Climbed Mt. Beacon

This past Sunday,my 16 year old grandson and I climbed Mt. Beacon (officially called Beacon Mountain) on the banks of the Hudson River in Beacon, New York.  The top of this mountain is 1,531 feet above sea level.  With the trees just starting to bloom, I was able to see further into the woods.  I listened and watched for any bird I might see.  However, we only heard two birds and they were nowhere to be seen.  The trail that we chose is a dirt and gravel road used for maintenance.  The locals call it the "fire road."  The topology varied from level to steep and leveling off again, and so forth up to the top.  This is considered the easiest approach to the top.  On the way up, we passed the reservoir, which supplies the City of Beacon with its water.  The photo above shows the Hudson River with Dennings Point (in Beacon) on the eastern side of the river and Newburgh, NY on the western bank.





As we started to leave, my grandson told me about the monument commemorating the Signal Fires used on Mt. Beacon during the American Revolution.  We found it on the edge of the mountain behind an old fenced-in communication tower.  The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) erected a monument at the site in 1901 and repaired it in 1929.

As I wrote above, we only heard two birds, but high on the mountaintop were two butterflies.  One lit on a rock enabling me to photograph it.

The mountain was the site of an incline railway.  For years there has been talk about rebuilding it.  Also, in the 1920s and 1930s, there was a hotel, restaurant and a casino near the top.  I told my grandson that I would definitely like to see what remains of the buildings.  We'll do that on my next climb.

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Thanks for Reading

I'm very grateful for you, my readers and for the time you take to check out my blog.  My reading audience circles the globe.  I've seen that you live in Korea, Ireland, England, Germany, Russia, France, Chile, as well as the United States.  I am curious about what interests you and what brings you back to read more of my stories and view my photos.

Also, as an update, when I visited the soccer fields in Freedom Plains (Ducks ), I noticed that the white duck is no longer there.  Perhaps someone rescued it.

Please share a comment, if you are able, and tell me where you live.  Thanks so much and keep reading. 

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Lark Sparrow?

While here in LaGrangeville, NY, I drove one of my granddaughters to soccer practice in Freedom Plains earlier this week.  I usually take the opportunity to walk the path around a nearby pond.  This area was previously open farmland.  I took the picture below and have enlarged it to show the bird's markings.  The best match I can find is a Lark Sparrow.  Whatbird.com does not show this bird being on the East Coast.  Wikpedia states that the Lark Sparrow is "less" common on the East Coast.   LaGrangeville is approximately 80 miles north of New York City.  If you recognize this bird as something other than a Lark Sparrow, please let me know.


On the same evening, I saw four male Mallards trying to get near a white duck, which really looked like a domestic farm bird.  There was one that stayed very close.  As I walked the oval path around the pond, I met a woman who was very concerned about all the males following the white duck.  She related that since the domestic bird, which she named Aflack, could not fly, she fed her all winter.  Also, this woman had tried to get someone to rescue the duck, but to no avail.  The Mallard shown hanging around the white duck had apparently been her partner all winter.  The woman named him Dooney.  This evening was quite chilly for a Californian and the Red-wing Blackbirds seemed to feel that way too, as their feathers seemed very fluffy.  On the other hand, the Robin Red-Breast didn't seem to mind the cold at all.





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US Marine Boot Camp

This past week I attended the graduation of my eldest grandson from the US Marine Boot Camp.    The new recruits go through very rigorous training and I'm proud of my grandson for having completed it.  Although I am not a hawk, I do believe that we must stand strong against tyranny and protect ourselves as a nation.

It was so impressive to see that these young recruits were not only instructed in physical exercises, but they were shown the importance of character and commitment.   In fact, the principles instilled in every Marine is Honor, Courage and Commitment.  Everywhere I went on Base, young men greeted me, shoulders back, with a respectful, "Good afternoon, Ma'am."  It is so refreshing and, yes again, impressive.

I pray God's blessing and protection upon these new Marines, as they live and honor their commitment.

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More Birds

First, I have to make a correction to my last post, I noted that ".... a Clapper Rail was intent on his own fishing in the water."  The correct name for this bird is "Marbled Godwit."  I find these birds confusing.  Of course, the more I learn to recognize these birds the better for my credibility.  I really do appreciate birding friends who help me out with the correct names.
 
In my quest to get photographs of different birds, I been visiting the Slough often to see what I could find.   Since they fly away just when I spot them, it is sometimes quite a challenge to photograph them, especially when they are perched in full leafy trees.  As the weather gets warmer, any migratory birds will be on their way.

On March 10th, I spotted the following bird,which might be a Cassin's Vireo because of the eye-ring and yellow flanking.

Vireo

As I walked deeper into the property on the trail that ran along Famosa Blvd, I saw something yellow in the back of the property.  Then, I noticed people walking there.  I had not known that the area was open to the public.  So, I walked up the hill on Famosa Blvd, turned left and re-entered the property at Mentone Street.

Common Yellowthroat

I asked a couple leaving the property if they had seen anything interesting.  I realize that the answer could be quite subjective.  The man responded that they had seen some "yellow rumps."   As I walked around, I spotted a yellow bird, which turned out to be a Common Yellowthroat. 

The path loops around the property.  As I walked further around the loop I spotted this big blueish bird.  It turned out to be a Western Scrub-Jay.  I was so excited since I loved taking photos of the Blue Jay in New York, so I was happy to get a photo of this bird. I've since learned that the Western Scrub-Jay is regularly seen in the Slough. 

Western Scrub-Jay

On March 11, I found a Summer Tanager Immature Male (shown below).  A mature male will be red in color.  You can see the splotches of red on this bird.   As I was leaving the property, I spotted a Killdeer on the bank of the water near the West Point Loma Blvd entrance to the Slough.  I think that the bird is so cute.  The stripes on its breast looks like a turtle-necked sweater.
                                                                                                                                

Killdeer

Summer Tanager Immature Male

                                                                                                                       

 After spending four days in the house because of feeling "under the weather", it was good to get out.  On March 16, I joined the bird watching tour given at the Famosa Slough.  At one point, as the tour leader pointed out different shore birds, I spotted a hummingbird sitting on a branch just over my head.  As I was looking up, the leader saw something and said, "Was that a Golden-Crowned Sparrow?".  No one responded.  I hadn't seen it since I was so preoccupied with the hummingbird over my head.  I was intrigued as to why it didn't fly away with approximately nine people standing right there underneath it.  Usually, they flit before I can get a picture.  There are so many kinds of hummingbirds, I admit I'm intimidated when it comes to assigning a specific name to the picture below.

Hummingbird

 After a while, I left the group and went to the back of the property where I could see other kinds of birds, possibly migratory ones.   For a few days, I heard a familiar bird call.  I would try to ascertain the source, but wasn't succeeding.  That day, however, I saw it.  I got a photo of the Song Bird as it was singing.

Song Sparrow

Golden-Crowned Sparrow

 The next day, I went back to see what I could find.  I thought I saw a bird with a gold spot on its head.  I remembered that the tour leader had spoken about it the day before.  I wondered if the bird I saw flit into the tree was truly a Golden-Crowned Sparrow.  A young couple I had seen earlier came along with their scope.  I told them that I saw this bird.  They were very knowledgeable and could tell me the bird calls that they were hearing.  The woman advised me that the Golden-Crowned Sparrow had a very sad call like "I'm so tired."  She started doing a visual search and spotted it.  Then the man pulled out his bird book, found it and asked the woman if that was what she saw.  She answered in the affirmative.  Then, he showed me.  I said, "Yes."  As the Sparrow flew to another tree, she spotted again and showed me.  I took multiple pictures but the Golden spot on his head was hidden each time.  The photo above to the right shows just a sliver of gold on his head.  Anytime it looked my way as he was nibbling on something green, it would block my view of its head.  Since this bird only winters here in San Diego, I will continue to watch for this bird as often as I'm able.  Spring is here.

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Bird Observations

Female Western Bluebird

Last week, I was walking near Tourmaline St in La Jolla, CA, a coastal community north of San Diego, and spotted the following bird on the lawn.  At first glance, I thought it was a Robin, a bird that can be found throughout the United States, but one that I've never seen on the West Coast.  Then, I saw a blue glint on it's head.  As I came closer to get a better picture, it flew away. When I researched my photo later and verified with a bird expert, it turned out to be a Female Western Bluebird.  A few years ago in Balboa Park in San Diego, I spotted a beautiful, bright blue bird (probably a Male Bluebird), but as I pulled out my camera, it flew away.  I've become more alert and almost always have my camera out and ready, although I'm convinced that as soon as the bird is aware of my silver camera they take off.

House finch

 

 Yesterday, I spotted a house finch at the Slough.

 Today, I walked the hills of Ocean Beach.  The weather was overcast and the birds must have been hunkering down since it was also cold.    On the way back, I stopped in at the Slough.  There I saw a man and a small child feeding two Mallards some bread on the Famosa Boulevard side.   As I walked toward them, they left.  The man and child then went around to the front entrance to the Slough.  Believe it or not, the ducks swam across the water to where these people were and followed them on the path.  That was amazing to me.  The ducks didn't come to me. as I had come around to the front and was just several feet from these people.  Did the Mallards recognize their feeders?                                                                                

                                                 

Mallard

Along came another man with a school bag.  He put his hand in the bag, dropped something for the ducks,and proceeded on.  The birds ate some of it and there was a piece between them.  Just then a small gull with black wings just swooped down and picked up the whole piece of bread.   One of the Mallards quacked and turned his head towards the airborne gull with the bread.  It sounded just like he voiced, "Wa-a-." (Like "what just happened here?")  That gull certainly was very deft in his actions.

White-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Then, four White-crowned Sparrows hopped out of the bushes and pecked around for breadcrumbs.  This gave me an opportunity to get a close-up of them, since they usually hide within the brush.

Clapper Rail

While all this was going on, a Clapper Rail was intent on his own fishing in the water.

While I certainly don't know much about birds, I'm sometimes taken aback to view their almost human-like actions.

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Clairmont Post Office

Yesterday, I went to the Post Office for more stamps.  I know, I know....I should have purchased more on Tuesday.  However, I don't usually use more than three a month.  Writing my grandson once a week has expanded my need.

However, this time I visited the Post Office in the North Clairmont section of San Diego.  This is a very nice community.  This Post Office is a very busy place, but the line moves quickly.  When I reached the Postal clerk, I requested three stamps.  He quickly pulled a sheet over with some square stamps with some nondescript pale-colored drawing on them.  I said I didn't want them.  His retort was - that was what he was selling.  I presume that they have to sell stamps left over from sheets.  Anyway, he wouldn't budge.  So, I asked him if that was what the other clerks were selling.  He shrugged his shoulders giving me the impression that he just didn't care.

So, as a customer left the postal clerk next to him, I just moved over to this man's station.  I told him I needed three stamps and then I asked if he could sell me the Purple Heart stamps.  He politely told me that he would check in the back.  He quickly returned to his station with a sheet of Purple Heart stamps and presented me with three.  I told him that I really appreciated his help.  His name was Alex.  I think he should be commended for great customer service.

Since I have some birthdays coming up, I guess I'll give in and purchase a small book of stamps.  Maybe this time I'll buy the "Forever Stamps."

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