Another relaxing day. Breakfast in the sunshine and just enjoying the outdoors. Robin took off for his day alone, but he didn't go to Kohl's. Go figure! I spent most of the day reading and enjoying the sun. In fact, after all this time I actually got a bit of a sunburn on my chest. Not too bad, but the first burn I've had on the whole trip.
I want to correct the tag on a couple of the bird pictures I posted a couple of days ago. After studying them some more, the birds identified as grackles are in fact blackbirds. The grackles look almost identical, but are much bigger, and they hang out in Mexico. And the dancing birds I thought were thrashers are actually mockingbirds (which are members of the thrasher family, so I wasn't completely incorrect). And apparently the western mockingbirds, as opposed to their eastern counterparts, are not very adept at mimicking. They pretty much stick to their own song. Love our Peterson's Field Guide to Western Birds.
There are lots of birds hanging around the park, and they are quite vocal. And it's definitely mating season. Lots of posturing, and birds carrying twigs and bits of stuff, and no doubt explains the dancing mockingbirds. Have quite gotten used to the different voices, but this evening there was quite a loud and different bird call coming from the other side of our trailer. I took a peek around and couldn't see anything, but some new folks had just pulled in and I didn't want to be too intrusive. The bird would periodically call out, but each time a different sound - almost sounded like a parrot. Finally I just had to wander next door and ask. The husband was sitting outside with his dog, and he said that yes, indeed, they do have a parrot in their motor home. He's 24 years old (the parrot) and loves to travel. The guy said one of the birds favourite things, when they drive, is the red tail lights on other cars as they go by. He said it makes the bird laugh, which gets them laughing. Would love to see that. The fellow says the bird is quite a talker, and in fact wakes him with "Ron. Ron. Get out here." Now where do you suppose the bird picked that up from.
Was talking with the staff in the office this morning, and asked if the blossoms meant a second crop this year. No, they blossom in the spring and the crop isn't ready until January. That surprised me. I had wondered about getting a picking tool to get some of the oranges still high in the trees, but they said they don't loan them out this time of year. They don't want to risk blossoms being inadvertently knocked off the trees. Darn! I was so looking forward to eating a literally just-picked orange. Will have to watch for one to fall and get it right away. There are usually a few new ones on the ground each morning. Just have to wait for folks to vacate their sites.
I was able to get a video today of the dancing mockingbirds. Give it a couple of minutes to load once you click on the arrow (grey bar will be all the way across) and then it will run much more smoothly. Don't worry about having the volume up, because the music on the radio in the background isn't mating music, and isn't in time with their moves. Maybe when I have the inclination, and nothing else to do, I can try and put some music to the video to match their moves.
I want to correct the tag on a couple of the bird pictures I posted a couple of days ago. After studying them some more, the birds identified as grackles are in fact blackbirds. The grackles look almost identical, but are much bigger, and they hang out in Mexico. And the dancing birds I thought were thrashers are actually mockingbirds (which are members of the thrasher family, so I wasn't completely incorrect). And apparently the western mockingbirds, as opposed to their eastern counterparts, are not very adept at mimicking. They pretty much stick to their own song. Love our Peterson's Field Guide to Western Birds.
There are lots of birds hanging around the park, and they are quite vocal. And it's definitely mating season. Lots of posturing, and birds carrying twigs and bits of stuff, and no doubt explains the dancing mockingbirds. Have quite gotten used to the different voices, but this evening there was quite a loud and different bird call coming from the other side of our trailer. I took a peek around and couldn't see anything, but some new folks had just pulled in and I didn't want to be too intrusive. The bird would periodically call out, but each time a different sound - almost sounded like a parrot. Finally I just had to wander next door and ask. The husband was sitting outside with his dog, and he said that yes, indeed, they do have a parrot in their motor home. He's 24 years old (the parrot) and loves to travel. The guy said one of the birds favourite things, when they drive, is the red tail lights on other cars as they go by. He said it makes the bird laugh, which gets them laughing. Would love to see that. The fellow says the bird is quite a talker, and in fact wakes him with "Ron. Ron. Get out here." Now where do you suppose the bird picked that up from.
Was talking with the staff in the office this morning, and asked if the blossoms meant a second crop this year. No, they blossom in the spring and the crop isn't ready until January. That surprised me. I had wondered about getting a picking tool to get some of the oranges still high in the trees, but they said they don't loan them out this time of year. They don't want to risk blossoms being inadvertently knocked off the trees. Darn! I was so looking forward to eating a literally just-picked orange. Will have to watch for one to fall and get it right away. There are usually a few new ones on the ground each morning. Just have to wait for folks to vacate their sites.
I was able to get a video today of the dancing mockingbirds. Give it a couple of minutes to load once you click on the arrow (grey bar will be all the way across) and then it will run much more smoothly. Don't worry about having the volume up, because the music on the radio in the background isn't mating music, and isn't in time with their moves. Maybe when I have the inclination, and nothing else to do, I can try and put some music to the video to match their moves.
So, a couple more days of hanging out, and then we start the haul home.
Until tomorrow, dear followers.
Until tomorrow, dear followers.