We didn't see the avocets on the island on Monday or Tuesday, but on Wednesday we saw a few and on Thursday there was at least one nest. The island is our last stop on the MVNWR tour although we do look carefully after that for a hawk on a post or deer or elk passing through.Anna Aspnes: Paper...

Meme for Oscraps 17th Birthday Party from imgflip imgflip.com /memegenerator/133159853/Minions-Birthday-Party Mat papers from 52 Inspirations 2023 Stash Builder Solid Scrapbook Papers by Vicki Stegall https://oscraps.com/community/forums/oscraps-17th-birthday-party-challenges-games.607/

17th BIRTHDAY PARTY TRACKING: DAY 1 (Sat Jun 10) - OOB With a Twist Challengehttps://oscraps.com/community/media/o17-challenge-day-1-the-avocet-island.379351/ DAY 2 (Sun Jun 11) - Enable Me GAME https://oscraps.com/community/threads/day-2-june-11-enable-me-game.37791/post-667135 DAY 3 (Mon Jun...

Thanks for the challenge! I heart.

The farm fields were flooded all week as we drove to and from the refuge, but on our last day the Playa Blanca State Wildlife Area parking lot became submerged. The water was still rising, probably melting from our above-average snowpack. The entire area was at flood stage.

Thanks for the challenge. Here's mine

Remember how we stopped at the corner south of the refuge so I could take photos of the full moon and clouds, and there was no other traffic. We stopped in the middle of the road. We laughed later because we didn't see telephone lines that framed the moon. And we had the refuge to ouselves.

Thanks for the challenge. The birds are male and the pit bull, and Mr Stone says he thinks the woman is actually a man in drag. :D Fantastical Steampunk Renewed by itKuPiLLi imagenarium Riding The Rails Rachel Jefferies

On Wednesday the night heron was in the same spot as Tuesday. I pushed boundaries and he flew too soon. Then from that spot where we first stop each trip, I also watched the swallow on the top branch of the tree. While sunrise was lovely and vibrant, clouds made the golden hour very short.

Thanks for this challenge. I could do this often. Using three papers was out of the norm for me, and one would have made it too easy, so I was in my creative zone. :D

There weren't as many birds but there were always surprises like catching a glimpse of the marsh wren singing its heart out. It had been several years since I'd seen one, and it was a special joy for me as I knew you were capturing a series of shots of ducks in flight at the time.

Thanks for the challenge, Claire. I tried gesso and things from other artists but ended up thinking that just what is in Rachel's Oxley kit should be plenty to meet your challenge. :)

We watched two deer slowly moving towards the tall grass, but I was amazed at how quickly they disappeared into the cattails and grasses. A lot of birds are out there, and four-legged critters, while we see only a very tiny fraction in the short time we visit the refuge. I love to see the deer.

#'s 1, 4, 6, 9 & 11 I made a map to help me remember what I was trying to do. :D

On Monday we had the refuge to ourselves and the sun finally came out from behind a heavy cloud bank in the east while the full moon was setting behind clouds to the west. There were very few birds and we talked about it most likely being the result of the widespread avian flu.

Thank you Chris! ;)

Thank you for the challenge!

We've seen hawk moths before, most often on the Jeep windshield or as fallen victims. But when one approached the iris at about the same time we did, at first we thought he was a hummingbird. He backed up and made his way around the flowers with the same quick backward flights.

Thanks for the challenge, Ona. It was very interesting. And of course I went ahead and made two pages. :p

Our monsoons continued into June, with an inch of rain an hour on our I-25 trip through Denver. Then the weather got better and we saw sun at Alamosa NWR. The river was at flood stage, and as always we loved the refuge. There were redwing blackbirds and several kinds of ducks.