Unless you're a Snowbird, (a term used to describe the Canadian citizen who spends winters in warmer climates), you may not realize how wonderful a winter can be down in southern states. We've been fortunate enough to have spent some time down there and enjoyed every moment.
Early morning sunrise
Most morning skies are clear but the ones with the clouds are sure to show us the beauty with the colors offered here. Sunrise comes earlier than it does at home during these winter months. This is the view from our patio.
the Fowl Family
More patio views, and we can watch the Fowl Family, with the combination of the Canada Geese and the ducks. These are all coupled up and although they do not spend the whole winter here, they do spend lots of time enjoying the pond.
Afternoon naptime
There is some human traffic that passes by these ones but not close enough to disturb them and they seem to be enjoying their afternoon nap. Mr. seems to be a bit further away from his Mrs. than normal, perhaps a small disagreement but all will be well after their nap.
Curious couple
This couple are one of only two or three couples that seem to spend most of their time here. There are others who might stop by when they spot the pond but they do not stay. The Fowl Family are not fed here so as not to encourage them to stay but they seem to manage on their own.
Resting hummingbird
Regular visitors to our patio are the hummingbirds. They get very territorial and this little one is on a regular perch just watching to make sure no one else comes to eat at his station.
Enjoying her stop
It looks like a very big supply of sugar water compared to this little one but it does disappear
in time. A hummingbird will consume about one half of an ounce per day.
A visitor arrives
I love to see the egret arrive and do his daily walk around the pond. He makes one or two circles around it as he searches for his food from the pond.
Fishing for dinner
The egret dips his beak into the water to get his food, whatever it may be and I was thrilled I was able to see his 'catch' as he flips it into his mouth. Not easy to see but it is there if you look closely.
Cautiously approaching Fowl Family
The egret is part of the heron family and stands about 1 metre (39") tall. We don't see more than one too often and never at our location but do remember seeing large flocks of them on travels over in Savannah, Georgia. It was quite a sight to see as they perched overnight in the trees across the lake from our RV.
More food
The egret moves calmly and respectfully around the Fowl Family on these fishing trips. One last snack before the launch happens.
He will return tomorrow
A quiet and graceful flyover the pond as the visiting egret leaves us. His stay is no more than about 20 minutes and likely just a stop of many. While enjoying this, we also saw a flock of pelicans fly overhead, on their way to visit the larger pond in the RV park next door.
Incredible rainbow
This is definitely not a view from our patio but a drive after some rain and this was such a delight to see! Nature's beauty can be so exciting! I may have taken too many photos of it but it just seemed to be a perfect rainbow that also highlighted the area beneath it! The second rainbow can be seen, too. We were able to see both ends of the rainbow but no pot of gold at either end. Rewards were in being able to time our travel perfectly and see this sight.
We have visited the First Tee golf course in PalmDesert, California many times and enjoy this 9 hole course for a fun golfing day.For those of us who have limited golfing skills but enjoy the experience without the pressure of a big course, this is the one.And for those with better skills, the course still has its’ challenges with ponds and sand traps.
The First Tee Golf Course ~ Palm Desert, California
What more could we ask for when we have this beautiful view to enjoy?The snowcapped Santa Rosa and San Jacinta mountains in the distance, the blue sky and sunshine and the serenity of this little golf course with the birds enjoying the pond.
Rabbits at the First Tee Golf Course
There is no need to book a time here, we just wait in line, if necessary, to play our game. We’d sure like to keep the First Tee a secret but it appears that the word has gotten out there! It has gotten busier over the years of our visits but we rarely have to wait for long.The bunnies nibble the grass a few feet from our green.
Turtle on Palm Desert golf course
The course is next to a ‘wash’ and is likely the reason why we meet so many new ‘friends’ every time we’re here.Today was a bit busier with visits from some we hadn’t seen up close before, including this turtle.I was lucky to get this picture, his visit was short.
Note:the 'wash' is the area for natural drainage, left free of construction to carry the water that runs during the occasional heavy rainfall.
Ground squirrels in shade at First Tee Golf Course
It is great to share the course with our furry and feathered friends and they do seem to be oblivious to most of us and carry on with their daily chores.They are not begging for food so they have not been fed by those golfing, and that is a good thing.The ground squirrels have scurried over to the shade in case they need to hide.
Hawk watching for lunch in Palm Desert, CA
We’ve never seen the hawk here before but he would be watching the wash closely to see what he’d like for lunch.He was a long ways up in the tree, making it difficult to get a clear photo but this sure gives him a great viewpoint to watch the activity from.
Ground squirrel on the grassy golf course in Palm Desert, CA
I did use my zoom for this photo but he really was not far away as I lay down on the grass to get this picture.He was keeping an eye on me as I was between him and his shady retreat but he wasn’t too nervous at all.He is about 30 cm (12”) long and lives in burrows he has made on the hillside of the wash, each squirrel has his own entrance, even if they live together.
Egret with her young at golf course
We had not seen an egret at this pond before but this one seems to have a young one and had stayed here for a few weeks, teaching him to fly. Our last visit they were not there, so the young one was strong enough to fly to their normal habitat, wherever that may be.
The birds can hide their nests in the marshes that fill parts of the ponds on the golf course and sing their hearts out while we golf nearby. I am sure they have some babies in there, too, but have yet to notice any. Click on the video to hear the singing birds.
The First Tee Golf Course ~ Palm Desert, CA
I am sure it is easy to understand why we enjoy this small golf course so much.We had very few others golfing with us when we first began golfing at this course but over time that has changed.The great thing is that it hasn’t chased away the little furry ones that live in the wash nearby and visit the grass to nibble on or others that go for a swim in the pond.We can only hope that it stays this way and these furry friends don’t chase us away from our favorite golf course!
It is not a secret that we love rv’ing but there are trials and tribulations that come along with all that fun. We’d left New Burn, N. C. on a very pretty sunny day and were planning on getting into Savannah, Georgia for our next stop. There had been some rain and heavy cloud during the last few days so we were pretty excited about spending time in the sunshine, after all, we were in the sunny South.
The Ravenel Bridge over the Copper River
We hadn’t planned on staying in Charleston, Georgia but we did stop for a late lunch there, enjoying the sun before carrying on for a couple more hours to Savannah.
There is a lot of traffic on the freeways there, it is a very busy place and we were about 20 minutes from lunch when Keith saw smoke coming from the rear RV wheel and made a quick stop under the underpass of another busy freeway. There is no fire, thankfully but he believes it is a wheel bearing. We can do nothing about it so call our trusty travel insurance, and after a lengthy conversation with a couple of people we have help on the way. We wait beside a very busy freeway, unable to enjoy that sunshine.
Help did arrive after waiting almost 3 hours since we’d stopped. Then it was too late to get a replacement part so our serviceman helped us move the truck and RV down the road and we spent our nite at the local Rest Stop ! It was a nice place if we had to be stranded overnite in a rest stop, but not how we’d planned on spending a beautiful sunny day and evening in Georgia ! The serviceman arrived early the next day with the new parts and had us on the road by mid rainy morning. And it rained so heavy all the way to Savannah !
Gathering place for the swan family
When we arrived at the park, it was filled with lots of puddles but we managed to get a spot with a small puddle and were looking out at a lake within the park that was filled with several kinds of birds, ducks and swans. What a treat that was, rain or shine.
Trees adorned with egrets
The egrets fill the trees across the lake for their evening rest. They are not a small bird and are 94-104 cm (37"-41") tall so this would give you a better idea how amazing this picture was to see in real life.
Young swan family
The swans swam within a group which appears to be the mom with her growing babies. The egrets are so graceful to watch fly but it isn’t easy getting that picture. I sat out under the large pine trees at the lake’s edge waiting but never got one to share. The ducks swim up looking for dinner when they see someone near.
The Great Egret stands quietly on shore
The large white heron we saw is called the Great Egret. They’re found around the world but not something we see much of in Canada. They’re the same family as the Great Blue Heron, which we do see more of in Canada, but are smaller. The Great Egret used to be called the American Egret but that has changed because the range extends beyond the Americas and farther than other herons.
Waiting for the lake to clear
Early morning shows steam rising off the lake. The egret sit lakeside watching for the early fish for their morning feed. They're so graceful as they take flight but that was the elusive picture of the day.
Early morning sunrise in Savannah, Georgia
The RV park is quite a natural setting and the lake adds much to that, or maybe the RV park’s natural setting adds much to the lake. Either way, it is very nice to watch the birds that we wouldn’t normally see, and in such big numbers, carry on their wildlife ways.
Early morning swim
The swans were very comfortable in spite of all the visitors enjoying them. They're well fed and seem to have blended well with the other birds of the area and Mr. & Mrs. Swan are raising a beautiful family.
Click on this link and see what other gems we saw on our visit in Savannah, Georgia.
http://we-love-rv-ing.blogspot.com/2009/10/georgia-savannah-history-forsyth-park.html
