Ellen:

Red Quill is taking awhile to upload. But it will get online eventually. Tonight.

Dad

Spent the morning with myself on Blackpoint. Just a little breezy. And brisk. No shadows. Sky full of clouds.

As I left the island, to return home, after a quiet five hours I stopped cold on top of the small bridge to the mainland. North, on top of a pillon that had once held the fishing pier was a big black backed gull. It had to be a black backed. I have never seen a gull with a back so black. I wanted to just sit there. I wanted to go to the rail and shout “Thank You! Thank you for coming to Florida. Thank you for coming so close to my house. And thank you for being so obvious even a novice’d know who you are!” I was very tired, of course, or my thoughts would have been more, well, sober. But I was very happy to see that gull. That gull was a hi-lite.

But there were others. American Avocet. Four pair. American Widgeon. Three pair. Numerous pairs of Hooded Merganser actively feeding. That kept me busy. They really enjoy thier work. Not as agile a fisher as the Anhinga, I think. But, OH, so energetic. Dunlin galore. If there was a Red Knot, I wouldn’t have known. Least Sandpiper a plenty, heal and toe with the Dunlin. I spent sometime watching them. Their bills never went below the sand. There was something on the surface they wanted, or something below the surface they wanted just wasn’t there. For awhile I watched an Osprey sitting on low bush in the pond where we all meet Ed Kwater. It was eating a fish. And beneath it, right at its feet, was a Ring-billed gull waiting for a scrap.

One small group of coots. Only three Common Moor Hen. Several Killdeer. Many Turnstones. And Laughing Gulls, of course.

Two hogs. Neither had wings, however.

Savanah Sparrow. I was really hoping for that. A Common Yellow-throat, and honestly, when I saw him I said without reserve, without even knowing there’d been an empty spot waiting for him, “There you are!”

And I do think I saw Dowitchers. Very long bill.

It was all very nice. Did alot of walking. Down several berms there’d never before been time to walk.

Well, but it’s not like sharing.

So, I’m writing.

Squint is the sequel to ‘Blink’. The subtitle is “sometimes it pays to read the fine print!”
This is a big ‘shout out’ for you, Jen. Yeah. On my walk tonight I thought,”Wow! Jen saved a piece of John’s booty.”
Yeah. Yours was a decision worth dancing about.
Good for you!
That was really q-u-i-t-e Kool with a BOLD capital K.

Mom and Dad

Sierra and I have planned to get a group together to see New Moon. The movie is at 7pm at the Altamonte mall. This you already know.

Sierra has invited her cousin and a few of her cousins friends. Brian, Alec, Dani, and Mercedes have also been invited. Not sure who can go yet. Sierra’s moms offered to pick me up and take me home.

Some things that could go wrong are someone could forget their money. I would let them borrow some of mine. Some people may want to do something else while one person doesn’t. The group has to agree on something together. I’m planing on having a good time.

What do you think will happen?

Thanks for considering.

Sierra’s moms name is Christy  Bretzer and her number is 407-470-2049

D: I’d like to borrow the book and CD set after you’ve listened to it. OK? Jen

Found a link to the judge’s score sheet for the championship.

And I found a photo of the Marbled Godwit.

Knock Knock joke of the day:

A good chuckle or an engrossing activity can lift my spirits and cleanse my mind. I will refresh myself by adding some lightness to this day. – Courage to Change from November 18 🙂

David: Following are the items you will need to purchase for this Thursday’s cook together night:

12 ounces fresh cranberries (usually in a clear bag in produce)

1 small yellow onion

Black Mission Figs/fresh – recipe calls for 8

1 Lemon or small bottle of lemon juice

Mustard Seeds

Ground Cloves

Fresh Thyme

Thanks, Jen