Monday, September 22, 2014

Come Rain; Come Shine

Apples=Fall!  These apples had a shower thanks to Mother Nature.
This past week was one for the records in Arizona.  Hurricane Odile came and poured lots of wonderful rain around Arizona.  Southeastern Arizona was hit the hardest with some areas receiving over 4 inches!  Rivers and washes overflowed near cities like Sierra Vista and Patagonia essentially shutting down most of our access routes into their wildlife areas.  Thankfully Tucson was spared the nasty stuff.  However, we did have rain almost every day in different parts of the Old Pueblo last week.  The moisture has since stayed around our area and it really has been nice.


We've been on the road since the beginning of September and this past weekend was one for relaxing and enjoying the bird feeders up at my friends' cabin on Mt. Lemmon.  It's close to Tucson and completely in its own world.   They have birds like Red-breasted Nuthatches, Steller's Jays, Yellow-eyed Juncos, Mountain Chickadees and other colorful characters coming to their feeders.  So I loaded up their feeders with a book in hand, breathed in the pine scented air, got in my pj's, watched the rain come down and had my camera ready. And all in that order:)

A wet Abert's Squirrel ponders if there are any nuts to be found
The home life at El Presidio has been difficult due to a neighbor with severe mental issues verbally attacking residents. Not only is he a danger to himself but to those around him. As HOA President(someone has to do it), I get to deal with it all. Anyhow, he has been very aggressive with many of my fellow neighbors.  They, of course, have injunctions against him. While dealing with one of his outbursts, the police and our poor neighbors, I saw this migrating Pacific-slope Flycatcher move through our garden!  What are the chances?!  I quickly grabbed my camera when the drama was over and snapped off a couple shots before this new yard bird disappeared!  Unbelievable!  Perhaps a message from Mother Nature reminding me that this too shall pass?

Pacific-slope Flycatcher happens to pass by during a serious conversation!  Yes it was awkward to say "Excuse me.  I need to get this picture."
So when my wonderful friend's offered me their cabin for the weekend, it was a no brainer!


And thus began my studies for the weekend.  Warbler migration is happening all around us and so I went to the top of Mt. Lemmon to get better photo documentation of Hermit Warblers.  They currently are migrating down along the Pacific Coast regions back into Mexico and Central America. Every spring and fall some will pass through Southern Arizona within our Sky Islands. 

Townsend's Warbler
Meanwhile, the Townsend's Warbler crosses over from the state of California and the North during the same time period as they head to their wintering grounds both in Arizona, Mexico and Central America.   They not only cross paths but have also been known to crossbreed! Hybrids are possible between these two warbler species!

Juvenile Hermit Warbler-I'm thinking female because there are no black markings on the throat and the underside is whitish overall
It was a relaxing weekend.  I didn't have to go far to study my target birds.  Plus I had a wildlife party at the cabin. Pygmy Nuthatches were out of control!  They were not afraid of me at all. 

Pygmy Nuthatch
I sat reading my book while 16 of these little birds clung to the large cylinder feeders. Then I noticed that one of the Pygmy Nuthatches got inside the feeder!  I helped the little bugger out with assistance from his friends.  They sat around me watching as I opened the feeder up so that he could get out.  These days I feel like I have a stronger connection to the birds than I do with people! I wish someone had been there to witness the event. It was a Snow White moment as I sang.... "♪♪Aaaaaaahahaaaaa..♫..aaaahahaaaaa♪♪!"  To be honest, my best work usually happens when I'm alone on these treks. 

An Abert's Squirrel and Steller's Jay at odds.
I arrived to the rainy and wet mountain top and all of my energy just drained from my body once the cool temps hit me.  I miss the cool temps. The cabin had been quiet, but I made some calls to attract the local Steller's Jays.  They came quickly as I set up my peanut feeders. Steller's Jays will also inadvertently signal to other birds that there is food nearby. Or at least that has been my observation from visiting the cabin over the past 10 years.  Quickly enough, I had birds at the feeders.  Below is a photo of the views I had from the cabin windows.  It was quite the contrast from the hot desert floor below where it was sunny and in the 90's! All thanks to tropical depression Odile!



Soon the desert will be safe again to explore.  Right now, it's full of baby snakes, reptiles and bugs! Herper heaven!  I am a snake charmer(not by choice) and want to avoid contact with the scaled variety. My issue?  Accidentally stepping on the poor things while I'm scanning the trees and sky! Over the past several years I've had many encounters.  Take for example this Green Rat Snake.  I almost stepped on the poor bugger thanks to a very vocal Hepatic Tanager.  Then I discovered it was a Herper's dream to find one of these.  Apparently they are hard to find! So we kept the location secret from the Sith Herpers who would illegally poach the area for this gem.


 The heat and humidity are still too much to endure after being out in the desert for about 20 minutes, but the weather is cooling down each day.  Here is a photo taken from my work place of the Santa Catalina mountains covered by the tropical remains of Odile.  Summerhaven is up there and covered by the dense clouds!

For my plant friends.  In the forefront are the gorgeous Ironwood trees.  The purple bushes are Texas Ranger and our course, the large cactus is our very own Saguaro Cactus.  Yeah....Arizona has it all!
This past weekend was another successful study.  Sometimes birders will become frustrated with poor observations of a life bird.  Sometimes we only get a brief glance of our life bird before it disappears for good.  So I'm thankful that the Hermit Warblers played nice this weekend.  Here are some other common players found around the town of Summerhaven. And haven it was!


Top to bottom and left to right
Hermit Warbler; Yellow-eyed Junco
Wilson's Warbler; Mountain Chickadee
Pygmy Nuthatch; Pine Siskin
Steller's Jay; Townsend's Warbler

Mountain Chickadee

Thanks for tuning into Las Aventuras each week! For more birds from around the world check out Wild Bird Wednesday!

29 comments:

  1. It's a wonderful place. Great variety from you today.

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  2. HI Chris How wonderful to be giving the chance of the cabin for the weekend and with such a fantastic view. great you found so many birds and creatures. I am home again after 6 weeks away.

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  3. I always admire your birds' knowledge and pictures to prove it!

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  4. Just love the mountain cabin - what a wonderful place to spend a few days and just watch wildlife :) Super photos Chris - especially like the warblers and landscape shots :)

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  5. Love the photo of the squirrel and the jay! Also enjoyed the warbler pictures. Sorry to hear about the neighbor with mental problems; that must be a headache having to deal with him...the weekend at the cabin sounds like a great vacation though!

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  6. Sounds like you're in a perfect spot to see migrating warblers!

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  7. beautiful warblers and cute mountain chickadee! sorry about the neighbor and the issues resulting from him. loved the misty shots and the cute, wet squirrel!

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  8. Beautiful birds! How wonderful to have a cottage for the weekend.

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  9. Ahhhh! Now that's the way to spend a weekend...up on Mt. Lemmon, alone with the birds! Love all the birds you saw as well as those squirrels, and your photos are wonderful! There must be a solar flare right now because I couldn't see all of your photos though....going over to your blog (not the link) to see if I can catch the rest.

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  10. Yep, got to see the rest! Great photos! I meant to tell you I loved the story of you helping the little nuthatch escape from the feeder!

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  11. So many beautiful birds!Great photos of them too. It sounds like a welcome relief from all the summer heat and dry but 4 inches or so is a bit much all at once!

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  12. A huge array of birds and wildlife. Great captures.

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  13. Wow, Chris, having a cabin all to yourself sounds like heaven.. And then to be able to have the warblers and birds come to you is even better.. Love the photos and the birds. Great post..

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  14. What a great retreat that cabin in the woods is. Personally I'd prefer it without the view to all the other human habitations but then, I'm a hermit by choice. Loved all the birdlife and great for you to have a peaceful place to cool down in.
    Is the obstreperous neighbour an older person and suffering from dementia or Alzheimers? People like that find it hard to cope with what is happening to them and tend to take out their frustrations on others. Also, it is useless to argue with them as they have lost all logic. Hope all goes well.

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  15. A lovely variety of images! Love that squirrel!

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  16. Sorry to hear about your neighborhood's problem yet very glad you got to slip away into the cool and green which looks absolutely delightful.

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  17. After the rain it looks so calm. Beautiful birds.

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  18. How long ago it's been since I last laid foot on Mt. Lemmon!! Some beautiful beautiful scenes here.

    And the birds?---all awesome Chris!

    Those rains, tho heavy and no doubt flooding the washes and pantanos....I'm sure it was a welcome relief for all those in the Sonoran.

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  19. I've got a soft spot for chickadees... and, that fluffy almost curly haired tail on the squirrel..hahhaha pretty cute....

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  20. The cabin looks like it's in a birder's paradise! Beautiful captures here. I love the little squirrel.

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  21. What a beautiful place to enjoy cooler weather, birds and squirrels. I didn't know Mt. Lemmon had Albert's squirrels. Great pictures!

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  22. Quiet a wonderful set of photos and nice post.

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  23. Sounds like you very much needed that little cool break Chris, it came at exactly the right time oui! I do love all your sweet little birds, and as I've said before, whenever i read your posts it makes me even keener to give it a try. I know exactly how much ANY rain is appreciated in hot climates, it's the same here. Have a good week, catch you soon!

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  24. As always Chris, each picture has a special charm of it's own. They tell a story. Too bad about the neighbor. That's gotta be a real pain. There is nothing I love more than a secluded cabin!! The sounds...

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  25. Fantastic collection of natures spendid creature.

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  26. So many different weather systems in the same area, must feel crazy. The cabin looks like heaven, the birds make it heavenly :) Glad you could help the silly nuthatch out.

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  27. It's a great post, wonderful pictures and great variety, with an equally enchanting narrative. Southeast Arizona is a great place to bird.

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  28. How fun to see all these photos from Tucson! your weekend in the mountains sounds heavenly! I love all the birds and the clouds. What drama the skies have dropped on you in more ways than one! Nice writing!

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