GRSP Part 1 08-09-22

Tuesday Morning... I got to the park yesterday afternoon. I set up the trailer and rested my knee on a pillow the rest of the day. Because of my sore knee, I am severely limiting my activity on this trip. I am only going to the bird blinds. One is a .6 mile round trip. The other is about 100 feet from the parking lot. It should be okay. Anyway, I started at the new blind today. It was a fun adventure since I had no real idea of where it was on the trail. It is a beautiful blind. I saw several birds before heading over to the old blind. After I sat there for awhile, I considered going down to the river, but decided not to push it and went back to the trailer for lunch.

The trail to the new blind...

There is a field between the trail and the Honey Creek parking area. It is next to what I assume is the sewer plant. These deer were grazing peacefully in the morning sun.

My first glimpse of the new blind. I love how they constructed it out of cedar poles. It has little gaps that let the air flow through. It was nice and cool with a breeze every time I went to it.

The first bird I got to see was this hummingbird.

When you look out of the blind, you can see a vast panorama of the savanna.

female Lesser Goldfinch

Field Sparrow

Most of the cardinals in the park are either molting or juveniles that haven't quite gotten pretty, yet.

This is a nice clear close up.

I didn't know what this was until I looked it up at the camper. I thought it might be a juvenile of the Mourning Dove. NOPE! It is a full-grown Common Ground Dove. They are tiny like Inca Doves.

Northern Cardinal

It has so much character in its face.

Field Sparrow

This little guy was thirsty.

This is the Common Ground Dove again. Look at that beautiful pattern around the neck and chest!

Field Sparrow

This shot of the Common Field Dove shows off the spots on the wing. They are so tiny and delicate.

Here is the Common Ground Dove from the front. Absolutely beautiful.

male Lesser Goldfinch

female Lesser Goldfinch

This is a shot of the front of the new blind as I was leaving to go to the other one.

This bird was standing on top of a stack of boulders about a football field's distance from me. It wasn't until I zoomed in that I saw it was a Roadrunner. I think it is a female, since the males have more colors on their heads.