Just Cause I'm the Auntie...

...and I think she is darn cute!

Sunshine

Introducing Sarah Marie, my new niece.
9lbs, 9oz and 22 in. long

Love and congratulations to Charity, Erik, Anthony and new big sister Elizabeth.

The Car Ride

As I was driving my niece and nephew to school this morning, my 8 year old niece said, "Wow, look at all those birds!"

I assumed that it was going to be a flock of starlings or something of the annoying sort.

I was delighted to see that Elizabeth had found a flock of White Pelicans streaming across the sky!

I'm so proud!

Sadness

Sadness for the loss of a friend's husband to cancer.

We love you, Jean.

Butt Birding on the Magic Deck

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my friend Laura Shelton refers to the deck around my Innsbrook home as the "Magic Deck" because some really fun, amazing things show up there (feathered and non-feathered things.) Our chalet at Innsbrook actually sits on the side of a very large hill. A lot of great things show up on the deck because it is parallel to many tree tops. You could almost call it a treehouse of sorts.

Yesterday I stayed in the entire day at Innsbrook and tried enjoying the quiet rainy day (it was a long day!) I decided to make something of my time and do some "butt birding." My friend Jane Mootz came up with that funny phrase to describe birding from a single stationary place. You just plop down on a bench, and wait to see what shows up.

Well, instead of a bench, I chose the rocking chair in the living room that overlooks the deck, which overlooks the lake. I spent at least an hour just sitting there, and then spent much time on-and-off through out the day carefully watching the action just outside the window.

Sorry, none of these photos are too clear. They are all shot through a dirty window!
Here is a Red-bellied Woodpecker and an American Goldfinch at the feeders.

I cannot believe the number of species I saw within one day from that one spot. There were a lot of the regulars, like Tufted Titmice and Nuthatches, but I couldn't believe the number of oddies, like White-throated Sparrows and warblers.

Cedar Waxwing, before I realized there was whole flock!

I think the best part of the day was seeing a flock of Cedar Waxwings enjoying a drink from a pan of water. I read that birds often need fresh water from a shallow source, so I put one out there several months ago. It usually goes unused for the most part, except for an occasional American Goldfinch, and I literally was going to remove it last week. I am so glad I didn't! I was such a joy to see the Waxwings drinking away. I have NEVER seen them on, or from the deck for that matter, before yesterday. What a great surprise! That pan is staying!


Here is my "Magic Deck Butt Birding" list for October 22, 2009.

• Tufted Titmouse
• White-breasted Nuthatch
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Downy Woodpecker
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Carolina Chickadee (90 percent sure)
• Northern Cardinal
• Eastern Phoebe (swirling its tail around)
• American Robins
• White-throated Sparrow
• Black-throated Green Warbler
• Yellow-Rumped Warbler
• Wild Turkey (I saw them actually fly!)
• Cedar Waxwings
• American Goldfinches
• Ruby Crowned Kinglet (they are becoming my favorite bird. So darn cute!)
• Blue Jays

Cedar Waxwings drinking away!

Falling into Autumn

The weather this past week in St. Louis stunk. 40 degrees, overcast, and rainy. The sun did not show its face for over 5 days. Those of you in the desert have no idea what 5 days of no sunshine is like. Ugh!

But Sunday, Sunday was glorious! All the fall colors came to life in the bright sunshine. It was almost like you could swim in the light, it was so enriching!

I skipped church and had my own "worship" service down by the Aspen Dam Waterfall here at Innsbrook. I knew I could walk a trail along side the stream, but I didn't realize, until Sunday, that you could actually traverse the cascade itself.


I cannot resist rock scrambling. Or waterfalls for that matter. Mix in the warm sunshine and the beautiful colors of autumn, and, boy, I tell ya, ain't nothin' better.

Here are just a few photos from my morning. Happy Fall, Ya'll!

Life is good today....

A Good Laugh

Today as I was checking on the local news of Yucca Valley, CA through the High-Desert Star website (the local newspaper,) I ran across a startling photo....

of ME!!!

On the home page of the website, if you scroll down a bit, there is a Featured Photos section. I am one of those photos.

HA!

The photo was from the Morongo Valley Spring Festival back in March. I was working the bird table for BMCP. I'm holding the wings of, I think, a Great Horned Owl. But I don't really remember. I just remember it was a fun day of sharing my love of birds with others.

What a great surprise and a good laugh.

Appreciating the Common

With Fall Migration in motion, many of the summer regulars (like warblers) have already headed south for the sunny Caribbean (smarties!) In their place, I am getting to enjoy so many new fly-through species.

Just this past week, I added four new species to my life list: Blue-headed Vireo, Brown Creeper, Golden-crown Kinglet and the Winter Wren. I found all four of these species within one half hour at Gaddy Gardens! That was a good day!

A White-throated Sparrow, that recently returned to Innsbrook

But what I have come to appreciate the most, of late, are the Sparrows. What a wonderful creation sparrow are! Sadly, though, not many of us take notice of them. Up until last year, I would have estimated that there were only a few types of sparrows. I mean, they are often referred to in the birding community as "LBJ's" (little brown jobs.)

This amazing photo of Nelson's Sparrow was taken by the gifted Al Smith

on our trip to BK Leach Conservation Area earlier this month

But did you know there are dozens species of sparrows in the US?! And each and every one is uniquely beautiful. And they are not just drab brown. I've seen colors abound in sparrows, from yellows to oranges to reds. They really are fabulous.

This is an elusive Grasshopper Sparrow peaking its head out of the tall grass of the Santa Rosa Ecological Preserve in Marietta, CA (Thanks, Baumann!)

So next time you see that sparrow, pull out you binoculars and appreciate the common.

Stalker Dove

Out my window this morning, I found this Mourning Dove just hanging out. He did not leave that branch for over 3 hours! While Mourning Doves are common in these parts, it is a rarity to see them just hanging out in the woods, on a single branch. I had to take his picture. He eventually came down and checked out the left over food from my feeders on my "Magic Deck."

I'm calling him "Stalker Dove." New species. :)

Oh, and the Magic Deck designation come from Laura Shelton. (Hey, girl!)

Yellow Rail Bushwacking

Oh, how I am delighting in sharing this story! Last weekend I had the TREMENDOUS pleasure of joining the St. Louis Audubon Society in a hunt for the Yellow Rail. This was the first time I have ever really bushwacked. I mean, I've walked off trail before looking for birds, but this was the first time I ever walked straight through a field, with a "devil may care" attitude. I don't think there is any other way to find Yellow Rails.

A group of about 25 of us, set out at the BK Leach Conservation Area to find the Rails. Several of had been seen the day before, so we were sure we'd be successful in our hunt. The weather was not very encouraging, though. 50 degrees, windy, and overcast. Ugh...pack on the layers!

Getting the line together to scare up the Rails

I was told that I attended on a fortunate day. Many of Missouri's birding "big wigs" were a part of the group, and it was on rare occasion that they were all together for an event. How lucky was I?! I made sure I listened close, and enjoyed my company.

We set out over an open field that was covered with shallow water. Ummm...so we thought. As we progressed in a long, single file line, the water became deeper. And deeper. The next thing I feel is water pouring into my wellies. FREEZING cold water. I had this moment of "Can I do this? This is crazy." It was so cold, but I shook it off and had a good laugh about the situation.

This photo of me pouring water out of my wellies is courtesy of photographer Al Smith.

The water never really got any more shallow, so we just trudged through with heavy boots, hoping to scare up those rails. Several people "bit it" and ended up wet, head to toe. Not good to be wet in 50 degree weather. I felt really bad for them. But we kept going for over two hours.

New friend Linda and I taking a break

Well, am very sorry to report that we never did find those Yellow Rails. BUM! But we did see many Soras and American Bitterns, which was a new species for me. They attributed the lack of Rails to the depth of water. It was almost a foot deep, which is a bit too deep for Rails. Oh well, had a hoot of a time trying!

I ended up with five new species this morning.

• American Bittern
• Tree Swallow
• Sedge Wren
• Nelson's Sparrow (recently the Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow)
• Eastern Meadowlark
  

Hatching of a Heart

By Rich Mullins

"Well the night was cold and my heart was
Hidden very safely in a shell
But I knew somehow I'd have to run that risk
Have to open up myself
Look at the stars on the face of the sky
They're the same ones Abraham saw
Come under my wings I will make you shine
Give you strength enough to love

Oh now I'm getting strong enough
You helped me chip my way out and open myself up
And for the snow that comes with winter
For the growth that comes from pain
For the joke I can't remember
Although the laughter long remains
For the faith that brought to finish
All I doubted at the start
Lord I give you praise for all that makes
For the hatching of a heart

Well my face was smooth and featureless
Just like an egg
And if I was moved you would never guess it
By the look upon my face
But You said man looks without but I look within
I can see the love you hide
It's a matter of doubt it's a symptom of sin
It's a problem of too much pride

And I now I'm opening up wide
Wet feathers pulled out from beneath me
And You're teaching me to fly
For the strength that comes with friendship
For the warmth that comes with hope
And for the love time can't diminish
And for the time love takes to grow
And for the moonlight on the water
And for the bright and morning star
Lord I give you praise for all that makes
For the hatching of a heart

And for the moonlight on the water
And for the bright and morning star
Lord I give you praise for all that makes
For the hatching of a heart"

Happy Birthday, Smiley!

You couldn't leave geese well enough alone, could you? :)
Salton Sea, Dec. 2008

Just 'Cause I Feel Like Reminscing

This is a Costa's Hummingbird flashing its iridescent violet gorget.

Taken at the BMCP feeders back in July.