So, what about this cute guy? My guess, a bluebird LOL

 

Visited the Cibola Wildlife Refuge yesterday and really enjoyed the Sandhills. They were all over the place.

Visitors to my backyard

I heard them first, a strange ka ka kaw sound and finally my curiosit got the better of me and I went to investigate. There were about a half dozen California Quail right on my porch and while they are often shy and quick to bolt, the screen door protected us both and I was able to admire them close up.

Daughter and Donnie are coming for a visit today and I just found out the 29 Palm Weed Show is still going on. Both should enjoy that and then up to Joshua Tree for the grand tour and lastly down to Crossroads for lunch/dinner.

Things you notice while stuck in traffic

Yes,up here in the desert where you can see 30 miles in all directions, I was stuck in a traffic jam trying to get on base and while I sat, I noticed this utility poll that was hosting a couple dozen doves. Now my question is....why this particular pole? I passed pole after pole, empty of anything but dust, and then I come to this pole and its full of birds. The only discernable difference between the poles is this one makes a 90 degree turn, but thats all.

Well, I guess I have my favorite chair so why shouldn't birds have their favorite pole.

Heading for Morongo today. Going to take my bird book and maybe the camera.

I'm Baaaack

I've returned to JT and just couldn't be more excited. I arrived last week and FOUND the best birding spot in the valley, Gary and Mary Frans backyard. Gary and I were admiring the bird feeder and I happened to notice, even with my bad eyes, what looked like a Cedar Waxwing. A pair of them. Gary got his binoculors and confirmed it. He has seen them before but they are traveling thru and feeding on his berry bush. (I can't spell pyracantha bush)
His yard is home for a hawk, (I think the Coy pond is the attaction)lots of quail and those little guys with the dark heads. But you would be absolutely jealous to see his bird list just from this year. AMAZING.

My new apartment is kinna cute and better than living in a hotel room. It was probably converted into apartments at some time and I suspect built in the 40ies. Local rock fireplace, spanish tile floors, two nice size rooms. I have a porch and a view of JT Monument that is really calling my name, but the back yard is typical creosote bush and scrub, but there is a stand of bamboo in one corner that gives a neat sound when the wind blows. Problem, there is a fica tree. I can kill a fica without even trying and it looks like an expensive one. Directions - water once a week and turn. Hummm, I'll keep you informed but I may be buying a fica before I leave.
So today, I'm going to hit the local second hand stores. I really don't need much, The Company said I could purchase a microwave and coffee pot and my friend Mary Fran has offered me anything I might need to borrow, but I think I'm good. The apartment could use a better can opener, thats one thing you have to spend money on, cheap can openers are a waste of time, and I might want to get a muffin tin, but those are easy. The pots and pans here are huge, I could looke for smaller ones.

JT has a framers market still going so I'm going down there to check out the local produce.

Work is work. I live for the weekends.Camera is all charged and ready to go, I even have fiters for the sun.

Weather sunny and cool, I think I'm going to like winter here.

Slow summer

We just went on three trips this summer, and all were with other RVers so not a lot to report. In a couple weeks we are going to Crow Butte Campground near Pateson WA and looking forward to that trip as we love this campground.

Then I'm off to spend the winter in Joshua Tree again. I love it there especially when I'm getting paid to be there.

Sort of worked

This is another photo that I rather like. A lone Yucca.

Photo that didn't work

I am trying to show this ridiculous sign that I found while hiking the Joshua Tree. It actually says No Swimming, but the sign is to small to really show up, I tried to show it closer but that didn't work either

Follow my photo class

The instructor asked that we bring in 2 photos that we like and two that we don't like. As I looked through all the photos I found most of my pictures needed help. This one I call my "happy accident" as I didn't even know what "depth of field" was, yet this is a good example of "shallow"

Taking a Photography class

We signed up at the local college and what a great class. DH and I have these real expensive Nikons and can't get off the "green" auto button. LOL Your in for a treat, we now actually know what an f-stop is and does, not to mention WB and ISO. Can't wait for the rain to quit so we can go out and try our new skills.

Thai Food

Son and Grandson have taken me to every Thai Restaurant in Tacoma and (drum roll please) the best is the one by the mall. OMG you have to try the Green Curry with avocado. Mouth squirting.

Last Sunday in Southern California

While I really need to get the RV packed up for the trip home, one last tour of 29 Palms was on my "must-do" list. This was Weed Show weekend at the Museum, a tradition since 1941, and I really wanted to see what could be done with the weeds in this area. I wasn't disappointed at all, there were so many creative and amazing designs by local folks. They are very artistic. I didn't have my camera, but they said they would be putting some of them on line.
After the Weed Show I drove over to the Oasis for a little exercise and one last walk around. My quail family was still there, they stay pretty close to the water. I really enjoyed the symphony of bird calls in the area, some melodious, some not. If I could have seen all the birds that I heard, I would be there still.
Did add to my bird list, I saw a number of phainopepla's. Did I know what they were? No, but I found a couple with binoculars - always a good person to ask. Then once they told me, I had to look up how to spell it. The same couple also pointed out a flycatcher.
I'm am going to miss this weather. It's been in the low 80ies lately and rainy in Washington where I'm headed.
Trip home is going to be via eastern Nevada and into Idaho. Leaving on the 13th. Friday the 13th.

My short bird list- JT/29 and surrounds

My bird list is pretty sparse, to say the least, but as my time here is winding down, thought that I would share what I have so far.
WHITE PELICAN - no, not really here, but Betty and I drove down to the Salton Sea where they were plentiful and beautiful.
TURKEY VULTURE - I was really lucky to see them as they only come around to this area twice a year, once around Easter and again in October. After work, I was heading to a meeting in Yucca when I saw what looked like a funnel of circling birds over the desert. I looked and found a dirt road that would take me in their direction and I got close enough to see they were the famous visitors. I didn't dare get any closer as the road was becoming a rut and I didn't want to get stuck.
RED TAILED HAWK - I mentioned him/her earlier. I saw her just sitting on something along side the road and there was no place to pull over.
FALCON -This was a rare treat for me and my first. I saw him twice. A water line had broken hear the housing area and he/she was taking advantage of it, but having issues with a family of crows who had already claimed it as theirs. Saw him/her again in the same area about a week later, this time sitting on a phone line. (Yes, kestrels are more common around here but this bird was black/white/gray and kestrels, at least the local ones have some red. I absolutely could be wrong and probably am.
GAMBLES QUAIL (Why not Californian? Cause the Gamble is common to this area but again, my eye isn't trained to know the nuances of their different coloring) Gary and Mary Frans back yard was full of them yesterday and as there was a window between them and me, I was able to watch them play and squabble with other birds. (Gary was telling me that he saw a Chuckar in his yard. That would have been a sight to see. )
MORNING DOVES are plentiful as is the ROADRUNNER. Brandy has a owl nesting in her back yard, thats so cool.
When I lived here before there were tons of Hummingbirds and I've seen some but not up close and personnel. I bought a feeder but all it attracted was ants.
FLYCATCHER/PEWEE. Lots of them around but again my eye just isn't trained to know the difference.
JAY - I've told that story earlier and I still feel its a SCRUB
CROWS, RAVENS, STARLINGS are all very common, especially at the Oasis.

So thats my short list. Nothing spectacular and even if I saw something great, I wouldn't know it. One of my favorite BLOGS is a RVer who also BIRDS, but he hasn't posted in awhile. I need to check on him.
I'll be leaving in about a month and next weekend heading for Santa Barbara to meet a cousin I have never met. I'm excited about everything except the drive.

Milky Way

Joshua Tree Institute held a class on the milky way and I went and took it. I was told to bring a coat/gloves and a hat because it get's chilly at night. I was a little skeptical as the day time temps were constantly in the triple digets, but I followed directions and brought a coat and a cap, not a hat. I didn't need either. BUT what a great class. Part one was in the classroom where we're shown pictures from the Hubble( http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/ ) and they were so awesome. (Hope the link works, but if it doesn't google it and check them out. Space is NOT just black and white)
After the class, we caravanned up to the park, to Barton Dam, my most favorite hiking area, and set up some huge telescopes. I'm sorry, my eyes aren't very good, and the stars look like bigger stars, but I did see Casiopea, one I didn't know.
Joshua Tree at night is just as awesome as JT during the day. Not only are the stars spectacular, but howling cayotes just make it perfect.

Vanilla Trees and Cool Air

DD came out to visit and we had a great time, even in the extreme heat. We drove up to Big Bear for some cool and I've posted the pictures below. Big Bear is beautiful but crowded, we found a hike in the woods and that was nice. The ponderosas smell like vanilla to me but others call it butterscotch, what ever, I always come away with a bit of sap at the end of my nose from smelling them up close and personal

Cool lasted all day

What a long day. I got to work at 0800, ate lunch at my desk, on the phone til 1630 and just as driving away from the office, I saw a couple and in my heart I knew they needed the Red Cross, so I backed up the car, parked it and helped them. Got home just in time to watch Rachel.

Weather cool all day, like in the 80ies

Circle the Calendar

What a great day it is and it's only 0700 in the morning I got a voice mail from my friend Mary Fran who was told she needed to have heart surgery and now they told her, "never mind, come back in 6 months" I have yet to hear the details but I know she is much relieved.
Then I get an email, I'm going to be a Great Grandma. LOL, you know that I am way to young to be a great ANYTHING, but I'm excited. Think I need to plan a trip to the east coast, if I take my time, I'll get there just in time for the great event.

Another bit of news, I had to get up to find a comforter last night, I got a tad bit chilly. Hope that means this long hot summer is about to end. I want to get back up to the Monument but it has been just to hot.

Off to work. BTW, I now remember why I retired and became a volunteer!!

Joshua Tree

Of course, I can't download my photos, forgot to bring whatever its called.

There is no question where Joshua Tree got it's name, Joshua trees are everywhere, as are the tumbled rock formations climbers drool over. Friday was a holiday and I promised myself early rise and a trip up to Hidden Valley. Well my "rise" wasn't as early as it should have been and the need for a petrol stop, the sun was way to high for me to tackle Hidden Valley. ( A comfortable chair in the shade is about all I'm up to these days.)
I did do some of the Valley, I climbed up and through the narrow entrance and did about a quarter of the loop but it became very obvious the sun was more than I could tolerate.
The Valley has ghosts you know. Well at least I saw and heard them. Ghosts of old B Cowboy movies where the outlaws always hide away from the law in "hidden valleys", when rustlers hid their booty to change brands and when eventually the good guys in white hats come and saved the day. Actually there is a legend that this valley was used for just those pursuits but since the only way in and out is also said to have been blasted open by one of the ranchers, history doesn't always mesh.
The loop trail has storyboards, telling of the flora and fauna. For instance, the Pinyon Pine: while I used its canopy for some cooling shade, I read that the Native Americans used the seed for protein and the thick sap for glue and tar.
My JT bird list has grown. I saw a huge Redtail Hawk sitting atop some plant. Of course I was driving down the road with a car behind me so stopping to look wasn't going to happen. Later that morning, while enjoying my snack of bing cherrys, a Jay (I'm thinking Scrub Jay as that was my first thought "your a scrubby lookin fellow",) came and stole one of the cherrys from about a foot away. Reading about Scrub Jay's it said the Pacific cousin is very bold, but by the picture, the little thief looked a lot more like the Interior cousin. ( I left another cherry out to see if I could get him to return, but all that attacted was ants and yellow jackets, and then I remembered, we are asked not to feed the wildlife. Stolen fruit is one thing, but....)
I took lots of pictures. Going to run to the PX and see if they are open.