Dauphin Island is an important bird area because of the species who live here or pause for a rest during annual migrations. Even common birds thrive here–pelicans wander along the shoreline, docks, and jetties. The ones here and at Gulf Islands National Seashore are small and multi-colored, with white heads/necks and grey/black bodies rather than…
Everyone tells me, “You HAVE to go to Payne’s Prairie Reserve to see the gators. You will see many, guaranteed. Always lots of gators out there.” Sure, right. I have a wildlife jinx. When I visit a spot with guaranteed wildlife, they all scram. Time is flying though, and I only have a few weeks…
I have learned to sleep through my alarm clock. Eventually, it turns off and I drift back to sleep. No need to even hit the snooze button. I added an alarm to my cell phone to get double the alarm noise. I learned to sleep through both. Here, I do not need an alarm clock…
This weekend I discovered a nearly perfect small town that is surrounded by mountainous National Forest land, which is full of waterfalls, birds, large mammals, and endless trails that are beyond the range and interest of weekend hikers. Add a river, historic downtown, enough people to support several grocery stores and a movie theater, a super…
I inadvertently found a park right on the Spokane River. It is only a few miles from me. I found it while walking on the Centennial Trail; a sign pointed right and said, Corbin Park. Tango and I took the turn and walked a mile, from the urban trail through an open brushy meadow and…
Been looking forward to a Friday night workshop in Bismarck. Topic: Identifying Confusing Fall Warblers. My pre-retirement bucket list contains a goal to identify the 3 dozen species of warblers who look very much alike. Fall warbler identification is even more challenging, since the breeding plummage is gone and they look even more alike. I…
Late afternoon on a perfect fall day. I need a fall fix: birds are migrating, trees are changing colors, and fields are nearly harvested. I need to get out soon or I will miss out as the north rapidly transitions from fall to winter. Long Lake National Wildlife refuge, which is less than an hour’s…
Early August: too early to see signs of fall? People in Yuma still sizzle in air temperatures over 100 degrees. The beach goers in Miami simmer now in high humidity and air temps in the 90s. However, if you gaze up to North Dakota on your weather map, you will discover that night temps are…
Bird life on the prairie is more abundant than I expected. A few days ago I drove to a small town about 35 miles west. Oh look, huge Northern Harriers swooping down on rodent prey every few miles. Another dozen or so Prairie Falcons. The cattails surrounding the ponds are full of Yellow-Headed Blackbirds. On the…
Sunday evening, my friend Don and I walked at a lake area/park south of town. Trees are not yet fully leafed out so we can still see nests, some vacated, some in use. I aimed my monocular at an especially large nest and discovered it was inhabited by a Great Horned Owl, sitting on her…