Back to work

It was a pretty busy day today in the Visitor’s Center, for a weekday, but I did manage to sneak outside occasionally to see what was going on.
I’ve always felt one of the signs of fall is the congregating of the swallows on the electrical wires.  They’re done with the breeding season, and are just fueling up on all the insects to increase their fat supplies for the coming journey south for the winter. 
These birds are pretty smart.  They line up on the wires so evenly spaced, and don’t tread into others’ personal space.  A good lesson is to be learned there… :)  Here’s a bit of trivia you can use at your next boring gathering to liven things up a bit.  Put your finger in the little dip where your collar bones meet below your neck.  Do you feel that semi circle?  Well, birds have the same thing, and that’s where they store their fat for upcoming migration journeys.  Just before they’re ready to move on, that little area will just bulge with yellow fat.  That’s where they get the fuel to accomplish their amazing journeys.  I sure wish that was the only place I stored extra fat!  :)  I could just wear a scarf around my neck or something.  :)
As I went to take the picture of all of the swallows, this was the view of the marsh and surrounding mountains from the visitor’s parking lot.   The amber colors of fall with one swallow not following the crowd on the wires.  I guess he flaps to a different drummer.  :)
This fawn was skulking about the front yard underneath the crab apple tree looking for tasty morsels.  She/he is usually accompanied by its mother.  The mother has a huge hematoma growth on her leg, and I did not see her at all this morning.  A visiting veterinarian said it may just fall off, but it makes you wonder if maybe the coyotes got her.  That huge tumor like growth made it difficult for her to walk.  We all will be looking for her to show up again.

As I was busy inside with visitors, there were a couple of reports of a Calliope Hummingbird visiting the feeders today.  I’ve never seen a Calliope hummer, so out I went every chance I got with camera in hand.
The Calliope is the smallest of hummingbirds at only 3.5” in length.   I thought I had captured one in my pics, but upon editing discovered that this was a very young hummingbird just growing in it’s tail feathers.  That’s why it appeared to be so small.  By the curve of it’s wings, I’m thinking this is just a very young black-chinned hummer.  Notice in the middle pictures how it is extending it’s tongue to catch some small insects without expending much energy.  :)
I then moved to a different feeder, but see the rounded wing on the right that is shorter than the tail?  Another black-chinned youngster.  There was no Calliope for me today.  :(
           Oh, oh, what happened to Tim, the refuge manager, that was out netting carp???
                                                  I guess he missed the step up!!  :)

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

Happy Birth Day!

This morning, my fifth grandchild was born!  She weighed in at 8lbs 3oz, and is the third child for my youngest son, Andy, and his wife, Kelly.  They haven't decided on a name yet, so the whole family is anxiously awaiting their decision.  Whatever her name may be, we welcome her with open arms!  Now the two boys, Joseph and Seth, will have a little sister to protect, and I'll get to meet her in just a few weeks.  I can't wait!  Mother and daughter are doing fine.  Andy will have his hands full for the next week with the boys until they both come home.  :)

Back here in Texas, it was another gloomy day.  I mostly spent the day relaxing in preparation for the big Songbird Festival that will take place next weekend.  Of course, that didn't stop me from enjoying the birds in my "yard."  I saw a blue grosbeak this morning.  I couldn't get a picture, but at least that is a signal that the spring migration has begun.

Emma and I spent the afternoon outside enjoying the customers at the Hard Rock Bird Cafe.  :)  You know my passion right now is photographing hummingbirds, so here's a few more shots:

I had to refill the hummingbird feeder again today.  It was only moments after setting it out that this male black-chinned showed up.

 He was joined on the other side of the feeder by this female.

 

In case you're wondering what will happen once I pack up to leave and take down the feeder, this female will tell you.  Notice the yellow on her bill and those specks on her forehead?  (click on the photo to enlarge)That's pollen from all the flowers that she has visited.  They'll be just fine.  :)

Emma is learning to chill when I'm outside with her and watching "my birds."  However, I don't think I'll ever break her from barking at the the vultures that soar over our site. Of course, she is always successful in protecting us from these intruders, as long as we don't look and smell dead!  :)

I had three out of the four species of doves that are found on the refuge visit the cafe this afternoon.  First was the Inca dove...

then a pair of mourning doves stopped by...

and finally, a couple of white-winged doves flew in to check out the menu.  I hope I see a painted bunting soon.

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

Another lesson learned

Sunday is laundry day for me.  I got that accomplished in the morning.  Skies were overcast all day once again, but at least there wasn't any rain.  I had a couple of interesting comments on my post yesterday.  It looks like I'll be meeting several people when I stay at Red Rock RV Park in Idaho when I'm there in June.  One of the comments was from RV Guy who is the webmaster for the campground.  After reading his comment, I spent a good share of the afternoon reading his nature blog about Red Rock.  Almost makes me want to extend my one month stay there.  :)  I could do that.  I guess I'll just see what happens.

In the afternoon, Emma and I headed out to see what wildflowers I could get pictures of.

This Antelope Horn may not look like much from afar, but...

...close up I just love the mathematical symmetry of the blossoms.  After columbines, this is about my favorite wildflower.

This bloom reminds me of morning glories.  I guess I should get a wildflower guide to go along with my bird and butterfly guides.  :)

After our walk, I sat outside with Emma and witnessed a real hummingbird war!  A dozen of these little might mites were buzzing all around the feeder.

The black-chinned hummingbirds have had pretty much unlimited use of the feeder, until a couple of ruby-throated hummers decided to visit this evening.  Then the skirmish erupted!  This male black-chinned posted himself just behind the feeder to keep watch for intruders.

It wasn't long before a male ruby-throated tried to come in for a sip.  That's when the acrobatics began!  It was a melee of tiny dive bombers chasing each other like a World War II  airplane fighter dogfight!

What a colossal display it was!  I took so many pictures that I filled my 1 GB memory stick on the camera!  (that's 333 pictures)

So, what was the lesson learned?  Out of 333 pictures taken today, only those that I've posted weren't deleted, and a couple of those are below my normal standards.    Heavily overcast skies means there is not enough light for me to get good pictures; especially with the fast moving hummingbirds.  Dang!  They looked perfect through the view finder.  :(  Oh well, I'll give it another try if the sun ever shines again.

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

Updates

I feel I need to update you on several things I've mentioned in previous posts.  First of all, Chuck, the biologist, confirmed that yesterday, Emma and I, had indeed encountered a "nice sized" Western Diamondback Rattlesnake!  Nice to know that I was correct in my identification, I guess.  :)

Then there is the matter of the mysterious evaporation of my anti-freeze/coolant in the motorhome.  Thanks to fellow volunteer John, today we discovered a leak after warming up the engine.  He thinks it is a faulty hose connection, and will help me with a relatively easy fix in the next few days.  He is very knowledgeable about engines, and I'm just thankful this happened here rather than when I'm traveling down the road!  It's great to have friends.  :)

It turns out that all my applications for volunteering in Oregon this summer have ended in disaster.  There is one more place I'm waiting to hear from, but I'm thinking it looks like I just may have this summer free to just wander.  After my wandering last fall, I think I can deal with that.  :)  Maybe it's time to just relax from all my volunteering.  I'll have to watch my finances, but I'm game to give it a try.

Tonight, I'll be recording the first episode of Deadliest Catch for this season.  I've been hooked on this program for about five years.  I just can't imagine living through the hardships and challenges of working on a crab catching ship in the waters of the Bering Sea, around Alaska.  My stomach wouldn't last five minutes after leaving the docks!  :) 

You know I love birds, but I am particularly enamored by trying to photograph hummingbirds.  This evening, I think I captured a decent progression of a female black-chinned hummer approaching my feeder.  I hope you will enjoy it too... (double click on each photo to enlarge it if you like)

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

Gag me with a spoon!

Remember that phrase from back in the day?  Well, I didn't need a spoon this morning.  :(  I bought some new toothpaste last week and started using it this morning.  OMG!  It caused me to literally wretch during what is usually a refreshing moment.  It's by Crest and is their PRO-HEALTH, whitening paste for sensitive teeth.  It upset my stomach until the afternoon.  Yuck!  I read the tube and one part says "if more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away."  I usually don't swallow my toothpaste, and I don't think I swallowed any this morning, but Holy Cow, what a reaction I had.  Why would a product like this be on the market???  So, I made a special trip to Lago Vista this afternoon to get a new tube of toothpaste.  I dumped the whole tube I used this morning.

I switched out refuge vehicles this morning in preparation for the first bird tour tomorrow morning.  Looks like I'm going to have to set my alarm for six, so I can get everything done and eat a nourishing breakfast before heading out.  :-0  I sure hope we find what we'll be looking for!  Some of the folks signed up are from as far away as Virginia.  Wish me luck.......

Can't end tonight without a couple of shots of the female black chinned hummer.

These mighty mites really fascinate me.  They move so fast that it's a real challenge to photograph them.  Notice how this little gal is getting her tongue ready to sip the nectar in my feeder.  She hardly gets a chance to eat with all the males pursuing her.  Their U-shaped pendulum displays this evening were at least forty feet from end to end.  I could almost feel  the wind from their wings as they swooped up and down within inches of my nose!  So cool......

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