Archive for May, 2010
Memorial Day
Take a moment to remember all of the men and women who gave their lives protecting the freedom you enjoy today.
Today, as in the past, there are problems that must be solved and challenges that must be met. We can tackle them with our full strength and creativity only because we are free to work them out in our own way. We owe this freedom of choice and action to those men and women in uniform who have served this nation and its interests in time of need. In particular, we are forever indebted to those who have given their lives that we might be free.
Ronald Reagan, May 26, 1983
The Sweet Spot
We discovered this sweet spot on the Nantahala River last year.
There’s no other place on Earth like it.
Unclick That Box!
I know, I know, you’ve heard a lot on the news the past two days and you’re here today looking for some well-written opinion piece about that news. The truth is, life has taken over for another day. Stay safe.
No Reason At All
If I had to move tomorrow, and pick any other state to live in except Georgia, I would have to choose Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, or Utah.
One of America’s national organizations fighting against illegal immigration is announcing that 17 states are now filing versions of Arizona’s SB 1070 law which is designed to help local police enforce America’s existing immigration laws.
That’s right. I want to live in a state that tries to make sure that laws are adhered to. No, it has nothing to do with race. It has nothing to do with discrimination. It has nothing to do with racial profiling. I simply want the state I live in to enforce existing law. It really is that simple.
Numerous national and local polls indicated that 60-81% of Americans support local police enforcing immigration laws.
I bet 60-81% of Americans also want their local police to enforce all of the other laws while they’re at it too. Isn’t funny how we try to single out this one law, from one state, rather than address the issue at hand. Our current laws, especially those pertaining to illegal immigration, are not being enforced. What’s wrong with ensuring that those existing laws are actually enforced?
I can’t think of one good reason not to enforce current laws. Not one single reason.
Just Another Common Monday
What happens after a nice relaxing weekend? A lot of catch up. No not Ketchup, nor catsup. Of course this means I am playing catch up all day today, so you’ll just have to deal with another bird photo until I can concentrate on something and have the time to actually write about it.
Catching up on Mondays is becoming as common as the Grackle shown above.
An Afternoon At Huie
Saturdays are usually birding days around here, and today was no different. Well, it was different in the fact that we didn’t get out the door until 3:45 in the afternoon.
After a quick discussion we decided we would head over to the E.L. Huie Ponds and the Newman Wetland Center to catch some late afternoon birds. All we needed to make the day successful were a few willing participants, ie: birds, and we would be set.
After a quick stop at a Chevron along the way, we arrived at the ponds just before 5:00pm. We double checked the gate closing time, which was 8:00pm and we ventured into the facility. We didn’t even get up the driveway before spotting Purple Martins, Tree Swallows, Eastern Bluebirds, and an Eastern Kingbird.
As we came around the building, we were greeted by Barn Swallows, Bank Swallows, more Tree Swallows, and a few Northern Rough-Winged Swallows.
When we spend time at the E.L. Huie facility, we usually begin at Pond A mostly because we don’t see much in Pond B. As usual, we were not disappointed. As we approached Pond A we noticed numerous Mallards, Canada Geese, and Red-Winged Blackbirds, but thrown into the mix was a Pied-Billed Grebe.
As we drove down the road between Ponds A & B, we startled a Great Blue Heron. They always look majestic as they fly across the water.
We saw a lot of the usual… Double-Crested Cormorants, Green Herons, a large assortment of small sandpipers, Rock Pigeons, Mourning Doves, European Starlings, Chimney Swifts, Thrashers, Indigo Buntings, Song Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, and Mockingbirds.
A Belted Kingfisher kept us entertained for a few minutes,
then we made a quick stop by the Killdeer nest to say hi to the momma Killdeer, well, we think it was the momma.
We spotted the Common Moorhens that have been reported the past week or so, but they were so far off across the pond I couldn’t get a good photo of them. I tried my hand at digiscoping again but they didn’t go too well this time.
The two female Hooded Mergansers were hanging out on Pond E, not far from the Killdeer nest, and didn’t seem too bothered with our “ooohs and aaahs” as they swam around.
The highlight of the trip, for me, was the Osprey that came in for dinner at Pond A just before 7:45pm.
The boys had a blast, as did I, as we spotted over 30 different species of birds. It wasn’t our best day at the facility, but it definitely wasn’t our worst either. I didn’t get the greatest photos, it must have been something to do with the stormy conditions, but all in all it was a great afternoon.