Burrowing Owl Update

I get nervous every time I see construction trucks on the corner outside the front gates as I’m afraid someone will inadvertently run over our owls that are nesting there.  If any of you readers haven’t seen these owls yet, you’re missing one of nature’s cutest birds.  They can be seen daily in the morning or early evening right across the street from our front gate.  A small wooden cross serves as a perch marking their entrance.

 

This week our concern takes a drastic jump because the entire field has been plowed and leveled including the shrubs and grass that served as protection for the owl nesting site.  We’ve had several days in a row of gusty winds so the blowing dirt from the field is an annoying hazard as well.

I have been in contact with the Wild At Heart Owl Association and the US Fish and Wildlife Service that assists with capture and release of these protected raptors.  Hopefully they’re working with the contractors to safeguard the owls.  To read about the work these agencies do with the owls, click on this link:  Wild At Heart

Entertainment

Another beautiful Arizona day.  Temps in the 80s, clear blue sky, etc etc etc.  Are you tired of reading that yet? 

 

As I sit here at my computer, I look out the side window to our patio and am entertained by the doves trying desperately to build a nest on our rolled up awning.  They have worked constantly all week long and haul piece after piece of nesting material but they can’t get it to stay put.  The gap between the awning and the wall is too big so everything falls through but they never give up.  Pretty soon the little woman will be laying eggs up there that will fall straight through too.  I was going to name the pair but the first names that jump to mind are “Dumb and Dumber”.  While it may fit, it sounds cruel for such cute feathered creatures.  I believe they’ll go nameless for now but they certainly are entertaining.

 

Hallelujah!  I think the city crew has worked wonders with the sewer cleaning project.  I’ve ridden down the west wall (Sandy Desert Lane) numerous times the last several days and I believe the ugly sewer odor has dissipated.  We stopped to briefly chat with the city crew as they were working and they said it is a routine job that they do every 4-5 years.  Hmmmm….I’ve lived here six years and that’s the first time I’ve seen the project.  At least its done now and the problem should be solved.

The village home at 1245 sure landed in a hurry.  We went from empty hole to both halves installed within two days.

  

I saw some of our maintenance staff busy at work under the hot afternoon sun so stopped to say hello.

  This is Neil – he’s the newest member of the team as he’s only been with Palm Creek for three months.  He was hard at work repainting all the green site numbers by the RV pads.  They all get a sprucing up this year so thank Neil when you return and can easily find the site you need.  First he spray painted the green metal and then stenciled on the numbers.  Not an easy task when you stop to think of how many sites there are and all the up and down involved with the knees.  Ouch!

  Neil must be very tall because I seem to have cut off his head in this picture.  Sorry….I’m still an amateur.

I really enjoy riding around the park looking for info for the blog but some people do groan and laugh when I show up with camera in hand.

  Here I caught Avis and Larry Gray with Harriett Agee coming off Hole #8.  They’re getting in a lot of practice during this lovely weather!

    Jerry McDonald had a day away from his ranger duties so rounded up his toys and headed for the golf course too.  Nice bike, Jerry!

I don’t have any exciting news from the gardens yet.  Tomatoes are starting to turn pink but someone seems to pick them immediately before they really get a chance to ripen.  There will be plenty for all of us once they really start to turn.  The group planted several different kinds of pepper and squash plants and they seem to be doing well also.  I don’t know if these photos will show up well.

It’s also fun to just ride around and look at all the pretty cactus flowers that come into bloom.  This particular one was very pretty at 1739 (Mike & Peg Tomaso).  I emailed them photos so they could watch their plant in bloom.

I took a lot of photos as I rode around yesterday.  They’re not the best  but maybe you’ll enjoy them for what they’re worth.

      One of the owls that roosts up by the north wall.  Yes, the two outside the front gate are still there even though contractors have recently mowed all the grass and leveled the field. 

  We don’t get to see quail inside the park very often so its always a treat to see them chase across the gravel with that little bobber thing on top of their head.  I couldn’t get any closer for a photo cause this guy was pretty camera shy.

   Roadrunners are quite common but they’re always a treat to see anyway.

As soon as the wind kicks up, it is common to see dust devils whirling across the horizon. I think this one should show up on the photo okay.

So what do we do now that the evening activities have drawn to a close?  Some of us head down to the local American Legion to play bingo.

Tuesday

What a beautiful day today!!!  High of 75 with just a light breeze and a few scattered puffy clouds to make the blue sky even prettier.  It was gorgeous!  The 90s are due to return in a couple days so we try to soak up all the cool temps like a super sponge. 

 

I think Palm Creek residents keep the local contractors in business these days.  There are various crews installing new park models, adding on decks or Arizona rooms, hauling pavers for patios, resurfacing driveways, and especially site improvement projects with lots of concrete, new landscaping, and sheds.  Steve and Ann Arthur at site 1366 were hard at work today making their lot very attractive.  Nice work, Steve. 

 

I’ll get a couple more photos of other site projects while out on our rounds tomorrow.

There is another village home coming in at 1246.

We saw a number of utility type trucks redirecting traffic on Henness Road today so I put on my reporter’s hat to see what was going on.  The name on the main truck is “Pipeline Video Inspection & Cleaning”.  We “hope” the city is finally getting serious about the strong sewer odor that tends to float over the west wall of the park along Sandy Desert Drive.  It would certainly be interesting to hear results of their findings and their work but I don’t have an ear inside the city engineer’s office so we’ll just have to test our noses to see if their efforts are successful. 

I watched our golf course crew as they worked on the front nine today.  I believe the term is aerating or plugging.  A roller type of machine pulled behind a tractor pulls a core or plug from the soil to let air back into the soil and promote better grass growth.  Curiosity got the best of me while I was taking photos so I picked up a core and was amazed at how compacted the soil is.  I could bang the thing on the pavement and it didn’t even break.  Guess that’s good old Arizona soil.  I can certainly see why aerating is necessary! 

Sorta looks like goose droppings from  a distance. 

Uh Oh…..don’t feed the peacock!

We’ve all been excited and rather thrilled to see Mr. Peacock strutting around the park.  I’ve gotten several phone calls from friends who know I’m an avid birdwatcher. This morning I googled peacocks to learn more so I could share information.  But….whoops….I came across this news article posted on Channel 5 Phoenix website.  It seems that the peacocks can be a problem when they start to multiply.  The thrill must wear off in a hurry according to the homeowners.  Follow this link to read the article plus click on the photo to view the video.  I have already heard the peacock call at night.  At first I thought it was someone screaming as if startled.

 

Peacock news:  click here

Happy Mother’s Day

We had a GREAT Mother’s Day dinner on Sunday with 90 people present.  Upon entering the room, Ladies were presented with a rose, a special card, and their choice of a fuzzy navel or a wine cooler.  That was followed by a delicious meal and lots of friendly conversation and camaraderie.  Chalk up another success for the Special Events team!

    

    

     Readers tell me they like to see these photos so they can check out who is still here enjoying our Arizona sunshine.  Since I will be working in the kitchen during the summer events, you’ll be seeing pictures from behind the scenes as well.

Sue and Connie Morin prepping the croissant rolls.

Chicken cordon bleu waiting for its turn in the oven.

And then it’s time for doing the dishes and sanitizing the kitchen! 

This morning (Monday) we awoke to a lovely cool breeze, 60 degrees, and sunny sky.  It was almost too cool…actually a bit chilly for us true AZ folks with such thin blood.  I wish we could bag some of that cool air and save it for July and August!  The pickleball courts were very active.  It’s hard to get a good picture but perhaps you can recognize some folks.

      

Not everyone was off to a good start as evidenced by this sad tale we came across.  It appears the brakes locked up on this rig so it has to get hauled in for service.  At least it happened while they were still in the park and not out on the highway somewhere!  Must always look at the bright side.

He’s Back

This finely feathered creature was back again today.  Mary Williams spotted him and got a great photo.  Thanks, Mary!

 

Mary’s email story: 

Hi Sue.......

Couldn't believe I missed the peacock while playing golf yesterday....was glad to see your photos. I alerted Tom when he was heading out to the course this morning since I was "sleeping in" for a change.....a while later, he called me and said the proud little fellow was on #12 tee so I went over to look....was sure I had missed him as it took a while for me to get dressed, etc. I had given up and was heading home down Oasis and decided to get off my bike one last time and head up in between a couple of park models (1811 and 1812) and lo and behold, he was sitting on the patio of 1811. He then headed down onto the golf course...even took a small air-flight...wished I'd had the video going!...and went on over to the pet section side. Sure wish he had spread out those tail feather, though!

Hugs!

Mary

A New Resident??

I was up for an early morning bike ride today while temps were still in the wonderfully cool 60s.  Low and behold.....I came across this perky peacock strutting around the golf course.  I followed him quite a ways and took a picture as he crossed between park models.  Sometimes he would hop right up on their back porch as he meandered on his way.  I was hoping Kent and Leslie Evans at 1769 were up to greet their visitor.  Sure enough, later this morning Leslie called with the exciting news that our feathered friend was still prancing around the area.  Ya never know what a new day will bring!