Manhatton, KS Dec 09

Tuttle Creek State Park in Manhatton, Kansas is a great place to see Bald Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks.  There were so many raptors, that we had trouble keeping track of them!  This is a beautiful birding spot.  Lots of great overlooks of the water, short grass prairie with a smattering of cottonwoods and red cedars along the waterways.

Leavenworth Dec 09

While out searching for a Ferruginous Hawk or Rough-legged Hawk, or Prairie Falcon this morning in eastern Kansas, we stumbled upon this handsome Army man, our nephew Johnny!  I can't think of a better way to spend breakfast than with the people you love.  Plus, IHOP has pumpkin pancakes that are to die for!  Several beautiful dark Red-tails and a possible Golden Eagle so far today.  I'm hoping to see Prairie Chickens and Harris's Sparrow by tonight!  Wish us luck!

Eurasion Tree Sparrow Dec 09

Today is the first day of our adventure to see our daughter play in the NCAAs. We headed out from home driving Dave's "Man-Purse" (the Ford Excursion), packed to the gills. Or should I say it has a "5" Fat (bander's joke). I will always be amazed at how much "important" stuff he carries with him.

Our first stop was St. Louis, MO to look for the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (ETS). We'd seen it years before when we we in town for a wedding, but Dave (my birder husband) needed it for both his Year List and his Milleneum List. We followed Randy Korotev's directions: http://epsc.wustl.edu/~rlk/wgnss/ets/index.html to Dogtown, just like we had that last time we were here, but no ETS on the corner of Forest and West Park. Mitch, who lives on the corner, came out and immediately recognized us as birders (was it the man-purse full of binocs and scopes or the fact that we had binoculars and were looking in his neighbors back yard?). Mitch said he had just put feed out and that the ETS should be back momentarily. After an hour, no ETS, so Dave started walking the alley's and using his "Spidey Sense". He found a small flock in the alley. What a beautiful bird! These photos don't do the ETS justice, as the sun was going down quickly, and we had very low light. But, we can chalk one up on the Year List!

Randy has a really good website dedicated to providing tips on where to find a Eurasian Tree Sparrow in the St Louis area. He gives a nice history of the introduction of the species back in 1870, and provides very clear directions on where to find the birds now.

On to the next leg of our journey to the NCAAs...

Snowy Owl Adventure!

A Snowy Owl in southwest Ohio!!! Woohoo!!!

Dave Russell (yes, he's on his cell phone!), Janelle Duncan, Deb & Jim Chagares and Rafael Herrera looking at the Snowy Owl!

You know the times when you realize just how much time your birder spends "thinking" about birding? Like today, Dave calls on his way home from basketball to say that the Snow Owl that's been hanging around New Paris, Preble County, IN has been sighted again this morning. So, we excitedly got dress so that we can go see it too. Last weekend, when the bird was first reported, we had a houseful of company and couldn't get out. We pile into the Excursion and off we head north. Dave starts telling us how he's been on the phone with everyone this week talking about going out looking for the bird and he's been thinking about it all night. Just felt like the weather was right for it to hang around for a while. Well , son-of-a-gun, he was right!

This photo was taken through Dave's Kowa scope with a Canon Powershot. Jim Chagares is a professional wildlife photographer and has absolutely breathtaking photos of the owl on his website: http://www.chagaresphotography.com/SnowyOwl/. I snuck a photo of Deb & Jim and if you zoom in on the white spot in the field just to the right of the end of Jim's camera you will see the Snowy Owl!

If you can get out, the bird has been seen on the south side of US 40, east of the Interstate 70 interchange in Richmond, Indiana. Take 40 East about 2 - 3 miles to New Paris, Preble County, Ohio (very near National Trails Highschool) and the owl has been seen hanging out in the fields to the south.

The Flynn Wedding

We all know that the best laid plans end up with glitches in them, and Katlyn & Matt's wedding was no exception. Not that it did not happen, it just came together a little differently than we all expected! LOL



You see the story really began last February when Katlyn flew out to California to spend a couple of weeks with Matt before he shipped out to sea for 8 months. They spent their time being together and planning their wedding for 8 months later. Well, they found out they were expecting their first child just before Matt left. So, Katlyn came back home, got a little apartment in Liberty next to the library and spent her 8 months hanging out with mom and dad - planning for a baby. The wedding became a lower priority. I must say that these past 9 months with her have been some of the best times of my life. Our relationship as mother and daughter became the friendship we had each always wanted. By August, she was spending every day with us, and by September, she was sleeping on the couch every night -- she just couldn't get comfortable in her bed. Man, I remember those days! Meanwhile, Matt was able to call every few weeks when his ship went into port.


We took pictures every week and posted them to the web, so Matt could see the progress of mommy and baby, and made plans for a baby shower! This was our first grandchild, and we were so excited! But, as with all plans, there are glitches. Matt got back in the States in early October, Katlyn was due November 8th, and he didn't get leave to come to Indiana until October 28th-ish. They could not get married before the birth, because her insurance would cancel. So, they decided to get married by the Justice of the Peace after the baby was born. No problem.

But, of course, there was a problem. Matt could not find his birth certificate, which was needed in order to pick up the marriage licence from the courthouse. He ordered a copy to be sent to his folks house in northern KY. It arrived, but at the same time, his mother was rushed to the hospital and no one was home to sign for the parcel. Matt couldn't get it because Katlyn went into labor and he was stuck at the hospital. Plans were changed to pick up the birth certificate from the UPS store on Friday after Katlyn and Tessa were discharged and then drive back to Liberty to get the marriage licence and get married by the judge at the courthouse.

Well, the judge was not available for 2 weeks! So, here they were sitting in the hospital with a new baby, no birth certificate, no marriage licence and no judge. In comes the OB nurse with the best suggestion yet..... ask the hospital chaplain! A quick flurry of phone calls later, and a wedding was set for the next day, at the College Corner United Methodist church.

Congratulations Mr ad Mrs Matthew Flynn!

The newest Birder in the Family!

After 9 months of waiting for our first grandchild, Tessa Marie made her appearance on Tuesday, November 4th at 11:05pm!

What an historic day to be born in America! She is truly a special child! Weighing in at 8lb 3 oz, and 21 inches long, she came out with a head full of brown hair and a big old "Fentz" head. Yep, she looked just like her mommy and her grandmommy! The nurses commented on how alert and mellow she was! Obviously, taking after her father's side! LOL! The entire time she was being cleaned up and given her APGAR scores, she was quiet and making the most adorable faces!

Daddy gave her her first bath! Then he bundled her up and carried her over to her mommy for their first visit! Talk about an emotionally powerful moment! Grandma was overcome with love and tears of happiness.

By the next morning, her head was back to normal shape, and she looks like a Flynn! She has her daddy's mouth and temperament. Sweet, calm and just beautiful.

Mommy and Daddy are doing great and the wedding is planned for tomorrow afternoon (Friday, November 7th). If you are available, please be at the Methodist church in College Corner, Indiana/Ohio at 5pm. The wedding is at 5:30pm. We will have champagne at our house following the ceremony! Welcome Mr. & Mrs. Matthew and Tessa Marie Flynn !!!

Getting ready for the first grandchild

This week has been a busy one around the Russell Ranch! Matt flew in from California, and Katlyn successfully kept baby Tessa in her belly! In fact, we are still - 5 days later- waiting for baby Tessa to come out! LOL! Baby doctor visit is today, so we'll see what he says. Mommy and Daddy are so cute together!

I believe Abuelito is planning on getting the baby her first field guide this weekend! Start them young, right?! I'll even pop for the first set of binocs!