Bird bath finally finished

As far as the birds were concerned, their new bath facility was finished when I turned on the water to it, but now it suits me, too, considering my husband won't allow me to put any rocks around the edges, and I had to elevate the fake rock too so nothing interferes with his edger. 

There have been a couple of hummingbirds around. The other day an expert called one a Costa's. I saw what I'd swear was the same bird today and she called it a Ruby-throated, so I'm frustrated and confused. Here's the one ID'd as a Costa's on the 26th...

And here's what I'd swear is the same bird today. Go figure! When I inquired about it she said the difference is in the shape of the primaries. I still don't see it.

It's impossible for me to get a decent photo of that hummer because the juvenile Allen's won't let it at the feeders. I'll keep trying.

As I was processing the photos I took today, I discovered I had also photographed the previous adult Allen's. Hard to tell through the camera lens. I was very surprised.

Seems like there's more fighting among birds at the bird bath today, although the numbers seem the same.

Cold but birdy

Yesterday was really brisk. I got quite chilled. No great birds, but lots of sparrows and other birds, including an American Robin.

I guess the cold wore me out because by the time I got to town I was too exhausted to catch up on my work there. Just made a list to do it all today. 

Today I got an early start and got caught up. Made my fake rock cover. I'm afraid to even breathe on it. The cement kept sloughing off, but I think it's done. Maybe in a couple of days or more, I'll dare to put it on the outlet. Hoping it doesn't crack too bad. I can easily repair it, of course, but rather not. I made a huge mess on the patio.

(Birdbath in background)

Meanwhile, the bird bath is very popular with Yellow-rumped Warblers. At one point I counted five on it at the same time. Only managed a photo with four on it. My rubber gloves are hard to get on and off, so I couldn't always take pictures as fast as I wanted while immersed in rock-making.

Obviously, I haven't tired yet of taking their photos through the window. The next two photos were taken after I removed that annoying background rock. Since it was propping up the big basin rock I had to get my son to hold the latter in place while I replaced it with one that didn't show in the background. Bokeh and all! When I originally set the rocks in place I didn't have help and was unable to hold the big megaton rock in place while arranging the prop below it.

Splendid oasis day!

Got a late start from town because I wanted to try for better photos of the probable Costa's Hummingbird, but didn't see it. The new bird bath was popular though. 

Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler

So, by the time I got to the oasis activity was slow. Nevertheless, there were a few species beyond what I normally have, such as this Townsend's Solitaire eating pistachio berries.

There are lots of berries at the oasis, including these Texas Madrone and Guayacan.

Since birding is always slower in the afternoon, I did my watering so that in the morning I'll be free to watch birds. The weather was perfect too, between 80-84.°

 

The water drip was popular. A couple of Hermit Thrushes hung out there all afternoon. 

If it isn't too cold and windy, tomorrow morning will be great fun before I have to head back to town. I'm also looking forward to making my artificial rock cover and doing some tweaking to the bird bath in town. Not satisfied with the background rock on the bird photos, for one thing. I'll find a way to eliminate it.

So worth it!

Part of what I had to agree to, to get my new water feature, was that I had to dig the ditch for the electric cable. I did that yesterday, which was very challenging considering the shape my body is in, but I persevered.

Today, I no sooner got the cable buried than my son showed up to wire it up. And he cut that electric pole shorter too. I've put together the framework for the cover for it, but need some stuff from the oasis before I can finish it.

The cold front that froze part of our zucchini crop brought some new birds. I photographed what turned out to be three new hummers. Hadn't had one here for several days, so my radar perked up.  They were rather elusive, and since I had only one feeder up, they were fighting over it. I finally decided a real blurry photo was a Calliope, but then when I saw an obvious archilochus species, wondered how I could have been so wrong. I changed it on my ebird report to Black-chinned/Ruby-throated.

First ID'd as Calliope

Obvious archilochus species

After taking  many more photos, I added this one to my Black-chinned/Ruby-throated submission on ebird. Kelly Bryan said the archilochus was a Ruby-throated, which is rare here for this time of year.

I thought I had them all sorted out until hummingbird expert Sheri Williamson declared the above bird a Costa's Hummingbird. If a Costa's, I didn't feel quite as stupid calling it a Calliope (based only on that first blurry flight shot, mind you).

And the third hummer I was pretty sure was an immature Allen's, which the experts agreed. Whew! Never before had I had a total of 3 hummers, of 3 different species, and all 3 flagged by ebird as rare. Crazy!

Then, late this afternoon, I glanced out the window and saw a Myrtle's Warbler perched above the "bird bath." Knowing it was wanting to bathe, I grabbed my camera and waited excitedly. No more wondering what species would be my first customer!

Shooting through the window isn't ideal, but if not for the "bird bath," I wouldn't have known a Myrtle's Warbler was even here. So already all the hard work pales in comparison. So worth it!

I'm eager to see what the front brought to the oasis. I was going to go down tomorrow, but I feel I need more documentation on the probable Costa's, so will postpone a day.

I imagine many of you wonder why I'm so excited about the new water feature when I don't even know a birder who doesn't have one. And most of them can monitor theirs from indoors. It's not like I invented a new tool, or something. Can't explain it other than I so dread being confined indoors in cold weather. Now it'll hopefully be more bearable. Previously, like 20 years ago, I had discussed a water feature there, but had always wanted to remove the grape arbor to make a really beautiful one, which hubby vetoed. Also the sitting room windows were frosted over with minerals that wouldn't remove. Hugh vetoed new windows, but surprised me by removing the outer panes, as they were double-paned. The remaining pane is good enough. And as I get older the cold bothers me more. Thinking ahead to when I'm in my nineties, it might be my only birding option. So in a way, it may extend my birding life. That's worth getting excited about!

Exhausted, but progress!

All we lack is finishing up on the new water feature. My husband is going to do the wiring. Right now I have it running with an extension cord. Here's my grandson digging the hole.

Then the fun part began...

Because my husband refuses to let me decorate the outer edge with rocks, I just have to do the best I can within the constraints I have to work with. I covered the grate with a cloth, hoping less dirt, debris, and light will get into the reservoir. It'll fade to gray before long wherever it's visible.

I still need to put lots more pebbles on the grate, but I just couldn't do any more today. Wrestling the big center rock was a killer. But ugly or not, the birds will love it. The basin is just right for them. When I get pictures of great birds bathing, I won't mind the esthetics as much. Hopefully.

That pole my husband demanded for an electrical outlet will get cut shorter, and I'll camouflage it with a fake rock made by me. All in all, I'll be satisfied. So eager for birds to use it.

I had asked my sisters to be on the lookout for a good basin rock. Initially, I rejected this one they found, as too heavy and difficult to work with, and rather ugly. However, I couldn't find anything more suitable, so brought it to town. It's working out fine.... if I just never have to move it to get into the reservoir. After I get rested I'm going to do some more esthetic tweaking, but this is it for today. The only cost so far was a new pump I persuaded Hugh to let me buy. It cost $16 plus $4 for the tubing, but all the pumps we have put out too much water. So glad to have this one!

A few winter birds arriving

 There are still 3 or 4 Lucifers left. Likely will be gone within a week or so.

I totally exhausted myself today watering and climbing around looking for a suitable rock for the water feature I'm building in town. The ones I liked were too heavy to lift, so I may end up using a fake rock after all.... if I can find a suitable one.

While birding was decent today, for a change, dragonflies were crazy! A dragonfly expert visited today and tried to count the California Spreadwings. He gave up at 100. And they're a quite uncommon species normally.

They're consuming lots of damselflies (Familiar Bluets are the only ones present).

Walking in the arroyo at the oasis looking for water feature rocks I came across fresh tracks. I assume Mountain Lion, but I suppose it could be a large dog.

I think the water drip at the oasis is finished, unless birds don't like it, then I'll have to make it hold more water. I think it'll be fine. Just not enough birds currently to tell.

Yesterday my sister-in-law and I went birding in the area, for the first time in many months. We were thrilled to see so many Sage Thrashers, Townsend's Solitaires, and a few Western Bluebirds (we're easy to please these days). Maybe this winter birding will be tolerable.

Considering how far I was from this Osprey, the photo turned out better than expected. Must  have accidentally had things set right.

And the Allen's Hummingbird is back at my Alpine feeder after an 18 day absence.

Tomorrow I hope to post photos of the new water feature's progress in town.

Boring days

People have been asking if I'm OK, so I thought I'd better post something, even if it's boring.

I had been really dreading the upcoming winter. Not only did we have a practically nonexistent fall migration, but the long cold months ahead are hard to endure. The older I get, the more cold bothers me.

I did get an idea that will hopefully make winter more bearable. I'm making a water feature here in Alpine where I spend so much of my cold weather time. I won't have to brave the elements to look for birds. I'll be able to sit by a warm fire (chairs swivel) and look outside the window.

And of course, I'll always love to be joined by other birders, especially if something rare shows up. So, that tub you see outside the window is going to be sunk into the ground. My grandson is going to do the digging Sunday. Then I'll cover it with a grate, sturdier than this example I found online, but it gives you the idea.

Next, I was planning to put a lightweight fake rock on top, like we have at the oasis, only smaller and cheaper (for around $100), but didn't like the color, so since, have decided to put a couple of concrete blocks inside the tank so I can place a real rock on top of the grate, supported by the blocks. Then I'll cover the grate with pebbles and rock so light can't get into the tank-reservoir, where a small pump will recirculate the water, similar to the oasis. I won't have any money invested in this one. I already had the tank left over from the oasis's old water feature. Couldn't use it there because algae plugged up the pump. But without sun getting into this, that won't be a problem. Of course, if I had known this years ago when I built it at the oasis, I wouldn't have had that problem. But by the time I figured it all out, the new, way superior, water feature there was being built (by Mike Gray). Anyway, I'm not dreading winter quite as much now. 

Back in Alpine

 After a long nap, I feel all recovered. Putting the recent water I harvested into perspective, I got about 15,000 gallons. Next spring when it's beastly hot and trees are thirsty to put on good spring growth, I shouldn't have to ration water, or use from the reserve tank (paid for by birders). Best if I can keep the reserve tank in case summer rains don't happen one year. If I use about three thousand gallons a week next spring, that's enough water to keep the oasis happy, like it is now. So this new water could last through five critical weeks. Happy oasis, happy me!

Since the additional water didn't create any more surface area, the tanks won't evaporate any more than they will without it. And likely no increase in leakage either. If I had been physically able to handle the 3" electric pump yesterday afternoon, it would have salvaged even more water. Or if my system to pump straight from the upper dirt tank to the stucco tank (bypassing the lower dirt tank) had been operational, that would have helped a lot too. Or if we got more rain. But might not have gotten any, so I'm not complaining.

I did watch birds awhile this morning. Nothing interesting. I didn't stay long enough for the amberwings to come out. (They only fly in the afternoons.) Still a couple of Lucifers hanging around.

There's always maintenance that needs doing at the oasis. Right now I'm doing what I can to stop erosion into the road at the top of the big hill. It's been ongoing for years and getting too close to the road. An ounce of prevention and all. I'm putting rocks along the edge, but it isn't helping. So I'm hoping to spend a couple of days a week throughout the winter, not only watering but mixing some cement and gradually building a rock retainer wall there. I can do it, just takes more time and energy than it used to. I've built a lot of rock retainer walls, not to mention three dams, through the years. Also need to do some weed-eating, but not much. Gotta get the broken pump to town to see what it needs. Otherwise, things are pretty well caught up and functioning smoothly. I try to stay on top of projects as much as possible so it doesn't get overwhelming.

Caught some runoff

The oasis got a couple of soaking rains that filled the settling pond and upper dirt tank each half full. So yesterday around noon I arrived to harvest what water I could. Wrestling with the heavy pumps was a killer, the same amount of work if the tanks had been full. But I take what I can get. 

So after I got the water from the upper dirt tank to the lower dirt tank, the next step was to get it to the stucco pond. All went well at first, the big hard-to-start pump started up and was rapidly moving water. Then, for whatever reason, I've yet to learn, it started racing, but stopped picking up water. By then it was after 5 PM and I was exhausted, but I set up a smaller, slower electric pump, which took all night to pump. Very little sleep for me, as I had to keep checking it. And once I'm up, it's almost impossible to get back to sleep. I ended up adding 2" to the big concrete tank and a little over a foot to the stucco tank. The former now lacks a foot from being full, and the latter lacks about 2½ feet from capacity. For sure seems like a lot of agony for such a small amount of water, but it could be vital next year, especially if it doesn't rain. It's at least a month's supply.

So I didn't have time to watch birds, not that there were any to watch, but I did see a couple of Lucifers still around. If I'm not too tired when daylight arrives, I'll watch birds before heading back to town. I did see and photograph one amberwings, which I believe is a Mexican Amberwing.

Lots of California Spreadwings around too.

Up the hill!

Went to the oasis to water this morning. Had my grandson with me to help, so I had him film me driving up the steep part of the hill.

There were still several Lucifer Hummingbirds around. One juvenile male was harassing an adult male, or vice versa, which is why this male is assuming his fiercest stance.

Driving back to Alpine at 75 MPH, I slammed on the brakes as I zoomed past a white roadrunner.

After I got turned around, I could see it wasn't as white as it had first appeared.

My first leucistic roadrunner, nevertheless!

Lovely October day!

Aoudad above the oasis

Hard to believe it's October already! It's going to be a long five months until Lucifers return... unless some very cool winter birds show up.

The big hill concrete is open to visitors now. I went up it today. So unbelievably different than before the concrete. Before it was like grip the steering wheel, focus on the best path, hold your breath, and now it's like a smooth, relaxing drive up. Here's a photo I took from nearly half a mile away. It gives a more objective sense of the steepness.

Now the road is not too rough, but just rough enough to keep the ambiance that of a wilderness adventure. 

I'm so looking forward to visitors next spring. It's going to be so fun! The highlight of today was a female Mexican Amberwing. Only photographed a female once before. The photos today were a bit better, I think.

Still lots of California Spreadwings too. Getting tired of photographing them.