Back in PA

We had a great time visiting with family before during and after the wedding of my God daughter in San Francisco but it's good to be home.


After an all night flight from San Fran to Newark (midnight Monday to 8 AM Tuesday with the time changes) followed by a four-and-a-half drive to PA we were pooped! I came thiiisss close to losing it on I-80 when I gave up and let Terry have the wheel. (She says I zonked out within seconds of reclining the seat and was out for about 15-20 minutes before awaking again. Just can't get enough quality sleep on an airplane. Especially when it was too warm in the plane.)

We rescued the cats from the vet/spa, unpacked, ate dinner and then crashed until 8 AM this morning.

Terry went off to do Terry things with EGA and I cut the grass which had grown quite well in our absence.

I just got through uploading the pictures I wish to share and will write a few posts about them when we get back from birding tomorrow morning.

Oh we did some birding out west too. From Half Moon Bay south to Pigeon Point Light House on US Route 1 then up over the mountains to the east on Cal Route 92, up Route 35 on the Skyline Road for one day. And on another we took a ride down to the terminus of the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct and then east to the San Francisco Bay near Redwood City to the wildlife refuge there.

In three days or so here is what we saw:


Location: Half Moon Bay and environs
Observation date: 6/19/08
Notes: We traveled from Half Moon Bay to Pigeon Point Light House on US Rte 1. Took CA Rte. 92 east up into the hills and redwood forest. (A pair of ospreys were seen at Horseshoe Lake off Rte 35: Skyline Road.) Made a stop at the end of the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct at Pulgas Water Temple. Then went east on Rte 84 to San Francisco Bay and the wildlife refuge near the sewage treatment facility in Redwood City. This was all done between a wedding, the rehearsal dinner, and visiting with relatives from around the country.
Number of species: 36

Canada Goose X
Mallard X
California Quail X
Brown Pelican X
Brandt's Cormorant X
Pelagic Cormorant X
Snowy Egret X
Turkey Vulture X
Osprey 2 A pair flew over at Horseshoe Lake at the Skyline Ridge Open Area Preserve on Rt 35. One carried food. Both were unhappy with our being on the trail around the lake.
Red-tailed Hawk X
American Coot X Several at Horseshoe Lake at the Skyline Ridge Open Area Preserve on Rt 35.
Killdeer X
Black-necked Stilt X
Willet X
Western Gull X
Forster's Tern X
Pigeon Guillemot X
Rock Pigeon X
Black Phoebe X
Steller's Jay X
Western Scrub-Jay X
American Crow X
Common Raven X
Tree Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Chestnut-backed Chickadee X
Brown Creeper X
Swainson's Thrush X
American Robin X
European Starling X
Wilson's Warbler X
Song Sparrow X
Dark-eyed Junco X
Red-winged Blackbird X
House Finch X
House Sparrow X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)