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Pollywog ponds

Kingbirds and Kiskadees. You might think that is a western kingbird, but not so. Look closely at the yellow. It goes all the way up to his throat. Couch’s kingbird. And the great kiskadee. He looks and acts like all bird should when you’re trying to identify them. Conspicuous. Loud. Black, white, and yellow. None of this flitting little brown bird in the bushes stuff.
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Birds

The osprey found a nice quiet place to eat his fish (except for our brief intrusion). We managed to get our shot without disturbing him too much. We stayed in our mobile bird blind (the jeep).
It’s surprising how birds don’t react to a vehicle nearly as much as they react to the form of a person. Approaching on foot will scatter them from twice as far away as approaching in a vehicle. Even the motorhome is a good bird blind, especially if it has been parked for awhile. Sometimes it’s a little hard to get the motorhome in to exactly where the birds are, though. Parking in a state park helps.



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Weather

Contrasting weather reports. First, this one from upstate New York. Another storm blew through. Added another 20 inches. Not to worry, my neighbor has a tractor with a front end loader – plows don’t work well out here. And any place you can’t plow will soon get wind packed to a condensed size. Got the driveway opened for a few hours yesterday, long enough to get the propane truck and the oil truck in – the propane delivery had already tried earlier, but couldn’t get up the driveway and the 150 feet of hose was too short. Dan got in both days, though we both noted he had to rest the horse 3 times coming up our hill, and the snow by the barn was up to the buggy wheel hubs. How’s it with you flatlanders? 😉

Steve Taylor wrote:

The weather worsened. I had to put long pants on.

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Weather

Then this one from the California desert. Not much to report. Still in Oasis. 87 degrees yesterday. Cooling trend. Supposed to only make it to 85. Then about 80 tomorrow. (Don’t say it! I know, I know!!)