Three days off

Western Scrub-Jay

August 7th, 8th and 9th have been recuperation days. A lot of sorting out of pictures and setting up this website which has been no mean feat with getting to grips with the Google blogger operation. There have been on-line orders to deal with and some films to watch in the evenings using David's widescreen digital video projection technology! We had a most enjoyable dinner with Jenn and Charlie on Sunday evening. I took Alice for a walk on Monday morning up the usual track and Tracey and I with James did the same track on Tuesday morning. Few birds seen on either day except for Califorina Towhee, California Quail, western Scrub-Jay and sometimes a couple of Tree Martin. I had a good close look at a Sharp-shinned Hawk in flight on the 7th.

Sometime shortly after 0500 on Tuesday morning (probably at about 0505 or a little after because it landed at 0512) we were woken by the very loud double bang and rushing sound of the space shuttle returning to the Mojave desert Edwards Airforce base. It must have been the re-entry noise as the shock wave released on passing back through the sound barrier. It was supposed not to pass over LA but I expect Thousand Oaks doesn't count as LA and does not qualify in the eyes of NASA as a heavily built up area!

James, Jenny and Charlie