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Birdwatching:  More birds arriving daily!  |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 10 2007 : 8:50:13 PM
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Oh my gosh! I had to remind myself you were talking about Alaska! I was sitting here thinking- but summer hasn't hardly started here yet! LOL :)
Elizaray |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2007 : 12:51:57 PM
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We just watched "Winged Migration" again the other night, Jo. It is such an incredible film. Summer is heating up here - 90s most days & HUMID. Will have to see a stretch of 70s again before I remember fall - probably a teaser in Sept, then Oct will bring more of the real thing.
Saw a roadrunner in our yard today!! I'd never seen one till we moved here - they're beautiful!
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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blueberries in alaska
outstepping
109 Posts
Jo
hillsides of the Chugach
AK
USA
109 Posts |
Posted - Jul 12 2007 : 10:42:40 AM
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May and June are sunny here, July the rains often begin... it is crazy how August you really start getting a bite in the air, temps in the 40's and 50's , then we have two weeks of real FALL weather and you watch the colors change down the mountains, it is glorious! Termination dust (snow) comes up here late september and voila WINTER!
I love roadrunners! I've seen them alot in Arizona when I used to travel there frequently. They are very interesting birds, we have ravens running amok here. jo
there's no place like home....
http://web.mac.com/thomja/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html
http://homepage.mac.com/thomja/PhotoAlbum22.html |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Jul 12 2007 : 11:54:26 AM
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This is a big statement, Jo, but I could almost trade all other birds in my life for ravens. Raucous, brazen, communal, wildly intelligent - love 'em! There's a good raven essay in The Way Winter Comes. Actually, I have become pretty bird crazy overall in my "old" age  --I get such a kick out of seeing new species--but ravens are fantastic.
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jul 12 2007 : 9:51:09 PM
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I have heard that ravens are amazingly intelligent and basically are very under rated as far as public opinion goes. But I still love hearing the bird song out my window every morning. Such a great way to wake up!
Elizaray |
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marybeth
outstepping
146 Posts
Marybeth
Washington
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Nov 30 2007 : 9:27:03 PM
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It was interesting reading this thread from the beginning. It started in April and just to read about the progression of different types of birds and the changing weather patterns is amazing. It is the last day of November now and the valley here is full of Snow Geese and Trumpeter Swan, all coming down from the north land. They winter over here. This year I saw the first Snow Geese October 18th. Every post seems to have a hawk on it. Mostly Red-tailed but we do have a large year-round population of them. Lots of Northern Harrier and Kestrals too. Of course the big draw are the Eagles. We have a lot down river (here) but the up river areas are famous for the Eagles in winter. I have been so occupied with a sick husband, then his death before Thanksgiving (which is another reason I went to Ritzville) that I haven't been birding much so far this Fall. One of Dave's favorite things to do during his illness (the past 3 1/2 years) that is saddens me to go without him. But I will and I will take some pictures and post them. I, too, like the crows and ravens. They are their own community and have their leaders and look-outs and are just interesting birds to watch and sometimes interact. MB
Being outside is being |
Edited by - marybeth on Nov 30 2007 9:29:26 PM |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Dec 01 2007 : 7:30:01 PM
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MB, I deeply admire your resilience in the wake of such a difficult time. I know that you will return to the birds and that you'll carry Dave with you when you do.
We stood in our far field at dusk tonight and watched a shifting formation of snow geese pass over, low, heading south into the unknown night. Such instinctive courage and perseverance.
Titmice here lately, nuthatches, and cardinals - those scarlet gems!
Jen
Farmgirl Sisterhood Member #9
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Dec 02 2007 : 10:06:37 PM
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Hi MaryBeth!
I know bird watching will someday be a treasured pass time again- maybe especially because it was an activity you shared with Dave.
Speaking of hawks- One chased a quail into the house the other day. I was very disappointed when it went through the effort to bring down prey- and then didn't come back to eat it!
Elizaray |
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Mountain Girl
outrigged
237 Posts
JoAnn
Colville
WA
USA
237 Posts |
Posted - Dec 03 2007 : 3:17:35 PM
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| Just the other day a goshawk got one of our little quail very close to the house. Jim saw it happen and it flew right across the deck with it. JoAnn |
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marybeth
outstepping
146 Posts
Marybeth
Washington
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2008 : 9:45:07 PM
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Well the valleys are awash with the wintering large birds. Every year up on the upper Skagit there is the Bald Eagle festival but here on the lower Skagit there are plenty of Eagles to satisfy anyone. The Rangers figure at least 100,000 Snow Geese this year and plenty of Trumpter Swan and of course the Bald Eagle. Pictures I took today. I am trying out the zoom on my new camera so ignore the fuzziness--if any. Eagles and Swan
Being outside is being |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2008 : 07:48:33 AM
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Great Pictures MaryBeth!!
Elizaray |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2008 : 5:48:48 PM
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Hey, MB - I don't know how I missed these!! They're beautiful. I am hopelessly in awe of eagles. We lived with bunches of them on the island in WA, and seeing them here occasionally just makes me swoon.
We've had lots of vibrant red cardinals coming by our yard to get sunflower seeds lately; they sure do brighten a gray winter's day.
Jen
Farmgirl Sisterhood Member #9
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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marybeth
outstepping
146 Posts
Marybeth
Washington
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2008 : 10:25:44 PM
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I wish we had Cardinals out here. I have never seen one in real life. They would sure brighten up my gray day. MB
Being outside is being |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2008 : 10:59:08 AM
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I haven't seen the birds, but walking outside the otherday I sure could hear their songs! They were happy that we were having unseasonably warm weather between snow storms.
Elizaray |
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marybeth
outstepping
146 Posts
Marybeth
Washington
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2008 : 10:21:02 PM
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Took a little ride down the Skagit Valley and got a good look at the Snow Geese. There were thousands. They were on the ground and they flew up and settled down and up again. It was very breath-taking and them dang birds are noisy.
Being outside is being |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2008 : 07:26:45 AM
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Those are fantastic, MB - I can HEAR them. I saved the top one as this week's wallpaper on my computer desktop. We haven't seen snow geese here for a month or two - they were mesmerizing, though, strung across the sky like broken necklaces.
Jen
Farmgirl Sisterhood Member #9
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Birdwatching: More birds arriving daily! |
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More birds arriving daily!
