Well, it's been a very long 10 days... The idiots in Washington DC don't talk to each other and can't agree on anything, so the "government" is shut down. What a laugh! Only the little people are locked out of their jobs, not getting paid, and the big-wigs who are supposed to run our country are still not talking. As volunteers for the refuge, we are also idle. At least we have a place to stay without charge, but the days are getting longer even though the amount of daylight is getting shorter.
We've made several birding excursions taking Colin, since he has not personal vehicle and is not allowed to drive a government vehicle.
We visited Smith Point Thursday, October 3. The boat launch area provided 2 Magnificent Frigatebird, Ruddy Turnstone, American Oystercatcher, Laughing and Ring-billed Gull, Brown Pelican.
A good study in Royal Tern was a line of 2 adult and 1 juve, where we compared bills coloration, and wing markings. Considerable size difference also.
The mud flats showed Semi-palmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Willet, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs,, Black-bellied Plover, Great And Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron.
The Hawk Watch tower was amazing as always. Kettles of Broad-winged Hawk on towering thermals disappeared into the clouds, Tony counted 535. Coopers, Sharp-shinned, Merlin, Peregrine were flying as Blue-grey Gnatcatcher danced in the oaks.
Indigo Bunting, Eastern Kingbird, and Brown Thrasher were located in town on the way to a great lunch at A&D Restaurant. Beef Taco on corn tortilla with salsa rojo and verde.
Returning along FM 1985 we picked up Black-necked Stilt, White and White-faced Ibis, Red-tailed Hawk. Of course, thousands of Cattle Egret occupied the fields on both sides of the highway.
Friday, October 9, we were swarmed by BEES! Probably had 200 inside Clyde and another 100 outside. I sprayed inside the shower, then counted 58 dead bees. We found a few more the next day, both living and dead. Since then, no more bees.
Sunday, we moved all the furniture and sprayed the complete perimeter for the unending ant problem. Seems to have worked so far, keeping fingers crossed.
Bald Eagle during afternoon sit-out. Also Wilson Snipe, Merlin, Coopers Hawk. Hundreds of dragons swarming between us and the bayou.
Monday, we birded the peninsula... first stop High Island rest area... Nashville and Black-throated Green Warblers, Eastern Phoebe, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole. Lots of Indigo Bunting...Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 2 Osprey.
Rollover Pass, cleaned up so much since last year...
Royal Tern, Caspian Tern, Black Skimmer, Foresters Tern, Laughing Gull, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Marbled Godwit, Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Plover, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Double-crested cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, American Oyster Catcher, Willet.
On Tuna Road, we found an unusual Western Kingbird consorting with the Scissortails. On Bob Road, Long-billed Curlew and Willet.
On Yacht Basin Road, we were treated to Clapper Rail, Savannah Sparrow, and Reddish Egret. Another unusual migrant was Red-headed Woodpecker.
After sunset, we were treated to 3 planets and a new moon.
Venus, Saturn, and Mercury...
An ISS flyover at 8:15 finished the day. 3 minutes, 45 degrees, from WSW to NNE.
October 8 located Venus a few minutes before sunset with the crescent moon as a guide. Another ISS flyover, but just peaked out the door to see the beginning, mosquitoes won!
Thursday, October 10... met Stephanie in Anahuac for lunch at Nopalitos. Colin has decided to return home due to the shut-down. Tim and Monique came, also Kay and Travis from FOAR, so this was his good-bye luncheon. He flies home on Tuesday.
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