I spent most of the month of November making arrangements to move my mother from New York to live with us in California. Next month I will go to New York to help her pack. She will miss New York, but the time is near that she should no longer live so far away and alone. Despite any regrets she has about leaving, I think she will enjoy the California weather.

Taking some time between planning and arranging things, my nature observations are from both near and far. Mostly I was very near, in my own backyard. The 'far' was from a day trip to San Jacinto Wildlife Area with friends and a weekend trip to Arizona to visit family for Thanksgiving.

San Jacinto is always wonderful. A Virginia Rail was a highlight bird for me. I don't see them locally and they are very stealthy. I was also excited to see a male velvet ant. Velvet ants are a type of wasp, not an ant. The species we see most often has a fuzzy red abdomen, hence the name 'velvet'. I mostly see the females, which have no wings and crawl on the ground, looking like large ants. The males have wings. I didn't get the best photo, but it was cool just the same.

In Arizona, I mostly saw 'smores, charcuterie platters, turkey dinner, and close family. We went on a walk around the neighborhood and saw several vermillion flycatchers. We have them locally, but still they are always a stunning bird.

Go out and enjoy nature, and enjoy time with family and friends too.
 

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Watch the slideshows or click on the links to look through at your own pace. Links open in a new tab.

Local Stuff:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/new_nov_2023

San Jacinto Wildlife Area:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/san_jacinto_nov-2023

Tucson, AZ:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/tucson_nov-2023