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Blackbirds

Last Sunday we had a good snowfall and I was thankful I’d filled the bird feeders the afternoon before. The finches and juncos appreciated it too. And then, I noticed three Red-winged Blackbirds at the feeders. Oh dear. There have been winters when the blackbirds stayed and didn’t migrate to warmer climates and each day they would empty the feeders in no time. I like blackbirds, especially when they are singing over a cattail marsh in the spring and early summer. But if they are going to be coming to the feeder all winter, I might need to start a fund raiser to buy seeds for them.

The three birds soon left and I figured they would be back with their friends. That’s just the way they are. Well. They had a lot of friends. Soon, there were waves and waves of Red-winged Blackbirds coming up from the valley floor. I estimated at least 250 birds. It was like that old Alfred Hitchcock movie. Every tree, snag and bush in sight of the feeders was covered with them. Some of them got to the feeders but most just stood around or flew around and watched. After a while they all left. Later in the afternoon the big group returned. Since then I’ve only seen smaller groups of blackbirds here. What a relief. Maybe they will just come on snowfall days? I would not have even guessed there were that many Red-winged Blackbirds in this valley at this time of year.

Snow Dogs

We got out with Mary and Molly today and enjoyed new snow and sunshine too. The dogs were ecstatic to be out and about. Luna was there even if she doesn’t show up in photos.

Molly had her pine cone and Sky had her small log

Neighborhood Birds

We are finally getting a little bit of snow but nowhere near enough for skiing. Hopefully it will come soon.

I have been keeping the bird feeders full and enjoying the little birds – mostly finches and the occasional woodpecker. This year we have quail too. That’s quite unusual. They roost in a brush pile down below the house. Eagles are all over the valley, scavenging dead fish and roadkill. I watched a young Bald Eagle as a pair of Black-billed Magpies tried to share its lunch.

American Goldfinch
California Quail
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker

End of the Road Trip

We’ve been home for over two weeks now and I’ve finally finished editing the 4000+ raw image files I brought back with me. The girls are still anxious to get in the car and go places. I thought maybe they would be tired of travel but no, anytime, anywhere, they are ready. They were great traveling dogs. They got along with everyone they saw on the trail and in the campgrounds and everyone that met them said they were well-behaved dogs and SOOO good looking. We all kept each other warm during the long cold nights, piled up under wool blankets and down comforter.

The car and the tent trailer worked well for over 4000 miles and I was happy to have a trouble-free trip. People worried about me traveling alone (what? dogs don’t count?) but we never had any problems along the way. No one ever stepped on a cactus or got bit by snakes. Good luck? Good karma? It all just felt right. And the endless sunny days and star-filled nights. Oh my.

My favorite part of the trip was all of the hiking in Utah. It was fabulous and really, I only just touched the surface of the places I visited. There is so much more to see.

I had intended to take selfies all along the way but I only managed one. It was at Fisher Towers.

And this is my last photo from Utah. Morning over Canyonlands.

One Last Hike

It was our final day in Utah and I started with breakfast at the Eklectica Cafe and then the girls and I went to the Moab Barkery and I went to the Back of the Beyond Bookstore. No doubt there are many other highlights in Moab but we really needed to get out and walk again. At an outdoor store, Grandstaff Canyon was recommended. It was a short distance from town so there were a few cars in the parking lot but not too many. A sign at the trailhead warned of poison ivy and said the dogs might brush up against it and not be affected, however a person could get it from her dogs. Great. Well, I already knew that but hadn’t considered I’d be running into poison ivy on trails in Utah.

We went anyway and were rewarded with a delightful canyon with a clear creek running through it. Also lots of fall colors. And at the end of the canyon was Morning Glory Bridge. It was another good hike.

First we had a walk around the campground
Dying pinyon pine
Oak
poison ivy
The shady spots never thawed out
Red dirt dogs
This is a vertical wall under the arch and water was pouring out of it.
The bridge has a span of 243 feet, making it the sixth longest natural rock span in the United States.
Morning Glory Bridge