to begin 2017

We worked the first 4 days of the year, Yes we worked New Years Day.  Of course if something is going to break it will break on a holiday.  We had a water pipe break on the campground bathroom.  Unfortunately we had to turn the water off for about 2 hours but Eric got it capped and back to normal in a short time.   It is always something..  the remaining 3 days was pretty uneventful.

After our 4 days of work we headed to Miami for a few days rest and to begin our 2017 bird count.

We hit quite a few parks on our way to Coconut Grove/Coral Cables Hampton Inn.

this was our first park, they really have wonderful green spaces here in south Florida, with walking and biking paths, clean bathrooms, water ponds and picnic grounds.

this guy was really big....

Jan 6: tank top and shorts, but the weather changed on the evening of the 7th!  we actually had wind chill warnings!  We have to wear hats and gloves.

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

We made a stop at:

beautiful grounds and beautiful house

Scaly breasted Munias ( a new life bird)

Buff Bellied Hummingbird (not a new life bird)

We had a wonderful 3 days (2 nights) in Miami.  Although we hoped to get 8 new life birds, we did get 3!  On Thursday night we went to Flanagan's for dinner, it turns out we went to one in Ft Lauderdale last year!  On Friday we went to Havana Harry's in Coral Gables.  Both places were great.

When we left Miami on Saturday at about 2 pm the temperature was 87, about 20 minutes later it was 70!  by the time we arrived back home it was about 64!  That cold front came down pretty far into Florida.

• Issuing Office: Miami

  Source: National.Weather.Service

  3:14pm EST, Sat Jan 7
... WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST SUNDAY... * WIND CHILL VALUES... UPPER 20S TO MID 30S. * OTHER IMPACTS... NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS OF 10 TO 15 MPH WILL COMBINE WITH THE COLD TEMPERATURES TO CREATE COLD WIND CHILLS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS... MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES. &&

I have flannel lined jeans, winter coat, winter hat and gloves. so I am ready.


Sunday Jan 8:  whoa it was a bit cold and very windy this morning.  A good day to take a hike.  We began at the campground,

I was dressed for the cold weather but my boots were not high enough to walk through the swamp.  We walked about .5 miles before the water got a bit deeper than my boots.  We turned around and headed to the visitor center to walk the Florida Trail.

It was a bit muddy but not swampy.  We ended up walking 2 miles in before turning around.  We ran into a few hikers and two ATVers.  It was pretty windy so not too many birds but this guy sat for a picture

It turned out to be a wonderful beautiful day.  Cooked brats and watched the Packers beat the Giants, on to Dallas.

Back to work tomorrow...