BERKELEY CA--CITY OF TREES, SHRUBS AND FLOWERS

THE "HUDSON RIVER BIRDER'...WITH THE "MARTINEZ BIRDER"

MY FRIEND PETE

AND I ON A DAY AT POINT REYES

BIRDING IN MARIN COUNTY--"POINT REYES"

Today I spent the entire day with my friend, Pete White, birding at Point Reyes, Bolinas Lagune and Nicasio Reservoir north of San Francisco.  This is the list :

 Common Murre, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Western Grebe, Western Gull, Harlequin Duck, Double Crested Comorant, Brand's Comorant, Pacific Comorant, Long Billed Curlew, Willet, Caspian Tern, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Canada Goose, Pigeon Guillemot, Black Oyster Catcher, Brown Pellican, Pacific Flycatcher, Scrub Jay, Stellar Jay, Wrentit, Bushtit, Spotted Towhee, California Towhee,  Starlings, Savannah Sparrow, White Crowned Sparrow, Swainson Thrush, Berwick Wren, House Finch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Goldfinch, Acorn Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Violet Green Swallow, Red Winged Blackbird,  Chestnut Hooded Chickadee, Black Phoebe, Pine Siskin, Oregon Junco, Black Headed Grosbeack, California Quail, Red Tailed Hawk, Red Shouldered Hawk, White Tailed Kite, Wilson Warbler, Orange Crowned Warbler, ELEPHANT SEAL...Say Sparrow, Allen's Hummingbird, Ana's Hummingbird, Turkey Vulture, Turkey, Common Raven and Warbling Vireo.

   Pete and I spent from 7 am until 5 pm.  Pete told me that the fog tends to stay over the San Francisco Bay area until the sun becomes strong in the early afternoon .  So for this reason we stayed at Nicasio Reservoir and Bolinas Lagoon in the AM.  Then in the afternoon we headed towards the cliffs of Point Reyes which are truly marvelous.  I place here the two species that most impressed me which are the Acorn Woodpecker which truly does have the appearance of a "clown" and the Violet Green Swallow.

Volunteer Work Crews at The Mount

KENNY, DIEDRE AND THE FAMILY HELPING FAITH FORMATION DAY

HISPANIC FAMILIES OF ULSTER COUNTY

"WELCOME TO HISPANIC FAMILIES FROM ULSTER COUNTY

Last Sunday was the Roman Catholic Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.   I had a Day of Faith Formation for Hispanic families from all around Ulster County.  The fact is that, long before I was The Hudson River Birder I have been Padre Tom Martín Deely, a Redemptorist Missionary priest. My love for birds, for wildlife...My desire to protect and care for the world's human and physical life systems is a simple outflow of my love for God and for all that and "all whom" God has made. One of my dreams for our 412 acres here at The Mount would be to see poor Hispanic families who loved to work on their farms and fields in their countries of origin...I would love to see them working small pieces of organic farm lands here on our property.  BUT THIS IS ONLY A DREAM NOW...But we know that "dreams can come true.

FAMILY FAITH FORMATION AT "THE MOUNT" FOR HISPANICS

FAITH FORMATION DAY FOR HISPANICS AT "THE MOUNT"

A RAINY DAY AT HOOK MOUNTIAN-MARYDELL

This is a change of pace for the summer.  But I just f inished editing a Video that I created of autumn rains scenes in Marydell Retreat Center at Hook Mountain which is on the Western Shore of the Hudson River right across from Tarrytown and Ossinging NY.  I think you will like it.

DAY FOR HISPANIC FAMILIES AT THE MOUNT

One of my greatest concerns as both the HUDSON RIVER BIRDER and a Roman Catholic missionary priest here in Ulster County is the welfare of our great Hispanic population.  Ulster County has many Hispanic people.  Many have been here for many years and have restaurants, businesses and steady employment.  Others are either Migrant or Temporary Workers who work during the planting and harvest and during the harvest time for grape, apple, peach and other agricultural products.  This weekend one of the groups here at The Mount are the Presentation Sisters of the Eastern USA in their annual assembly.  One of their concerns, which is also mine, is the creation of a more just and practical immigration policy here in the United States.  As one who spent 32 years working outside the US in the Dominican Republic and also as a visitor and student in places like Ecuador and Brazil I am  "pro immigrant".  One of my favorite documentaries is LOS QUE SE QUEDAN ("Those Who Remain") It shows how the Mexican families agonize before the decison of going to work in the USA.  The beauty, simplicity and joy of life in Mexico permeates this movie like the sweetest perfume imaginable.  It is so clear that the choice to come and work in the United States is not a joyful nor easy decision for those "who come" and also for 'THOSE WHO REMAIN BEHIND".  Family life in Mexico is often so very pure, loving and joyous.  It will not be....It NEVER IS...when they come to the States.
And so.....on this weekend when Mexico is challenging Argentina for the World Cup in Soccer we have about 150 families from Ulster, Dutchess and Orange counties coming here for a Day of Family Faith Formation.  They will be greeted and welcomed by the beauty of The Mount: its fields, trees, birds, deer, turkey, its beautiful Hudson River fronting. Hopefully it will remind them of the equal beauties of Mexico, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras....etc, etc that necessity has made them leave.

The Hudson River Birder/Gardener

Garden Work Pays Off at The Mount

DAY ON "JESUS' SAYINGS AND ATTITUDES ON CREATION

Joe, Pat and Sheila joined me, P. Tom Martín Deely, The Hudson River Birder, to spend the day walking much of our 412 acre Hudson River, Mt. St. Alphonsus Spiritual Center.  We used the blue truck to get to some places, walked to others, like the Acre Pond where, reflecting upon what Jesus said and his way of relating to nature, animals and the natural world, we saw and "heard" Kingfishers, Red Winged Blackbirds, saw Great Blue Herons "sailing in" for a soft landing on the pond, saw a harried Red Tailed Hawk spiralling as she (or "he) was attacked by pesky little sparrows.  It was a great day, and we went long beyond 3 pm where we "usually" end our Saturday day programs. Below are some of the ideas and Bible quotes that I shared with Pat, Sheila and Joe.  (Joe is from Mineola LI and has participated in my "Christ and Spring Migration Nature Day".   We even saw nesting eagles which, of course, we are forbidden by the NYS Wildlife Management from telling you where.  The truth is that American Bald Eagles are doing quite well.  I guess it is true that there might just be mean spirited people in the world that would enjoy doing harm to an Eagle´s nest if they knew where it was.  But no people like that come to the Mount.

At the Purple Beech - Jesus' Sayings and Attitudes on Creation

WAY OF CROSS AND "WAY OF CREATION"

TOWARDS THE 200 YEAR PURPLE BEECH

JESUS'S WORDS AND ATTITUDES ON CREATION

Ron on the Rip Van Winkle in front of The Mount--This Birder's Home on Hudson

GOD'S "OPEN HEART" IN THE HIGH DESERT

On the Way of the Cross at our Retreat House in Cortaro AR people put small rocks, and sometimes notes as they pray the way that Christ took to Calvary.  This one has small rocks in the shape of a rock.  I caught the message right away.  DO YOU?  It is the "open heart of God in Christ". Who would bother to make a Way of the Cross or do any kind of prayer if he or she did not believe that, despite the foolish and sinful things we might have done in our lives...God's heart is still "always open" to pardon us and love us.