Mo Says,"Kiss me I'm Irish!" and the Oystercatchers are Here

Happy St-Paddy's Day, everyone!

Mo says, "Kiss me, I 'm Irish!"

Of course he's really of Asian extraction, but on St Patrick's Day everyone is Irish, right?

I left Mo drinking his green beer and braved the 40 MPH gale to go to the beach. [okay, he had a rawhide chew, but I told him it was green beer and corned beef.]

Look who's here! The oystercatchers are here, arrived just today. Gully in foreground, left!

How do they do it, how do they know? They come every year exactly on March 17.

It was so windy it was hard to take pics. But they're here.

It is rare to see oystercatchers fly, these are just arriving now.

There were maybe 10 or 12 birds so the whole flock made it through the winter and journey north.

I think this is my pair who live in my dunes. They are fairly tame and let me approach.

This is the threesome who live in the upper beach to my west. [Threesomes are common in OC-Land.] They were very shy and scurried away from me and my camera. You can kind of see how the sand is swirling too, from the west wind.

I am smiling! I love these funny clown-like birds, with their tuxedo feathers, big orange bills, and neon pink legs. Their return each year just pleases my wintry heart.

Signs of spring at your house? Did you make corned beef and cabbage like my mom always did?--- even though my family, like Mo, is only Irish on St Paddy's Day.

This Irish blessing comes from my friend Mel. It is for friends and loved ones everywhere. Not just today, but always...

AN IRISH FRIENDSHIP WISH:
May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
And may you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead..
 
 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....