usvi-on-line
Trip report 2011 STJ I'll think of a name later
The view is so beautiful and ever changing. The morning sky has been my favorite this year. Yesterday's highlight of course was picking up #1 at the ferry dock. Spent the morning at Hawksnest and did a little snorkling, a little reading a whole lot of chillin.
Argonauta has a kestral, I think that's what it is, with a fondness for gecko. Fascinating to watch with a head that turns all the way around like a little Linda Blair owl. I'll try to get a photo. The pool floaty was too comfortable to abandon in order to get a good shot. It looks like a tiny little hawk and I seem to remember seeing one hanging around when we were here last.
There is also a very pretty blue eyed cat who visits from time to time and a hummingbird or two but have not seen a single banana quit. What's up with that? We put out sugar, too.
Argonauta has a kestral, I think that's what it is, with a fondness for gecko. Fascinating to watch with a head that turns all the way around like a little Linda Blair owl. I'll try to get a photo. The pool floaty was too comfortable to abandon in order to get a good shot. It looks like a tiny little hawk and I seem to remember seeing one hanging around when we were here last.
There is also a very pretty blue eyed cat who visits from time to time and a hummingbird or two but have not seen a single banana quit. What's up with that? We put out sugar, too.
Trip report 2009
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
Trip report 2008
So good, so good, so good!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
Trip report 2008
So good, so good, so good!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
Yesterday's highlight. Sadly, that is not me in the backround.
Another beautiful morning sky with setting moon.
Early visitor
This is what I think is the Kestral enjoying breakfast
[/img]
Another beautiful morning sky with setting moon.
Early visitor
This is what I think is the Kestral enjoying breakfast
[/img]Trip report 2009
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
Trip report 2008
So good, so good, so good!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
Trip report 2008
So good, so good, so good!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
There were kestrels nesting at Argonauta when we rented there in 2007. In fact, one of them dive bombed me and scraped my head! They had babies in their nest at the time so I guess they were feeling territorial.
Beautiful photos!
Beautiful photos!
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
Becky, that's exactly it.
There are several kestrals. We aren't 100% sure what's going on but there is definitely a nest under the eves being protected. At first we watched one bird feeding a smaller one a gecko and thought perhaps it was a mother feeding a baby but then after further observation that theory began to appear more of a Shakespearean tragedy which shall remain nameless. Courting behavior is far more likely. My bet is that the little one is the female protecting a nest under the eaves. There are no tiny little chirps that we can hear but there could be eggs. It would appear that she has more than one suitor in the running for dibbs unless it is the females who hunt and the males who watch the eggs? . Don't know how kestrals work it out family wise but there are a couple of very serious birds standing guard over that nest. I don't want to disturb them any more than necessary with our comings and goings so from here on out we'll respect their privacy.
The weather remains beautiful. Wednesday morning we decided to hike down to Dennis Bay fairly early with a picnic lunch. This is the beach with the parking lot at the top and the bay and beach down below. It's beautiful and the snorkeling is quite good there. Later that afternoon we'd be picking up my brother Don from the ferry.
Since no vacation of ours would be complete with at least one moment of sheer panic as we packed up my husband says, "What I'm not finding are the keys. What the heck did I do with them?". #2 replies, "Mom drove." Oh shit. Shitshitshit. They are nowhere to be found and have the safe key attached....so we wouldn't lose it. I carried a beach chair and the bag with sandwiches down the 10-15 minute walk from the car to the bay. Sometimes out of bad habit I carry the key ring looped around my finger. There is nothing to be done but to trek back up the hill with eyes peeled along the way and begging forgiveness from St. Anthony whose patience I have most assuredly abused.
Since the utes...13 and 19 are in much better shape than their middle aged parents they breeze up the nearly at times vertical hill like antelopes while dear husband acts as the beast of burden with the heavier bag and I huff and puff along behind scouring every inch of pathway as I go. The boys reach the top where we are parked in record time and the whoops and hollers indicate that disaster has been averted. Whew. I know, I know. Don't say it.
Back to Argonauta for a dip and freshening up and Pete and I run down to the dock to pick up Don while the boys prep the very essential arrival music and snacks. Don was with us during our last visit here and his playlist is now forever linked in our hearts and minds with this house.
All is well. We visit, swim, relax then drive in to town for dinner at Rhumlines. As usual share a variety of apps and pu pu selections. Very enjoyable.
Yesterday we spent at Caneel. Honeymoon Beach is among our favorites. We find it breezier than the main beach but today the main beach was delightfully breezy and Don had never seen the turtles. After few hours there and a nice lunch on the upper terrace back to the pool for that silver part of the day.
I abandoned my too serious book in favor of Norm Paperman and the gang. Great decision. How did Norm suddenly become younger than I am?? It's been 20 years since I last read Don't Stop the Carnival. Incredulous.
A couple of shots from the past couple of days.
Last night sunset was beautiful. In succession.
Guarding something precious inside
Come on!!!!
There are several kestrals. We aren't 100% sure what's going on but there is definitely a nest under the eves being protected. At first we watched one bird feeding a smaller one a gecko and thought perhaps it was a mother feeding a baby but then after further observation that theory began to appear more of a Shakespearean tragedy which shall remain nameless. Courting behavior is far more likely. My bet is that the little one is the female protecting a nest under the eaves. There are no tiny little chirps that we can hear but there could be eggs. It would appear that she has more than one suitor in the running for dibbs unless it is the females who hunt and the males who watch the eggs? . Don't know how kestrals work it out family wise but there are a couple of very serious birds standing guard over that nest. I don't want to disturb them any more than necessary with our comings and goings so from here on out we'll respect their privacy.
The weather remains beautiful. Wednesday morning we decided to hike down to Dennis Bay fairly early with a picnic lunch. This is the beach with the parking lot at the top and the bay and beach down below. It's beautiful and the snorkeling is quite good there. Later that afternoon we'd be picking up my brother Don from the ferry.
Since no vacation of ours would be complete with at least one moment of sheer panic as we packed up my husband says, "What I'm not finding are the keys. What the heck did I do with them?". #2 replies, "Mom drove." Oh shit. Shitshitshit. They are nowhere to be found and have the safe key attached....so we wouldn't lose it. I carried a beach chair and the bag with sandwiches down the 10-15 minute walk from the car to the bay. Sometimes out of bad habit I carry the key ring looped around my finger. There is nothing to be done but to trek back up the hill with eyes peeled along the way and begging forgiveness from St. Anthony whose patience I have most assuredly abused.
Since the utes...13 and 19 are in much better shape than their middle aged parents they breeze up the nearly at times vertical hill like antelopes while dear husband acts as the beast of burden with the heavier bag and I huff and puff along behind scouring every inch of pathway as I go. The boys reach the top where we are parked in record time and the whoops and hollers indicate that disaster has been averted. Whew. I know, I know. Don't say it.
Back to Argonauta for a dip and freshening up and Pete and I run down to the dock to pick up Don while the boys prep the very essential arrival music and snacks. Don was with us during our last visit here and his playlist is now forever linked in our hearts and minds with this house.
All is well. We visit, swim, relax then drive in to town for dinner at Rhumlines. As usual share a variety of apps and pu pu selections. Very enjoyable.
Yesterday we spent at Caneel. Honeymoon Beach is among our favorites. We find it breezier than the main beach but today the main beach was delightfully breezy and Don had never seen the turtles. After few hours there and a nice lunch on the upper terrace back to the pool for that silver part of the day.
I abandoned my too serious book in favor of Norm Paperman and the gang. Great decision. How did Norm suddenly become younger than I am?? It's been 20 years since I last read Don't Stop the Carnival. Incredulous.
A couple of shots from the past couple of days.
Last night sunset was beautiful. In succession.
Guarding something precious inside
Come on!!!!
Trip report 2009
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
Trip report 2008
So good, so good, so good!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=
Trip report 2008
So good, so good, so good!
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=