Last weekend we had the man cubs full-time while their parents were away. Survival rule #1 when in this situation is to make brownies with grandma.

Survival rule #2 is keep them busy with pre-k and pre-pre-k activities...

They also enjoy their daily tricycle rides around Key West and Stock Island.  Henry likes to look for pennies to pick up while out on our rides.  We have been picking up the coins we find since we started our bike ride regimen about a year and a half ago.   Sometimes, the coins are nickels or dimes or quarters.  Henry especially likes to look for shiny nickels.  

For the first time, we tracked how much we picked up on our walks during January.  Here, Henry shows one of his best finds that helped bring our January 'money-found' total to $56.68.  That's right... five six dot six eight in 30 days.  For some reason, people do not like money here.

Crystal and I are on our way north - maybe - for our dentist appointments and to take care of some very important matters about big things.  Today, we made a quick stop at Green Cay near Delray Beach, FL to see what we could see.  It's always great to get a Least Bittern as getting a clear view of these small herons is no easy task.  This one, about the size of a Robin, was hunkered down in its 'ready to strike' position in the dense vegetation.

This sequence is about the hunter becoming the hunted.  Here, a Green Heron is ready to ambush its next meal.

Moments later, the heron came to attention, realizing there was mischief afoot.

... as a 10-12 foot long alligator was stealthily making its way toward the heron.

Needless to say, with a squawk and a quick flush, the heron re-positioned itself in a nearby tree safely out of the gator's reach.  I was happy to be on the boardwalk as the gator was about 15 feet away from us.  

What seems to me to be the avian equivalent to raccoons, Common Yellowthroats were busy searching for bugs and marking out nesting territories.

Yesterday was a cold, gray, dreary day but I was able to bump the January species total to 109 at Merritt Island near NASA on Cape Canaveral.  If you have ever been on a snipe hunt, these Wilson's Snipes may have been what you were looking for.

The man cubs are out of town for a couple of days visiting great-grandma in the Daytona area.

It was left up to me to occupy them while mom and dad got the car loaded.  As is typically the case, we watched cars and trucks videos on YouTube per Henry's request.

Crystal and I are still trying to figure out what to do with our free time.  She planted pots with lettuce and spinach and then we did a little local birding, picking up Black Skimmer...

Snowy Egret...

and Reddish Egret to bring the YTD species total to 74.

I have also been digitizing our family's 8mm movies from the 1960s and 70s.  We have come a long way from that vintage technology to be sure.  Next, I need to work up the intestinal fortitude to edit the movies and add a soundtrack.  Where is my old dependable buddy Daniel K. when I need him?

Crystal also made her first batch of homemade "yogurt."  Having tried it, I see no reason to buy yogurt from the store again, unless of course, we are on the road.

In two weeks we head north with planned stops in Daytona, Charlotte, West Virginia and other points unknown.  This should be an opportunity to boost our 2026 species count while getting in some visits with friends and relatives.   Oh wait... it's winter up there?   Yikes.   It was 62 degrees in Key West yesterday and the locals were out in their winter jackets.  The snowbirds from Ohio and Michigan were wearing shorts and t-shirts that showed off their spare tires with authority.  And, no, the iguanas were not falling out of the trees.

Christmas and the New Year have come and gone and we are no worse for the wear.  Gifts were opened in record time with unwavering enthusiasm this year as Henry served as full-time package distributor and opener.  Once the paper was off, it was on to the next gift.

Chip found a prime seat on top of me from which to observe the chaos.  Needless to say, I ended up with an obstructed view of the festivities.

Chip made use of the holiday dinners to teach the man cubs how to properly use their eating utensils.

Chip has also been teaching the man cubs how to pounce like a cat.  Here, OG demonstrates his form...

All of which left Chip and the man cubs exhausted and Mommy and Daddy in search of another bed.

One highlight of the holiday season was Crystal's first-ever attempt at homemade eggnog.  Suffice it say... we no longer have a need for store-bought eggnog.  It's amazing how well her eggnog mixes with a little 12 year-old rum.  And yes, the peanut butter balls were as good as ever.

A few quick bird outings around the Keys have yielded a pedestrian 59 species with 0 lifers.  I have no particular goal in mind this year beyond tallying more species in Monroe County, FL than son Matthew.  We have a gentlemen's bet which basically means anything goes.

Matthew was recently distinguished by having his photo of a Pearly-eyed Thrasher published in North American Birds magazine.  He was one of two individuals to successfully photograph the first ever observed visit of this species to North America in 2024.

                         

Of significantly lesser note, my local birding this year  has  yielded  few  opportunities for good photographs  although  this  Least  Sandpiper  was cooperative  as it searched for its next bite from the Gulf of America.

This Sanderling appeared to be waiting for low tide to resume its foraging.

While both a Merlin, a species of falcon (top) and a Broad-winged Hawk were simply waiting for the next thing that moved.

We have been cheering on a Cooper's Hawk that has been mauling the Eurasian Collared Doves on our street.  The amount of bird poop on our cars has diminished slightly thanks to the hawk's efforts.  So, we have that going for us.