I went on a bike ride the other day on Tulsa’s Riverparks Trails during a very unseasonably warm day.
I saw two groups of white pelicans on the river. They were both all hunkered down. I hope that they will get going to where they need to be for the winter.
The canadian geese are here all year long in Tulsa. Many of them still migrate south but I guess the others have figured out what some of politicians haven’t, that global warming is a thing.
And I saw a few great blue herons. They are everywhere. Back in the day when I still worked I was out in the natural gas fields of western Oklahoma and I stopped on a dirt road to make a cell phone call and suddenly noticed in the field next to where I parked there were a bunch of great blue herons. Not in a pond or water, just standing there in a field. I took a pic but it is long gone. Well before the days I knew about storing and tagging and all that other stuff.
I found a bunch of seagulls clear across the river.
I stopped and took a photo of the foliage on Turkey Mountain across the river. I never get tired of seeing it.
Nearby was this plaque commemorating the first Oklahoma Game Ranger killed in the line of duty. He was game ranger murdered in the line of duty in Oklahoma. On Turkey Mountain investigating a poaching case. I don’t think it was ever solved.
Back in the day, Turkey Mountain had a bootleggers, lawmen, oil field hands, ranchers, railroad men, and farmers. I have personally found “shake and bake” meth labs. It has a shady past. So does Tulsa for that matter. Machine gun Kelly, Pretty Boy Floyd, John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, Ma Barker. They all have Tulsa ties. Read more about Tulsa’s shady past here.
Oops I digressed. I am continually fascinated by the dichotomy of Tulsa. On the east bank are big companies, operas, ballet companies, symphonies, wonderful museums and on the gritty west side, like Turkey Mountain, refineries, oilfield manufacturing, factories is where the money was made to pay for all the nice stuff. That is where the outlaws hung out.
I’m linking with Saturday’s Critters.
Oops one more thing,
Excuse my appearance, I’m retired so I get kind of scruffy. That is me, (of course) and Lizzy early in the morning. I read the paper and drink coffee in the morning and she reads over my shoulder. I keep telling her that is rude but she won’t stop.
Beautiful captures of the birds and the selfie with Lizzie!
The fall colours are incredible!
Hello, Alan
I love the White Pelicans, I wish I could see them here. The fall colors are looking beautiful. Nice shots of the Gulls and the Heron.
Cute selfie with your Lizzie, reading over your shoulder. It is sad to hear the game ranger was murdered.
Thank you for your critter link and your comment and your visit.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.
I love it! Yay, Lizzie.
Yes, we’re all getting older, but this is better than the alternative.
Liking those birds and your scenery. We have those horrible drug labs here too, people think they are hiding them but I guess the police can always find them.
That’s such a cute photo with the cat! You are quite handsome and so is she! Love seeing the Fall foliage, you don’t think of so much color in that part of the country! WOW!
The migration path of the pelicans is really interesting — one way or another, they are in every state west of the Mississippi, though not on the California coast. And they wander farther east, for example, are seen in Indian some years. Mostly they are present in migration, with just a few areas for breeding, and a big area in the far south and Mexico where they go for the winter. Beautiful bird.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
lindos pelícanos y bello gatito. Te mando un beso.
Your bike ride sounds delightful. I’m glad you encountered fascinating wildlife. I loved the photo of you and Lizzy.
Nice to see so many Pelicans.
Nice photos 😀
Enjoyed the birds, especially the seagulls in flight; and learning a little about Turkey Mountain. You’ve taken us on so many hikes there and now I can learn something about its history.
Pretty birds, heron, and Lizzy! Very sad about the Game Ranger.
Hello :=)
The Pelicans are a wonderful sight and you took great photos of them, and also the seagulls in fight, and the beautiful fall trees. I just loved the photo of you, and your kitty Lizzie looking so intelligently at the newspaper.:=)