Happy Thanksgiving!

 

The Loomis branch of my family tree immigrated to America in the early sixteen hundreds, in fact to Massachusetts where native Americans shared the first Thanksgiving with the newly immigrating Pilgrims. I woke up this morning thinking of the shocking difference in the treatment of immigrates in today's America under the Trump Administration. Shameful, disgusting, are a couple of words that come to mind. Today, I will be wondering and thinking about when will decency be restored to the home of the brave and the free.   

Bird Ramblings

Northern Pintail

Lane Sewall, our Dallas Retirement Village bus driver, took us on a trip last week that resident Vern Beeson put together to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. The fog cleared just before we arrived at this sprawling 1,800-acre refuge. Due to the government shut down there were no staff on hand to answer questions or help with suggestions, so we just rambled around on our own. We soon learned that the best place to see and photograph birds was the viewpoint in front of the Visitors Center. Vern provided a spotting scope, and we were able to get a closer look at the amazing number of waterfowl. The Northern Pintail, as show in the photo above, was the overwhelming species, and it was also probably the most beautiful species with the sharp contrasting colors. Northern Pintails are primarily winter visitors here, arriving in large numbers in November and leaving in March. 

DRV resident LaVerda Gallager points out a bird to fellow resident Ginny Wyman

Rich Guadagno Trail

Western Meadowlark

 A dry November morning with bright sunshine was the perfect incentive to get in a good birdwalk and we chose the Rich Guadagno Trail at nearby Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge. It's the only trail open at the Refuge this time of year as the other trails are closed to protect wintering waterfowl. It's also the only trail in the vicinity with a good amount climb to get in a good workout. We were not disappointed and got in a good walk with a good number of birds. Western Meadowlarks were busy filling the air with song. You can see our eBird Checklist here.

Bird Ramblings

Downy Woodpecker

Welcome to "Bird Ramblings", a new series replacing the former "Thursday's Birdwatch" series. This Downy Woodpecker was our favorite bird of the day during a bird walk Jeanette and I took on Monday here in Dallas on a short section of the Rickreall Creek Trail System, the Sgt. Ian Tawney Memorial Park Trail, which runs along Rickreall Creek between Main St and Levens Street.  The Rickreall Creek Trail System, or RCTS is made up of 8 different segments, this section, built in 2007, was the second to be constructed. I have already blogged about both the East, and the West ends of the Rickreall Creek Trail System and plan on posting other sections in upcoming Bird Ramblings. 

Rickreall Creek Trail System (2)

Last Tuesday morning we walked the West-end of the Rickreall Creek Trail System. Yesterday, Friday, we walked the East-end of the Rickreall Creek Trail System. We are so fortunate here in Dallas to have this system of trails that parallel Rickreall Creek in its journey West to East through our town of Dallas. In all, the trail system, or RCTS, has been developed in 8 different phases, the first completed in 2004. On this walk we parked at the Aquatic Center and took the trail to its East-end and back. Here is our eBird List with photos. 

 

John C. Barnard Park

Last night, curiosity got the best of me, and even though it was dusk, I had to check out the progress at Dallas' newest city park, John C. Barnard Park. When we drove up to the park, even though the perimeter was still surrounded with orange netting, the small parking lot was open. We drove in and parked, and the workers, just finishing up for the day, said, "congratulations, you are the first to park in the new parking lot!" The park is very impressive, laid out with winding walkways which we tried our best to navigate in the approaching darkness. The photo shows the covered picnic area, which was just finished this week. This morning will be the official ribbon-cutting.    

Rickreall Creek Trail System

 This morning, we went birding on the far West-end of the Rickreall Creek Trail System. Fall colors were great, and recent rains have brought Rickreall Creek up to an acceptable level. Birds were a little scarce, but the chance to get out and get in a good walk during a dry window in the weather was pure joy. Here is our bird list.