Chapter 27 - Bird Walkin'

The easy life of a retired Gentleman. Well, at least a guy, right? That's what I have now. The easy life. And, you know, it is easy. I am not well-off but, in a sense, I am. I have enough money to get me by and I can afford a little extravagance here and there now and again. I feel I am able to do most the things I want and, by golly, that's a good feeling.

And so it is that I have days to fill up, to spend. My great problem these days is how to occupy my time. Oh, I've learned to appreciate the luxury of just lazing about doing nothing. And, honestly, I mean that; I do nothing. I'm capable, if pushed, to do nothing for quite a while most happily. Haha, it's like I've been training for this event all my life.

So I look for ways to spend this time I have. That's my challenge now, to find ways to spend the time I have available. A few of the ways I've chosen is the library. I go in once a week for a couple hours and help out with shelving books, tearing up boxes, loading and unloading donated books and, generally, helping where I can. 

I also have gotten involved with the local Boy Scout Troop. That takes up time, too. And, finally, I've gotten involved with the Audubon Society of Lincoln City (ASLC). They have at least one event a month plus their club meeting the second Tuesday of each month at the Aces Bar & Grill over at the Chinook Winds Casino Golf Course.

And that last thing was what got me out and about this last Saturday. Down to the Cutler City Wetlands Open Space at the south-end of Lincoln City, Oregon (LCO).

I've been there twice before for bird walks and then a couple times just to wander around. And each time, I've heard a lot of birds but I sure as heck didn't see them. Today was no different. 

Regardless, we band of intrepid explorers set out to...see what we could see.

Dawn Villasasco, in the striped shirt, was filling in for Mark who recently underwent hip surgery. Haha, the rigors of growing old. There's Caren Willoughby to Dawn's right, your left, in the bright blue jacket. She was the official Bird & Plant Book Carrier and recorder.

These walks are sponsored by the LCO Open Spaces Coordinator, Ian Keene. The City pays the ASLC to conduct a bird walk through their Open Spaces parks once a month. This month it was the Cutler City Wetlands Open Space's turn.

Altogether, 15 folks turned up for this event including, to the right in this picture, the editor of the local Weekly Wheeze, The News Guard. He was there to do a story on how the Open Spaces are being used and promoted by the City. Plus, he's also a member of the ASLC.

There he is, Rick Mark, standing on the right holding his camera.

And, having located ourselves on the map, we were off!! 

Woo, woo!!

I believe these signs; which is to say I am sure these birds depicted here have, at some time or the other, been seen around this area. Just not when I've been there.

Once again, I saw one bird sitting long enough for a picture and the others? Well, I saw them as they flew, very quickly, by me overhead.

Here's the only one I got a picture of. A something or other. The only one to sit still long enough for me to wrangle through all the crap I carry and get my camera up and pointed at him before he took off.

And he even sat still long enough for me to zoom in on him a little.

Mostly, for me, it was a pleasant stroll through the woods. They've done a lot to improve the trails through this open space and the walk was easy and entertaining.

I looked each time they stopped to ooh and aah at some bird they'd spotted but, honestly, all I saw was a flit here or there. Just an instant and then they were...gone.

So I did a lot of staring up...down...and all around. And taking pictures.

I likes me some blue sky framed by some tall aspens.

And the Rhododendrons were out, too.

I don't usually do well, photographing these, but today I got a couple reasonable shots. Hey, I'll take reasonable any day of the week.

And the berries were out, too. I think this is a Salmon Berry but I don't know. I get told and I forget.

And these little hanging thingies. I've seen them dozens of times and I know their name now as well as I knew it when I first saw them. Which is to say I don't know what they're called.

Haha, I looked. I just saw the rear end of a bird swiftly flying through the tree tops. I know it was a bird but beyond that I haven't a clue.

And, because Ernie told me he didn't bring a wide lens, only his telephoto, I shot the group picture. I had to get the folks to actually sit on the bench for this picture. Ahhhh, the travails of the Professional Photographer. 

My latest thing is to put the name and date of the event on the group picture. I think it's cooler when you can have this visual evidence of the were and when of what you were doing.

I got the 'serious' picture above and then went for the 'silly' below. 

I told them I wanted this picture just in case one of them went missing...we'd have a picture of what they looked like to help find them.

Hahaha, my wit, sometimes it's painful it's so funny.

So, there ya go!! Another day and it was taken up with activities I enjoy.  The easy life of a retired, uh, guy.

I got to get out in the open, walk a bit, meet new people and be of some use all in a couple hours.

And, once I'm back at Fort Couch, I can settle in, fool around with the pictures and then put them together in a blog. More fun. 

Whadya know, life is good.

          Hooah!!