Transitions

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When Mary died, I decided to act on some ideas I had been considering for a while, partially as an alternate to the heavy thoughts I had been wrestling with for months, and downsize our travelling equipment. It has happened quite fast and Penny and I are in Florida getting ready to camp our way home.

I sold the Airstream to the first guy who contacted me and held off dozens of suitors as he got his act together. It was bittersweet to see the rig rumble, down the driveway – we had made many long trips with it – but I felt good that a nice guy with lots of plans for family trips hauled it off to Maine. Penny was a bit confused by the transaction.

At the same time, I was working with folks in Florida and Ohio on finding a used Airstream Interstate. The trick was to unload my new Ford truck in the deal. After a couple of weeks of back and forth, I put a deposit on a 2011 rig that was listed by a small dealer in Florida. I asked my brother’s brother-in-law to take a look at it (He and his wife winter close by) and they went right over and gave me a positive report. So, last Friday, we launched early for a three day adventure down to Florida.

Let me tell you, it’s a bit nerve-racking to drive a vehicle that you are going to trade. We ran into a lot of construction, starts and stops, crazy drivers, and all I could think was, "if I even have a minor fender-bender, this deal is dead."

We stayed at a Motel 6 (cheap but ratty) and a couple of La Quintas – averaging 9-10 hours travelling a day. That’s enough for me.

I rank Florida drivers the worst I’ve seen, even worse than Massholes. I was very glad that I just had the truck but even then, small darty cars just flew past on both sides, when I’m holding a steady 75.

The transaction Monday was long but easy. The temperature was high and Penny spent a lot of time waiting in the shade. We had some insurance issues – problems at the company – but after three hours, we’d switched all our gear and I was tentatively heading out into I-75 traffic.

I had decided to stick around, check systems out, and try to get some Florida birds so we lumbered over to Myakka State Park which is quite lovely.

I have got everything stowed away, learned a bit more about the systems, and done some great birding. I have a lot of photos I need to go through but no wifi and very weak cell provide the normal state park challenge. Penny finds the aisle very comfortable although we so trip over one another. She’s digging the air conditioning on the 90 degree humid days.

Wednesday, we’ll head northward, perhaps to Savannah. I’m planning a rather liesurely trip back probably arriving Sunday. Now, if I can just remember where that fuel cap is – oh yes, inside the driver’s door. Don’t ask.

The Usual Suspects

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Down in Massachusetts for a few days visit, I decided to take Penny birding yesterday morning at one of my favorite spots, Salisbury Beach State Reservation. If you get there early, even on a weekend, there are few people around. Later in the morning, it seems like every dog walker in the area descends on the place.

I had just turned on to the access road when I saw a Northern Harrier working the salt flats, hunting low over the ground, swooping and soaring in the way that I just love to watch. It was too far off for photos but a great start — first I’ve seen this year.

The ocean was pretty dramatic with a stiff wind and high tide and as far as I could tell, no birds.

The ocean was pretty dramatic with a stiff wind and high tide and as far as I could tell, no birds.

Several House Finches were in the shrubbery along the walkway to the beach.

Several House Finches were in the shrubbery along the walkway to the beach.

After seeing several large dogs cavorting off leash along the beach, I decided to move inland. We ran into a host of species and Penny had a chance to race around a bit around the vacant campground. Perhaps the most interesting were the Song Sparrows, which were singing everywhere, and a half-dozen Northern Mockingbirds.

The mockingbirds were going through their repertoire - fun to hear and see.

The mockingbirds were going through their repertoire – fun to hear and see.

Mocker1AW

 

Even House Sparrows got into the act.

Even House Sparrows got into the act.

We headed toward the boat launch area and noted several large groups of Brant.

The Brant breeds in the high Arctic tundra and winters along both coasts.

The Brant breeds in the high Arctic tundra and winters along both coasts.

It was a nice morning outing, relatively quiet since many migrants have yet to arrive. Both Penny and I got some nice exercise and fresh air. We’ll be back again until they start charging $14 per car when the beaches open up.

Second Try Is The Charm

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One of the things that grieving does to me is make me more forgetful — “Where are those truck keys?” “I just had that shopping list, Penny, did you eat it?” It’s just part of the territory these days and why I’m glad I keep good lists on my iPhone. “Where’s the $#@& iPhone?

Yesterday afternoon, the weather was wonderful for a change and I decided to take Penny out for a walk to see if we could see the Northern Goshawk again. I’d seen a pair a couple of days ago and hoped that they might be sticking around to nest.

We started out with dozens of chickadees, like this one, chattering away, probably reminding me that the feeders were getting low.

One of our Black-capped Chickadees who is believes in eating local food.

One of our Black-capped Chickadees who believes in eating local food.

As we got up to the place where we have seen goshawks, I sat down on a leafy knoll, head up against a tree, and relaxed in the sun, listening to nuthatches and chickadees. The dog flopped down for a bit and it was nice, until my cellphone dinged. I thought we were out of 3G range but a message, unimportant, made it through.

I returned to the house, started getting organized for a shopping trip, loaded the dog, and could not find my iPhone. I looked everywhere. My last resort was to look out in the woods where I had been sitting. So off we trudged, back up the hill, Penny wondering what was up but game for any outing. Just as we approached the spot, I heard a Pileated Woodpecker – first of the year — and then saw it flying through the pines. I then saw my iPhone on the leaves up ahead. Things were looking much better.

Then, I heard a goshawk calling and sure enough, the same bird I that I had seen before perched and called from a tree quite far away. I pushed the limit of my SX-50 point and shoot camera but it sat in the sun for me, and then flew off to a more distant perch.

Northern Goshawks are beautiful birds. I think this is a female since its companion the other day was smaller.

Northern Goshawks are beautiful birds. I think this is a female since its companion the other day was smaller.

So what was lost was found and I got a neat bonus plus more exercise. I’m going to be traveling a lot for the next few weeks so it will give these birds, if they choose to stay, a chance to be undisturbed. I am concerned by their noisiness and am not posting information on their location — other than it is somewhere within walking distance of the house. Let’s leave them be and see if they nest. Good birding to all.

Selling The Airstream

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One of the things that I did to think about non-hospital, non-cancer thoughts in the last four months was to consider options for future travel. I was thinking about Mary and I and the dog but those plans changed rather abruptly a few weeks ago.

I had been intrigued by my brother Barry and sister-in-law Mica who were having a love affair with an old Airstream van that they were taking out West. They continued to report about the flexibility and went so far as to write that they would probably never haul a trailer again. (They have had several vintage Airstreams and have travelled with them for a decade or more.)

I’m leaning toward a more modern RV, one based on the Sprinter frame with the Mercedes diesel which is so popular. Since there is only the dog and me, we can get by with less space. So, while it could seem too soon to make such decisions, I put the Airstream up for sale and a day later, may have sold it. We will know next week.

Our '99 Airstream, shown here in Mission, TX, has served us well

Our ’99 Airstream, shown here in Mission, TX, has served us well

Airstream Class B’s (Interstates) are very expensive new ($160,000) but there are older ones coming on the market.

An Airstream Interstate

An Airstream Interstate

I’m looking here and there but taking my time to consider other brands and other options. I have a brand new Ford F-150 which in retrospect, was a poor purchase, but who knew what we were facing?

I’m intrigued by the opportunity to get a rig where I can pull into the kids’ driveway, hook up a power cord, and visit with limited impact on their busy lives. In most cases, you can’t do that with a trailer behind you.

Stay tuned for how this turns out. I will miss the old Airstream – we have logged thousands of miles together and countless hours of polishing and renovation work. It will make someone a good economical camping rig.

A Welcome Surprise

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If you have been following my posts on Caring Bridge, you know that my cherished wife Mary died of lymphoma on March 21st. The days since then have been filled with grief, joy at remembering our great love for one another, and details of planning. The wonderful memorial service is over, the house filled with family and friends is getting quiet, and I am looking at what lies ahead for my life as a widower.

Having an exercise-needy dog helps get me out in the brisk air and yesterday afternoon, we took a long walk up in the forest land that surrounds us. It was cold and spitting snow, I had binoculars and walking poles, and we had a nice workout climbing up into the pine woods and revisiting some trails we haven’t been on in four months. My hands were freezing in my work gloves and the birds were few but it was a good outing.

Then, as we neared the house, a large raptor flew through the pines toward me calling loudly at Penny who was up ahead. It perched very close to me, continuing its “kak, kak, kak, kak” call as I watched it through the binoculars.  Light grey breast, yellow talons, broad white stripe of the eye, long tail — big bird. It sat there focused on the dog, until she moved back towards me, and off it flew, still calling. Wow.

A Northern Goshawk - photo credit Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

A Northern Goshawk – photo credit Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

I hoped it might be a Northern Goshawk, having eliminated a lot of the others raptors, but had to wait until I got home to check the bird book and iPhone. The image was convincing and then when I played the call, it was definite.  Life bird #434.

It’s fitting since last Fall I got a “Goshawk” license plate for my truck. At the time, I’d never seen a Northern Goshawk but thought the plate might bring me luck. Well, whatever the reason, our paths crossed and the wonderful bird gave me a nice lift in spirits after a long journey with my beloved Mary.

Easing Back Into Birding

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In late November, my life changed when my spouse of 53 years was diagnosed with lymphoma and I lost all interest in birding and many other activities. As I chronicle here, we have had months of tension and relief, sadness and happiness, and just plain stress. It has been a turbulent journey and we are only halfway done with chemo but yesterday, I did a little birding and it felt good. I think it will be part of my therapy as we head into the spring.

We are home for a few days and our daughter Jennifer was here to help out and be her wonderful caring presence. She suggested to me that after some errands, I go off and do some birding while she tended the fort. So I did.

I checked several local spots up by the local airport with little success but then, driving a loop where we sometimes see winter visitors, I saw a dozen birds up ahead in the road. “Siskins, Starlings, Snow Buntings?” I wondered as I stopped and watched them through the windshield. Then I saw dozens in the trees as well and could see the crests of waxwings.

After some jockeying to get closer, it became clear that there were 50-100 Bohemian Waxwings. They put on quite a show as I tried to hook up my iPhone digiscoping gear after a four month layoff. Here is a documentation photo:

A few of the many Bohemian Waxwings seen on my first real outing of 2016.

A few of the many Bohemian Waxwings seen on my first real outing of 2016.

I won’t have the time for a lot of serious birding for many months but just to integrate some local stops will be a healthy outlet. Plus, when we are home, watching the birds at our feeders is quite therapeutic. I look forward to spring when I can take Mary on some of our local back roads to see the spring arrivals. The hints of yellow in our visiting American Goldfinches give us hope.  Good birding.

 

The Site For Mary

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If you are interested in updates on the status of Mary, please visit http://www.carepages.com/carepages/ThePathForMary

If not a member, you’ll have to sign up (for free) but it has a good reputation. Thanks for your support.

An Abrupt Change of Plans

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If you follow this blog, you know that we planned an extensive trip to the Southwest and California this winter with our Airstream. We have completely cancelled the trip. Mary has just been preliminarily diagnosed with lymphoma and we are readying ourselves for the final results and the road ahead to recovery. We’ll learn more this week and I’ll likely post something to follow this. I suspect that there won’t be a lot of birding posts or photos here for a while – we have a challenge ahead.

It is comforting to see the local birds at the feeder — the Black-capped Chickadees give us great delight as do the many woodpeckers and nuthatches — even the ravenous Blue Jays that come to our back deck. We’ll soon have juncos, pine siskins, and some of the other winter birds.

Here are a few shots I took this afternoon of our chickadee friends.

ChickadeeW2 ChickadeeW3 Chickadee1W

Black and White

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Here are two final birds from our California trip: a Black Phoebe and a Snowy Egret. I was surprised at how prevalent Black Phoebes were: in other areas like Texas they are around but I don’t think I’ve ever seen more than one on a outing.

The bird in the photo below hangs out at our son’s swimming pool, chipping away, diving down to snack bugs off the pool-cleaner hose that floats on the surface, and even sipping some of the chlorinated water.

Black Phoebe perching on an old pool pipe, ready to swoop in for some insect snacks.

Black Phoebe perching on an old pool pipe, ready to swoop in for some insect snacks.

Egrets are great birds — watching them hunt for food is a great way to spend some birding time. I saw a couple of Great Egrets and a few more Snowy Egrets during my outings. This guy was grabbing lunch at a wonderful birding site, the San Elijo Lagoon.

SnowyEgretW

Due to some medical issues, we returned to Vermont early but, looking out on barren hills, it is fun to remember the neat birds of San Diego County.

Beach Birds

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We took a short outing to the Del Mar beach during our last day in California. It’s so cool to have a beautiful beach ten minutes or so away and free access and parking — and no crowds on a winter weekday. The day was pretty – San Diego style – with no wind, temperatures in the mid-70’s, with water temperature about 65.

I waded into the light surf with binoculars and camera and right away, this guy landed just out a short bit and ignored me.

Brown Pelican at Del Mar Beach

Brown Pelican at Del Mar Beach

There are always a few Willets exploring the shallows for food. Here’s one.

WilletW

I walked up the beach to the North to the area called “Dog Beach” where dozens of dogs romp and play. When we are back in February, it might be worth a try with Penny although her track record with other dogs is not sparkling. It is one of the better beaches for dogs (according to many reviews) in southern California.

Robb and his kids were frolicking in the waves so I decided to brave it — what’s 65 degree water to a Vermonter, eh? It was bracing but after a few body surfs and one ***over_teakettle tumble, I was ready to dry off.

We only stayed for an hour or so — just perfect. As I was leaving, this young gull was strolling around checking out folks, likely for possible handouts. I am trying to make it into a juvenile Heermann’s Gull because of the sooty breast and pale white eye crescents but could be dissuaded. What do you think?

Is this a Heermann's?

Is this a Heermann’s?

We are in Massachusetts with Jennifer and her family and instead of watching Black Phoebes hawk insects over the swimming pool, are watching a beautiful Red-bellied Woodpecker hit the suet. Happy Thanksgiving.