Twilight: Turkey Eclipse

Had plenty of company this past week. First Barbara was up from Monterey for a visit. She left and the next shift to baby sit me was Gene & Joann Bertsch. Yeah! They were in Northern California for a wedding that took place in the vicinity of the Avenue of the Giants. It was there over the weekend their young cousin married his long time sweetie. Happily for me, Gene & Jo decided to visit me.

I took them for a nice & frankly, just for the heck of it drive through the nearby Old Folsom. We didn't opt to do any shopping there, but we did enjoy the beautiful old homes.

 On the quiet & shady back street of Old Folsom there were a couple of very old autos parked. The red one here has a nice picnic basket in a special carrying place behind the spare wheel - see it? That must have been the equalent of a fancy cup holder back in 'ought o' two'.

This equally red, not quite so shiny car looks like it was just a work horse. It's obviously out to pasture now though, and I'm sure it enjoys all the TLC the roadster in the picture above gets.






Now you know no visit from my San Diego buddies happens without us going out on  'Deer Hunt' in Sunrise on the American River Parkway.

This doe (photo by Joann) seemed a tad moth eaten. Wonder what unwanted adventures she's survived?

She was the first deer we spotted for the evening

After watching the doe for a bit, it was approaching sunrise so we drove to the far end of the park. We were in hope of having a look at 'our' turkey roosting tree, where I've brought many friends to see the spectacle of full grown turkey cocks flying up into the trees for the night. But this time we were all three of us gobsmacked! The huge Turkey Roost Oak Tree was GONE! Eventually I noticed what was left of it, as you can see below.

What happened to the Turkey Roost Oak Tree? Storm? It looks like it just fell down. Weak root system or ?

Totally bummed by the lost of this beautiful tree that was obviously important to wildlife, we decided to drive back down the road and look for a second roosting tree we spotted last May when Gene & Joann were last up this way. We squabbled and fussed over which tree was the correct tree, when suddenly, as the sun dropped lower in the sky, we got a BIG hint.

There was a turkey parade - young Toms, crossing the park road

Climbing up the hillside

The five of them, gathering at the base of their new roosting tree

All snug and safe for the night

If ever there was a parade to enjoy, that is one without floats or bands, this was it! The Toms marched up that hill, then before our eyes, they shot skyward and up into the gigantic oak tree. 

OK,here's the bed count - One... two...

Three, four and five! Can you see 'em all?

We figure that's nature for you. One oak tree down, but there is another in wait to host and keep safe the wild turkeys for the night. Tough luck coyotes!

I'll have the spaghetti with a side of tacos

My bud Barbara is up visiting me this week. We had a sudden longing for some Thai Tom Yum soup, which for years has been my favorite food; made with lemon grass, coconut milk and tender chicken. Finally I decided we should give into our peckishness so I drove us to Andy Nguyens Restaurant. After were seated for a bit, our our waiter came to take our orders. I told him we couldn't find Tom Yum soup on the menu, and he told us, "We're not a Thai restaurant, we're Vietnamese."

Ooops...

Simple error on my part, and unfortunately it isn't the first time I've made the same error at the same restaurant. I keep thinking it is a Thai establishment - wishful thinking at that! Oh well, we enjoyed the heck out of our meal of Imperial rolls with pork & rice noodles, curried pork with rice and Thai iced tea. On our drive home I kept cracking up and laughing until I snorted. After all, isn't not being able to tell Vietnamese cuisine from Thai kind of like going to an excellent Italian Restaurant and ordering chow mein, or siting down at Mexican restaurant and demanding a nice order of Swedish meatballs. I mean, about time I learn to get my ethnicities straight, you know?

Two Got Away - Two Sat Still

Just returned from a wild goose chase. Last week  two shore birds, one formerly known as a Mongolian Plover and a second, a Red-necked Stint, touched down in southern California. I was going to ignore them, but I oh-so-want to see them - I raced off in pursuit. Alas, as I arrived at the two target venues the little feathered darlings had flown. I'd missed both by less than 24 hours. I was racked with disbelief. Depressed? Down? Bummed? Kinda pissed? Aw, you bet.

The Red-necked Stint that flew the flats. Oh cruel & yet adorable tiny peep - how could you so forsake me?

A peep formerly known as Mongolian Plover: this species eluded me once before on Attu. By the time I manage see one, it will undoubtedly rank as the most expensive birdie gracing my life list.







What was I to do but turn my few days away from home for birding purposes, into a few days away from home for some sight seeing: I decided to visit two National Parks I've somehow managed not to get to, even though they're located in my own state: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

One thing you can say for National Parks, they stay the hell put as they are approached.  

A view in King's Canyon

My visit to the twin parks, Sequoia and Kings Canyon was brief, just about six hours, but for that time I got a good overview of both parks. Amazingly, I did do a short hike in Sequoia, taking a nice level trail walk to see the 3rd largest tree on Earth - the General Grant. Mind - Sequoia Park also contains the world's largest tree, but I didn't take the time to see it, this trip.

The General Grant Sequoia

The General Grant tree was humongous. My first thought on reading its sign, "America's Christmas Tree" was, 'My god, how big a crane is needed to drag this thing all the way to the White House lawn every year!'

More interesting, to me at least, than even the General Grant Sequoia, was a huge fallen redwood, propped up so tourists can tromp up and down inside of it. 

You can see a hint of the crown wandering around inside of this HUGE fallen log

You could hold a conference in a tree this gigantic

Pretty photogenic for a downed tree, right?

Western Tiger Swallowtail - one of the few winged creatures that chose to show themselves to me all week.  Thank you Mr. or Ms. Tiger Swallowtail!






Of course I had my eyes open for birds while in the parks, but although I heard maybe four or five species, I only saw Scrub Jays and a Raven. And mind - I can stay home 50% of those in my own back yard. I guess I have a birding hex on me this week. What... has word gotten around in the birdy world that I been too slow to refill the bird feeders or something?

A shell of a cabin one can walk around in - Sequoia NP

Snow Drop

I always get a kick out of this odd little wildflower - Snow Drops - I found growing amid the Giant Sequoias.

Kings Canyon - a river runs through it

There! Another pair of California National Parks seen and appreciated. You know I got my National Passport book stamped for both parks. Great save in the aftermath of a wild goose chase if I do say so myself - and I do.

Kings Canyon Craigs