I awoke as light was just revealing the landscape of plowed fields I was parked near. Immediately drove back into Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where I would have to wait until 8 a.m. before I could begin the exploration of the caverns.
Archive for the ‘National Parks/Preserves/Refuges’ Category
Nature Ali’s Grand Adventure – Carlsbad Caverns National Park to Anthony, NM – Day 26, July 15th.
Posted in Birds, Butterflies, Carlsbad Canyon National Park, Dragonflies, Geology, Grand Adventure, New Mexico, Texas, tagged Bronzed Cowbird, caverns, flat tire, Guadalupe National Park, lanterns, Painted Bunting, Rattlesnake Spring, thunderstorm on July 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Nature Ali’s Grand Adventure – west of Houston, TX to Carlsbad, NM – Day 25, July 14th.
Posted in Birds, Carlsbad Canyon National Park, Dragonflies, Grand Adventure, National Parks/Preserves/Refuges, New Mexico, Texas, tagged Alamo, Carlsbad, Catholic, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, life bird, Mission Concepcion, National Historic Park, nighthawks, rest areas, San Antonio on July 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Morning in rest stops is interesting. The car that was parked next to you all night is replaced by a van, the driver in the SUV peers out through the foggy windshield with one sleepy eye realizing that she has been seen.
Nature Ali’s Grand Adventure – Atchafalaya, LA to west of Houston, TX – Day 24, July 13th.
Posted in Birds, Butterflies, Dragonflies, Fish, Grand Adventure, Louisiana, Margot, National Parks/Preserves/Refuges, Texas, tagged Atchafalaya, Dicksissel, Hurricane Ike, King Rail, Least Tern, life bird, Louisiana, Neotropic Cormorant, Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, Seaside Sparrow on July 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Woke up to watch the sunrise in Atchafalaya, Louisiana as thousands upon thousands of blackbirds streamed from the south towards the north; filling the sky. A Barn Swallow was busy feeding her four young that appear to be about to fledge.
Nature Ali’s Grand Adventure – Panama City, FL to Atchafalaya, LA – Day 23, July 12th.
Posted in Alabama, Amphibians, Birds, Butterflies, Dragonflies, Fish, Florida, Grand Adventure, Louisiana, Mammals, Margot, Mississippi, National Parks/Preserves/Refuges, Reptiles, tagged Carrabelle, Great Blue Heron, Laughing Gulls, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge on July 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I woke up a 5 a.m. to a great cup of coffee that my brother made enjoying some more great conversation before we both had to leave. I went over to Gulf Coast Community College to bird a bit while the weather was still cool (there is no such thing as cool here – just [...]
Nature Ali’s Grand Adventure – Everglades National Park to Gainesville, FL – Day 19, July 8th.
Posted in Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Big Cypress National Preserve, Birds, Dragonflies, Everglades National Park, Fish, Florida, Grand Adventure, Mammals, Mom, Nature, Reptiles, Tara, tagged Alligators, Big Cypress, Everglades, Gainesville, Gulf of Mexico, Interstate 75, thunderstorm on July 8, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
My intent today was to bird Shark Valley as recommended by my friend Ellen. I was looking forward to seeing the so-far elusive Limpkin.
Nature Ali’s Grand Adventure – Key West to Everglades National Park – Day 18, July 7th.
Posted in Amphibians, Birds, Butterflies, Dragonflies, Everglades National Park, Fish, Florida, Grand Adventure, Mammals, National Parks/Preserves/Refuges, Reptiles, Wildlife, tagged botanical garden, Gray Kingbird, Key West, Mosquitoes, White-crowed Pigeon on July 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Key West is an interesting place. I had seen the White-crowned Pigeon the day before but was really wanting to get a decent photo, so I looked in my Florida Birding Guide (thanks Bill Pranty) and found a few locations listed.
Nature Ali’s Grand Adventure – White House, Senate, Capitol, Roosevelt Island – Day 13, July 2nd.
Posted in Birds, Field Trips, Grand Adventure, National Parks/Preserves/Refuges, Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial, Washington DC, tagged Audubon, lobby, Senate, Teddy Roosevelt, U.S. Capitol, White House on July 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I had always wanted to visit the White House but it was one stop I had never had the opportunity. My sister-in-law works for the Office of Management and Budget at the White House so I finagled a tour from her.
Nature Ali’s Grand Adventure – Acadia National Park, ME to Stamford, CT – Day 10, June 29th.
Posted in Acadia National Park, Birds, Connecticut, Grand Adventure, Maine, Margot, Massachusets, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, tagged Boston, merry-go-round, New Hampshire tolls, Rain, sailboats, Watch Hill on June 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Went to Acadia National Park, Maine where pretty much every bird Margot saw were life birds but since she isn’t a birder yet she didn’t seem impressed with my two lifers; Common Eider and Black Guillemot.
Nature Ali’s Grand Adventure – Florissant, CO to mid-Kansas – Day 6, June 25th.
Posted in Birds, Brandon, Butterflies, Colorado, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Fossils, Geology, Grand Adventure, Kansas, Mammals, Reptiles, tagged common ringlet, Desiree, eastern birds, eastern cottontail, fossil bugs, Fossil redwoods, Gunnison prairie dog, life bird, Orchard Oriole, Richardson's ground squirrel, Snider on June 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Stayed over for a night to enjoy time with Brandon and Desiree. Brandon was up at dawn to show me the Rocky Mountain Elk which fade back into the forest shortly after the sun rises.
Nature Ali’s Grand Adventure – Arches National Park to Florissant, CO – Day 4, June 23rd.
Posted in Arches National Park, Birds, Colorado, Fossils, Geology, Grand Adventure, National Parks/Preserves/Refuges, Nature, Utah, tagged Arches National Park, lizards, Nature Ali, Peregrine Falcon on June 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I slept in until 6:30 a.m. at my Moab motel room and then did some photo housekeeping so I didn’t get into Arches National Park until 10:30 a.m. I was worried I had blown the best light of the day, but my friend, Mother Nature gave me a break with lovely clouds and even a [...]
