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RE: Day three

 Yesterday we reported that we identified 106 birds the first three days of the year.  If that trend continues, we’ll see our 400 species for the year by the middle of January. If we extrapolate based on trend though, we get a different result.  We saw 77 birds the first day, but less birds each day after that.  If our sightings average out to half as many birds each day as the day before, then we have diminishing returns, and it would take approximately FOREVER to get to 400 birds for the year! In the meantime, Great Kiskadee,   Burrowing Owl. And sharp-shinned hawk.    

From: Steve Taylor [mailto:spt@thetaylorcompany.net]
Sent: Tuesday, January 3, 2017 8:10 PM
To: Bill Taylor (Bill Taylor) <billt4@earthlink.net>; David Taylor (David Taylor) <taylor234@comcast.net>; Tom Taylor (Tom Taylor) <code-boy@earthlink.net>
Subject: Day three

  We surpassed 100 bird species for the year.  At this pace we’ll have our 400 birds for the year by January 15th!  J We’ve had a chance to try out the new scope; and the digiscoping attachment that lets us take pictures with the smart phone through the scope lens.  The pictures come out like this.   The long-lens of the camera is about 10 power.  The scope starts at 20 power and zooms to 60 power! 

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Day three

 We surpassed 100 bird species for the year.  At this pace we’ll have our 400 birds for the year by January 15th!  J We’ve had a chance to try out the new scope; and the digiscoping attachment that lets us take pictures with the smart phone through the scope lens.  The pictures come out like this.   The long-lens of the camera is about 10 power.  The scope starts at 20 power and zooms to 60 power! 
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2016

 We finished up the year getting the motorhome back together for 2017 travels.  Here are a few photos of the interior. The front room floor used to be carpet.  We changed it to vinyl. New couch and reupholstered captain’s chairs.  The kitchen.  No changes. Through the bathroom to the bedroom.  (It’s hard to get far enough from anything to get camera perspective in the bathroom.)    I did a walk-through with the video camera as well:https://youtu.be/544bElNlDyk We are so glad we didn’t sell the motorhome last year.  We dedicated a fraction of the cost of trading-down, to refurbishing it, and the results are wonderful. 
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Happy New year!

 The New Year celebration is a big deal here in the Valley.  A LOT of fireworks.  A fair amount of gunfire as well.  I guess when you run out of fireworks what else can you do but empty the pistol in the air!  We enjoyed the fireworks all around us, but we’ll stay inside now, just in case any of those bullets come back down. Happy New Year Everyone!