Road work (continued)

Today was a killer day. The bobcat rental doesn't open until 8 AM, and by the time my son (Eric) got it loaded on his trailer, and we got to the oasis, it was after 10:30. Already extremely hot. By 2 PM, I had walked up the big hill to rake where he had dumped dirt, and the 105° + heat was too much for me. I had to stay in the truck with the AC on until Eric could go no longer at 4 PM. There was just no shade anywhere, even though I wore a hat, and drank lots of water. When I'm at the oasis in that kind of heat, I'm fine. There's always shade. I would have been fine if I hadn't started raking after the tough climb up the hill in the heat of the day. 

This is the area of road I had to straddle the deep rut in yesterday (See previous post)

Hopefully the road will be better for awhile. I still recommend good clearance to do it though. 

Road work!

Driving in to the oasis Sunday evening was scary. Before going to his accomodations at Terlingua Ranch Lodge, Mike Dory followed me in. Otherwise, I may have opted to go the long way around to my back entrance. It's 10 miles farther, but any birders who wants to come, and are not equiped for my road, are welcome to come in the back way. That road is good. No treacherous steep hill. My whole mile of road is really rough, but this deep ditch was the scariest part. I straddled it very carefully.

Me heading back to town this afternoon after Mike went out the back way to the lodge.

Yesterday, Mike came and did weed eating and shoveled sand in preparation for today's concrete work on the big hill. 

He had a close encounter with a Diamondback, lest he needed reminding of the value in having mowed areas to walk in. I was about 20 feet behind him, and when I heard the rattle at his feet, in that second I couldn't remember how good his hearing was, so I let out a scream he was sure to hear. He said later, he had heard me and the snake at the same time. He jumped back quickly as the snake continued to rattle.

My poor little 2011 Ford Ranger was so weighted down with water, sand, and concrete, that I was afraid to go at more than a snail's pace toward our work area this morning. But we made it. Mike worked and sweated in the heat impressively, let me tell you! I helped what I was able to.

We just put concrete patches here and there in an attempt to either make the rock ledges smoother to ascend, or to keep water from washing under the slab. Tomorrow, my son is going down with a rental bobcat to do what he can on the rest of the road. It'll always be rough and require clearance as good as my pickup, but one can walk the last mile, or go in the back way. To be continued....

Fun Alpine day!

My largest group ever, 44 Texas Master Naturalists, visited my ponds in Alpine today. I thought it would be a bit boring for them, but it wasn't. They loved the hummingbird feeders. In East Texas they only see Ruby-throateds. We had about 6 species here: Calliope, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Black-chinned, Allen's (Merlin heard but we couldn't confirm), and Lucifer, which someone said they saw, but I didn't, so I figured they were mistaken, until I looked at my photos later and saw one on them. My eyes are bad and when I'm looking through my camera lens, I can't always tell what I'm photographing. Merlin also ID'd Ruby-throated, but if there were any here they were females... very hard to ID from photos.

Lucifer juvenile male

For me, the highlight of the day was when they found a plant by one of my ponds that was new to me....  Horsetail (Asclepias subverticillata)! And if that wasn't exciting enough, they informed me it had the world's smallest bees on it! I'm not sure of the species, but it's some kind of Fairy Bee.

  

Calliope Hummingbird female

In other news, the oasis got a big monsoon last night, and I couldn't go down and check it out because I was expecting the group of naturalists this morning. I'll go down early tomorrow evening. Life comes at me fast sometimes. Hard to juggle it all. I'm sure all the tanks will be full, just don't know what damage there will be. Monday Mike Dory is coming to help, so we should be able to handle things.

Last time I was down there I found some rather fresh bear scat. It was wonderful that it didn't contain any feeder seed, just persimmon seeds. The feeders really are bearproof, finally.

Unexpected opportunity

Some of the happiest years in my life were spent helping Kelly Bryan band hummingbirds. At the time, it was quite hard work, so I didn't appreciate it as much as I wish I had. Kind of like raising my children. How I wish I had appreciated those treasured times more. And the older I get, the more time I spend in remembering.

Me with Kelly (Photo by Maryann Eastman)

Recently, Kelly and his lovely wife Donna, were passing through our area to a bander's convention in Arizona from their current residence in Rockport. I hadn't seen him in seven years or more. Wonderful friends were able to arranger a potluck get-to-gether last night. It was so great! As usual, I learn so much from Kelly! He's in the process of publishing his scientific work on  Lucifer Hummingbirds. 

We briefly discussed the interesting fact that a few Lucifers migrate, and start nesting in March (at least at the oasis), but the majority come and nest in May. It's my belief that we're glimpsing a snapshot of evolution in progress. There are three possible outcomes, as I see it. (1) Either the early, or the late nesters, will eventually fail and die out; (2) Both, waves of nesters will die out; (3) Both will flourish and may become separate species eventually. Currently, the late nesters appear to be the most successful. Maybe the early nesters will prevail during global warming.*

Early next week, Michael Dory is coming back to help with some chores. We hope to put a couple more patches on the big hill. I'm so grateful to him, and all my wonderful supportive friends. 

Hummingbirds are surging through the area now, so I need to get back to the oasis tomorrow to service feeders. When I was down there a few days ago all feeders were empty. No migrants! Unacceptable! 

_______________________________________________________

* According to AI info, the earth is currently in an ice age's warm gap called interglacial. For 80-90% of earth's history the entire planet has been ice-free! Astonishingly, at least a couple of times the whole earth has been covered with ice.

Roadwork update

It's hard to tell, because these photos were taken in different lights, and the "after" photo was taken with my cell phone, but the area we worked on looks better to me. The hill is still rough going up; it always has been. The whole road is rough for that matter.

Before (July 27)

After (July 29)

Next time I'm there I'll take a photo with my regular camera. Here's the burner torch at work. My son heated the rock with the torch, then used a sledgehammer and pickaxe to whittle the rock down so it isn't so much like steps.

Next project is to pour some concrete in two spots. Mike Dory said he'd come back soon and help with that. 

Thanks so much to Deirdre Hisler who loaned me her burner torch. I would long ago have given up if it wasn't for wonderful people along the way. Mike and Deirdre are just the latest in a long list of hundreds who have donated their money or work to keep the oasis going. Words can't express my gratitude for what that journey has meant to me, as well as to the visitors who enjoy it.

I found out who the creep was who sent me the lewd emails. I feel certain he's not a danger to me. He hasn't tried to contact me again, so hopefully, that case is closed.

Unwelcome attention

I received several rather lewd emails from a stranger, mentioning among other things, my being alone at the oasis. The world isn't the safe place I've known all my life. I considered making my blog private, but, even with the help of AI, I couldn't make it to where my mailing list could see it, other than the limit of 100 recipients, so I've done nothing for now. 

Here is the patch of cement Mike Dory and I did last week, on the side of the slab at the steepest part. . We patched where water was undermining the slab.

You can see that bad rough area on the lower part of the hill. I'm thinking perhaps a sledgehammer would pulverize that jagged mudrock, maybe with the aid of a burner torch. I can no longer swing a sledgehammer.  Gotta protect what little joints I have left.

There's enough traction to make it up without a problem, but it's terribly rough.

The oasis is very lush these days. 

Got some much needed help

It seems whenever I'm ready to quit, the universe provides a boost. Mike and Kitta Dory heard my pain, and Mike drove from San Angelo yesterday, arriving at noon, and went right to work. First task was to weed-eat so we (and future visitors) could maneuver around.

Then, he spread the dozen or so bags of mulch I had piled up, waiting and hoping for help. And did pruning. We loaded sand from the arroyo for using in our concrete project this morning. It was killer work to pour a long concrete patch on the steepest part of the big hill. Monsoonal rains have been undermining the slab I had poured there several years ago and I didn't want to chance losing it. The road is still terribly rough, but hopefully not as scary going up the slab since you don't have to straddle a big trench now. So disgusted with myself that I didn't take before and during photos. I just get too overwhelmed with the task at hand. It's so steep; I'm so puny; I must not take a fall. That takes all my focus. Falls are the biggest danger for us oldsters. 

After we finished that, around noon today, intrepid Mike pruned along the road where vegetation was determined to take over. Everything is looking awesome! Hope it stays that way at least through fall migration so people can enjoy it. And I hope migration brings lots of wonderful birds to marvel at. We can't change the past, nor control the future, but for today, it's good!

State of the oasis

We've had seemingly endless rain lately and the oasis is miserable. Mosquitoes terrible, and the weeds I'm allergic to (Cowpen Daisies) are shoulder high. The road going in is deteriorating badly. Can barely make it in. And I'm helpless to do anything about anything, except servicing the feeders. I also snip along the main pathways, trying to, at least, keep them open.

I came across some bags of free mulch in Alpine and took it to the oasis, but haven't spread it yet. Need to do weedeating first, and wait until mosquitoes subside. Not to mention, a monsoon could come along any day and wash it all away.

The water feature and viewing station are back there somewhere.

And realistically, although the last couple years have been wet, a drought is just around the corner. I'm sure I won't be able to do the work required to harvest rainwater, and keep the trees alive. So, I'm trying to adjust my thinking to the new reality, and let go. There are no words to express how difficult that is.

The other day, I saw what I think was a Mexican Amberwing or hybrid, but not able to endure conditions long enough to get good photos.

I need to just be grateful to be in as good of health as I am. Nothing is forever. Visitors need to either have good clearance or park when they become uncomfortable with the road, and walk the last mile or less. There is a back entrance that should be driveable, but I'd need to send directions to anyone who is unable to do the walk in.

Never again!

I liked to never got the pump out of the tank yesterday afternoon. After moving it into deeper water at 7 AM, I watered trees until noon or so. By afternoon, it was extremely hot (at least 100°) and I was exhausted.  The sides were slick, thick mud and the pump was 35 lbs. I couldn't drag it up because mud would've gotten into the pump impellers. I put a ladder for a type of railing to hang onto. Tried other things too, but nothing helped. Somehow, I managed to get it to drier mud. Had to go change into unmuddy shoes to stand on it without sliding back down into the tank. This photo is looking down so you can't see how steep it is. Anyway, I can't ever attempt that by myself again! I did end up nearly topping off the stucco tank. Lacked a mere 4".

Matt Walter visited for an hour in the morning. He would've helped with the pump, but I wanted to pump as long as I could. He couldn't hang around that long. He took this great photo of a juvenile male Lucifer. Now that the nestlings have fledged, a lot of courtship is going on in preparation for the next batch. Alway gratifying to see they've had a successful nesting.

All by myself

I tried unsuccessfully to get help at the oasis, so I determined to do the work myself. Started out early this morning weed-eating and servicing feeders, then set up a pump in the dirt tank. It still had a lot of water in it from the rain two weeks ago, plus I wanted the water out in case a deluge comes. The more that it holds, the less there is to spill over and wash out the road.

That entailed carrying heavy hoses and a 35 lb. pump into the water.  It'll pump all afternoon (didn't get it running until noon), then this evening before dark, I'll get back into the tank and lower it further and let it pump all night. A gas pump is already set up at the tank, but I'm not strong enough to start it. It would pump the water out in about three hours... unless the intake is bogged down in mud. That makes it really hard to get primed.

Looking east

Looking west

Stucco tank

I'm putting the water into the stucco tank. It's down about 21" through evaporation and leakage since the monsoon topped it off. 

The hardest part is making my way down the steep slippery bank into the muddy tank floor. I just take my time and go an inch at a time with a walking stick. I could have gone deeper and not have to do it again later today, but having so much trouble with UTIs lately, I didn't want to get too deep into the water.

I had been despondent thinking how I live in pain and can't do the things I want to do, so I feel better now, even though my back hurts worse and my left foot was numb for a while. It makes me nostalgic to look back on the good ole days of boundless energy and enthusiasm.

LATER: Been weed-eating and sitting indoors in the AC all afternoon. Now I'm too tired to get into the tank, so I'll turn the pump off at dark and reset it in the morning. Raised the level in the stucco tank by 8."  Should be able to add another 8" tomorrow, leaving the tank about 6" from being full. It loses about an inch a day, so not a real big deal. And surely we'll get more rain this summer, our official rainy season.

Went up to arroyo to check on the Dark Star Milkvine. Most of the pods are ripe and dispersing seeds.