OutTV Mysteries: Solved

Today was the last day of my birding class. MUCH more enjoyable without a headache. We even tested that theory by replaying the coot call. And what did we learn, boys and girls?

Thanks to NPS.gov for the photo!

First. FIRST! We figured out what Frankenbird was! I feel very bad about how I described him…because he was a perfectly healthy turkey vulture. As you can see, they have long necks with a thick turtleneck looking thing – which I thought was a deformity. And the young one I saw hadn’t developed the red head so he was just patchy and bald looking. So, that’s what he is. I found this out because what I thought were ravens floating on the updrafts by our house are actually turkey vultures. I’m going for a closer look next time I see them.

Second, in May we get an influx of yellow birds. We thought it was many

Check out this awesome blog for photos like this one! http://drewsbirds.blogspot.com

different kinds but, in fact, it is the same bird but the female goldfinch kind of gets ripped of. It’s like humans – why do boys have great eyelashes and an easier time staying fit? Our girl goldfinches are sometimes even less pretty than this one – they are more grey and don’t have the nice wing patterns. The boys are just exactly that handsome.

And third, we learned what Oliver’s new breakfast bell is. Every morning we hear this sound and it wakes him up and gets him thinking about breakfast. If I needed any confirmation that this is the bird I was looking for, I just got it. As soon as I started playing videos for this, Obi and Oli appeared on the desk. They WANT that bird – they’re searching everywhere for it.

Bird class: well worth the price in order to be the OutTV Guide.

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It’s Thunder Thursday! Today we feature the brand new kittens born out at Terry Bison Ranch this week. Sooooo cute. That mama cat is dangerously close to a striped calico – Kitten Thunder might be closer to getting a sister than I thought!

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Happy birthday, ya old coot

Today is my birthday. Aside from the desk, which is still awesome, I got a very important life lesson. And that lesson is this: if you have a migraine all day long, attending a birdwatching class is not a good idea.

Slideshow.

Recordings of birds chirping.

Ow.

The coot is what pushed me over the edge from mildly unpleasant twinges in my general head area to I AM GOING TO RIP OUT MY EYEBALLS AND DIG AT WHAT IS BEHIND THEM WITH A SPORK TO STOP THE PAIN!!!

But, other than that, good day. I started it out hiding from the light under a blanket on the couch. This always results in an Oli snuggle. BUT…I also got a snuggle from Obi. A real, honest, fervent snuggle from the brown kitten. He even kissed me on the chin.

When I braved a glance at the Book of Face on my cell phone, I saw this:

Put together by friend Ashley. Friends with Photoshop for the win!

Then I got to eat free lunch at a meeting. Free food for the win!

Then the pain went away long enough for me to actually get some work done. While on a client call, I had this:

Her name is Betty Davis and she is a pear and strawberry infused martini at Suite 1901. And, though she is pink, I love her. Though, in retrospect, I should not have had a martini because hey, lookeethere, my headache came back!

Kitten Thunder and I also turned on smell-o-vision and watched some sparrows beat the crud out of a squirrel trying to eat out of their feeder. The squirrel totally lost this battle.

And Obi and I played burrito cave monster until I was wearing more of his fur than he was.

Other than the lightning bolts of pain, I should mention, the birdwatching class was a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to part two next week. I am also looking forward to the field trips – though I fully suspect I won’t think they are such a good idea at 6 a.m. on Saturday. Hopefully I suck it up and go anyway.

Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa, for the well-timed birthday check that paid for my class. We’ll think of you next time a nuthatch comes our way!

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It’s Thunder Thursday! This is about the cutest picture I’ve seen this whole month. Of course, everyone who HAS a cat knows the cat on top is trying to get the other one out, not in. But funny, nonetheless.