It seems it’s been five days since I last posted something to this blog. Been a long time since I took that many days off, but there just hasn’t been much going on around here. After my visitors left on Sunday, it wasn’t long before the cold rains began and continued again for two whole days.
Stephanie, the volunteer coordinator, was on vacation all week and hadn’t left me any assignments to work on. So, I really had nothing to do but kick back and relax. I took care of normal chores and such, but that gets old for me after a while.
An Anhinga drying its feathers in the sun.
I hadn’t even set up the Hard Rock Bird Café since I arrived. With my history of mice getting in the rig when I volunteer here, I decided not to put up the bird feeders. This location is pretty much surrounded by cement, so I thought maybe I could spend the winter mouse-less. Ha! No one out at the volunteer village has had any mice yet, but I’ve already dispatched with two of them. The sudden cold front must have sent them looking for warmth. So, what the heck. I put the feeders up this week. Haven’t seen one bird yet, so no seed is dropping on the ground to attract rodents.
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Merlin
I did spend yesterday afternoon over at the volunteer village having a delicious Thanksgiving turkey dinner. While five of the volunteers were off visiting friends and relatives for the holiday, two of the couples and I shared dinner together.
White Pelican
After another very frosty beginning to the day, the sun came out bright and shiny. I waited for the car windshield to defrost, and then Emma and I took a drive around the refuge. It was pretty busy since lots of people have a four day weekend. No way I was going to battle any crowds at stores today. Instead, we enjoyed a leisurely drive visiting my avian friends.
Northern Shoveler (male)
I’ve got two more days off before any staff returns, and I’m not quite sure what I’ll do with myself. I’m just not used to sitting around doing nothing, and I’d rather not do any touring on a holiday weekend. I’ll think of something.
THE END!!
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
Posts
Good post Judy...It is always better to spend time with your avian friends than to go shopping on Black Friday!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays! Well, your descent into boredom is our bounty. That photo of the Shoveler is stunning.
ReplyDeleteUh oh! You have nothing to do??? I hope we don't see the results of that "Idle Hands, Devil's Workshop" thing...
ReplyDeletefrom my perspective time on your hands can get very boring...i'm thinking of going back to work...
ReplyDeletehave you been folllowing kevin and ruth...they have birds they need identified
Here is something that will keep you busy but it will cost you. Go to any hardware or big box store and buy at least two Victor Sonic Pest Chasers. One for in your living area and the other for the rigs's basement. Karen Pfundter reported seeing rodents heading towards her home and stop twenty feet away only to hightail it in the opposite direction. They also don't bother dogs or cats. Be Safe and Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteIt's about time.
Sounds like a very nice Thanksgiving weekend! Happy holidays to you and Emma!
ReplyDeleteI just love your bird photos - especially the Northern Shoveler. So if you are bored just drive around taking pictures. (I had to go back to check the name of the bird - almost called it a Northern Shufflerr, but that didn't sound right.)
ReplyDeleteI do agree...the Northern Shoveler is quite handsome...beautiful spot of green!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time...and yes, take lots of pictures!
For not doing much, you sure captures some lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a nice quiet Thanksgiving. I think we all have so much to be thankful for!
The bird photos are beautiful. We have fought off the mice and none for two or three weeks. But, when we cleaned the fiber out of the basement, John found a decomposed, hard mouse there too. Hopefully, you will be mouse free too.
ReplyDeleteWhy do the cormorants dry their wings? I have seen many cormorants doing this but I can't recall seeing others birds exhibiting this behavior.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's good to do nothing even if you don't think so! Our bodies need a slow down every so often :)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about doing nothing. That's us for the past 5 days and why I could get the blog all caught up as you noticed. You have some mighty fine photos for someone with nothing to do.!! Sitting still for a time brings the mice out for sure. I'm really surprised no one in the volunteer village has any. Maybe you could have a movie party and go over there and bring them some.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather spend time with the birds than go shopping on Black Friday any year!!
ReplyDeleteToo bad Emma can't keep those mice away!
ReplyDeleteBeing kind of a "loner" I love those times that I have totally to myself.... Bill loves "projects" and if he isn't assigned any, he finds things that need done... to me, a day just checking out the birds, or whatever is pure bliss. While it looks like you're happiest being "busy", I wouldn't be surprised if you get some really great photos during the "down" time. That shoveler is great!
ReplyDeleteNice bird photos & I figure any quiet time in nature has to be better any day than hanging around with herds of stampeding people at crazy shopping malls, etc..............
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures the birds are lovely.
ReplyDeleteEven when you're doing nothing, you still have the best pictures to post. Maybe you should take up carving. Definitely no shopping at our house.
ReplyDeleteMaybe your rig is just a mouse magnet!
ReplyDeleteHave those plug-ins throughout the rig and the office. No mice actually inside the rig, but they get in the basement, even with a plug-in there. Tried the usual remedies. What worked was an Altoid min on a sticky tray, which was my last resort. Mice had stolen the Altoid off the snap trap. I hate sticky trays, but it was us or them, and since they liked the Altoids . . . well, it worked like a charm! Hope you don't hold a family reunion for the wee mousies this year! Wonderful photos of your feathered friends, as always!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving. I think I'd rather not have much to do than have too much to do. But then, I'm lazy.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving. We put sticky mouse traps in all our bays, just in case. We were worried this year as we are spending so much time in cold weather in a large grassy area. Leaving for FL on Monday and an hoping none are hitching a ride.
ReplyDeleteNothing to do for a few days is fine. More than that and it's dangerous. (ex: checking out the local RV dealer and buying...)
ReplyDeleteSounds good to me, I love having nothing to do. Or at least nothing I HAVE to do. Whenever I see photos like your last one, I think of Olympic divers. They have the same perfect posture and straight legs, toes pointed, etc.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your mice. Trust me, I feel for you! So far I'm doing okay in that regard, except I did notice yesterday "someone" chewed off the corner of my Generator door's insulation. So they are definitely nearby. I'm gearing up for more intrusions and keeping my fingers crossed that they stay OUTSIDE. Mice are such a challenge for me, but I know people who never have mice. Go figure. :)
Great pictures! Love the Merlin. We don't get to see enough of those guys.
ReplyDeleteI think that your Cormorant might actually be an Anhinga, but they both like to dry their wings that way!!
Frost! Sounds cold to me. Where is the sunshine and warmth? I hope it finds you soon:)
ReplyDeleteI especially like the merlin!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures as usual, looks like you did do something
ReplyDelete