Fall migration fun!

Both the oasis and the ponds in Alpine are getting wonderful birds lately. I can't be two places at once, so trying to keep abreast of what I can, and see (and document) as much as I can. My feet hurt a lot so it's painful doing all the walking I'm doing.

There's been a Broad-tailed Hummingbird hanging out near the feeders in Alpine, which is very exciting. This photo is by Tim Handren. He's doing a Texas Big Year and was very happy to be able to add this bird to his tally.

A week or so ago, I found a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at my ponds in Alpine, but didn't figure out what it was until the second day when I got better photos. It didn't hang around, so only one other person got to see it. Here's Kym Morse's photo of it. My photos aren't as good as other people's. Can't carry my heavy Canon anymore.

The last two days there was a Magnolia Warbler seen at the oasis. Here's my lucky shot of it.

My son is for sure no longer interested in taking over the oasis after I'm gone, so I'm just going to enjoy it for as long as I can. It's getting pretty unkempt, but I'm sure the birds don't mind. Nothing is forever!

A few life adjustments

For awhile now I've been weighing shoulder replacement surgery. My left shoulder is painful (at best) when I use it, and often won't move at all. But I can't bring myself to go through surgery for it (or for my knees), so I'm making some adjustments. I cut my long hair about a year ago because I can't raise my left hand to brush it and pin it up. 

Now, I had my son install a knob on my steering wheel so I can turn it with one hand. Before, I had to turn it a ways with my right arm (which is now getting painful too), then stabilize the wheel with my left hand, then reposition my right arm, turn it more, etc.

I also got rid of half my T-shirts, since it's too painful to get in and out of them, and now I'm wearing button up shirts. Also have resolved to quit working online crossword puzzles (my favorite pasttime), and cut down on online scrabble to no more than two games per day. I had been trying to edit and organize my thousands of digital photos, but going to let that go. And going to use a monopod to hold my camera up to my eye. I need to stay as mobile as I can for as long as I can.

I was pleased to learn that my grand-niece, Sudi Green, won an Emmy for her work on SNL. We're very proud of her!

Fall migration is usually so slow as to be almost unnoticeable, and even more so with everywhere being an oasis these days. Hopefully, winter birding will be good here for the same reason.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds only migrate through our area in the fall. Sometimes in quite large numbers, but this year not so many at my feeders. (Photo from Alpine yard)

This Olive-sided Flycatcher has hung around our town ponds for at least a week now.

Never know what might show up any time though, so a fun time of year!

Torture in paradise!

I keep pushing myself to keep the trees alive a little longer. Just water one more time. Pump one more time. Realistically, I know I'm beyond my limit. And the trees will start dying. Today, I came to the oasis to service feeders, pump, and water. Again, carrying the 35 lb. pump down the muddy slope into the broken tank. Hoping I won't fall, or my back won't just give way under the weight, like my foot seems to have done.

This trip the mosquitoes were a nightmare! I'm watering with no relief, limping on my either broken, or arthritic, foot. Doesn't matter how much insecticide I cover myself with, or the head net I wear. They're voracious! I quit after 3 miserable hours. And the cowpen daisies, that I'm allergic to, are thriving. I doubled my dose of  allergy meds, but that didn't stop my nose from running like a faucet. Kept me breathing though.

Enjoying birds while I watered wasn't an option. Couldn't see through the net anyway. On the bright side, the mosquitos weren't bad during last month's festival tours. And I didn't get bitten by a rattlesnake. 😅 I did get bitten by a black ant. So painful that I wasn't able to nap after watering and lunch. 

Taking the pump out of the tank is the hardest. There's no way to wrestle the heavy, unwieldy 2" hose out without getting it covered in mud, which transfers to me, and I'm covered with mud. But, once again I topped off the stucco tank, which holds pretty well.

The only bird activity I was able to witness were three female/ juvenile Summer Tanagers feasting at a wasp's nest. I think they were eating the larva.