We have now a good understanding of what is achievable for the rest of this disrupted year.
We believe this will keep us safe and well, but we can only hope.
We trust you are all keeping safe and healthy as COVID-19 appears to be rearing it’s ugly head again across the World.
We also still have Alaska in our sights for 2021 – keeping our fingers crossed.
Here is a link to our plan https://fulltimervingwiththekings.com/2020-destinations/
Dignity of Earth and Sky is a soaring and breathtaking sculpture created by South Dakota artist Dale Claude Lamphere. It is situated on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River at the Visitor Center near Chamberlain, South Dakota.
With his innovative use of materials and technologies combined with his interdisciplinary approach, the artist has used hundreds of pieces of stainless steel to create synergy of art, engineering and sense of place.
This statue of a Native American woman stands 50 feet high and is 32 feet wide and 16 feet deep.
She is holding a Star Quilt, by David Claymore, of 128 diamond shapes in the colors of the water and the sky that surround her. The diamonds move in the winds like an Aspen leaf.
Dignity honors the Native Nations of the Great plains – the Lakota and Dakota people.
“My intent is for the sculpture to stand as an enduring symbol of our sacred belief that all here are sacred and in a sacred place.” – D C Lamphere
Dignity was gifted to the State of South Dakota in 2014 in honor of South Dakota’s 125th state anniversary and erected September 2016.
South Dakota’s native cultures are alive, standing with dignity.
A few places we didn’t stay or will not return to:
Canada Glacier Park, BC; Northwest Territories; Vancouver Island, BC; New Orleans, LA; South Padre Island, TX.
We love finding “new-to-us” bird species – like the Elegant Trogan or finding adult wildlife with their young (they’re all cute!) – like Bison red dogs. Mother Nature continually astounds us with birds in their breeding plumage or the protective behaviors of wildlife.
Of course we love taking Tigger to see family and friends in Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, Florida and New Jersey. And we have had many wonderful trips to see family and friends in the UK. We even squeezed in a visit to Italy.
When we began this we talked about being nomads for 10 years and then reassessing – and we are still saying that – another 10 years and then we will reassess.
Our traveling companions:
It is wonderful to be back near Custer State Park. Our last visit was 5 years ago. About 2 years ago, new owners purchased the Flintstone Theme Park Campground in Custer City. They are carrying out a total make-over to change it into the Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort – and what changes they are making, taking full advantage of their views of the Black Hills.
They have added many more new RV campsites that are well spaced out with level parking spots, large concrete patios with large picnic tables and fire pits. There are a variety of sites for those with tents.
There are beautiful furnished teepees with picnic tables and fire pits.
And for those wishing luxury camping you can choose between Glamping Tents
Or Premium Cabins.
Two new swimming pools and a hot tub are tucked in behind the kids playground and the Office and General Store.
Next year they are promising to have some Tree Houses available in the shelter of the trees. And they might even get the small train working again.
This is a wonderful campground for a quiet retreat or to arrange a group/family get away. The staff are very helpful and courteous. Be sure to add it to your list when visiting Custer State Park, the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, Rapid City and so much more in South Dakota.
To See all of my new Flycatchers click HERE
Until the current “lock down” on movements the flycatcher that we had seen most of in most locations is the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea). This one was an early start for us with Tyrant Flycatchers in Florida.
To see my Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Gallery please click HERE
The first time we saw a Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) was during our first visit to Patagonia Lake State Park, (which is one of our absolute favourite parks and campgrounds). It was a single sighting on the birding trail.
Since then, being a little later in our tour of the south in Texas and Arizona this year we are seeing more. It paid off to be a couple of weeks later this year as we had a good set of flycatchers in Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.
But when we arrived in Patagonia Lake State Park the flycatchers had not arrived yet, but thankfully they did before we left! I now also benefit from using a cropped sensor Nikon D500 body that gives me 50% more magnification over the D4s – so I can “get closer” to the birds, or at least appear to.
We also saw female Vermilion Flycatchers and discovered that a lot of people, including us, first see them and believe they are Say’s Phoebes. There is great similarity.
This year, as we are still in Southern Arizona, we see more of the Vermilions. It is a little strange at first, having seen them in wildlife preserves in Texas and Arizona (i.e. places you go to see them), to see them in pairs in trees in large parking lots!
To see my Vermilion Flycatcher gallery please click HERE
To compare the female with the Say’s Phoebe please click HERE
We also love the variety of Phoebes that we see and stand and watch them on their perch. They flit off, catch and consume the fly, then return to the perch, then repeat.
To see my Black Phoebe gallery please click HERE
But one of the big surprises is the Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) that we see in Texas. It is so large, seems too large to live on flies! It is 60% longer than a Vermilion and 400% the weight.
To see my Great Kiskadee gallery please click HERE
Gear: Nikon D500, Nikon MB-D17, Nikon Z 6 mirrorless, Nikon FTZ, Nikon 600.0 mm f/4.0 VRII, Nikkor TC-17 EII, Nikon 80.-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6 VRIII, Nikkor TC-14 EII, Really Right Stuff tripod and full gimbal head, Sony digital film.