Harry Potter "opening" tonight

[Shirley]

Well, I was ready for bed when Troy called and cajoled me into getting ready to go to the Barnes & Noble opening for the Harry Potter book -- "Mom, it's the LAST time you'll have this chance to see such a spectacle!" He was at the last one -- he's also read all the books. I read four, then saw the movies of the rest.

So... we'll probably have some amazing pics to share... :agree:

[vmtwriter]

It's Saturday morning and I'm eagerly awaiting the delivery of my HP book. I pre-ordered it and it's guaranteed delivery today. I get to read it first then Greg does.

So, how was the midnight event?

[Shirley]

Well... it was extremely crowded, quiet, organized, and hardly ANYONE in costume. So... nothing really impressive to take pics of, and no one was taking pics or acting "in character". Troy was disappointed in that -- he said at the same store in Bloomington it was completely different, but I said that's a university town for you, even the older folks get involved in the fun.

The books started selling at midnight, we were having hot chocolate and a cheesecake cupcake, looking at an insect book Troy bought, then at 12:45 he bought a copy of the book, no reservations, they just had enough left.

Now, Trevor, who has never had an interest at all in HP books, was off-base last night with army buddies, and then at midnight took one of the guys back to the PX so he could get the new HP book to take with him on the next 3 weeks of FOB - Forward Ops Base - as they've been told to bring laptops and entertainment (books, DVDs, etc) w/them. I thought it was interesting that an army guy was excited about the new HP book - and nice that Trevor got him back to get one.

Trevor then surprised ME by saying he wished he had an Audubon ID book for birds of that area, as there are many species, but only three he recognizes... (he has had little to no interest in our birds) AND there's a pair of small falcons with a nest in a 20' tall tree (short tree) with a baby, and they bring it mice and small snakes. Loads of tiny birds chase the falcons each time they leave their nest. He has been keen on watching their nest and activities.

[texastailfeathers]

Trevor then surprised ME by saying he wished he had an Audubon ID book for birds of that area, as there are many species, but only three he recognizes... (he has had little to no interest in our birds) AND there's a pair of small falcons with a nest in a 20' tall tree (short tree) with a baby, and they bring it mice and small snakes. Loads of tiny birds chase the falcons each time they leave their nest. He has been keen on watching their nest and activities.

Is he in Texas? Which base? I know I should remember...

The falcons are probably red tail hawks...or sparrow hawks if they're really tiny. We have lots of both in Texas (if that's where he is :rolleyes: ).

Glad everybody is having fun with the Harry Potter thing.:)

[Shirley]

Hey Jennifer,

He's currently at Ft. Sill, OK near Lawton. He said they were very small falcons, and we have red-tail hawks here, and he knows what they are.

Maybe they were sparrow hawks, if they are small.

He'll be at Ft. Bliss in El Paso mid-August, for about a year. ADA (Air Def. Artillery)

You're in the Dallas area, right?

Jane, his g/f, if driving down to El Paso mid-August to stay... they'll be in an apt off-base. I am so glad she'll be there with him. I have a sister in Fayetteville, OK -- if I ever drive instead of fly to Ft. Bliss... maybe I would be able to see her and also see you and your birds on the way... :emot-danc

[texastailfeathers]

Jane, his g/f, if driving down to El Paso mid-August to stay... they'll be in an apt off-base. I am so glad she'll be there with him. I have a sister in Fayetteville, OK -- if I ever drive instead of fly to Ft. Bliss... maybe I would be able to see her and also see you and your birds on the way...

I have relatives in Lawton. :) Most of my family is from SW Oklahoma.

Yup, I'm in the Dallas area, actually right in between Dallas and Fort Worth but a little closer to Fort Worth.

I'm guessing those small birds are sparrow hawks, but I can't say for sure. Tell him to take a picture. :D

[SadennaAndFlock]

I went and picked up my copy of Deathly Hallows today at wal-mart they had a whole bunch of them only $17.00. I only just started reading them and actually it was a friend who convinced me to read them as we were discussing goblet of fire so she let me borrow the book and all i could say was Fantastic and then I read order of the phoenix, and then went back and read the socorers stone, chamber of secerest and prisioner of Azkaban..and just finished Half blood prince which took me a day to read and have just started deathly hallow...


I was not to keen on reading the books but when I did I was really surprised how well written they are and so not geared really towards kids at least I don't think so...they way they are written they are not dull or slow and keep you wanting to know whats going to happen next from chapter to chapter...

I have all the movies so far and we went and saw Order of the Phoenix last Wednesday went to the first showing..now I am eagearly awaiting the movie for Half Blood prince

[Shirley]

...

I'm guessing those small birds are sparrow hawks, but I can't say for sure. Tell him to take a picture. :D

Cameras are something Trevor just doesn't do... :(

I was looking at an ID book yesterday for birds of that area... there's a prairie falcon with a light-colored head, but a 3' wing span. He said it was "small" with a light-colored head. I figured sparrow hawk when he first told me... I'm not sure what he means by "small falcon".

Edit:
Looks like the sparrow hawk nests in tree cavities... the one he is describing has a nest in the top of a short tree. (20')
http://www.yankeegardener.com/birds/sparrow.htm

Just read about the prairie falcon at Wiki. it's a cliff nester, and doesn't seem to reside in OK.

Could be this one?
Swainson's Hawk (http://www.birdsofoklahoma.net/Swainson'sHawk.htm)