Hey Dave- I grew up in Oakhurst and actually went to kindergarten at the Methodist Church. I was up and down Monmouth Rd. at least 6 times today and once I actually glanced up at the steeple remembering the day the put it up!! Very spooky!!! I always am amazed at the amount of birds in our area also. I now am in Shark River Hills (which kind of reminds me of Oakhurst) and I have quite the bird sanctuary in my backyard. I unfortunately do not have an awesome camera, as you do. I love raptors. I'm always driving on Rt. 18 looking at them soaring above-I have a convertible. I know...doesn't sound too safe!! There are many hawks in the area of Deal Rd.- just west of Logan. I guess with Palaia Park (Deal Test Site to me), there is plenty of room to nest. Keep posting those pics and hopefully you have some good painkillers for that tooth!!

ok, i have waited this long because i couldn't narrow it down. my first love at a raptor dates back to kindergarten- the bald eagle. actually it is pretty "ironic": i can remember asking my mom for a quarter to "help save the bald eagles" i don't know if it was the teacher, or if it was the school, but i remember i needed to take it to class. so, here i was 30 years later, fighting development of plum island as a preserve for their winter and nesting sight. i am proof that educating children and raising their awareness works! now, on the other extreme, i just love the kestrel. this is strange for me because i am a "bigger the better" kind of person- irish wolfhound definitely preferred over a small dg, give me a horse- make it a "heavy horse" there is just something about the spirit of the bird being bigger than its size. i really think they have taht warrior spirit despite that apparant fragility i have heard of when kept captive. although i have never had experience with them. owl are just too tough to decide between. again, the raptors seem to win me over despite size- oh, that screech owl's song! a am partial to barn owls simply because ot the endangered/threatened status. i have never seen one! the great horned does win over the barred, but that doesn't make the barred any less "endearing." i do like the turkey vulture, too. so that about sums it up (love red tails in flight calls, they are always saying something) i ahven't gone in to many species. mostly i am trying to stick to the ones of my area. but, the harpy eagle, now there is a magnificent bird! anyone see jeff corwin with the harpy on his arm? it kept pecking his head. i say pecking because with that kind of strenght it was more like a love tap!

Brrr is right! I just came back from taking DS to Pittsburgh for a wedding. I went shopping after and I nearly froze! I was thinking of writing to Patti to see how she is. And where is Milkdud? If enough of us write, maybe they will realize how much we miss them. Donna - Have a great trip!!! Jen - Yes, you and Galen continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Haven't done anything worthwhile yet this weekend, so I had better get some stuff done. DS came in last night and we had a nice visit. He bought a townhouse in FL, so I guess he isn't thinking of moving home anytime soon. ((Raeanne)) - I know EXACTLY how you are feeling about DD moving across country. It is possible to be excited for them and secretly wishing they would change their minds at the same time! Marci

Just yesterday I added a few more to the list, a groundhog heard the lawnmower and bolted to hide beneath the gazebo near the pond. And I saw a small bat flying along in front of me as I drove in. Also since the pond is close enough to the driveway, I can add bluegill, minnows, and a larger, long skinny fish, perhaps a bass? On a trail ride around the area a few days ago my wife saw a beaver. Although I haven't yet seen any at our new place, at our old house, over the years we were there, I saw nearly all I listed above, plus Snapping Turtle Skunk Raccoon Cow Fence Lizard Garter Snake Ribbon Snake Northern Brownsnake Black Widow Spider Gray Fox Field mouse Star-nosed Mole Vole Pileated Woodpecker