THIS POST IS FOR THE BIRDS

Our day dawned on the cool and sunny bright side again today.  Instead of our usual morning walk we all climbed into the Jeep and drove over to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge visitor center and swung ourselves onto the Auto Route to the right of the building.  We had done this scenic short drive before so we knew we were in for lots of birds, a really nice walking area, and the possibility of seeing some small Burrowing Owls.  Lots of birds we did see and a walk we did have, but once again we did not not see us one single Burrowing Owl.  

BEAUTIFUL MORNING FOR A SLOW DRIVE AROUND THE AUTO ROUTE

THE FIRST OF MANY BIRDS WE WERE TO SEE

WE TOOK A QUICK HEAD COUNT AND ESTIMATED ABOUT 66.3 MILLION BIRDS:))  I HAVE MANY MORE BIRD PHOTOS BUT COULDN'T INCLUDE THEM ALL

WE KNEW THIS TO BE A REALLY NICE TRAIL SO DECIDED TO WALK IT AGAIN

TRAIL GOES IN TO THE RIGHT OF THE READER BOARD, LOOPS AROUND, AND COMES OUT TO THE LEFT OF THE WASHROOM

NO DOGS ALLOWED ON THE TRAIL SO I WALKED IT FIRST WHILE KELLY STAYED WITH PHEEBS AT THE TRAIL HEAD

THIS IS A REALLY NICE EASY WALKING AND WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRAIL

A LOT OF BIG COTTONWOOD TREES ALONG THE TRAIL

THIS IS A FEW STEPS OFF THE MAIN TRAIL ALONG A BERM

BACK ON THE TRAIL

AT THE END OF THIS SIDE PATH ON THE LEFT IS A BENCH WHERE ONE CAN SIT QUIETLY AND LISTEN TO THE CHATTERING OF SURROUNDING BIRDS

CANADA GEESE AND THAT ONE CHAP APPEARS TO BE MISSING A FEW WING FEATHERS

THAT BIRD VIEWING STATION OUT THERE OVERLOOKS A POND FULL OF MALLARD DUCKS

MY APPROACHED STIRRED THEM UP

A NICE BIRD VIEWING STAND

HERE YOU CAN SEE OVERNIGHT'S FROST GLISTENING ON A READER BOARD

I SCRAPED A BIT ICE ASIDE

AND IT'S WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TOO STU:))

THIS WHOLE AREA IS LACED WITH CONTROLLABLE IRRIGATION 

RESTING BENCHES ALONG THE WAY

AFTER I RETURNED TO THE TRAILHEAD KELLY DID THE WALK WHILE I STAYED WITH PHEEBS

PHEEBS WAITS PATIENTLY FOR KELLY TO RETURN FROM HER WALK

YAAAAAY THERE SHE COMES

 We are very much enjoying our second visit here to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge and it has definitely turned out to be a right choice for us.  

A VERY HAPPY LITTLE DOGGY

 GROANER'S CORNER:(( Okay, so a Texan rancher comes upon a farmer from Maine. The Texan looks at the Mainer and asks, "Say, how much land you think you got here?" Mainer: 'Bout 10 acres I'd say." Texan (boasting): Well, on my lot, it takes me all day to drive completely around my property!" Mainer: "Yep, I got one of them trucks too." 
-------------------
Wife: "What are you doing?"
Husband: "Nothing.
"Wife: "Nothing? You've been reading our marriage certificate for an hour.
"Husband: "I was looking for the expiration date."

- Did you hear about the new restaurant that just opened up on the moon? Great food, but no atmosphere. 
- What has four legs, is big, green, fuzzy, and if it fell out of a tree would kill you?
A pool table.
- What did the pig say at the beach on a hot summer's day? "I'm bacon!"
------------------
Different ways to say your not so bright::
A few clowns short of a circus. 
A few fries short of a Happy Meal. 
A few beers short of a six-pack. 
Dumber than a box of hair. 
A few peas short of a casserole. 
Doesn't have all her cornflakes in one box. 
One Fruit Loop shy of a full bowl. 
One taco short of a combination plate. 
A few feathers short of a whole duck. 
All foam, no beer.  
Body by Fisher, brains by Mattel. . 
An intellect rivaled only by garden tools. 
As smart as bait. Chimney's clogged. 
=================