Day 33, Sunday July 10, 2022, Last day at Douglas WY

WY Day 33, Sunday July 10, 2022, Last day at Douglas WY

The weather predicted a cooler day today and we realized that meant only 95 degrees F instead of 100 F. So we decided to return to that cool spot in the shade of the trees in Ayers Park where the LaPrele Creek flows through the canyon.

Being decided, we arrived there about 9:30 AM and this time took our chairs and a table, in order to do some really relaxing bird watching. It turned out that we were more successful than Friday when we were there. During the time we were there (until  2:00Pm), we moved our chairs three times  both to get away from the picnickers that were gathering on Sunday (some after church services) and some just on a Sunday outing, and to look for different birds.
 

The entry to the Park

The Arch with family playing in the water

Our viewing spot while enjoying the scene and birding

 

The air was pleasant, and a little breeze blowing that helped make us feel cooler. The birds were plenty (see list below)  and we did pick up five new species for this trip. with new ones to add to our total list; The Cordillaran Flycatcher , Wilson’s Warbler, Says Phoebe, and the Western Bluebird. The main and most populous birds were the Yellow Warblers. They seemed to be all around. (See) Again the swallows were flying by the hundreds as they are feeding there young in the mud nests on the cliffs (Cliff Swallows!).

During the stay we again met Christy and her husband who manage the County Park. The park is but 5 acres of public use property, and they have a contract with the county, live in a beautiful home there. She  is the granddaughter of one of the earlier managers and spent many summers here as a younger girl and loves the place as her own. We could tell. I asked her if there were ‘Dippers’ in the Creek at times and she said there were when the water is full. That would be in spring during runoff when there are whirlpools.

By noon the park was a bustle of activity, but it still remained quiet and even with children  playing in the water  with their  dads, we were still able to hear and see the birds.

After lunch we stayed another two hours and called it a day. One church group had some members from Michigan (Breckenridge) and one man in the group asked me how I knew I was going to heaven. We had a brief conversation about that and grace, and I assured him I followed Jesus! On the way out I offered to take a family photo of a family that needed a photographer. Smiles all around. There was a church service there when we came in, and they were singing “Nearer My God  to Thee” as we entered.  They had two Baptisms in the Creek that day.

We drove into town to get an ice cream at McD’s (not our  usual place) so Ruth could have a Carmel sundae, and I would get a “Frappe”. ‘Wouldn’t you know’ that their ice cream machine broke down, but I did get my Frappe. We filled up with gasoline across the street, and Ruth went in to get a frozen ice cream bar. ‘Wouldn’t you know’ there were no ice cream bars. It was not Ruth’s day for ice cream.

The"oldfashioned" ice cream store from yesterday. It was a barn and then attached to the city hall in the early 1900's.THeydid not know how to make a "soda". Bummer.

One of the many Yellow Warblers we saw.

 

We returned to the trailer not as hot as the day before and with a good list of 32 birds almost all from the park.

Supper was Ruth’s hamburgs on the grill, and that was filling. Tomorrow we head east  towards Ogallala, Nebraska few a few days. That is along the North Platte River which we will be following, along with the Platte River, for 500 miles.

Those birds today;  Three Swallows, W.Meadowlark, A.Goldfinch, Cedar Waxwing, Willow, Cordillaran, Olive Sided and Dusky Flycatchers,  Yellow Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Say’s Phoebe, Spotted Towhee, Belted Kingfisher,  Western Bluebird, Eastern Wood Peewee, Catbird,  and Vesper Sparrow. We also saw 11 species we consider :common”.