jwg

We took a day tour to Celestún, a town that has Parque Natural del Flamenco Mexicano, a biopreserve off the Gulf of Mexico. We say lots of flamingos, pelicans, other birds, and a mangrove forest. There is a mix of fresh and salt water. They warned us at the orientation session that we might not see any flamingos since they are somewhat nomadic - that wasn't a problem.

We went in small boats with a guide that spoke both English and Spanish. At one point we zoomed thorugh a mangrove swamp to a boardwalk and got out to walk around. The boardwalk wasn't in good condition, but the walk was worth it. Lots of trees, some birds, and interesting reflections in the surrounding water.

They said we could probably go swimming there. Swimming was out of the question because of slight problem due to a local resident: a crocodile!


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On the way to Skellig Michael we passed Little Skellig, an island populated by approximately 25,000 pairs of gannets.

On the way back we cruised slowly around the island and in addition to the gannets we saw a few seals basking on the rocks. The trip was about 4 1/2 hours and it was well worth it.

To get to Skellig Michael you can catch a boat at Portmagee in County Kerry.

Click here for some pictures:
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As I've mentioned before, I'm not too good (or interested) in identifying birds by books. Yesterday while having cocktails on the porch, we saw a strange bird in a tree - it looked a bit like a young feathery duck but probably was something else. I went to check to see how old my bird books were. My Peterson (my mother's) is a 1947 and as we all know birds these days are completely different. Then I rummaged through this bookcase of old books and found this gem: Our Mountain Garden by Mrs. Theodore Thomas. It's copyright date is 1904!

Here is a bit of Chapter IX: Conclusion

And so I counsel all who have a bit of ground, be it small or large, to start thereon a garden, without waiting for horticultural knowledge or instruction. Begin as I did, with a wheelbarrow full of black-eyed Susans; you have no idea to what charming acquaintances the Susans will introduce you! And above all, I advise you to do the work yourself as far as your physical strength allows. Dig an plant, week and water, cultivate and prune, and haul your little cart of tools up hill and down dale, all wit your own hands. It is astonishing how weak muscles will strengthen, pale cheeks turn rosy, stiff joints grow limber, and clogged lungs open themselves again to deep breaths of fresh air. But I must own that one cannot do this sort of work in fine raiment All one's clothing must be loose and light and washable. I wear a short skirt of heavy gingham, an ordinary shirt-waist, calfskin shoes with broad soles and low heels, a shade hat, and gloves of my own invention, which are the only kind I have found which thoroughly protect the hands. ...

My mother followed this approach - it wasn't one of her first books since she started gardening in ~1951 and here is the sales slip that I found in the book. Although the slip says Fresno, Calif I suspect it was from used bookstore in downtown NYC and you do see that the address has been replaced.