Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Headin' home from a successful birding trip.

Tuesday April 15, 2014  Nebraska to Iowa - One more day on the road!

     Although there were drifts of snow from the north wind,s now and sleet on Sunday that were still in windrows along the north side of I-80, the sun felt warm in the 37 F temps all day long to Iowa City (Coralville IA). The middle of the week is not as busy on the road even with the usual number of trucks Some were local taking farm and ranch needs to get the spring planting started, and others on the long haul from California, Texas, Minnesota, and points beyond. It makes one realize how much we depend upon one another for products that come not only from overseas, but from the far reaches of  our own land.  I saw tomatoes from Canada, steel from Gary, fruit from California, trucks marked 'edible food', milk trucks,  empty cattle trucks and of course lots of grain, especially in the corn states of Nebraska and Iowa.  One truck passed us going up hill at 75 mph and I am sure he was empty and just anxious  to get another load to haul across country.
     Perhaps the biggest item (LITERALLY)  were the many trucks hauling those large white blade s for the new wind generators that are going up all through Iowa especially.  Each truck had an escort car ahead and behind it as those blades are 118 feet in length.  I think Ruth and I saw 8-9 of them along with some of the huge generators that move the electricity generated from them.  Total height of the nenerators is 212 feet plus the blade height!

 Can't get it all in one picture. (Ruth too it  as I couldn't get them at all.
 Well, here is the midle section
 Showing one along side a 56 foot long truck and trailer.
One of theblades in the open shows its length.
How would you like to park one of these?

     Birding was about average for us on the road especially the freeway. We saw 15 species which is about average for 70 mph viewing.  Saw quite a few hawks today and in one sewage pond from a rest area we actually saw our first Wood Duck of the trip. See, when birding, and at other times, you just shouldn't give up. Ruth said our total species on the trip was 75 so it was a good effort. Oh, one of the birds seen yesterday was reported as blue phase Snow Geese, but after thinking it over and checking the books and references, we decided that those five birds running down the road near the prairie chicken viewing, were Sharp Tail Grouse. Same family as the P.C. but even more rare to see in soem areas of the plains. There were five of them in a "pack". They ran down the road ahead of the car for about a third of a mile as we had a good look at them. (No pics) They are very similar to this Spruce Grouse .

We did go ut at sunset to see the Prairie Chickens one more time in the same spot as before, even though the temps were hovering at about 37 F with a slight wind in the face. I confess I was the wimp and sat in the car a few times to warm up while Ruth stuck it out getting video and pictures of their dancing. It was a beautiful moon that evening, although we di not stay up for the eclipse.

Supper tonight was across the street at Perkins where Ruth and I both had the turkey dinner with all th trimmings. (Easier on my system at this time as mashed potatoes go down easy and stay down.). It is very quiet here in Coralville tonight. I'll wrap it up tomorrow, but thanks for reading and following along. Happy travels!


Ruth shot this through the bare trees giving a stark effect to the scene out there on "One R Rd."
 The light from the sunset on the barn is a good contrast to the moon.

Sunset was very "clean" with no clouds to give it character.
Finally the moonrise added to the crispness and beauty of the evening.
In some places it was blood red.

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