Empire Ranch

Kestrel

In search of a bathroom before our trek, we explored a new spot at the Empire Ranch.  Old buildings stood near a strip of forested land.  As we got close to the buildings on the gravel road, Kathie and I noticed lots of bird activity.  What would we find flying around this area?

Kestrel

Well there were lots of birds to see, but it was amazing to find quite a bit of activity happening around this old property.

I jumped out to find a Barn Owl or two but this Northern Red Shafted Flicker(below) caught my attention with its amazing red wings while in flight.  This is one hot bird!  Look at the design.  I didn't get it in flight  but that was pretty spectacular as well.

Northern Red Shafted Flicker

Huge kingbird activity on this day.  Kathie had her notebook and wrote things down.  I had my camera and shot billions of pics.  The difference? She documents and I snap:)

Kingbird Action!

And while around the property of old buildings, we stopped at several and it was cool.  But we also kept our eyes out for snakes inside the abandoned buildings.

Imagine redoing a property like this and making home in a beautiful grassland area.  I'd love to have lots of money to do things like this.  There is a lot of work that would have to be done to restore these buildings and old ranch but it's still nice to dream:)

I don't know why I love this light fixture so much but I do.  I think it reminds me of the old glass that my grandparents used to have in their homes.  Before my Grandmother passed away, she told me that she wanted me to have her china.   It sits back home waiting for me to bring it back to Arizona.  There is a train ride in my future to collect these antiques.

So while this house was abandoned, we both explored all the little nooks and crannies around the property and took a break from the heat.

Eventually we made it outside and did more walking around watching all the bird action going on.  And there was lots to see.

The problem is that I didn't know where to point the camera.  There was action on the ground, air and on the buildings.  And not all of it birds.

Canyon Towhee

There were these brilliant flashing red grasshoppers.....the large Lubbers all about.  Really quite beautiful.

Horse Lubber Grasshopper

So there are two special shoots that happened that I felt needed their own posts coming in the next several days.  One relates to nesting Barn Swallows(pretty amazing) and the Sonoran Pronghorn.  You won't want to miss these as Kathie and I continue our journey through the incredible grasslands of Cienagas near Sonoita.  More tomorrow....