And the Thunder Rolls

Remember that song by Garth Brooks?  Well, the thunder is rolling right now.  I believe that rain has been in the forecast for everyday this past week, and continues for a good share of next week.  What a difference from the drought of last year!  I must admit that I'm getting a little tired of it.  :(

When you combine that with the fact that I have been here almost three months, and have only two weeks to go; I'm really developing a case of hitch itch.  It's time to move on.  I can tell I'm ready to hit the road when my mind keeps turning to planning things in the not too distant future. 

After another successful early morning bird tour today, my mind started thinking about this summer.  All kinds of things were circling around in there.  I now know that I'll spend the month of September volunteering at Malheur NWR in Oregon.  I'll be working the Visitor's Center every weekend.  I can deal with that for a month.  They require three days a week of work, so I'll have four days each week to explore the area.  That's cool.  I'm really shying away from places that ask for more than three days/week.  I'm retired, after all.

Anyway, after my time in May at my son's house, I'll head for a private RV park outside of Yellowstone NP along with my sister and brother-in-law.  We had made reservations for ten days, but today I decided to extend my stay at the Red Rock RV Park to a month long stay.  They'll be returning to their house in Illinois, but I'm going to stay on longer to truly enjoy Yellowstone and everything else in that area of Idaho where I'll be.  I haven't planned anything beyond that....yet.  I've got plenty of time to do that.  :)  I have to get used to the fact that I'll have four months without having to "work."  The possibilities abound!

Remember yesterday when I took Karen Kilfeather and Mark, the guy from Texas Fish and Wildlife, to see the hummingbird nest?  Well, today Karen emailed me the picture she took of the nest with the two white eggs inside. They are about the size of very small jelly beans.  She plans to send me more as life advances in this mini reality show.  :)  I'll keep you posted.

I think I've rambled on enough for tonight.

Thanks for stopping by....talk to you later,  Judy

Busy, busy, busy....

What a day this has been!  I'm not sure I can remember everything that happened today, but I'll try.  :)  It started with spending a couple of hours working with a group of home-school kids; teaching them about binoculars,birds, and a birdwatching hike.  The challenge with home-school groups is that they are all ages, so the presentation has to be interesting from the youngest to the oldest.  Keeps you on your toes!

Then it was back to the rig to take Emma out, eat lunch, and head for the Russel tract to show Karen, the local volunteer who is a professional photographer, and Mark, the hummingbird expert from Texas Parks and Wildlife, the hummingbird nest.  As we approached the nest, the skies opened up and the rain began once again.  We didn't stay long since they didn't want their cameras to get too wet, and we wanted the female to return to incubate the eggs.

When I got back to the rig, I had an email from John Tharp, one of the people on yesterday's bird tour.  He had taken my advice to hike the trail at Warbler Vista to view the golden-cheeked warbler after the tour...

and sent me this great photo that he was able to take of a beautiful male.  You can see how they got their name!  (double click on any photo to enlarge)

Next thing you know, I got a phone call from Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.  If you remember, I was told last week that there were no openings there for any more volunteers this coming summer.  Well, it turns out they had a cancellation, and were wondering if I was still available for the month of September.  You betcha!  So, I guess I will be going to Oregon after all.  :)  I'm pumped about that.

A little while later, after answering several inquires about the bird tours through emails, John and Lynne came over.  John had purchased the needed clamp for the radiator hose, and wanted to get it fixed while there was a break in the rain.  As he crawled under the motorhome,  Lynne and I visited outside rehashing this year's experiences at Balcones.  While we were talking, I glanced skyward and was surprised....

This is what I saw right above my site!

Hundreds of migrating white pelicans!  They don't make any noise like geese, so you don't know they're coming.

They just kept coming and coming!  I estimated that there were 850 birds in all.  What a great sight.

John was able to get the hose fixed.  I started up the engine and ran it for about twenty minutes, and guess what?  No more leak!  What a relief that is.  I am in your debt, John....thank you!

Just as he finished, some light rain returned, so I headed inside.  I got a Skype call from my son, Andy, in Minnesota, and for the first time (on Skype) was able to see and talk to my two grandsons.  What a way to top off a fantastic day.  My daughter, Robyn, was up in Minnesota for her Army Reserves weekend, and installed it on Andy's computer.  The boys are old enough now to remember and recognize me.  Guess what their first question was....have you got any marshmallows?  I'll be sure to have plenty when I visit next month!

Thanks for stopping by....talk to you later,  Judy

Miniature home

Compared to the average home, my 29' house on wheels is puny.  Everything is relative, however.  This morning I went out to check on the miniature home of the most diminutive of my avian friends in Texas.  Under threatening skies, I drove over to the Russel tract, about 20 miles from here.

I knew there were two hummingbird nests in one of the live oak trees on the tract.

The first nest is just above center in the picture.  I was standing about 15' away from the tree and using my telephoto for this shot.

I stepped closer for this shot, but you can see that if you're just walking along, this nest would be hard to detect.

Now that's what I call natural camouflage!   Double click on this picture and you can really appreciate the workmanship of this nest.

This nest was located just above my eye level at a little over 5'.  My thumb, in the background, will give you some perspective as to it's size.  It's about 1.5" in diameter.  How's that for a miniature home?  The inside is lined with very fine grasses.  The outside is constructed of lichen and mosses and held together with cobwebs.  I believe this nest was used last year, as it is a little squashed down and weathered.

I really came here to check on the second nest in the same tree.  We saw a female hummingbird bringing nesting materials to it a week and a half ago.  I was hoping that she hadn't abandoned the nest because of the disturbance of a dozen people milling around the area.

I spotted the second nest, but didn't see any female around.  :(  After a few minutes I decided to move closer and check it out. Notice that this nest is taller looking than the old nest.  It is located about six feet above the ground.  I reached above my head and put my finger inside the nest.  It was much deeper than the old nest, and snugly fit around my finger like a glove.  I was thrilled to feel two tiny eggs with my fingertip!  :)

After that confirmation that it is an active nest, I quickly moved away.  In a few minutes the female returned, but was wary of getting back on the nest to incubate the eggs, so I gratefully left the area and headed back to the vehicle.  Never in my life did I think I would get to feel live hummingbird eggs.  Cool jelly beans!!!  And I didn't even have that on my "Bucket List."

What a hoot life is!

Thanks for stopping by....talk to you later,  Judy