Hey guys, they have changed the look of the blog format since I last posted. So I hope this comes out alright.

As you can see it has been some time since I posted on the blog. The reason is I have been working graveyard hours and that made it difficult to get out and see things. I refuse to say it is because of age, it was the hours. At any rate I was able to land a new job that is daytime hours like normal people. So now I work Mon-Fri, 9-5, (more or less), like normal people. This is amazing. I sleep normal hours without foil on my windows! The hours I used to get up and start my day, I now have completed my day and am ready to slow down. The real blessing with this life-change is that I can go on weekends to places and bird! We are even talking about taking a vacation in the fall to Cape May New Jersey for the Hawkwatch. I can't wait. This is one of those perfect vacations as it is a wonderful birding experience, my wife has a friend that lives in New Jersey as well as Atlantic City is close by. Something for everyone!

So, I wanted to catch up on some of the activities we have been able to do since I turned my life around to the diurnal lifestyle. My 'old' boss at the casino, George Palomares was terrific both as a boss and when I gave notice. He allowed me to take a full week off as part of my two week notice to recover and get ready to start my new job as Program Manager for the Criminal Justice Program at the University of Phoenix. I have been there two weeks now and love it. The hours are better as discussed above, and no one has started a fight or been obnoxiously drunk since I started. It is truly a new experience for me.

During that week off I kept hearing a hawk crying loudly outside my front door. I went out to investigate, (cop term), and found not one but two Red Shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus), circling the golf course across the street from my house. I was able to return to my house, retrieve my camera and snap a few photos before they finally floated off into the great blue yonder. I was hoping they would nest here, but it doesn't appear that has happened.



 I was able to re-connect to my birding buddy, Nancy Carr, as well. We were able to take a morning and drive to nearby Indio, and see Linda York at the Coachella Valley Wildbird Center. Linda and her husband have been instrumental in building a nice wetland area in the heart of the industrial area of Indio, California. They partnered with the water district that is literally next door to them and together they have built ponds with islands and cattails and all the right stuff for a terrific habitat for waterfowl and more. On walks past we have found a bobcat wandering through the nearby fields. Representatives from the local Jr. College, College of the Desert, hold nature walks there on the first Saturday of each month, except during the summer, (it is too darn hot!). On our walk we found a lot of Marsh Wrens (Cistothorus palustris). We both saw and heard these little loud mouths. We also saw the common Coot, (Fulica americana), Moorhen, (Gallinula chloropus), Eared Grebe, (Podiceps nigricous), Cinnamon Teal, (Anas cyanoptera) and Shovelers, (Anas clypeata). We got to talk to Linda in the center for a few minutes as she fielded calls on bird identifications, proper feeding and handling of baby birds, and care of injured animals in general. Punctuating her busy discussions was a Barn Owl flying around from post to post. One poor fellow was startled pretty good when he approached too closely to the owl and it took flight. He thought it was a stuffed animal and was quite surprised to see it leap off the table. 

Yesterday Nancy and I were able to get away for the morning to Little Morongo/Covington Park for a little birding. We set out from the parking lot, picked a trail and meandered along. I was confidently carrying my camera over my shoulder with my binoculars on my shoulder harness. Chic stuff for the birding world, by the way. We met Wayne and Karen who had driven out from Orange County to bird Little Morongo. We talked a bit about what to expect and where to find it. They were nice folks and seemed excited to get on their own personal adventure. We let them and began again our short journey, catching up on the local gossip as we went.

As we turned a corner on the trail I saw a large bird on a relatively low branch up ahead. I caught Nancy's shoulder and we walked carefully around the bend. I was able to get a couple of very good photos before I realized my battery was dead in the camera. The rest of the hike I was carrying a weight for a workout, not a camera. I was able to get a couple photos as you will see, but not as many as I would have liked.

 I love old dead snags and snarled and twisted trees, particularly when they are framed in a beautiful background. I was able to snap a shot of this burned tree that was surrounded by all the new growth and capped by a brilliant blue sky. This resonated with me as the essence of hope. No matter what happens, life goes on and as long as we keep striving for the blue sky it can't all be bad. (Ok, so much for my right brained side, I will get back to the facts now). We finished to perimeter trail and went back toward the activity room to try to find some Orioles, but instead found Dee Zeller, camp host, working on a watering problem. We said hi to him and returned to the entrance. There we sat down and looked up the birds we saw on our hike and watched the birds working their feeders. We saw Anna's and Costa's Hummingbirds, American Goldfinches, a Hooded Oriole, (Icterus cucullatus), a Black Headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus), as well as the House Finches and Sparrows and Starlings. All in all life is really good now.

There have been so many blessings, not the least of which has been the opportunities to go birding and share with friends and family the things found while out there. I look forward to sharing more trips, both short half day trips and more vacation-esque like the Cape May trip planned for the fall. You can bet I will make sure my battery is charged on future outings, though.


 Now, you might be a bird nerd if... you get up early on your weekend and put on your wide-brimmed floppy hat to go look for birds!

 See you out there!!

A visit with our son

It has been a while and I am happy to be able to put something on the blog. First, I should explain why it has been so long. I got a new job as Manager of Security at one of our local casinos, the Agua Caliente Resort and Casino. I work the graveyard shift. I know, I am 55 years old and working graveyard. I lose track of days and don't have the energy I used to.
At any rate, I am starting to get acclimated and hope to get some more outings in. One of our "weekends", (I am off Sunday and Mondays now), we went to Bolsa Chica wetlands area. We chose this garden spot because my son, Austin, is their newest Restoration Director there. He has moved into a condo with a couple roommates nearby and can literally jog to work.

We were able to spend a couple of days with him at his work while he showed us around. He was able to take to Rabbit Island, a place that is restricted in access for humans, and limited access to coyotes, raccoons, and other creatures that eat eggs and such. It is only accessible on very low tide days.

Austin used the company truck to drive us out to the island access point, after putting a wooden "bridge" in the bed. At the location, Austin tied a rope to one end and laid the bridge across a small inlet so we could cross onto the island. It was a little unstable but did the trick. Mom wasn't too excited about the bridge but she made it across.

(Austin in his office)

(Austin showing Mom how to use the bridge)

Austin showed us the majority of his work he has planned for the next couple months is the eradication of invasive non-native plants such as the ice plant that is pervasive along the coast. It looks like a very large job. He has plans to work with volunteers and the California Conservation Corps to accomplish this goal.

He also has several types of native plants growing in specially made plant boxes behind their main office. Once they are viable, and the invasive species are removed, he can use these to restore the natural plant balance to the area. Another long term and rather tedious process, but highly worthwhile.

(plants growing protected in large boxes behind the main office at Bolsa Chica Wetland Area)

While we were wandering around with Austin explaining all the biology and his goals, we saw several birds of interest. There was an Osprey that gave us some good looks. Buffleheads, Great Blue Herons, Whimbrels, Curlews, Willets and many other peeps were plentiful. We briefly saw a Reddish Egret in one of the ponds as well. We also saw a Kestrel or two and possibly a Merlin on a wire. I was able to snap a shot of a White Tailed Kite perched low to the ground in the marsh as well.

(Bufflehead)

(Our cooperative Osprey)

(White Tailed Kite)

(Great Blue Heron)

On the second day we went up to Long Beach and visited our oldest son, Taylor, and he took us to one of his sites he is working to restore. Near this site is a place where warm water is released from a power plant. This warm water has attracted large sea turtles in some numbers. It is very exciting to see them rise to the surface for air, then slowly disappear into the green water. Some are four to five feet across their shells.

(Turtle head out of the water, taking a breath)

It was a great two day adventure with our sons. Taylor was also able to make it down to Huntington Beach (Austin's place), for dinner on both nights so it was a good family time. It is these kinds of weekends that make it all worthwhile.

(Taylor and Andi talking while I was taking pictures of turtles. I was told I had just a few minutes more then we had to leave. Aaaah, isn't that cute.)