Sunday, December 23, 2012

The Tucson CBC 2012


The Verdin
I always bird with my camera.  Not having the camera on our Christmas Bird Count would have been a bad idea.  I am a strong believer in photo ID.  And it would come in hand with an accipiter found.  Turned out it was just a battered Cooper's Hawk.  However our day would turn up some amazing species!
It had rained non stop for almost 2 days. However our morning cleared up and made for a wonderful day birding.  There were 4 of us walking the Tucson area.
We found some great birds including the Black Throated Gray Warbler and Male Summer Tanager.  It's amazing that the Summer Tanager has remained in Tucson for the winter.  The Tucson team counted a total of 6!  That's an incredible amount of Summer Tanagers for our area at this time.
Some of the regulars like the Cactus Wren put on a good show.  We found 9 of them hopping around a house.
It was cold so the birds were very very hungry.
As you can see, everyone is a little "puffed" out and huddled together.
This Curve billed Thrasher makes me laugh.  They have such a grouchy face.
And if looks could kill......
Tucson again reigns as the nation's number one Vermilion Flycatcher capital.  On this day, over 177 of them would be counted in our city.  That's a record breaker for the US.
A truly special find is the Peregrine Falcon.  This is a first time wild sighting for me and I was thrilled!
Rock Pigeons were numerous.
And so were the Broad Bill Hummingbirds.  All wonderful and lovely sightings.  Overall the Tucson CBC had one of its highest turnouts and counts of bird species within the city.  It was a lot of work but also quite fun.



18 comments:

  1. It sounds like you had a fascinating Christmas Bird Count Day!

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  2. A great day, and great results, Chris! Well done! That mountain scene is gorgeous, and I love the Cactus Wren and Bb Hummingbird images.

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  3. Great finds, and how great that the counts were so high! Love that tanager!!!!!

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  4. Some lovely photos there Chris and glad you enjoyed the Christmas Bird Count - sounds fun and a brilliant idea :) Well done on the Peregrine. Have a lovely Christmas and have a Healthy Happy New Year with good birding :)

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  5. Tucson sounds like a great place for birding year round! A great collection of birds and photos, Chris. Some of my favorites are the Verdin and the Thrasher and the hummer. Happy Birding!

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  6. Thank you for your great pictures!!
    May the Christmas season
    fill your home with joy,
    your heart with love
    and your life with laughter.
    Wishing you peace, prosperity and health for 2012.

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  7. Ptaki fruwają u Ciebie są śliczne i jest ich dużo. Koliber jest oczywiście dla mnie nr jeden. Życzę radosnych Świat Bożego Narodzenia.
    Birds fly in you are beautiful and there are many. Hummingbird is, of course, for me, number one. I wish you a happy Christmas.

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  8. That summer tanager is a most brilliant bird. How does he manage to hide from his enemies?

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  9. the thrasher is hilarious! but that cactus wren is ADORABLE and so pretty!

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  10. Very nice photos Chris. Merry Christmas!

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  11. It's wonderful to know that the bird counts are high, that's such a good sign.

    Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.

    Jen

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  12. That Thrasher looks like it's about to blow up. Keep on counting.

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  13. A great selection of birds. Really like the curved bills angry face. Hope you have a great Christmas. from Findlay

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  14. Best shots are on top and at the bottom. Great captures indeed. Happy Christmas.

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  15. Wonderful photo of the Thrasher. Must have been a fun day.

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