Maximizing slow birding

Birding has been really slow lately at the oasis and at my ponds in Alpine, so to pep me up, I've been enjoying helping other birders find good birds elsewhere. The last couple of days, that meant going to the Alpine cemetery and looking for Red Crossbills. It's been fun, and I love spending time with other birder friends.

This appears to be an irruptive winter for some species. So far, there have been Cassin's Finches, Red Crossbills, and a few Pinon Jays. We're hoping for Lewis's Woodpecker, Clark's Nutcracker, etc. 

I made a quick trip to the oasis yesterday afternoon to service feeders and check activity there. Still a few Lucifers hanging in there, including this male with his worn dull gorget.

Bears haven't bothered anything lately, but coons messed with the trail cam.

One mistake led to others

The fallout from Hurricane Simon was headed to the oasis, with 100% chance of rain predicted. I wanted to be there to monitor any road damage, runoff into tanks, etc. It did rain while I was there, but no runoff, just long periods of light to moderate rain, mostly during the nights. With wind raging last night, which traditionally causes power outages, and my food running low going into my third day there, I decided the rains were winding down so I'd go back to Alpine.

The ground was saturated and the road barely doable. When I got safely past my property, I remembered I had forgotten my prescription eye drops (mistake #1). They're only good for 30 days and very expensive (Restasis), so I decided to at least try to go back after them. That was mistake number two.

I made two failed attempts at getting back up the big hill and having to back down. Very difficult when you can't see where you're backing. I constantly had to get out in the raging wind and rain to make sure I wasn't going off the edge. And then I had to back all the way to the turnaround, around curves, on the narrow slick road. When I finally got to the turnaround, I backed into it in a manner I should have known better (mistake #3 if you're still counting) and was immediately hopelessley stuck. Why didn't I get out, yet again, and make sure where I was backing?

So I had to hike to my sister's house, she took me to a neighbor's, who came and pulled me out. They don't live there, but on my first drive out this morning, before I turned back for my eye drops, I saw they were at their cabin.  I was too stressed to think to take a photo until after they got me out and were unhooking their straps.

Great guys! So grateful to them! I'm hoping the ordeal doesn't cost me being real sick. We shall see.

On a brighter note, I won't have to water for at least 2 weeks, and on the way to town, I saw a new Brewster County species for me (#355), Greater White-fronted Goose, at a pond along the highway. I dared not get out of my pickup to photograph them. I knew they'd flush. So I shot through my mud-spattered passenger window (don't have auto windows in my pickup).

Also enjoyed photographing a Hammond's Flycatcher at the oasis day before yesterday. Birding is really slow right now. 

This recent Cassin's Finch at the oasis encourages me to think this might become a good winter for birds.

Impending winter

I always hate winters, and with our first cool front, I'm already feeling "under the weather." So I'm trying to focus on the positive. 

I've enjoyed this Great Horned Owl for most of the summer in Alpine. 

There's a local artist whose work I love. I can't resist sharing his Lucifer Hummingbird painting.

"Mule Ears Sunrise" by James Mangum

There's so much beauty in the world. We just get too bogged down in life's challenges to appreciate it enough.

Fall migration produced some fun birds. Best was a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at both the oasis and my ponds in Alpine. Shows if you build it, they will come.

 Johnson Ponds in Alpine

CMO

Other fun birds were lots of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Belted Kingfishers, and Scissortail Flycatchers. This Great Crested Flycatcher in my Alpine habitat was special too.

There was a quick visit at my Alpine feeders of a Broad-billed Hummingdbird. I just lucked out, because I was literally sitting near the feeders, documenting the Rubythroats, when it photo-bombed my shot of a Rubythroat. Never had that happen before.

I pretty much birded until I could go no longer. Had no energy to water the trees at the oasis, but luckily, we got a little bit of rain here and there that it should be ok. Hopefully, I'll be able to water when it needs it next.

The bottom line is, I'm so grateful to be able to do all that I do at my age!