We watched Colleen pack up last evening and her packing skills are quite impressive. As everyone knows, we always have a lot of stuff. Colleen even brought along her scope and tripod for all of us to use and that was a big help in our birding. Colleen managed to pack her things into two small rolling bags and a carry bag and small knapsack and a waist belt. All her stuff magically fit! Her bags were heavy with all the optics and computer stuff. But she did it! She managed to take all of her apples with her also for the train ride to Lakeland (about a 3.5 train trip).
So the all packed-up Colleen along with Barbr and I (who were still in the multi-plastic bags and stuff stage) set off this morning for Brian Piccolo Park in Cooper City to do some birding with Colleen before she had to be dropped off at the nearby Amtrak Station. In other years we have visited this park and Burrowing Owls and Monk Parakeets have showed up for us. It was already hot by the time we arrived after the hour drive. We spotted one Burrowing owl hole (guarded off by yellow ropes with a T-shape stand for the owl to sit on). Very lucky for us, there was a Burrowing Owl at the burrow hole! Burrowing Owls are small with long legs to dig their burrows. We walked to the back of the park where we have had luck with Monk Parakeets other times but not today. Here we saw a Yellow-throated Warbler which was sweet. Mr Yellow-throat played peek a boo with a leaf.
Time moves fast when we bird and soon we had to get Colleen to the Amtrak Station. Once at the train station, I met a gent who was from Toronto who was going to Tampa and when Colleen returned from booking-in at the desk we all spoke with the fellow. He turned out to be an interesting fellow, a writer. Colleen ended up chatting with the fellow. We took our last selfie together and said goodbye to Colleen and wished her safe travels home to Lakeland. We won't see Colleen until April when she and Paul return to Canada. Lucky!
Barbr and I then drove to the Atlantic Ocean, to Dancia Beach which was near the airport and our hotel for tonight. We decided to check out Dr. Von Mizell & Eula Johstone State Park which is a long isle reached by a causeway off of US 1 - Federal Highway. It is a day park with a long beach on the Atlantic. We had our picnic lunch at the tip and watched as huge loaded cargo ships sailed from the port. There were also yachts nearby on the ocean. We were right by the Fort Lauderdale Port and Cruise Port and there were cruise ships docked there. It was beautiful with the ocean right there. We were also under the take-off flight path of the Ft Lauderdale Airport. So lots to see, but few birds. There was an Osprey who looked very regal.
We saw a little raccoon family crossing the road and there was a parent with two babies (still quite small but they could scurry and keep up with the parent). They quickly disappeared into the bush and there was no chance for a photo. We stopped at a couple access points in this park and I walked the beach and the surf. Barbr had shoes on and did not want to get sand in them so she stayed on the boardwalk. There were only two curious pigeons around and that was it. No shore birds.
We then checked into our hotel. Contrary to the type of place of we usually prefer to stay at, this place did not have a drive-to-the-motel-room-door access. Instead one has to bring everything through the front lobby and front desk. This is when I always dread having to sashay through the hotel lobby with our loaded-down trolley of travel dregs/stuff in plastic bags, carry bags and a suitcase each and a small roller luggage. Stuff is usually hanging down on every trolley hook. I remember once one of us got a deep cut on the hand from a knife in our food bag taking stuff out of the car, so we had the wrapped up hand with blood coming through, guiding the trolley (one can't drive a trolley by oneself, at least we can't). I always feel like a birding refugee and camel at this point. I worry someday, a front desk person, seeing the flotsam and jetsam being brought in, calling out, saying "you can't stay here it is a mistake, there is no room for you!" But thankfully, our room today was nearby a side access door and we drove to that door and just made several trips bringing in our stuff. Someday I should take a photo. But surprise! once we spend the rest of the evening packing up, all the stuff fits back into our luggage for our flight tomorrow! We are so good!
We then gassed up the rental car and had a nice supper at a "waterfront restaurant", called Dockers on US1 just 2 miles from the airport. We thought the "waterfront" would be on the inter coastal waterway. Instead the waterfront overlooked a bunch of big yachts in slips. OK we thought, we may see some waterbirds;ducks... nope. It was a different water view for sure. The food turned out to be delicious. We returned the car but gosh it was filthy from all those dirt roads and sand for two weeks. We took the hotel shuttle back but not before we bumped into a gent who talked with us while waiting for our respective hotel shuttles. He was a lawyer who specialized in the Voting Rights law and he was here for a case. I commented that he may become busy with the new Trump-initiated inquiry on voting fraud but got no comment from the gent.
Right now I am just taking a break from trying to fit everything back into my suitcase and my carry on roller bag (which has all the optics, electronics and battery chargers etc). Both Barbr and I are busy packing away. There are professional house organizers but no one has figured out that there is a need for a professional suitcase organizer! That would be a good idea.
We are looking forward to Trinidad and Tobago. Our flight tomorrow is over 2,600 km to get to T&T from here. I am surprised it is so far away but we are heading to the equatorial zone and the widest girth of the earth. Trinidad is just above Venezuela ( 7 miles away) and Tobago is above Trinidad. Spain relinquished control of Trinidad to England so Trinidadians speak English. We are excited for the new birds we are going to see.
All of the photos today are Barbr's. Usually it has been a selection of photos from each of us but there is just no time tonight.
Please note that at Asa Wright where we will be staying in Trinidad, the internet quality is said to be "iffy". So if I can, I will write up our highlights lights of the day as usual. If not, I will do it off line until I can get online and post. If I don't do the write-up the day of, the days just blend together, so I have to write the day up each day. Bye for now.
Barbs
So the all packed-up Colleen along with Barbr and I (who were still in the multi-plastic bags and stuff stage) set off this morning for Brian Piccolo Park in Cooper City to do some birding with Colleen before she had to be dropped off at the nearby Amtrak Station. In other years we have visited this park and Burrowing Owls and Monk Parakeets have showed up for us. It was already hot by the time we arrived after the hour drive. We spotted one Burrowing owl hole (guarded off by yellow ropes with a T-shape stand for the owl to sit on). Very lucky for us, there was a Burrowing Owl at the burrow hole! Burrowing Owls are small with long legs to dig their burrows. We walked to the back of the park where we have had luck with Monk Parakeets other times but not today. Here we saw a Yellow-throated Warbler which was sweet. Mr Yellow-throat played peek a boo with a leaf.
Barbr and I then drove to the Atlantic Ocean, to Dancia Beach which was near the airport and our hotel for tonight. We decided to check out Dr. Von Mizell & Eula Johstone State Park which is a long isle reached by a causeway off of US 1 - Federal Highway. It is a day park with a long beach on the Atlantic. We had our picnic lunch at the tip and watched as huge loaded cargo ships sailed from the port. There were also yachts nearby on the ocean. We were right by the Fort Lauderdale Port and Cruise Port and there were cruise ships docked there. It was beautiful with the ocean right there. We were also under the take-off flight path of the Ft Lauderdale Airport. So lots to see, but few birds. There was an Osprey who looked very regal.
We saw a little raccoon family crossing the road and there was a parent with two babies (still quite small but they could scurry and keep up with the parent). They quickly disappeared into the bush and there was no chance for a photo. We stopped at a couple access points in this park and I walked the beach and the surf. Barbr had shoes on and did not want to get sand in them so she stayed on the boardwalk. There were only two curious pigeons around and that was it. No shore birds.
We then checked into our hotel. Contrary to the type of place of we usually prefer to stay at, this place did not have a drive-to-the-motel-room-door access. Instead one has to bring everything through the front lobby and front desk. This is when I always dread having to sashay through the hotel lobby with our loaded-down trolley of travel dregs/stuff in plastic bags, carry bags and a suitcase each and a small roller luggage. Stuff is usually hanging down on every trolley hook. I remember once one of us got a deep cut on the hand from a knife in our food bag taking stuff out of the car, so we had the wrapped up hand with blood coming through, guiding the trolley (one can't drive a trolley by oneself, at least we can't). I always feel like a birding refugee and camel at this point. I worry someday, a front desk person, seeing the flotsam and jetsam being brought in, calling out, saying "you can't stay here it is a mistake, there is no room for you!" But thankfully, our room today was nearby a side access door and we drove to that door and just made several trips bringing in our stuff. Someday I should take a photo. But surprise! once we spend the rest of the evening packing up, all the stuff fits back into our luggage for our flight tomorrow! We are so good!
We then gassed up the rental car and had a nice supper at a "waterfront restaurant", called Dockers on US1 just 2 miles from the airport. We thought the "waterfront" would be on the inter coastal waterway. Instead the waterfront overlooked a bunch of big yachts in slips. OK we thought, we may see some waterbirds;ducks... nope. It was a different water view for sure. The food turned out to be delicious. We returned the car but gosh it was filthy from all those dirt roads and sand for two weeks. We took the hotel shuttle back but not before we bumped into a gent who talked with us while waiting for our respective hotel shuttles. He was a lawyer who specialized in the Voting Rights law and he was here for a case. I commented that he may become busy with the new Trump-initiated inquiry on voting fraud but got no comment from the gent.
Right now I am just taking a break from trying to fit everything back into my suitcase and my carry on roller bag (which has all the optics, electronics and battery chargers etc). Both Barbr and I are busy packing away. There are professional house organizers but no one has figured out that there is a need for a professional suitcase organizer! That would be a good idea.
We are looking forward to Trinidad and Tobago. Our flight tomorrow is over 2,600 km to get to T&T from here. I am surprised it is so far away but we are heading to the equatorial zone and the widest girth of the earth. Trinidad is just above Venezuela ( 7 miles away) and Tobago is above Trinidad. Spain relinquished control of Trinidad to England so Trinidadians speak English. We are excited for the new birds we are going to see.
Please note that at Asa Wright where we will be staying in Trinidad, the internet quality is said to be "iffy". So if I can, I will write up our highlights lights of the day as usual. If not, I will do it off line until I can get online and post. If I don't do the write-up the day of, the days just blend together, so I have to write the day up each day. Bye for now.
Barbs
Looking forward to your posts from T & T. Try the verandah for your wifi.
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