More Storrie Lake critters

Okay - continued from my last post:

Warning, Warning, Warning!  Snake photos!

One day when Patti and I were walking down Flat Stanley Road and got to the bridge area, a young girl came running over to warn us to stay back.  There was a snake in the bushes.  So of course, we almost RAN over to see what it looked like.  Out came my camera, and when we got back to our rigs, Patti looked up Bull Snakes and came over with a You Tube video showing exactly what we were watching.  Thus began our education about mating snakes.  I did a little research to find out how they actually DO it.  Interesting...  If you want to learn more, just Google it.  These are big, long snakes, in the family of the constrictors.  I learned a whole lot more than I ever thought I'd want to know!

Notice the male snake biting the female in the second photo.  Apparently this is normal and doesn't bother the female.  We thought they were fighting and Patti got a stick and separated them, tossing one away from the other.  One of the snakes scurried away (third photo), the other following it.  Then one of them came back and hung out for a while - alone.  Probably the female, LOL. 

 We've had lots of electrical storms, some including hail storms.  



Lots of wild flowers are in bloom.  The fields are full of flowers.

The lake is up so much the windsurfers were playing:

There are so many different kinds of birds here:

Katie and I have been walking a LOT, which is good for both of us.  Of course, she only walks until her bad knee makes her stop, then she's in the stroller and we keep going.  Katie had her annual vet appointment with her shots updated and nails clipped yesterday.  All is well.  :)  The vet still recommends doing nothing with the seroma on her rear knee, and I'm just fine with that.  So she is good for another year. 

We're here through the 4th, then we'll be moving on.  From me and Katie, have a great Tuesday, everybody!  :)

PS - As you might have noticed, I'm cutting back on my posting.  The next post might be photos only - I have so many to show you but haven't been in a blogging mood lately, so maybe I'll just show you without so many words.  :)

Storrie Lake, 2015 - A new squirrel!

We're at Storrie Lake, New Mexico now and there are so many things here to see.  This park just feels like home to me.  Every day I get good photos.  I even snapped a new-to-me bird!  AND a new-to-me squirrel!  That's always fun.

We've met some new people, and are walking more and more. It's easy to walk here because the roads are paved.  They are easy for Katie to walk on, and when she's tired of walking or can't walk anymore, it's easy to push her stroller on these roads.  We're enjoying our stay here, as usual.

Here are some photos taken in the last week.

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel - he is beautiful and so cute.  This guy is a new find for me.  Look at all the lines and dots on his back:

He quietly moved around on the side of The Palms.  I opened the window and screen to get clearer shots of him and he didn't budge.  He was looking for and eating little pieces of grass and seeds.

Then I made a clicking sound and he stood up didn't move.  Like a statue.  I guess if they aren't close enough to a burrow hiding hole, they stand completely still, hoping no one will swoop down and get them.

After a while, he ran into the field next to The Palms.  He sure is cute.

I saw this double headed Canada Goose last year, and he's back.  

(I also have a bridge to sell if you believe this one.  LOL)  These are such beautiful, graceful birds.  This is the first year I've seen them with their little goslings.

So tiny.

Katie and I have been walking, sometimes with Patti and her three little dogs, who we met last year here at Storrie Lake.  This year she is the camp host in the South campground.

At the end of the road is a bridge that goes over the Gallinas River.  This year the river has lots of water in it!  The bridge has been closed off since I've been coming here:

Look at the wood that's all torn up:

This is the river with water running under the bridge.  Last year there was hardly any water to be seen here...

...and flowing down on the other side:

Heading back down the road, which I call Flat Stanley Road, Katie in the lead.  Katie is doing more walking this year, but I still bring the stroller and usually she ends up in it before we get back to camp. 

 And guess who is still here in the road?   Flat Stanley!

Do you remember me posting about him last year?  I couldn't believe this flattened frog was still here.  So I named the road after him.  He has staying power!

I've met some new blog followers, too.  Below is Kyra, who came by to visit me and Katie.  Kyra doesn't have a blog, so I can't give you a link, but I sure enjoyed meeting her and chatting from time to time.  She left yesterday, heading north.  Safe traveling, Kyra!  See you down the road.

That's it for now - I have more photos for next time, but - warning, warning, warning!  One day when Patti and I were walking down Flat Stanley Road and got to the bridge area, a young girl came running over to warn us to stay back.  There was a snake in the bushes.  So of course, we almost RAN over to see what it looked like.  Out came my camera, and when we got back to our rigs, Patti looked up Bull Snakes and came over with a You Tube video showing exactly what we were watching.  Thus began our education about mating snakes.  I'll post those photos next time. You can't wait, right?

From me and Katie, have a great Thursday, everybody!  :) 

PS - I've decided to remove my blog from Kindle.  I wanted to give a heads up to those of you who are paying each month to have my blog posts downloaded to your Kindles.  (You will receive a notice from Amazon letting you know, also.)  I just felt I'm not posting enough each week to be offering Me and My Dog  ...and My RV! for sale on Kindle.  It's just "inactive" for now, though, and if I start revving up again and posting more often, I'll offer it again.  And a BIG THANK YOU to all of you who signed up to have my posts downloaded to your Kindles.  I really appreciate it!  :)