few moments I have to chuckle about what a sight I must have been sliding down that hill.  There are grass stains all down the front of my sweatshirt and pants.  That’s when I realize that I no longer have my glasses on my face.  Oh no!  They must have flown off when I hit the ground.  I decide to find them in the morning when it is light out.  We go back inside.  Emma is happy about the little adventure, and I’m dreading making another tick check after the slide through the tall grasses.  It took me some time before I could calm down enough to go to sleep.

I found the glasses this morning, put them on and discovered that one of the lenses had popped out upon impact.  So there I was back down on my knees searching the long grass with one eye closed.  Uf duh!  I’ve been a little stiff today, but there were no bruises or contusions.  I found the lens eventually, and headed off to Wal-Mart this afternoon to get the glasses fixed.  All’s well that ends well, I guess.

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                                                         THE END!! – My path of destruction.  Sad smile

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

40 comments:

  1. I know it isn't funny, Judy, but your description of your little "adventure" made me laugh out loud. Uf-Dah, indeed!! That could have ended badly so I'm glad you weren't majorly hurt. As for the tick count...all I can say is UGGGGH! I hate ticks and just wouldn't have the perseverance to live in such close proximity to them.

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  2. I'm glad you weren't hurt. You need to teach Emma the command of STOP.

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  3. Well, that was quite an adventurous day! Sure glad you weren't hurt other than your pride. You sure do tell a great tale, sorry to say but I was chuckling as I was reading it, I was trying to picture all this happening and what a sight it must have been. As I said before, I am glad that you are, ok.

    Ruth
    www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

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  4. Oh my goodness what a close call. So glad things turned out OK all around for you. Sure glad you could laugh at it even before you found your glasses. Is Emma seriously in the dog house?

    I think I need Donna to give David a lesson in tick clothing.

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  5. Glad you were not hurt ....I just couldn't do those ticks...I think I have seen one tick in my life and it wasn't on me!

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  6. Thank goodness you're o.k. My brother had a similar incident with his dog last winter and just had a second surgery on his hand to fix the tendon pulled. Maybe Millie needs to give Emma a few lessons on being completely oblivious to any wild animals in her yard (the rabbits don't even bother to run anymore when she comes out!).

    Sorry you continue to be such a "tick magnet"-- do you think the little buggers like the scent of Jean Nate'? Wonder if Old Spice would drive 'em away? If that doesn't work-- do you think Frontline works on humans???!!!

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  7. Glad you weren't hurt and that you almost didn't break your glasses.

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  8. Oh my. Glad you we not injured. Hope your hip is Ok after such a fall.

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  9. Your description and saying Emma needs to live somewhere else made me laugh. Glad you weren't hurt. I have taken a couple of headers over our cats and sometimes think they need to live somewhere else.

    I'm glad we don't have ticks where I live. In 38 years I have found one tick on the dog. Fleas and fire ants are another story.

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  10. Your misfortune gave me a chuckle... sorry, but very glad you were not injured!!!

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  11. You are so lucky you weren't hurt. I know how you felt. I had my son's German Shepherd on a leash wrapped around my wrist when he saw a cat and caught me off guard. He took off and I went flat on the concrete walkway and was drug head and shoulders into a bush. Made a big hole. So embarrassing! I heard a couple of people laughing before they came to my aid. My head just missed a light pole. :(

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  12. Life on the road is never dull. Glad you are okay and the only injury was to yoru pride, albeit briefly.

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  13. I still have scars on both legs caused by Lady and Mandy circling around me and then trying to run after a couple of aggressive dogs. I fell on the pavement and my shins look horrible even to this day. I know you can search everywhere on your body for ticks, but what about your hair. When I backpacked in tick season I wore a bandana tied around my head, but it didn't always cover 100% of my hair. I never did get any, and the Frontline I used on Smoky kept them from attaching to his skin but a lot of them got caught up in his fur and eventually died there. Yuk! I know there is a reason for everything in nature, but what is the reason we have ticks.

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  14. good grief, Judy! I mean it's funny but ... crocs as skis? haha? glad you weren't hurt... ticks and dragged by Emma and deer flies and ... well? you're actually enjoying this... man oh man

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  15. Happy to know you are not hurt badly.

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  16. It is hard to believe you found your glasses let alone the lens that popped out. I have a hard time finding my glasses in the house. I, too, and glad you weren't hurt.

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  17. I know it wasn't funny and I shouldn't laugh, but it sure made me chuckle reading about it. Glad you weren't hurt and it ended well.

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  18. I think all those ticks would creep me out. I'm sure you must check Emma on a regular basis?
    I think Emma and I would have to "come to terms", but I've been a bit of an alpha when it comes to pets.
    Glad you weren't hurt.

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  19. Not funny ... so blame your hilarious way of telling the story for the laughter issuing forth here at the Phaeton. Kidding aside, glad to hear there was no serious damage from this escapade.

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  20. When describing Minnesota to people, I tell them that it is still very much a wild place, as in untamed by mankind, over-building, etc. I think you've summed it up quite well with your post!

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  21. Oh my word, you sure do have interesting days for being out in the middle of nowhere!!! I'm so glad that the worst thing that happened was your glasses. That could have been awful!! I hope you're not too bruised today!!! Jean Nat~~~ Walgreens is the only place I can find it anymore. My favorite. Wonder how many youngen's even know what that might be!!!

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  22. OH, dear! I too have a scar on my hand from just such a dog/people encounter, my Airedale pulled me down an asphalt path. Maybe that's why I graduated to a smaller dog??? Are you ever on the Pinterest website Judy--there have been several homemade remedies for tick repellent lately--don't know if they work or not???

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  23. oh dear. . .you do have quite a way with words. . .glad you are okay. . .I know it's not funny. . .but ROFL!

    Janice
    ReadyToGoFullTimeRVing Blog
    FaceBook.com/ReadyToGoFullTimeRVing

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  24. Judy, I feel for you and those darn ticks! Have you tried cedar oil to help repel them?
    Here's the link: http://www.cedarsiders.com/catalog/item/8592800/9473650.htm
    I used it on Raider and now on Molly, I've seen it work! I had just sprayed a light mist and watched a tick walk off his coat like he was drunk. By the time it hit the ground he was dead!
    Safe for people and pets. I just bought a big quart for Molly. Controls Fleas, Ticks, Ear Mites, Lice.
    Scary incident with the dragging down the hill! I hope it hasn't messed up your surgery!
    Kathy

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  25. "Belly surfing" thru tall, wet grass needs to be left to "young'uns" Judy. :-) Glad you only were a bit stiff and sore afterwards.

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  26. Judy, u have the best gift of gab to tell about what could have been a bad accident and have us all chuckling! So thankful that ur only sore and nothing more. U lead such an interesting life-so glad we got the opportunity to meet and visit with u and Emma. I know she didn't mean to hurt u, just following her natural instinct but it sure could have been worse. Thx for all the beautiful pics u post. I especially enjoyed ur post about the dragonflies. It's great that all turned out well for u and that u were able to find the funny side and share it with us. Take care friend.

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  27. So glad you are OK. Good story though maybe you could use those Crocs and Emma to invent a new sport.
    Grass sledding.

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  28. Only you, Judy, could have such an adventure, sledding through the grass. Glad it ended with everything intact (more or less). Thank goodness it was a raccoon Emma was chasing and not a bear. Then ticks would have been the least of your problems! :cO

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  29. Yikes...Judy...glad you are ok..
    but that sure sounded a little
    scary to say the least....

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  30. I hear ye Judy, sometimes I'm ready to hand off Sadie or Merlin to the first person who wants them too!
    Loved the sledding story, like verybody else, just hope the hip is OK.

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  31. Dover and Wrecks pulled me across the front yard before we started RVing full time..They saw a deer. Tore my shoulder all up...took months to heal!

    Thats so neat about Annie and Donna tagging the woodcocks

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  32. I had Riggins pull me across a parking lot one time, my hand got tangled in the lead and I wound up with a broken finger. Sam saw what was happening and planted himself and I ran full bore into him like he was a football dummy. thank goodness he is so sturdy. I almost tied Riggs to a post with a sign, I am homeless please feed me. The things we put up with for our furkids.

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  33. Glad to hear you are okay after your fall. It's good it didn't happen closer to your hip surgery.

    I hope you leave there without Lyme Disease. I don't think I'd want to be in an area with so many ticks. They seem to love Al, but I've never had one on me....fortunately.

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  34. Glad you're okay... kind of a scary thing to happen. If I lost my glasses in the weeds I'd never be able to see to find them! Donna and Annie sound like a great pair to meet out in the wild... what fun!

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  35. It is time for a quick release on Emma's lease:(

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  36. Glad you're OK....sorry for sort of laughing as I read. The beaver dam is amazing! So are the birds.

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  37. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, for sure! You live an interesting life, Judy! :)

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  38. I missed this post yesterday...thank goodness you are OK!!!!!!

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