Camp Week

 

Common Yellowthroat at Benham Marsh

Was a mixed bag. Birding was phenomenal with 84 eventual species, a couple of great outings, one  with my BBB, Kris Harshman, and one with my favorite middle offspring, Becky.

Immature Green Heron at Cline Road Marsh

There were also the stairs from HELL.

Driveway of the same origin. It gave anything without topnotch four-wheel-drive that awful sinking feeling.

Neighbors about whom I will make no further comment.

Nearly perfect weather.

Sunrises to inspire poets to great flights of fancy.

Common Loons. One night they purred and chortled and chuckled and hooted all night long. It was a great delight to half-awaken to hear their secret conversations, then to drift off to dream of wild places remote from the real.

Car trouble, which put an end to the fun birding excursions.

Awful photo of a Canada Warbler

Canada Warblers.

Red crossbills.

Bonaparte's Gulls.

Broad-winged Hawk

We decided not to renew our reservation for next year unless they can get us into a north shore cabin with no HELL stairs. Becky and I both fell off them more than once. I am getting too old for that kind of sport. It made me sad though. We have been enjoying the lake since I was five or six...or possibly even younger, so it is a significant part of our family culture. I hope we can get into a safer, quieter cabin. Otherwise we will have to find something else to do.

Been debating whether this is a pure American
Black Duck or if there is some Mallard there. Lots of mutts on the
lake

Anyhow, back home now with the laundry all caught up and the garden beginning to give up its goodies for our suppers...fresh green beans last night with homegrown garlic and herbs and store-bought carrots and celery.

Sure good.

Many thanks to Becky for making camp possible and being the best of companions, to Ralph for taking care of our doggo and keeping the porch plants thriving...those hanging baskets can be a PIA...and to Kris for the crossbills and a really fun afternoon in the mountains. Also for super helpful camera tips, which upped my game immensely.