January 2nd -4th
Well, I made my choice, and it was FOWL! January 2nd was my last (very short) day at work. After loading the van and dentist appointments we were finally ready to head out. However, the quote “No plan survives first contact with the enemy” has already proven true! Since weather at our planned destination was going to make birding a miserably wet and cold experience, and since the very rare Key West Quail-Dove (code 4) was seen at the Deering Estate in Cutler, we decided to work the January plan somewhat backwards. The new plan was to head to the Miami area, stop at Clear Water Lake Recreation Area adjacent to Paisley Woods of the Ocala National Forest, bird Merritt Island on the 3rd, the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge on the 4th, and then catch the Key West Quail-Dove on Monday January 5th.
Paisley Woods, though foggy, was lovely.
Longleaf Pine Forest at Paisley Woods
Merritt Island and Loxahatchee helped add typical birds to the list, and we enjoyed birding in lovely weather. We also met a delightful young man, Zachary, who is just getting into birding and bird photography. Judging from the landscape photos he shared with us, he will soon be submitting contest winning photos. Sorry Zachary, it was our intention to post your picture, but we have discovered that our camera’s memory card had an issue. Sadly, we lost several days of pictures from the non- digiscope camera. Zachary- learn from our mistake and don’t let this happen to you!
In spite of the fact that we have been going to the gym fairly regularly it is clear that Chuck’s two years of retirement and my desk job were not enough stamina training! Perhaps at the end of this we will look somewhat closer to our mental image of ourselves- the one we are shocked not to see in the mirror when trying on a new bathing suit.
Monday- The Key West Quail-Dove… or not.
Flexibility sounds like the key to your success! Good for OCD too…
btw, had no idea you could write so well Carrie….