Pretty bird

F O S !
Oh, first of spring as well.
FOS ?
O stands for Outstanding. Figure the rest. Four solits at Sewage plant, they fight like hell. More pics later. rh

OK, so I should not back into oncoming traffic

OK about 45 mins ago you probably heard a whip crack type sound, someone shouting jesus, a squealing of brakes and some unfortunate words. The "Crack" sound was my but snapping shut.The rest is logical. I was coming up 95 . The joy of the day has been swarms of tree swallows on the wires, I was at about 11 Banks, mixed in.So you cruise slowwly under them and hope for an odd type. Well 95 is not prone to that with boaters etc. Saw this damn thing in a long triple string of tree swalls.
Hit the brakes. Started backing up. Visions of christ knows what dancing around. Got four snaps. causing a problem, and CHP everywhere. Took off. Just ran it by . Damn, but that would make a great mystery bird sillhouette. Do not think I spelt that right, but them black paper things that victorian spinsters spent years snippimg out with nail scissors.I saw an exhibition, I believe at the V and A in London of the better ones. Utterly, scarily incredible products. Trees, and fields of flowers, all interconnected.One of the most impressive exhibitsI have seen, get a book from the library or google and see what I mean
Roger

Birds and rubbish

Well. The road sign is now on a third of all exit ramps to Blythe (ie One)
Pretty much somes up the local negative spin on out of towners !!!
The birds , you should be able to figure out. The fun one was the sparrow, Camera totally unset up for the bird in view a minute snapped first ,bins second. Chesnuty cheeks, bright yellow head stripes stunning white throat, and rufous back. I guess a savannah sparrow , though it seemed in behaviour/posture different. A race I have never seen before. The picture does it no justice , any one know a sparrow loony? A total lack of migrants.
Headed to parker to fill drug prescription tomorrow. Will bird there. Why you ask when we have a Pharmacy at Rite Aid. Cal Cost $385.
Walmart AZ generics $37:95.
Tell me someone is not "F123456g" someone.
Keep smiling RH

Stunned at Politics

Please step out find a politician, take him/her home. And introduce them to the real world. I have mine tied to the back fence, after I have read the paper I go out and thrash him with it.He is starting to sound out " stupid fool unworthy of any respect"
But it will take several more thrashings.
Some clown wants to ban wood burning fireplaces and stoves in California. Good job I still do not live on Palomar. Lock and load brother. Touch that puppy when there is no power and six foot of snow, I think not. Cut air emmisiions ? They say. How about making it liilegal to burn plastic bags, and trash in 55 Gallon Drums in your back yard on a Sunday morning. ? You could do that but there are no enforcement agents.
Why worry , be Happy.
100 year anniversary of Scouting. Girls scouting was honoured, boys not. Bitter battle in Sack-of-Mento. read the press.
Its OK to be a Lesbian Scout but not a Gay one. Intriguing. Which reminds me the only fight I have with any Homosexuality, is that Men chose the word Gay. A light hearted, joyous word in its inception , now a synonym for male Homosexuals. Why not Platonics, or something?
Oh well. Reminds me of a fun tale of two outlooks !
Two Homosexual men are stood at a crosswalk, discussing life when a stunning lady, dressed up like a dogs dinner, and literally stopping traffic walks by. They follow each step down the sidewalk until she vanishes. Their eyes meet, and one says "Its at times like this that I wish I was a Lesbian "
Birding today and some catch up. Pictures to be added in the AM, when the transmit time is faster but Saturday. 3 Swainsons Hawks, another Whimbrel (2 this spring, first 12th?) Very tough bird for Blythe, as are 2 more M Godwits, a sprinkling of Western s. 10 R N Ducks holding on, 1 fem BHead. 4 seperate Ospreys, 7 Avocets. Pair of Fuertes back ? One for sure.3 N Harriers. Thats it. Robin working on nest. WC Chipp and Brewers Sp still present. American Pipit still holding on. Verm Flycs still displaying ? Incredibly few. Guess they went to the coast. Absolutely NO migrants. Unless you need to see a Northern Oriole. Tree and Cliff Swallows gone. Whats an Empid ?Oh 2 Bronzed Cowbirds, and One RGDove male on street. Ibii vanished.
Think I will go and fill the Hummer feeders, did have a Calliope Yesterday. Most tedious.

ID Test

OK
You should be able to get the family.
Go to NAB spring migration 2002.Go to page377.
Top RH Corner "Note the heavy bill on this bird,appreciably different from that of the smaller Zinos Petrel "
Christ how stupid of me.
Has any one seen Feas and Zinos flying together ?
Or do we rely on shitty pictures, that people who do not know what they are looking at claim, based on drawings in Bird books ? And more shitty pics, this pelagic stuff seems to be like fanir and gull watching. Self feeding. rh.
Hell a pixel there a pixel here that could look like a ? !
Page380 Bottom LHS. I am still working on dark phase Pom Skua id

Simple Observation need a PhD

I may have mentioned this on assorted web sites before I got the heave ho. But I will mention it again. There seems to be as they would say in N Yorkshire "Summat tapped wi yon swallows" To which you raise your glass of draught ale, while munching your ploughmans, and say "I ken that Marrah", and spooning down some more Branston Pickle.
See how easy it was to convey birding info in the NY Moors 50 years ago !
In Blythe, no one understands that clear logic so I will set it out easily for non "Marras "to understand !
I do not claim to be be overly swift but after 9 years I catch on !
Every year around the end of March barely into April, Cliff Swallows suddenly appear. They get into a total frenzy inspecting nests, swarming around last years nest sites like we are good to go. Then they do exactly that. Gone. Went to 3 sites this am . NOT a cliff to be found. 3 weeks they will be actively building and breeding. Same thing hapens with other migrants. Couple of BHGBeaks, N Orioles, etc. Gap until Early/ mid May . Then we restart. Odd
NO empids . Robinms building nests Chippers displaying, as Brewers and carrying nest material ?
OH first of these for the spring
Double OH.
I am going to set you all up to fail.
I am simply going to post 2 pics, or maybe more?
I will entitle it "Mystery BIRD QUIZ"
Sadly for you it will not come in the same format as many, a glossy magazine dripping with articles from the birding elite, explaining that how to become a good birder is simply that you need to go on the tour or buy the bins I am pimping
YES! This will be cruel, brutal, and hopefully send you into an Abyss of Angst and emotional panic as to your skills.
Meanwhile I will squat "Toad like " on my ego scoffing at your guesses, and pointing out your incompetency, after all, I know the answer regards rh
Hint
They are Pelagic. But then so are Ptarmigan. They shewed up on a research vessel way off Alaska. I believe they had 37
You are forewarned.

3 views of a Grebe

How I spent my morning/afternoon. Spending my late afternoon clarifying logically the fact that my responsibilities from this morning were actually not mine but someone elses.Not a chance. They who hover wish I would. Too old to give them that fuel. Instead took the attack. I am supposed to be cooking my fabled sole on Fennel and scallions etc. Well I like it. Headed rapidly for fridge announced who forgot to get the fish and Basil, and drank all the white wine. I guess I will head for the store after I have changed.Guilty silence. So I am typing this and headed out. Oh I forgot the fish and basil. They drank the wine. I have enough to cook with, and as I can't have any. May forget that also.
Enjoy the day. I am. roger

Sewage farm rules

Great opening headline
Reminds me of the Monty Python Line. Whats brown and sounds like a Bell ?.........DUNG.
No-one could spout that correctly but Eric Idle !
Also reminds me of my brit birding mate, venturing out onto the drying beds, at Bev Sewage Farms in Yorkshire, Curlew/Green Sand I forget. Imagine a pie crust of indeterminate thickness,and strength and a filling of indescribable FILTH ! I had ventured out picking Tomatoes, best ever, seeds go through you, food and water. Excellent. Now I was about 2/3 his mass and height, and the crust was being kind to me. Chris ventured further to chase the bird. Exceeded the elastic strength of the "Crust". Close your eyes. Imagine away. I do not care if you are on medication for a vivid imagination. You will never, ever have the mental video that I have etched in my brain. What was more fun, we had got there on Public Transport, return trip ???!!! Awesome. Thanks Chris thats what friends are for. Oh I promised never to reveal his last name was Harbard, and I never have !
Right now my sewage plant, much different process etc, is probably the best place in Blythe. I have early birds, some late ones and some fun ones. So I will try and download pics.Down loaded.
Think we can safely say "Rusticolla"
Early SemiP Plover, a Least and a Killdeer, they were part of a flock, that suddenly froze, and froze and froze. Got out to find out why ? Peregrine on utility pole !
Eared Grebe latish. No hope on Ibii! FOS W Sands. Crappy Cliff Swallow, but reasonable percentage shewing white tips to outer retrices, and white /very pale windows.Like this New Race !
Flighty scaup on canal. Odd dot head bird at vast range. Harlequin he hoped !
700mm digital screwed with to the limits of light gathering. Reveals fem scaup. Not used to that plumag
Light is up headed for sewage hunting.regards roger

OK I have paid my dues.. back off. OK

Screwed backwards and damned forwards. Dozed OFF....
Inscrutable Dr Chua, "Eyes greeming with Joy"
Had the courtesy not to say " Hah Lodger, your charming wife and prenty flends hab been terring you for years, I been terring you. YOU HAB a STLOKE. And you hab a big lon, this time rucky not kill you. Next time you flucked, you son of a blitch".
Did not have to say it. Merely the way he tap danced down the hall, taking high fives from his staff, did a double back flip, into the splits whilst spinning his cane, as confetti fell from the ceiling and the chorus sang some number whose main theme seemed to be "WE TOLD YOU SO SUCKER"
In front of the giant screen shewing reruns of my reprobate, self indulgent life style..
Sorry, misled you. After dozed OFF... insert woke up, then carry on. Sorry, you might have thought it was an odd dream, not reality !!
Merciless.
I have made a 99% recovery I guess. BUT. I punched my ticket to the "DIET ZONE".
BIG SAMOAN dude behind me in the check out counter at Albertsons, in Border Patrol type outfit.5:30 am .As I was sneaking out yummies, and talking to Tony, so she would miss the jar of liguid pork fat, preserved in Salt. Great on low cal crackers. A sound appeared, Hey, your the teacher who had a heart attack, my daughter has you. You know you can't have that,oh put that back, no thats not good etc etc Thinking of changing states
I thought it was just Paranoia..............IT IS NOT
Even the Earth is screwing with my diet, everyone hates me.
YOU WANT PROOF ?
I spent a whole week charting my blood pressure,trembling from spam withdrawel symptoms in dark cabinets while sucking my toes and chanting "I can change my life style for this one blow out moment of decadence, I can do it"
I calculated what it would take for me to have 3 spring lamb chops that favourite butcher dan promised to cut me from the end of a rack.So I did without
Sorry,but all the debt etc was set to be wafted from my conciousness,as I was about to lift four of the six chops, medium rare onto my plate (OK so dan can't count) to nestle next to some lightly steamed, skin on tiny baby yukon potatoes, with a sprig of mint from the yard and a dash of Tarragon flakes, and the petite French Peas I had been saving, to splash My Brit Cross and Blackwell Mint sauce over with fresh ground pepper, and a just baked Flute of Sourdough bread. The pop of the merlot cork (Saved up beer credits)was awaiting.
WE HAD A FU******G EARTHQUAKE
Whose idea was that ?
By the time the train was rerailed and the phones hung up, from calling anyone and anyone, to ask if they felt the earthquake............
Chops sat there over cooked, then "Turn offf the stove, the house could catch fire" sent them into icy congealment.
Man they were beautiful. I will miss them.
Leaves me no choice but to find out who organised that fiasco, and "gun 'em down"
When the forces of nature are trying to keep you on a diet, best pay attention !
Very, very windy. Like my chum noted on ICB, lots of Yellowthroats moving through. Least Bittern, Virginia Rail,Crow and best bird Oregon Junco.
Everything as expected.
OK NO excuse for miss-ID Myarchus . Been here for a week.
regards rh
ps Neighbour told me I can not have egg yolks any more. Going to check, must be a line of insanity in his family, why did they invent boiled eggs and toast fingers with butter ?

Location Location Location !

I know "Big deal"
But as I always espouse, my rary is your yard bird, and wikky werrkay as the Romans where oft to shriek. This is probably the hardest Sawbill for me to see on the river. (See how careful I was with that statement. Tons of wriggle room !)
Almost all of my birds over 10 years have been "drop birds" long range fem/imm types. Scope jobs at best. Tough push to be annual. Just pondering as I type, this may be my first ad Male ?
Incredibly flighty, canal hopping, and running back on its self. Finally took a SWAG as to where on canal walked in sneeked up bank 8 pics an 3 hours, bird in Oregon by now !
Works for me . ADD BIG race of Canada G (will check pics), Bufflehead and that was my am birding.
Nothing stunning, but the pics work for me ! Roger

Just a re-itt.....

Amazing. Guess I do not have the global view afforded to some. A caption with a picture, on a photo site, of Smurfbirds. LOVE the site and it's links.
Here we go, drag out your CEO "health care rip off company " bonus, and follow these helpful instructions attached to one pic. "If you want to see this spectacular species, then go soon while this confiding individual is around"
I am in, if you want a ride and are willing to share gas mileage, I can pick you up and we leave first light. OK?
Pack your own lunch. Oh the bird in question. I forgot.
Ah yes "Palawan Peacock Pheasent" St Pauls NP, Phillipines.
We may have to share driving.
I wrote the idiots name down, so if I ever meet him, I will remember to slap him between the eyes with my Birds of the LCRV. What an a-hole.
Went yesterday to take pics of Cliff Swallows, and look for incipient Caves. Immediately side tracked by light and colours from graffitti on the water. Spending today trying artsy fartsy pics. Here comes the sun, gourgeous, peeking from behind the MTNs. Yesterday (Sat) Lucys and Wilsons Calling and singing. 2 L B Vireo. 1 Avocet !1 Fuertes , 2 imm rth, and N Harrier M, and 1 Fem over suitable habitat, on reserve . But different times. WT Kites Vanished. MOre news later.
roger

Not dead yet,,,logic?

Ok,
One step further from the grave !
A rather worrisome,somewhat reflective thought.
Heck, I went through maybe 2 minutes of totally bizare mental, and physical experiences, which I remember implicitly. Hit the ground remember it coming up.
20 years ago, we would we be shovelling dirt on me and, those recollections would be gone. And folk would have moved on.A fact.
Pure science and incredibly talented people kept me out of that hole, I would like to think that was all. BUT as I get out and talk to folks I did not think I knew, who say non scientific stuff like we knew you would be back, and our church prayed for you, and the kids wrote a huge get well better banner. I am starting to ponder the possibility of the fact that,,,,,,,,,, I have no answers to everything.
Went to sign on to local doc, I guess I am ahead of the curve health wise, I can not seem to absorb the logic of the systems stroke treatment regimen.( Numbers vague guesses)The first 30 days you get back 60% of what you will reacquire, then the Law of Diminishing proportions steps in. So driving , shopping, balancing check book, seeing to myself, cooking, cramming everything in I can. DR suggests I sit back rest and take it easy for 2 or 3 weeks, as does everyone else. Great, I will remember to sit back and rest for the next several years.
Strokes are like Earthquakes, there are small tremors ahead you ignore. and you get hit by the big one, life falls apart. Get up and rebuild. Here is where earthquakes differ from strokes. Strokes. Advice "you are going to get afterstrokes/shocks", (OK I now Know what I am looking for)"There could be a worse one or one nearly as bad in the future " When ?, "WE don't know but you shouldn't really .......(Pick your favourite pastime) until you know you are not going to have one"
Going birding tomorrow.
Today, supremely lucky. Allowed to drive to Docs, left super early, it can take at least 2 hours to go 14 miles if the traffic is bad.!!! Sewage plant quiet, Cemetery 2 chippers, a tour of fields revealed 1 swainsons, old catfish ponds 17 RN Ducks and a RB Gull, still WC Sparrows. On the way home swung by Fish Farms. More luck, the bank has been reduced and graded. Stood talking to owner. More luck. Out of knowhere got a "Run By". This bird appeared from nowhere dropped like a stone landed on the bank beside us, made 2 bounces, the look around, the hell NO, OUT A HERE 3 steps and left. Camera in cab,grab spin and shoot. 3 frames.
Now Godwit is a rare bird, and this is way early for a spring bird.The bbrc would have to establish a pattern. We do not see them every year. So maybe we should not count it as this might be the year we do not see one, because we do not have a pattern yet. Once I have a pattern, I will go back and see if it fits it. ID skills at their best!
Still waiting on more migrants. Going to drive some back roads on the desert margin today and look for Sparrows. A Gropper would be most excellent.WKBirds everywhere. Just after 4 am and they are whit-whittering away alreadt
roger

Enough already....ok

When the brilliant folks at Phoenix let me loose, they said go home, the next 9 days are worst for relapse so relax and take it easy. Just quiet and read a book.
I AM IN.
How in darwins name do you relax, with the reverbarating sounds of canned food headed for the food bank, as it has to much sodium, each page I read being checked for cholesterol, and my blood pressure being checked every time I fart. Which on my new diet of dead plants places me as an ozone layer destroyer.I am not going to get thinner, my excessive indulgence gut is not going away as I am growing a frigging duodenum, maybe I should buy a few Lithoblasts (?) to help the celery grinding. I have enough excersize bikes to use to equip a gym. Strange how people, who want to give them to you say things like "Look what it did for me ?". Not sure I want that to happen to me ? And "I use it all the time, it's out in the garage somewhere" Oh well stuck gazing at BC Hummers. Not supposed to be driving, but nothing at the sewage ponds. Leave me in a parked car in a car park with the keys in !
This is not shaping out well. roger