16 August 2026 Sanford: Returning the Car to Ken

 

We had to get the car back Ken who lives in Jacksonville.  That was too far to drive straight from Hollywood so we drove to Sanford on Sunday and then I left at the crack of dawn on Monday to get to Jacksonville.  Ken had a 3 PM Doctor's appointment so I needed to get up there in time for him to drive back south, drop me off and then return to Jax in time for his appointment.  Fresh from my 1000th bird, I decided to swing by the New Smyrna Beach Dunes Park for some sunrise birding.  It was easy enough to get there but it was a very popular place for sunrise exercising.  Lots of joggers and even bicyclists were on the beach with me so fewer birds decided to join us. It was great place to stretch out my legs but not so fantastic for birds. I left there and got on the highway straight to Jacksonville.  I picked up Ken, we stopped for coffee and Ken immediately spilled his thick black coffee all over himself.  No problems, we continued south, back to Sanford.  

The early bird gets the top of the tree

Here comes the sun

All big and orange

This frog is up early too

How long until it is too hot?

Ride Sally ride

Popsicle sun

Watch your step

A lone egret

Lots of egrets to join in

Sanderling zipping along

A semipalmated plover

Move over Mr. Plover

Getting a tan

There are shure lots of shore birds

A pretty sunset

Terns hanging out

A Royal Tern

A yellow crowned night heron

The lighthouse across the inlet

Looking for a make in all the wrong places

Heading back over to the mainland

In Ken's yard a tuffted titmouse

Im my cup a hot cuppa macha

An oddly shaped truck

Watertower ready for launch

Back in Sanford for a swarm of swallows

      

 It has been 4 years and 65 days since we began our Migration

14 August 2026 Hollywood: My 1000th Bird!

 

We were going to head back up north then next day so I took a break from packing for a couple of hours and checked out the park on the north end of Dania Beach.  I was still trying to see my 1000th bird.  I had expected to see a shorebird like a sandpiper or plover but as it turned out I saw a Spot-breasted Oriole.  I took the long route over to the park by going one Hollywood Beach Blvd and then heading north to getto the park.  Iwas trying to bypass the construction that is on A1A and as lock would have it I was able to see the oriole right next to North Lake in our old stomping grounds.

My 1000th bird was hopping about in the tree and then popped up on top where I could get a picture

A much bigger bird

Iguanas in the trees

Water monitors on the ground

Grrrr

Busy water sports

Brown Pellican

The seaweed is thick here

A sanderling

A semipalmated plover

Ruddy turnstone

Thunderstorms a brewing

A royal tern and a herring gull

A woodchat shrike by Publix 

      

 It has been 4 years and 63 days since we began our Migration

13 August 2026 Hollywood: Rita and Mason Arrive

 

We tried to see all our old friends on our two visits to Hollywood and Rita and Mason were the last holdouts.  We were able to arrange a visit on thursday the 13th.  They arrived around 7 and we popped open some wine had some GnT's and before we knew it there was a fantastic sunset outside.  We went out on the balcony to see it better and then decided to head over to the rooftop bar.  We got some appetisers and more hootch to drink.  From the roof we could see the giant guitar all lit up in the distance.  Then it was back to the apartment for more talk and laughter.  We talked travel and pumped Rita for more of her first hand Italian information.  Mason had a scratchy throat that he tried to soothe with straight gin.  We are not sure that was successful but the night surely was. 

Preparing the lemons

Five fine le,mons

A complex process

Remnants

Let the party begin

A really nice sunset

Two toned

Still nice from the rooftop

Hardrock casino

Up on the roof

Weeee!

 It has been 4 years and 62 days since we began our Migration