When I say we got blasted by our friend John the Dermatologist, I don’t mean he yelled at us. He did advise us both we spend too much time in the sun, but he told us quietly. What I mean by “blasted” is that after having a good visit and checking us all over, he brings out his favorite tool, the implement of torture, the liquid nitrogen spray bottle, and dots us all over, freezing off the “sun damage”. Of course I still wonder about how you “fix” damage by killing it completely. Isn’t that just even more damage? Come to think of it, maybe I should be a dermatologist when I grow up. It would be so easy. You get an office, a nurse, and maybe twenty canisters of liquid nitrogen, and you’re good to go. Have a visit with each patient, check them over under a bright light (okay, make a note to buy a bright light too), hose them down with liquid nitrogen, charge them money, then go flyfishing. Sounds like a good gig, doesn’t it? Brother Tom’s travel map is getting more impressive. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=109311542386358702480.000487c2576b23e261ef3 Still in Texas, but ultimately ending up in the same place as us in about a week.
St Vrain State Park
North. 75 miles. Took the 470 loop around Denver. 1 ½ hours. St Vrain State Park. All set up next to Coot Pond. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107013362562471418011.00047964b60d16d130156&ll=35.065973,-103.051758&spn=20.19205,56.90918&z=5 A trip to Louisville to get blasted by our friend John the Dermatologist. Dinner with Becky and family. The day is over already.
Meanwhile
Back at the ranch, the hurricane hit Mexico, south of Gulf Waters, but we have reports of 20 foot waves, tides up to the dunes, 20 foot waves, and wind gusting to 65 mph. Video from the pier down by Jetty Beach. From: Jon McIntyre [mailto:mcintyrebirds@hotmail.com]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwwKO6Xo2Hc
Chatfield State Park
It was a nice week here. No altitude issues. The weather was comfortable, punctuated by afternoon thunderstorms.
Visits with Matt, Lindsay, and the boys for dinner every evening.
Got my walk every day. There is a wonderful walk up the Platte River through ancient riparian habitat. Very birdy. Got a Warbling Vireo and several Yellow-Breasted Chats.
Wimbledon tennis on the television.
Had a business lunch last Friday. Gary Kring, our office neighbor CPA friend, takes the entire crew out for lunch at the end of every busy season; his crew and our crew combined. Last year it was at the Brown Palace. This year it was at Elway’s downtown. We’re fully in favor of that tradition. Thanks Gary.
Lesser Goldfinches on the sock feeder:
Our bird list for Chatfield:
| Canada Goose |
|
Mallard |
|
American White Pelican |
|
Double-crested Cormorant |
|
Great Blue Heron |
|
Black-crowned Night-Heron |
|
Turkey Vulture |
|
Swainson’s Hawk |
|
Red-tailed Hawk |
|
American Kestrel |
|
Mourning Dove |
|
Black-chinned Hummingbird |
|
Broad-tailed Hummingbird |
|
Belted Kingfisher |
|
Downy Woodpecker |
|
Northern Flicker |
|
Western Wood-Pewee |
|
Western Kingbird |
|
Warbling Vireo |
|
Black-billed Magpie |
|
American Crow |
|
Tree Swallow |
|
Violet-green Swallow |
|
Cliff Swallow |
|
Barn Swallow |
|
Black-capped Chickadee |
|
White-breasted Nuthatch |
|
House Wren |
|
American Robin |
|
Gray Catbird |
|
European Starling |
|
Cedar Waxwing |
|
Yellow Warbler |
|
Yellow-breasted Chat |
|
Chipping Sparrow |
|
Vesper Sparrow |
|
Lark Sparrow |
|
Song Sparrow |
|
Red-winged Blackbird |
|
Western Meadowlark |
|
Common Grackle |
|
Brown-headed Cowbird |
|
Bullock’s Oriole |
|
House Finch |
|
Lesser Goldfinch |
|
American Goldfinch |
|
House Sparrow |
Tomorrow, St Vrain State Park.
Chatfield
A quiet morning
Including a balloon launch
Then an Alex, Conner Birthday Party after lunch.
(Becky, Teigan, Alex, Conner, Austin, and Tony)
Which included a soap bubble gun battle.
(Teigan, Tony)
There are soap bubbles there, you just can’t see them.