The Next Episode

The last time we saw our heroine, she was blundering around a campground, searching for old memories! What has she been doing since? We'll find out after these messages!

I have seen more than one birding blog suffer from neglect, and I don't want that to happen to my ornithological city on a hill. It may have already been left for dead, but I do believe in resurrection.

Since I last posted,

• I drove west to Midland and saw what I thought were Sandhill Cranes and Chihuahuan Ravens. Traveling at 70 mph, however, I had no time for double-checking. These certainly weren't life-list looks.
• The guru and I had our final quest through the areas to the south and west, between Stephenville and Brownwood. Harris's Sparrows were among the greatest conquests. Black-crested Titmice and titmouse mestizos were also among the objects of interest on the tour. Chihuahuan Ravens were nowhere to be found.
  
• Harris's Sparrows were spotted on June's back porch, from the warmth and comfort of a nice, friendly* game of Scrabble.

The times when I most need to go birding are the times I cannot dream of it. Like now.

*It was nice and friendly until June whupped us all.

To Bird or Not to Bird...

...that isn't really the question.

The question is where we will go on my last birding trip with the guru for the foreseeable future. On one side stands Reason, dictating that we have, at most, a day and a half for driving, birding, and any incidental necessities such as eating or sleeping. Under Reason's dictates, we could go as far as Abilene or maybe even Austin. Oh boy!

On the other side kneels and pleads Desire, with her soft, musical voice and her childish pout. "It's your last chance," says she. "Go and make regret impossible. The Rio Grande Valley awaits, and I will show you even greater things than Green Jays."

It's hardly a contest.

I'm drawn south to the exotic lands; when will I ever be so close to them again? Edinburg, Santa Ana, and South Padre have hardly even been glanced at. Yet so many other places I've never seen call out as well.

Perhaps Reason and Desire will come to the same compromise that Law and Grace did 2000 years ago. Perhaps one or the other will triumph; it will be exciting to see. Contentment there will be, but never satisfaction.