Birding Adventures: Utah

It is so much fun to have a birding buddy again! Our first adventures was up to summit park to see an evening grosbeak. We didn't see him but did hear it. Which means we were in the right area, just had bad luck. They are birds after all, and wild ones at that. But it was a fun day anyway. I saw lots of birds I hadn't seen for a long time.

But then posted on the internet were directions to a spotted owl....in Zion's national park. Do you know what the best part about having a birding buddy is? They don't think a 10 hours car ride for a spotted owl is all that crazy, in fact its their idea! So we went. And it was so fun! We crashed at my brother-in-law place in Cedar City (Thanks again K&M). Got up the next morning headed to Zions. They were seeing the owls along the trial to Angels Landing. That day they weren't roosting in the trees right off the trails so I think we got lucky seeing one in this crevice.

Can you find the owl in that picture? It took us a while too.

Angie searching.
We never found the other ones. (Three were two adults and a juvenile).

Angie enjoying the fruits of our labors.
After enjoying him for awhile we hiked the rest of the trail to the top.

It was really great to be in Southern Utah again. We are really lucky to have 5 national parks in same state! And the landscape is so unique.

Then we stopped of a slushy and headed home. It was a great weekend, with a great friend, great conversation, great scenery, and a great bird.

The only thing that could have made it better was if Bushtit E could have joined us. But for a last minute quick trip 2 out of 3's not bad.

Omaha Bucket List

All the things we did in the last month before we left Omaha. (I'm too lazy to upload pictures, so I just posted links to my picture website).

April

Our playing began in April. First up was the BIG Slides. They were a BIG hit. We visited the BIG slides many more time in the following month, some of which included wax paper, air, and ripped pants. But the first trip is the only one that has pictures. We also went to the Omaha Children's Museum with some good friends, and one last trip Durham Museum. Next is the pedestrian footbridge, which crosses the Missouri river. We visited the footbridge again with Grandma Kate later in May. Next was Free Comic Book Day (which was actually in May), complete with people in customs and a trip to the donut store. Then it was on to Iowa to do a drive by of their "ski resort". And finally one last visit to Hitchcock Nature Center (HNC), a chance to say good bye to a great place and some great people. Beth volunteered at HNC every month for the last 3 years. I will miss you HNC!

MAY

First up in this section is a trip to Neale* Woods, to one of their Preschool programs. The program was AWESOME and Missa LOVED it. They played around and then took the kids on a hike. I've never seen Missa hike so good before. I guess it helps a lot of have friends with you. I wish we could go to more. The area was so pretty and I've only been there once or twice before. It made me wish we had one more summer there to finish exploring all of the trails. And since we were in the area, we stopped by the Winter Quarters temple and trail center. It was a fun day. That was on Kents last day of class. So the next week was the week of insanity.

For a more complete details click HERE. In summary we went out to Lincoln to the Childrens Museum. Then we went to The Amazing Pizza Machine with the Journeys. It was AWESOME! And last but not least one more last trip to the Zoo. As a special treat we met Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Kyle there.

*Side note: I was glad I gave Neale Woods a second chance. I had a REALLY bad experience there once and vowed NEVER to go back again. But that is another story.

MOVING

I was going to write about moving, but I just can't summon the energy to care. So I'll just say this, it was stressful, we have a lot of crap that didn't all fit in the truck, so we had a penske pulling a uhaul, but I managed because I have a great mom and a TOTALLY AWESOME WARD!!!!! Rockbrook rocks. On a holiday weekend with 3 families moving they totally came through for me. LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!! Can't thank you enough.

Birding Adventures

For my birthday, or Mother's Day or both I don't remember, I went birding. I had a great day and actually saw one of the birds I was aiming for. Despite the wind, which was blowing pretty hard, it was a good day for birds. I took along my digi-scope adapter to give it a try, most of the pic didn't really turn out but it was fun anyway.

After some debate I went to one more wetland further away than I was planning on but it paid of with this.Its really hard to see but that is a Hudsonian Godwit. One of the bird that I was hoping to find. See the upturned bill. The one just to the left is a Dowitcher. Notice the size different and different bill shape. However they mostly looked like this. I was also rewarded with this fun guy.

No scope need here. This was taken just off the road with nothing but my 10X zoom. He is an Upland Sandpiper. Pretty common in NE although this was my first time seeing one in Nebraska.

On the way home there was a thunderstorm building. I tried to get off the interstate to take a picture of the clouds, but by the time I could stop I couldn't see the clouds I was going to take a picture of. Instead I saw this.

Still pretty cool.

There are several bird that were on my 'must see before I leave Nebraska' list that I never saw. Not for lack of trying mind you. They include the Buff Breasted Sandpiper, Piping Plover, Mississippi Kite, and Pileated Woodpecker. But as someone once told me "I always like leave a place wanting more. It makes you want to come back." So Buff Breasted Sandpiper, Piping Plover, Mississippi Kite, and Pileated Woodpecker you are still on the list. One day I will see you, and not seeing you now will make the moment I see you that much sweeter.

HAPPY BIRDING.