Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Empire Gulch

Black Phoebe(Sayornis Nigricans)
Today I end my series on the grasslands with Kathie from Kathie's Birds.  It was an exciting day and also an early one of many discoveries.  I think we started our day at around 5 in the morning.  It went from cool to hot.  By the end of this last hike at Empire Ranch and Cienagas near Sonoita, we both were exhausted.
But the bird discoveries we'd make on this particular trail were incredible and worth the fried brains.  I couldn't even think on our trek back home.  The sun and heat can drain even the most enthusiastic of adventure seekers:)  Today's post isn't about the photography as it's about the finds.  Kathie has an amazing ability to spot things.  She also has the ability to speak "bird".  I tried speaking this difficult tongue on a recent hike and had some success attracting a sparrow:)  The birds were far and quick.  Hidden and camouflaged but I'm pretty happy with several of the shots.  But just to see these birds was an incredible thrill.
Female Summer Tanager
The one thing I'm realizing is that after I've done a photo documentation of birds, I'm a bit more relaxed to get the better shots later on....and they usually turn out better like the Phoebe in the first shot.  But I'm also not stressing out as much to get them on camera as I am able to chill and observe.  I spotted the tanagers but Kathie......how she spotted the other two birds, I'll never know.  Get ready.....
Male Summer Tanager
This Phoebe flew into view as Kathie spoke "birdish" to attract a star member to come out of the bushes.  While I waited for that shot, I snapped the elegance of this beautiful little flycatcher.
And then.......a Yellow Breasted Chat came forward.  A life bird for me and it was so thrilling.  Seriously, incredibly exciting.   I've become a birder but the kind that needs to have the camera in hand to make it count.  For Kathie, it's keeping the documentation and writing down the Ebird stats (which is something I really find interesting and important).  It's hard to do both photography and keep stats.  Kathie has her notepad first and I use my camera first.  Together we can keep track of all the action going on around us.
Yellow Breasted Chat
The small birds are the trickiest and after a day of heat and exhaustion, my eyes tend to lose focus and go blurry so I have to shutdown the photography bit.  I cannot wait for the "cold" winter temps.  This heat kills me.  I have gardening to do and can't wait to get my hands into the dirt again but back to birds....
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher
As I was trying to get a better shot of this guy, Kathie was searching the tree canopy of the great forest.  I was trying to locate the Grey Hawks we had been hearing.  And I did spot them high high above the creek area but I wasn't able to get it on camera.  They had flown into this area.  The park ranger had seen one before we had gotten there.
As I turned around, I saw Kathie in her element and smiled.  I took the shot. This is Southern Arizona folks:)
Kathie became super excited.  "Oh my gosh!!!  I think that's a.....it IS an American Redstart!!!"  A rare find indeed. But I didn't know that. She observed like an excellent birder does and I grabbed the camera and tried to get this quick tiny bird.  It was so far away.  From my studies, I can't tell if this is a juvenile or female before mating.  Because the male in full mating regalia is quite the beauty.  But when he's not, he kinda looks like this pic below.
American Redstart
It was a rare find indeed for this area.  I sent the pics into the Bird Gods and they replied, "Bla bla bla.....it's migration and they are quite common."  But I have to tell you.....it was rare to spot this bird here. Kathie was thrilled and I was.....learning:)  So the poor quality pics weren't used but one of these days I'll find that rare Purple Gallinule that made it's way up Central America into Southern Arizona and they will accept my submissions!:)
So as always, I keep looking out for new things.  Kathie and I have gone on more birding treks since this write.  Life is crazy for me in fall.  Hopefully the temps will lower soon and I can enjoy the hikes more. Soon there won't be any mosquitoes or heat exhaustion:) I hope you enjoyed the fun we had on the trails.  So while I'm not birding on my own or with friends, I have been trying to keep up with my reading at night.  Kathie recommended a book that I have now finished. I'm ready for more birder books:)  Do any of you have recommendations?  It's really fun and a great way to stay out of the heat and learn more about what makes a birder tick.  I'm not going to do a book report on it....but I have made a list of new words that birders use.  Even Kathie uses lingo that is foreign to me....like there are a bunch of "Modo's" over there.  Being a high school teacher, I thought she said MoFo's which is something entirely different.  She was just pointing out Mourning Doves:)  There's so much to learn.  Thank you Kathie for the fun treks into new territory.  We went on more treks since this write but I'll save those writes for later.  More tomorrow....
Ruby Crowned Kinglet

26 comments:

  1. It's a good job your walks are so photographically rewarding. I couldn't stand the heat and mosquitoes.

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  2. So glad you translated that bird talk. Such an exciting time to go in the field with someone like Kathie who is so knowledgeable. I, like you would be camera first and hope I got a good enough shot to ID later. But I'm a newbie birder. Won't be long and the temps should be cooling. They certainly are up here, she said sitting in front of a heater.

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  3. What a great outing with Kathie! She sounds like a great birder. Great bird sighting and congrats on your Chat lifer. They are pretty birds. Great post. Happy Birding!

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  4. De très jolies photos !!!
    BIZ, Laure
    http://ptitesphotosdelolo.blogspot.fr/

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  5. Great finds! Glad you and Kathy enjoyed your trek and treasured birds.

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  6. It's seems like Christmas every day out there, one gift after the other (except for the heat and the mosquitoes.) Love the Phoebe, what a beauty!

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  7. You learn so much going out with an experienced birder. We have American Redstarts and Yellow-Breasted Chats here during breeding season. The Chats are funny birds. They tend to stay out of sight here, but when your back is turned they will fly from tree to tree, legs dangling, singing their strange song. I've seen them up close a couple of times at watering holes.

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  8. i am enamored by that black phoebe. so handsome!!!

    (and we had a purple gallinule stop here one year - my husband took photos to prove it to me)

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  9. Oh this was exciting to read...your enthusiasm..you tow make a great team....i was on the sTOKES BIRDING BLOG...and may I say..in my humble opinion....Liilian has nothing on you as far as photographing birds......ey..I said....looking at hummer shots....Chris' are better...
    Take care of the garden and rest a bit....and I am glad you care for 3 ferals...but the pigeon joke....really

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    1. Well thank you for the big compliment. Is she still talking to you?:) Hey I learn so much from everyone on this blogger machiney thing. For example, your garden to me is perfection. You've mixed art and whimsy together and I learn from your plant combos how to plan things better. Even when you have those random sprouts in the garden, they seem to "fit" in with the rest of the crew. I can only hope to achieve that look in a stronger way.
      As for the ferals, two of them sleep on a bed of catsclaw and I have to laugh. I wake them up every morning as I get the day going. I'll take a nice pigeon shot for you to make up for that joke;)

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  10. I am loving your bird pictures with Kathie. Nice job Chris.

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  11. Beautiful birds, looks like you have met a kindred spirit there. I really love the Chat.

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  12. I've been missing visiting you. It seems so much has been going on. How wonderful to have found someone that you have so much in common with. Friends are the spice of our lives...truly. I'm glad I'm getting to share in the rewards of all your hard work. Things are definitely cooling down now and the treks will only get better.

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    1. Hello there stranger!!! So good to hear from you. Hope the job is going well and that you're loving the work and routine. I was wondering where you've been:) And how's Tracy doing? I figure no news is good news...meaning you both are busy busy busy. Thanks for dropping by to say hello.

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  13. It's always so much more fun to do these trips with a friend Chris, sounds like you and Kathie are perfectly suited as birder companions. Love your pictures of the smaller birds, so envious..I hardly ever see them here..but I think I have to get a bit more dedicated to the task like you!

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  14. Oh Chris, I just loved this post! I can see you and Kathie working your way slowly through the woods and sense the excitement of each find. Your narrative was wonderful and so were your photos! You are an amazing high school teacher I bet! Wish my grandson was old enough to be in your class! I thought I saw a redstart with Mary at the wetlands, but I can't remember. I'm going to ask her. She got better and many more photos than I did that day, and so did her sister. I'm like you, I'm all about getting pictures, but my poor camera is so inadequate.

    Have an awesome week. I am picking up a friend from CO at the airport in a few hours so may not be on here much for several days. Take care--

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    1. Thanks Marie for the kind words. I try to be interesting:) Have fun with your friend and see lots of things...but most of all enjoy:) I love when friends and family come to visit. All my best. Chris

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  15. Hello Rohrerbot, gosh I can imagine the heat you have take on while aiming on those birds. And wow you did a good job. Cool photos! Small birds tend to fly here and there very quickly in my garden. I can never get a shot like yours. I hope the temperature would be cooler when you are back to your garden later. Have a wonderful day :-D

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  16. Wędruję razem z Tobą i podziwiam piękne ptaki i też mi się robi gorąco, ale z emocji. Pozdrawiam.
    I walk with you and admire the beautiful birds and also make me hot, but with emotion. Yours.

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  17. The enthusiasm that comes across is well, quite fun, and thrilling for us to read. What a day...what finds, what photos.

    I am more of a bird watcher, then a documenter, but I totally understand the feeling of seeing them out there.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  18. The Cordilleran Flycatcher photo is a work of art in my book. All the birds are pretty and intersting but this photo looks like somthing hand painted on an antique Japanese screen. Just beautiful!

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  19. Sounds like you and Kathie make a great birding duo! I enjoy reading about your adventures! That Yellow-breasted Chat is gorgeous! Congrats on your new lifers!

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  20. It sounds like you have found the perfect birding companion, Chris. The bird shots are wonderful - and thank you for not forgetting me. :-) -Tracy

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  21. Hi Friend Kreesh, if i have a good lens and the money to buy one, I will also be a birder! I watch the shots of birders here and feel envious. I love that golden breasted chat. I always love the colored birds, so i prefer those in forests than those in marshlands. I once joined a birdwatching tour, and my spark bird is the blue swallow, the one with forked tail. Is it Pacific swallow or barn swallow, i forgot.

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  22. Its fun and exciting to read about your birding adventures with Kathie :) Some great photos again and well done on the new species you are adding to your life list! I hope the weather gets cooler for you soon - the heat and humidity sound horrendous. Look forward to reading more of your exploits :)

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