So Long 2020

I would say it has been nice to meet you 2020, but that would be only partly true. Who wasn't looking forward to my birthday this year, what with it being the last day of 2020? And now that the vaccine roll out has begun, dare we imagine that when my 68th birthday rolls around, we will be back to "normal." Let us hope so.

As is always the case with us, there is a lot going on and I suspect the same holds true for everyone reading this blog post. So, where do I begin to document the final days of 2020 and the start of what we hope will be a happy new year? 

Why not begin with a favorite topic in this space which all of you know starts with the letter B? 

Patty knows my favorites and her generous Christmas gift was a welcome one. Beautifully illustrated with loads of interesting information, it is a real gem of a book.

We played pickleball in the morning of my birthday followed by lunch. So? Well, I'd asked Bruce not to get me anything, saying instead that I wanted a sub from Jersey Mikes which was as delicious as I'd hoped, followed by a mini carrot cake from Publix. 

The book in the foreground is a gift from Jonathan and Alissa and it, too, is a real gem that I've already learned a lot from. As well, they gave me a set of two pickleball paddles which we put to use right away.

As a matter of fact, they were a big hit with several of the ladies who tried them out as well. I neglected to mention that when we returned to our condo, a beautiful arrangement was waiting from Bill and Fallon.

Meanwhile David and Michelle were showering me with gifts including alerting Bruce that they had put in an order for pizza for our dinner. Seriously? We did not open the MAGNUM of 2012 Cabernet to go with our pizza, a treat for another, dare I say, week? Several days anyway!

Adding to all of the above excitement, the Robins returned and brought along a few of their Cedar Wax Wing friends!!

I was thinking it was early for them both, but checking back in my blog, my thinking was off. There was a cacophony of bird song as hundreds of them were flitting through the trees.  As you can well imagine, this blogger was stoked! The same holds true to seeing the otter who has been mostly absent for a while.

Speaking of absent, I was thrilled and worried when I saw the American Kestrel pair at the site of last years nest that the chick fell from. One of these days I'm gong to get a super good shot of them!

While I am on the topic of being worried for a bird, while out photographing the sunrise Sunday morning, I was seriously dismayed to see another Anhinga with a compromised beak.

I watched for a while as it tried to free itself by rubbing it on the branch,

however, no success was forthcoming. The day was gloomy, albeit very warm, and for a while I forgot about it. That is until about one in the afternoon when I thought to go check it and there it was, in the same place. I put a call into Audubon explaining that it was on a branch hanging over the lake. She had me call Orange County Animal Welfare; after waiting for a person for 16 minutes, I explained the situation. They said because the beak was effectively closed that it was an emergency and they would send someone out within the hour. They were true to their word, however, when she arrived with a net on the end of a short pole I knew it was a waste of time.

Amazingly, it is three days hence, well, really, almost four, and the bird is still alive, but for how much longer is anyones guess. Should he ever come onshore we will do, and that we actually means Bruce (!), what we can to save it. I'm guessing, since this is the second time we have come across this, it is fairly common for these birds with a crazy sharp beak. 

Oops, I forgot to warn you that there are loads of photos in this post!! Carry on...

As is our custom, on new year's day we took our tree down and frankly, it was not a moment too soon as the branches continued both dropping needles and drooping so low the ornaments were on the ground.

Needles galore!!

Together we removed and packed all of the lights and ornaments, followed by Mr. Peck cutting about a foot off the top of the tree. (10' ceilings)

He then grabbed the trunk, pulled it out through the sunroom and out the back door with force,

leaving hundreds of needles in his wake!

Aren't we lucky we have the grass behind us? Some units are not quite as fortunate.

While he was hauling it out front and putting it atop of his car to take down to the site where they are collected, I did the clean up, at the same time doing laundry. We do love beginning a new year with a clean slate, however, I am no longer the worker I once was. Between the tree, laundry, and several hours of pickleball, I was pooped and finally sat down with a glass of wine to rest. While I did love that tree, it was nice being able to, once again, see the lake. 

The Edison book, pictured on the table, has been so interesting that I'm about half way through it already. 

Don't you just love winter clouds?

I would say that for the last two months, our duck population has been almost nonexistent, a fact that had me in a bit of a snit, however, I am happy to report that while typing this I have seen about a dozen out of my bedroom window. Yup, the ducks are back! 

The air is dry and chilly and in other good news, we finally had a Cardinal come for refreshments!

It had been seemingly forever since a Northern Cardinal visited, making me especially happy to see this bright red gentleman. Hopefully he will bring his lady friend soon.

I'd planned on more photos, but how about I save the others for a rainy day? 

Edison is calling. 

your friend,

Gail

Getting the Inside Scoop

Blogging Friday morning, a text came in from Pam about her sewing machine tension...could I help? Sure, I'll ride over on my bike. After checking the machine and setting things straight, I asked her, "do you want to see a nearby eagle's nest?" How would you answer that question if you were the curious type? I thought so.

Off we went, riding down Ferncreek. It is always great fun showing someone a nearby neighborhood that they've yet to see, and this time was the no different. As we rode down Waterwitch, on our way to the cut-through to Harbour Island, and yes, that is how they spell it, I spotted an eagle in the usual spot in the tall pine tree, lakeside. That is how things started...

Pam was freaking out at how cool it is in Harbour Island, with all of the old trees shading much of the road and beautiful homes, saying she could not wait to show the area to Glenn. I can't say as I blame her because it is a very special place, right off Orange Avenue, that is like being in another world altogether. Before we got to the eagle house I saw a girl a little ways away taking a photograph with her mobile, and I knew that something neat was going on. Indeed it was...this hawk sat and stared at us until I started moving closer, and off it flew.

If you are keeping count, that is two raptors so far. We rode down to the house and were disappointed that there was not an eagle in sight. Boo hoo! After a bit, I said let's ride down this way and I'll show you around a little more. We came across these beautiful bushes filled with blooms that Pam could not immediately identify, although she did guess that perhaps it was a mango.

Anyone who knows Pam's garden prowess knows that her guess is generally an educated one, and indeed she was right. Fragrant as well.

Not quite ready to give up, we rode back to the nest, hoping in the interim something would have changed. We ran into John Mears, (of Mears Transportation for my Orlando readers) while he was walking his two Boxers. We chatted. He'd not noticed the nest until he saw me looking at it, but now his eyes were glued to the tree. Lo and behold, he said I think I see something moving. Sure enough....

Not great, but still exciting. Following the sighting we went on our way, with Pam and I splitting up at the entrance to her neighborhood, but not before we saw yet another hawk fly into the tree canopy over Pershing Avenue!!

Set against the new Spring green leaves it was so pretty, eventually putting on a bit of a show for me. Remember, I am not a nature photographer, only a nature lover!

Wouldn't that have been an awesome photograph without my movement due to my excitement?? Not long after he/she took off toward my side of the street!

And now you know why it is called a Red Shouldered Hawk! Pretty neat, huh? You would think this hawk was accustomed to people as I got yet another photo when it flew onto a hedge.

No eagle, but wow...two hawks in one morning and that is not counting the one we saw way high on top of an Australian Pine out Pam's back door. Amazing, really.

Friday evening we went to a charity event with David and Michelle, sponsored by the Junior League, of which Michelle is a member. It is not often I get a photo of Bruce and one of his sons.

I only wish the elder Peck would have been looking more at me! Held at the former Peabody Hotel, it was a night of fun and bidding on silent auctions. More another time on that topic!

Saturday morning, while Bruce was at the job site, I rode over, once again to the nest. I told you I was in real danger of becoming obsessed! I was so excited when, yes, Mr. Eagle was on the lookout.

Let me put this into perspective for you...

Way the heck up there for sure!

While I was milling about, the gentleman, whose back yard contains this tree, was out working in his front yard, and you won't be surprised to learn that I struck up a conversation. Mr. Joe Stine could not have any nicer had he tried. Oh my goodness, we had such a nice visit, with him filling me in on the eagles, who apparently have been using this nest since 2006!!

Don't you just bet he's been wearing his hair like this for decades? I do. Well, anyone, again Orlando folks will find this crazy interesting, Mr. Stine used to run Harry P. Leu Inc., the business founded by Mr. Leu whose story you will find HERE. If you've ever been to Leu Gardens in Orlando you won't want to miss it. Joe took over the business from his own father, who has a neat mention in this article from the Orlando Sentinel. You may not know it, but mostly I write this blog for myself, learning as I go. I'm fairly confidant most of you never go to the links I add, but I keep adding them nonetheless. How else was I to know that Joe's dad was originally from Charleston, SC? Must be where he got his Southern gentleman manner. He and his wife Joan have lived in this house since the island was developed in 1974.

He pointed out a number of camellias in his yard that came directly from Mr. Leu before he turned the property over to the city! He recounted tales of playing on the grounds of what we now call Leu Gardens. You can imagine I was giddy with excitement! He also told me that generally the eagles only have one eaglet; should there be two they would fight like mad for food. While we were chatting up popped Mama and baby.

As you can see, the sky became overcast during our conversation, making photographs more difficult, however, we did see both parents fly to and fro before papa took up guard once again.

Should you be curious about the dark heads, I've learned, and perhaps you already knew that the eagles generally get their white heads around age five.

Apparently, in 2005, the year of three major hurricanes, the island lost one third of the old trees including a previous nest. We are seeing the latest model. :)

Now you too, have the inside scoop!

Speaking of perspectives, last week when I went to the cemetery, while chatting with some folks, one of the women picked up a pine cone, marveling at the size. My friend Sue loves giant pinecones, so I asked if I might have it for her. Absolutely, she replied. Putting it alongside one of my hibiscus blooms gives you an idea of just how gigantic it is.

Isn't that something?

Are you tired of birds yet? I hope not because this little guy visited recently and I could not get over how RED he is. Come August he won't look anything like this beautiful!

Had enough for today? Watch this space for the next installment which may or may not include some birds.

In bird heaven,

Gail