Did I know there was a great big, huge, expansive bird refuge 40 minutes from where I grew up? Well, my in-laws knew and we took a small caravan of 5 adults and 5 children on a drive out and around it last night. It was so beautiful. We saw black ducks with white bills. There were lots of pretty orange-headed birds among the cat-tails. (Ellie: No! Not cattails-- cornfields!) Large pelicans landed and lifted off the water. But most impressive were the oh-so-elegant blue herons! Gorgeous!
And then there were the bugs. Mosquitoes impressive in size and number. Anytime we slowed down they were bumping around our car windows like a field of static electricity. And they were thirsting for my blood. My blood! Mosquitoes seriously love me. But I'm not going to stop eating bananas. I love bananas. But thankfully (and necessarily) this was strictly a driving tour. So I laugh at their futile efforts. Wahaha!
On our last leg we spotted groups of excited gulls swirling and diving en masse. And as we drove into the middle of the party, we realized we had entered the mosquito breeding grounds (of all mosquito breeding grounds.) There were columnar clouds of them on each side of the road for a mile. I think flying through that with your mouth open would be quite an awesome thing for a gull. For me, not so much.
(click on this picture, I dare you.)So having whetted our appetites, we stopped at a greasy drive-in for some of the best french fries I've ever had. Birdwatching and skipping lunch can sure conjure an appetite. On our drive home in the dark, Ellie kept telling us how much fun it was. "Ducks and Birds and Bugs!" (Oh, my!) Next time your in-laws want to take you on a fieldtrip, I say you should definitely go. And bring your camera. And some deet.
13 comments:
It sounds awesome! Is that the one out west? That picture with the bugs looks like somrthing out of a horror movie!
ooh, pretty! and gross. sounds like a lovely field trip, and i just LOVE the new picture on your header! what a wonderful playground!
Those are some nice pictures you took. Those bugs are disgusting!! I can't believe there were so many.
Bugs love me too. We must be related. I think it's all my very-close veins. Is that the river bottoms? What dive did you hit? The Oaks?
You are a great story teller. I'm glad everyone had fun. Those are some great photos. I did dare and clicked on the picture, that is one mass of bugs.
It was fun for me to be in the car with Victoria and Ellie and Charley. We had great fun. There is always something new to see out there at the bird refuge and never have there been so many bugs. Besides birds we have seen deer, fox, coyotes, and raccoons. Linda
Bug refuge?! I'm just thrilled they've created a safehaven for bugs. Those bugs looks happys.
Whoa! I am never going there. Except I love Blue Herons. But I HATE mosquitoes. They love me, too. It does run in the family.
WOW! You weren't joking about the bugs...so glad it was a driving tour!
It is delightful to read your writtings. You are so clever.
The bug tour sounds delightful.
Bugs do NOT like my blood. I think it's my lack of bananas.
I was one of the only sisters on my mission that didn't get attacked by mosquitoes on a daily basis.
Oh my goodness.... I took the dare. I still feel a little itchy and queasy.
Ugh! It's like mayfly season in Nauvoo!
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