Goose Rocks Beach weekend

So incredibly blessed to spend an awesome long weekend with my wonderful hubby and our pup Monty at Goose Rocks beach where we lived 28 years ago. We stayed across the salt marsh from our old cottage. Spent the entire weekend soaking up the beauty of the area and eating lots of delicious seafood. How blessed were we to have lived there for a whole year. Several times we watched a Immature Bald Eagle up close, just before leaving the cottage he flew right in front of it, almost as if he was saying goodbye to us, maybe he was.....

The're back!

The last two nights I've been awoken by lots of noise in the backyard. The first night horrifying noise, the rehab squirrel cage being knocked over. I knew immediately it was a bear. I was up in a flash and ran down stairs, outback and began banging and yelling, I looked under our patio canopy and there was still a bear there! I couldn't believe that he was being so brazen. It's rare for them not to run at the first sign of humans, especially when there is that kind of noise. Bobby ended up throwing two fire crackers and the bear finally left. Just before that he stood at the end of the patio and stared at me. He was a little guy about the same age as Monty. Only about the same height, but he weighed more then a hundred pounds. I was able to right the cage, one squirrel was out, the other settled back in his nest box. I left the outside light on and the cage open. The next morning I took the nest box out of the cage and left the squirrel some food. He spent the early morning exploring the trees and feeders. I left for work. Later on that morning I received a call, it was my son, Jason said the bear was at the house again. That is what these pictures are from. He did scare him away. Early this morning I awoke again to lots of noise,knew instantly it was the bear again, flew open the window and had a thought...I'll be there are TWO. Sure enough there were! They were under the apple tree pigging out on all the apples on the ground. I now know why it seemed like the bear didn't get out for under the canopy during the squirrel ordeal, the first one did, his bro didn't! Lets see what tonight brings.....

Monty and I had a fantastic hike today. We went up to the AT over looking Greenwood Lake, via Cascade Lake Park. We were out about 3 hours total. Bird migration was in full force everywhere we wandered. The overlook was filled with migrating Raptors, 1 Eagle, 3 Osprey, 1 Red Shoulder, 1 Sharpie and lots of Red Tails and Vultures playing in the wind. Other notable birds, lots of Phoebes, Towees, King Fisher, Wood Duck, Nashville, Prairie and C. Yellow-throat Warblers. Only one turtle remained sunning himself on a log. Sad to see the warm weather leaving us for the year. Upon returning home a lone Hummingbird was feeding on all the flowers in my garden. I filled up the feeder with fresh nectar for her. Hoping her migration is successful and she gets to her Winter home below Southern Mexico.

Over the weekend I took two shifts up at the Hawk Watch. Friday I did an 8 hour shift and had 152 birds and Sunday I did 7 hours for a total of 65 birds. Lots of great company, beautiful birds, I enjoyed myself completely. Yesterday was the Applefest here in Warwick, the roads were jammed with people, I was asked to count because no one wants to try and drive to or from Warwick on Applefest day. The entire time I was up at the watch I thought about just how blessed I am to have such a undying love for all of nature, how it carries me through my life like nothing else. No way I'd trade a bad day up at the watch for a single Applefest. Watching beautiful birds is far more exciting then looking at crafts and fighting crowds of people.

October 1, 2011

I have the seven squirrels back now. 5 female reds, 1 female gray and 1 male gray. They are almost old enough to release. I've weened them off the bottles and started to dish feed the reds. I've gathered some natural foods for them and will be putting the cages outside today or tomorrow. They will spend about two weeks getting used to the sights and sounds of the yard, and then the cages will be opened. They will be allowed to return to the nest boxes each night to sleep. I will provide food for them all winter.

Yesterday was my regular day at the hawk watch. I did a 8 hour shift and was rewarded with 152 birds. Lots of fantastic company as well! I've also taken tomorrow which looks very promising for a nice count. It's dreaded Applefest...crowds of people headed to our lovely little town. The traffic makes it impossible for anyone to get around.

I'm feeling pretty good about some of the things I've added to my life. I'm proud that I took the steps to become a certified naturalist, a wildlife rehabilitator and also an official counter at the Mt. Peter Hawk Watch. I feel as though I'm beginning to fulfill my destiny, doing what I was born to do. Now if only I could come up with a job that encompasses some of what I love.

Fall is here...

I've had a very busy couple of weeks. Spent a few days out on Long Island with my HS girlfriends. Part of the time we were in Montauk and the other at Tobay Beach. We had gorgeous weather, good food, lots of laughs and awesome scenery. The ocean always makes me feel better.

Last weekend I spent up at the Cornell Arnot Nature Teaching Forest becoming a Certified Naturalist. I met many interesting people who are cut from the same cloth as myself. I will be working towards my Certified Master Naturalist designation next. I have more credits to earn and 30 hours of volunteer service to do. Still trying to figure out my niche, what can I do with my knowledge and passion? I am happy to be moving forward.

I have a nice male Painted turtle in rehab, he had a fish hook in his face/eye. He appears to be healing really well. I'm hopeful he can go back to the wild this coming weekend, other wise I will have to let him winter over here in one of my turtle tubs. Most of the wild turtles have started to slow down and eat less. I don't want him to have problems hibernating because I've been feeding him. Baby squirrels are all coming for a visit tomorrow. They will all be good and wild now!

Today I took Monty up to the lake for a nice hike. Still far too many mosquitoes out. The weather was perfect. Lots of birds still around. Winter Wren, C.Y.T. Warbler pair, Phoebe, Wood Thrush, Song Sparrow. On the way out, in the parking lot, I noticed lots of Raptors moving through, Bald Eagle, Peregrine falcon, Sharp-shined and Red shouldered. Wish that I had gone up to the AT over looking GW Lake now. I have the Hawk Watch this coming Friday and Sunday. We are in for a bit of cold snap, so it ought to be pretty good. I miss my HW friends and birding. Time to get back out there.

Last day of Summer 2011

I wish that I could say it was a good Summer, I can't. I spent most of it worried about losing my best friend Petey and then mourning his loss the past six weeks. He was an amazing dog that I was blessed to share my life with for four and a half short years. I miss him terribly. I have no regrets as I loved him deeply and gave him a great life. We shared thousands of hours out in the woods hiking and loving life. I will never forget his zoomies of joy each hike, when he would run back to me, it was his way of saying thank you for taking me. My life and the way I see how a dog should live is forever changed, I just wish we had more time together. I feel sick when I think of how young he was. He didn't deserve to die. Big hole in my heart, but filling it with the happy memories of my best friend Petey.

First bear

Let the Fall bear sightings begin, tonight at 6:55pm I saw a bear cross the road from our Turtle Hill Road Property to the other side of the road. Bobby was working just a few yards from where he crossed. Always thrilling!


All my squirrel rehabs are gone, another rehabber took back the 2 greys and assumed care of the 5 reds. The flying squirrel was let go on Turtle Point Property and the Chipmunk here in my yard.


September 15-18th Nice trip to Montauk Point and also Great South Bay with my oldest and dearest girl friends. I love going back to my roots and spending time at the ocean. We had wonderful weather. I also did a little walk down memory lane and went to my childhood home and past the Park that gave me my deep love for nature.

Life passing by....

I still feel like it's all been a really bad dream. It's been 4 weeks since I lost my beloved Petey. My heart hurts every moment, the missing is excruciating. I loved him like no other dog that has come my way. Why only 4 years and 9 months of life for him? He was still a baby. I spent the final 20 months of his short life worrying about how and when he would die from DCM. I hate that disease. How horrific is it that perfectly healthy beautiful dogs have such bad hearts....and WHY have breeders done nothing to breed it out of Dobes? I know Petey taught me to live in the moment, but there have to be other lessons, I'm still searching for those. I miss his presence, my life will never be the same again, he was my heart and soul dog. Not sure I will ever allow myself to love another dog like that ever again, it is just too painful when they leave us.

Lots of Squirrels

The storm brought in lots of squirrels. Grays, Reds, Chipmunk and a Flying Squirrel. These were all shared with my co-rehabber. I'm so grateful that we share the work, this way we can still go away and have a life. I hope our relationship continues for a long time. One weekend I had all four species in separate enclosures on my DR table. Monty left them alone the entire time. I am beginning to love doing Rehab work. It is so interesting and when the outcome is good, very rewarding. To be able to help these animals get back to the wild is for me the greatest gift I could give back to the world. I love protecting what is meant to be, wild and free.

Baby Wood Turtle

What an incredible find....a true gift for me.

More babies

Yesterday I got in 5 female baby Red Squirrels. Their tree had to be cut down due to Hurricane Irene. I think they are just under 4 weeks old. I found out online that we shouldn't feed them the same as the Grey Squirrels. They need yogurt and heavy cream in their mix. I started that this afternoon. Hoping they do well. They sure are adorable!