2016 CHRISTMAS TRIP TO ALBUQUERQUE

Another long drive (about 700 miles and 11 hours behind the steering wheel) to Albuquerque to enjoy Christmas with Dianne and family.  Mauricio's family was were also present so there was a lot of food, conversations and fun time with Marcelo and Emilia.

Family and friend of Mauricio

 

Dianne took Sherry and me plus family to see the latest Star Wars movie - Rogue One.

Sherry and I chased some birds, but failed again finding a Sagebrush Sparrow that winters close to Dianne's home - Petroglyph NM.

Sherry searing for Sagebrush Sparrow

Crissal Tharsher

Petroglyph

We were also introduced to the newest member of the Tohen family - Nobel, a Border Collie puppy who likes to chew shoes and keep everyone busy playing with him.

Emilia asleep with Nobel.

 

I celebrated my #76 birthday with family.

 

Sherry and kids coloring



ANOTHER TRIP TO RICHARDSON - TRENT DANCING AND ROBOTING

Sherry and I drove to Richardson to watch Trent dance with his country dance team.  We were to see him dance three times, but bad feather caused the last two to be cancelled as they were dancing outside.

 

 

Since the dancing was called off, Trent decided to enter a robotics competition.  His team number is 136S (Star Striker).  They finished the first rounds in 5th overall and after team selections he was seeded 3rd.  He lost to team #2 in the semi-finals. But he did win the award for best Sportsmanship.  Dad Greg helped him do a lot of the programming.

 

 

AGGIELAND TRIP

Sherry and I drove to College Station this past Friday (10/28) to see our beautiful Granddaughter, go to my first Midnight Yell Practice in 53 years and attend an A-2 Unit tail gate.  Drive is 3.5 hours with lots of little towns you pass through to get there - Old Dime Box, Lincoln, etc.  Met some other past A-2 folks and the new members.  Good group of folks and future leaders.  We didn't stay for the game with New Mexico State.... A&M 55 - NMS 10 and got home in time to watch the trouncing.

Ring picture with Lucy - Presidential Scholar and EE major.

 

Sherry and Lucy trying to stay cool at the tail gate.

 

Sherry and me at our brick in the Corps Quad.

TWO ROUGH WEEKS FOR ME

Last week a finally got around to getting a colonoscopy and while they were at it an endoscopy.  This week I went in for oral surgery to remove a molar and begin the year long process to put in two permanent inserts.  The surgery and digestive  investigation both went fine, but my mouth is very sore still.  So I'm  rather house bound for the next few days while everything begins to heal.  Plenty of time to read and do genealogy research, but miss my work-out time at the local school rec-center and general ranch work and censuses.

I did manage to get a few pictures of some of the critters roaming the yard....

Eastern Phoebe

 

Western Giant Swallowtail (New species that was recently accepted)

Duskywing species - possible Morning

Nashville Warbler in migration

Monarch in migration

Orb Garden Spider

Texas Garter Snake

Nine-banded Armadillo

HOME FROM THE AMAZON

Well we had a wonderful time until Sherry feel on the escalator and brushed herself from face to knees.  But she is okay now with just a few minor aches.

Our trip list stands at 376 with 122 lifers a little short of my predicted 125.  A combination of weather and route changes caused us to loose about 5-10 species so despite the weather we managed to get a good list.

The Rio Negro was a surprise to be so clear and pure.

I've posted my better pictures on Google Photos

https://goo.gl/photos/tzge3WpRfY1eAQiR9

I plan to add my favorites later after we have entered all our sightings into eBird.

More to come...

NEW RANCH BUTTERFLY .... WHITE ANGLED-SULPHUR

WOW - I saw this large sulphur feeding at our Mexican Purple Sage and told Sherry it looked like a Southern Dogface and she should get some pictures. Well when I saw her pcitures I got all excited and ran outside with my camera to get some shots.

WhiteAngled-Sulphur - New ranch species and lifer for me.  BAMONA shows it as recorded in Kerr County, but there is no documented record in the list?

Sherry and I will each submit the records as sher got better pictures than me.

ANOTHER NEW RANCH BIRD....CANYON WREN

Amazing - this is our 4th new bird species this year.  First heard this bird giving its call - then saw it standing on the ranch trailer.

MARCELO TURNS 9

Dianne, Emilia and Marcelo come down to celebrate Marcelo's birthday.  A little early, but they were between school breaks.

Sherry and kids make a Cheeta Birthday cake.

 

Time to fish...

 

 

Emilia catches a big Crappie

 

Rest time

 

 

 

WHO....WHO....WHO

Big surprise to see this Great Horned owl out before sunset...Mocking birds were giving him a hard time...

EMILIA TURNS 7

Off to Albuquerque to celebrate Emilia's birthday and watch her and Marcelo do their Summer schools programs.

 

Butterfly and Hummingbird cake that probably cost a fortune....

 

 

Off to the Summer School programs...Emila doing Swan Lake

 

 

 

 

 

Marcelo does his Judo and gets his White and Orange belt...

 

 

 

 

 

Family pictures...

 

 

 

Family time