Weekend Walk Report: Christmas Is Coming

 Yep, tomorrow is Christmas and for some today is already tomorrow so be sure to clean up your mess. 

Docken came along over the phone on Saturday while she shopped Christmas treats for new friends. Thank you Docky. Today it's a super-duper positive energy day for Docken so rev up your sanguinity engine and channel it her way!

Here are some pictures taken yesterday, Saturday, December 23rd and today, Sunday, December 24th. 

Saturday. It was early, rather gray and a nippy 43º F. From the 19th to the 22nd we accumulated 3.98" of rain here and so... it was also rather wet and muddy but overall it was a beautiful winter day.

And guess who showed up? Yes, indeed, it's the famous male Calypte anna hummingbird known as Dusty. I hadn't seen Dusty in awhile but to be honest my recent visits to his territory in the botanical garden have been rather brief and I'm certain he's expended his territory some due to a lack of flowering plants. 

Two thirds of the way up the hill I pulled over (yes, I drove up) because I spotted this raven calling out to its mate. I suspect they are the same pair of ravens seen here since ravens are quite territorial and it's the same vicinity. Breeding pairs need to establish their territory before they begin nest-building and reproduction. They aggressively defend this territory and its food supply. Earlier in the week I filled a sandwich bag half full of dry cat food, so I was prepared to contribute.

A couple of handfuls of kitty kibble had been thrown down while the bird was still up on the lamppost but it was a little apprehensive and came in behind where I threw it. I'd be wary too, a large human throwing stuff into the street.

Every time the raven would pick up a piece of food it would take a little hop backwards.

After it ate several pieces it began croaking for its mate to join, I suspect this bird was the female but I didn't get a chance to size the two up. The other bird flew past this spot, down the hill to the next lamppost and I decided to drive home. It wasn't much of a walk, only about 1.5 miles but that's all I had in me. I walked most days this week despite the rain. In fact, I went out and got soaking wet on Wednesday morning thinking I had an ample break in that morning's storm. Don't ever trust weather dot com too much, especially on their “hourly” forecasts. 

Sunday. today, December 24th.

I suspected the campus would be closed and it was. It's just closed to traffic but that put a damper on things for me. It was only .4 miles from where I parked off campus to the garden but what I wanted to do was to go back up the hill and walk around up there to see if I could find the ravens and I knew before I even got out of the car that the climb wasn't in me today. I didn't even bring the cat food. I decided to just do the garden, meander around a bit and head back to the car. At best it was only 1.2 miles.

At the entrance to the garden, this tree squirrel was chillin'. 

And Dusty was hanging out again.

Meanwhile, Lucy stopped by for a visit. Say hello, Lucy...

Stan is out in the backyard on his lounge and has a Do Not Disturb sign up so we won't bother Stan. Stan has been hanging out here for about 7 hours already today and why not? He got chicken breast meat, dry food and two Churu cat treats this morning. Merry Christmas. 🤞 🍀 for a Christmas miracle!