Daydream Believer

 

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"A flower will always grow in the direction of the sun, because beauty recognizes beauty."

~Matshona Dhilwayo

Just short post today, and a little late too I am afraid. Shrug. I am a little tired, so I am going at a slower pace. I want to visit the bat bridge tonight. Because of the Anemia I am tired all the time, so I have to plan for my visit. But happily I have found a bug repellent against mosquitos, Gnats and No-see-ums, which I am also highly allergic to. So it's a sun shiny day, and a warm night so all is right with the world!

Sky Ballet

 

"The baby bat screamed out in fright, turn on the dark, I'm afraid of the light."

~Shel Silverstein

Yep, they're home! The Mexican Free-tailed bats have returned to the Franklin boulevard Bridge! It's early in their arrival, so there weren't many, yet there were enough for me to believe it's going to be an amazing bat season, fingers crossed! I was very pleased with the results of the camera on my new phone. It is every bit as good as the reviews said it was! I need a lot more practice, but these photos are the clearest I believe to date! I practiced a bit with the video feature, but haven't had a chance to edit what I got. I hope to go out again tonight, but frankly I am still rubbing Hydrocortisone on my many bites, and man is it painful, but I have been waiting a long time for the return of my friends, so bugs or no bugs, I am going to be on the Franklin Bridge a lot this summer! Jeepers, can you believe it, I was on the bridge last Thursday, and here it is, Monday, and I am still finding new bites. My doctor said bites like this can take up to 2 weeks to fully show up!

UGH!

Mexican Free-tailed bat and Red-tailed Hawk

The Kindest Of All Birds

 

"Be like the bluebird who is never blue,

 for he knows from his upbringing what singing can do."

~Cole Porter

We did a little birding the other day, just the usual places, and while we didn't find a lot new in the way of birds, we did find out two pieces of information that made us smile. First, the small bridge on Franklin Blvd has now been fully repaired and is now open for traffic! It has been closed since, January 1st, 2023, and was supposed to reopen in October of 23, but for whatever reason, repairs got pushed back! It's a fairly short bridge, but quite necessary. It provides traffic with a straight shot, to Thornton road, as opposed to having to travel through the middle of the Cosumnes River Preserve! The additional traffic Desmond road had on it, always seemed dangerous to me. Bruceville/Desmond is a fairly narrow road, with a dangerous elbow turn. The speed limit is only 35 mph, but I have seen folks traveling the road at over 50 mph. It's safer for the birds, and it's safer for the birders! So, YAY! 

The second piece of information involves that pretty little Western Bluebird. I spotted it, just inside the entrance to the Cosumnes River Preserve. It stunned me. It was sitting on a very thin branch, not making a sound. I was lucky I spotted it! They are such tiny birds, that sometimes you have to seek them out. It's a quiet little bird too. I have always got the impression that it was the kindest of all birds. It just give out that vibe to me. According to Google AI, the Western Bluebird symbolizes, joy, hope and the arrival of spring. And hey, it's not just me who finds them so ethereal, Neltje Blanchan described their disposition as, particularly angelic! So, Spring is here, finely, and I got a few photos, so it's a happy start of things to come! Last Sunday was a very good day!

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #9

 

“It's like summer wear the world out, and by October everyone is just ready for a nap”

~ Ta-Nehisi Coates,

 The Water Dancer