What a difference a day makes

When I posted my little tirade last night, I was not implying that all teachers these days are irresponsible and disrespectful.  It was just the group of five that I encountered yesterday.  Stephanie’s call to the school yesterday had some very positive results.

Before the next batch of fifth graders arrived today, we received an email from Stephanie that she had forwarded from one of yesterday’s teachers.  It was an apology for the behavior of the students yesterday.  It seems she didn’t quite get that we were upset with the teachers, not the students.  Eventually, she did admit that she should have set an example for the other teachers by moving along through the stations with her students.  Do you think so??  Anyway, she assured us that things would be different today and tomorrow.

And they were.  Astoundingly different!  Apparently both the students and the teachers had been read the riot act before coming today.  Each class shouted ‘Thank you!’ at the end of each session, and there was always a teacher with the group.  They even participated with the kids.  These teachers said they were very embarrassed by what had happened yesterday, and hoped they could return next year.

Those kids must have had quite a lecture on the bus coming here, as the first group or two seemed almost scared to say anything.  It was a little comical to see.  There were no lost students, no students squirming to visit the restroom, and everyone left with a smile on their face; us included!  Today was the way these programs should go.

Since this is my last week here, I have to admit that I’ve got a bit of a short timers attitude.  So each afternoon after the kids leave, instead of working, I’m just taking time to enjoy my favorite places on Anahuac.  I did a slow roll around Shoveler Pond on Monday, and yesterday and today I spent some time at Jackson’s Woodlot.  I just relax in the photo blind, and wait for the birds to come to me.  Every time I’ve been there this mockingbird has sat on this exact tree branch and given me the stink eye.  I’ll be gone pretty soon you little opera singer!

Time for a little bird quiz.   Can you guess the name of this bird?  I’ll let you know at the end of this post.  The photo blind is a great place to let all the excitement and challenges of the day drain away.  This is our busiest visitor week at the refuge, and birders were trudging around all over the woods today.  I’m not so good at trudging any more, so I prefer to sit and wait.  No one joined me in the blind even though there was plenty of room to do so.  Maybe I was exuding vibes that told of my need for some personal space?  Who knows… This little guy came skulking through the reeds singing his heart out.

After all the birders went on their way, I had a brief glimpse of a second year male summer tanager.  Older males are solid red, but this guy has a mixture of red and yellow feathers.  Photos of my feathered friends are a challenge in the dense greenery. 

When I got back to the rig, I had an email from my older brother Carl with this link: http://marcbrecy.perso.neuf.fr/history.html    I don’t usually include these kinds of links in my posts, but I found this one worth watching.  You’ll have to pay close attention if you view it.  It is only two minutes long for those of you that have GB limits.  I have a 5 GB limit too, but I’m glad I watched it.

Have you got your guesses in mind for the mystery bird?  Since I had heard its song, I already knew what it was, but when he turned his head around it clinched the ID!

                                                            A Common Yellowthroat!

Tomorrow the last batch of fifth graders will be upon us in the morning.  I hope it goes as well as it did today.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

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