It was a beautiful day, but during the night the trailer shook like it was going to be moved off its mooring! A 50 mph wind accompanied the rains at about 3:00 Am and blew for about an hour.I understand that north and east of us it was much worse. Some places in TX and LA had a DHI of 2.68 and up to 8.75 for hail damage. More than 24,000 homes were in the hail damage areas, although crops and agriculture were hit hardest in the rural farming areas. By morning it was cooler and dryer here, with the humidity falling all day from 98% to 47% at 8:00 Pm. Weather blessings for us. (Photos Below)
So today, like the next 4 days we will arise at 6:00 AM in order to get with Jim Stevenson for our 4 days of birding with the expert. We may not be able to "keep up" but we will see and learn much. Today we started today at his home about a longbow and arrow shot from where we are parked with our trailer. We can actually see his "rise" as the crow flies about 2 miles, and by road 4 miles. An interesting story about his obtaining that piece of property is in brief form here.
Like most of the land on the Island, it is very flat and subject to flooding and high water at times. (Not only hurricanes but high water from tides and winds.) Jim was leading birding trips out of Florida many years ago, and came here because in season this was also great birding territory. Jim actually stopped at that man's home as it was about 10 feet above the flat land and excellent birding. The man was a farmer and moved the soil into a large hill so that during flood times, the cattle could have a safe place to stay. The man built his home on that hill. Jim kept coming here until one year the man had the home up for sale when Jim arrived and was ready to move. Jim said. "I'll buy it" or words to that effect. He knew that it was a valuable piece of real estate especially for birding as the avian would see the high piece of land after coming across or around the Gulf and head for it, Voila! a great place to be a birder. In the photo below, Jim sits with some of the birders who came today to his Open House watching the birds come in to the many trees (all "man" planted) in the leisure of the living room.
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| Jim Stevenson's living room with the six birding TV's, and the windows looking out into the trees and canopy. Jim sits by the far window. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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There is also a deck above the house, outside coming from his bedroom.
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| A Prickly Pear cactus starting to bloom |
After a brief bird session in the yard and on the roof we retired anxious to return to learn from him the next four days.
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| A moving Roseate Spoonbill. |
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| These Beach Evening Primrose has another name (Very naughty) |
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| The pond in front of our trailer has many birds each day. |
The late morning and early afternoon were spent indoor as the wind subsided and the humidity dropped. That included a lunch at the trailer and a load of laundry at the "Walk Up" laundry facility. The rest of the afternoon was leisurely, and consisted of balancing the budget, sorting bills, checking the credit card pay outs (never leave any balance due), and checking on the children and grandchildren to see how they are doing. Found out that Tavin Ardell split the first two matches of soccer in Indianapolis losing 2-1 and winning 4-1 with one match left tomorrow. He plays for an Alliance team out of Grand Rapids (U-19). They are ranked 4th in Michigan in U-19.
Had a supper out and some brief shopping for groceries which ended the day. A store called 'Randalls' was the cleanest groxery store I have ever seen. Oh... a call from my sister Connie bringing me up to date on her side of the family as her husband has been moved into a Care facility for dementia patients. She is recovering from some severe coughing this last week and getting back on her feet. She is 88.
So, tomorrow we start getting "serious" about this birding. Today we saw very few birds , but then we weren't looking very much either. About 35 specie identified. I think the Couch's Kingbird was the outstanding bird today. (Below)
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| A couch's Kingbird. A very SW USA bird. |
That was seen at Stevenson's out the front window. See you tomorrow!
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