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Borrego Springs, CA

Friday, October 12, 2012

A shopping day and some of my wild friends say adios!

I think I mentioned before that one of the perks of being a volunteer at these two refuges is that you get one day while you are here to buy what ever you want from the nature store with a 40% discount.  Since there are two visitors centers, if you work both of them, you get one shopping day at each place.  In August I used my day at the Gateway VC to get lots of Suzanne Tate books for my grandgirls. 

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Today was my turn to indulge in buying a few things for myself at the Pea Island VC.  With a 40% discount, I splurged on that Smithsonian book on National Wildlife Refuges.  I seldom buy big hard cover books any more because of the weight and storage issues, but this one is a real beauty, and I can’t wait to read the narrative and drool over the wonderful images.  Of course, I had to throw in a few tee shirts, a puzzle, and pins.  I’m a sucker for tie dyed shirts.  In love

On my way back home, I stopped at the Alligator River maintenance area to trade my little car for a refuge vehicle to drive to work tomorrow morning out at the Pea Island VC.  That will save me about a half hours time in the morning, and I won’t have the hassle of dealing with the locked gates on the weekend.

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I drove Sawyer Lake road home, and came upon a turkey vulture resting in a big old dead tree.  They normally fly right off upon approach, but this one didn’t.

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                                                                     “Goodbye, Judy Bell!” 

I choose to think it wanted to bid me farewell.  I said, “Thanks for posing”, and continued down the road.

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Remember when I took this picture on the first of August of this mama bear and her three little ones?  I was thinking lately that I wouldn’t see them again before I left, but of course I was wrong.

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Here they were this afternoon in just about the same place I found them a couple of months ago.  Only this time, I was heading west in the afternoon and straight into the sun.  I was happy to get the detail I did shooting right into the sun.

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As usual, mom decided to take her brood and head for cover.  Those little ones sure have grown a lot in the past ten weeks.  They’ll stay with her for about 18 months all together before she gives them the boot. 

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She paused briefly to look my way before heading into the brush.  “Adios amigo!”  Thanks for giving me one last look at your family.

Tomorrow’s my last day of work, and I’m hoping to meet some other bloggers that are in the area.  I’ll let you know if that works out. 

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                                                                              THE END!!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

30 comments:

  1. WOW...how those little ones have grown. They are still so adorable!

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  2. Congrats on another successful stint! You could probably write that book on the Wildlife Refuges.

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  3. Glad you were able to get one last look at mama and her babies.

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  4. Oh that book looks fabulous. I would make room for it too. Maybe Santa would consider bringing it to me. Without your 40% discount it's the only way I'll get it.

    I am just the most exquisite shade of green over your encounters with the bear family. What a wonderful life you have.

    Where next? Have I forgotten??

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  5. OMG..... how adorable, you are really blessed to see them 10 weeks ago and then again now, my how they have grown.

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  6. I thought mama bear looked a little 'thin' do they 'breast feed' the whole time they are with her? As for the tye-dyed shirts, i also have an on-going collection, think it must be our mis-spent youth, don't you think???

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  7. Looks like the little bear that was the runt is catching up in size and weight to its siblings...that's good to see, especially with old man Winter coming on before long.

    Cat Lady

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  8. How neat to see them again, and to see how they have grown. I guess without a car, that NWR is out of the question for me, how would I get to the area to get one of the trucks. I don't think walking or riding a bike in that area, near the bears, is a good idea. Where's Daddy bear?

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  9. I'm amazed at how big they've gotten. They are so cute and I'm so glad you got to see them again. I have tried several times to get a picture of a turkey vulture and I cannot get them to sit still long enough. He definitely must have been saying good bye to you.

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  10. You're a sucker for tie dyed shirts? Tsk, tsk! You're sharing information about your wild and mis-spent youth... ;c)

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  11. Have a wonderful "last day". Hope you enjoyed the NC coast. Safe travels as you leave.

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  12. Amazing how fast those 3 little cubs have grown! Must have been so wonderful to get to see them again before you leave. Looks like you got some great new VC gift shop goodies-- the NWR book looks terrific! This sure seems like it's been a wonderful place for you to see lots of wildlife this summer. I had no idea there were so many bears on the NC shore-- thanks for educating me and sharing your great photos!

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  13. Wow,those babies sure are growing.

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  14. those 'triplets' have sure grown since the first time you shared your photos with us!

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  15. It was nice that the vulture remembered your name. Nice open-beak shot!

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  16. I think you see more wildlife in one summer than most people see in a lifetime. Great pics.

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  17. I'm so glad you got to see the baby bears again. I've sure enjoyed your stay there....can't wait to see what's next.

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  18. WOW!! Judy you have to be the luckiest photographer around--those shots are just too cool or as you would say, cool beans!!!

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  19. I've sure enjoyed your stint at these refuges... especially the photos of the bears. I'm already looking forward to your next refuge adventure.

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  20. Oh I just love seeing that family of bears..I could name them all..but from a distance..haha..just loving God's Critters..Enjoyed your photos..and safe journey..God Bless
    Zeee and Critters 3

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  21. Looks like the critters are coming out to say goodbye!

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  22. Great to be able to see the bears again before you left. I think this has been an imazing workamp experience for me. And you of coures.

    Great buys love tye-dyed shirts too. Love the colors and the book looks wonderful.

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  23. Great photos of those bears - I'm glad you were in your car and not out for a walk.

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  24. OH my have they ever grown! It's lucky that you saw them again, usually they duck and cover pretty good.

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  25. Love the T-shirt (but I'm partial to river otters). Nice that Mama Bear let you see her three cubs one last time. Glad they have all survived.

    I hope you enjoy the Okefenokee as much as I do. I haven't been there since the last couples of burns, but the western side of the swamp had areas of towering cypress that were quite cathedral-like. I have paddled through them many times, one time accompanied by a river otter. I hope they made it through all right.

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  26. Nice to follow those cubs as they got older.

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  27. What a great sendoff from "The Locals"!!

    Safe travels.

    Mark

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  28. Great send off ... you have some great memories of your time in the OBX.

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  29. What wonderful good-byes, I love the turkey vulture photos, especially the third one. And the bears - aren't you glad you got to see them one more time? Drive safely to the next destination. :)

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