Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

Elf Owl
Last week I scouted high and low to help a friend search for some of his lifebirds.  Sometimes I have feelings about when something epic will happen.  And during this past weekend, we tested the word "epic" out. Gordon Karre came down from Phoenix and together we made a powerful team as we found some of the most special birds around Southern Arizona. 
Yellow-eyed Junco
Gordon took both Kathie and myself on a birding trek around Sunflower and Mt. Ord several weeks ago.  It was an intense day.  He gave us wonderful observation time on Common Black Hawks, Zone-tail Hawks and a Canyon Wren.  Plus I was able to get two more warblers on my Arizona and lifelist!!!  The pressure was on.  Could I do the same for him when he came down to visit?
Gray Squirrel
The answer was yes.  But he also found me several lifebirds in the process!  Together we achieved a fantastic amount of work in one and half days.  We both thought alike and we both have the birding bug.  Over the week, I researched reports and went to sites alone and with Kathie.  I miss my birding buddy. And I'm going to miss her more as she abandons me for the East Coast!!! What nerve that lady has!!!!:) However, I'm heading to Central America over the same time period so it's all good. So I was thankful that we both could do some light birding over the week together before we left off to different places.
Gordon loves lizards and they are pretty amazing creatures.  But I never really think of taking pics of them unless they call my attention.  Our trek to Madera Canyon and Willcox Lake would give him 8 new lifebirds!  And for myself, 4!  One of them was the most epic.  If I'm on the hunt for a particular bird, I will memorize their songs and calls.   They don't even have to make a lot of noise for me to track them down. 
Ornate Tree Lizard
Sparrows are interesting.  Gordon would teach me the call of the Botteri's Sparrow.  Some Sparrows are rather dull and difficult to ID.....just like the flycatchers.  BUT, if you know the calls they make, the ID becomes SUPER easy!  And thankfully, the Botteri's call is a very easy one to ID. I won't forget the ball dropping sound around the fences and grasslands.
Botteri's Sparrow
In the shadows, I saw a strange bird.  I wasn't familiar with this particular bunting, but I knew it was different. And like I do with any new and exciting bird, I began to swear.  I don't even realize I'm doing it until afterwards.  People, including my other half, make fun of me for doing it.  Whatever.  We saw a Varied Bunting!!!  Epic!
Varied Bunting
Blue lit up along the bark of a tree.  Another new lizard I have never seen before!  But something even more magical happened.  We walked a trail at the uppermost parking lot in Madera Canyon.  And epic was about to happen.....
Clark's Spiny Lizard
The unmistakable barking sounds of the Elegant Trogon in a group of trees could be heard nearby!!!  Finally, after many attempts, both Gordon and myself could add this bird to our lifelists.  It was the most satisfying moment of the weekend. The bird flew into Gordon's line of sight and together we watched the bird alone without hundreds of spectators.  After 10 or 15 minutes of observation, the bird quickly disappeared and wasn't seen again on the rest of the trail.  I watched it disappear!!!  I don't know how they do that!!!  A weight was lifted off my shoulders.  We found the Trogon!  After several minutes, many people were on the trail asking about the Trogon and this time, we could say we saw it and watched as the hopeful birder's shoulders slumped.  I felt their pain as it had happened to me so many times before.  Never again. 
Elegant Trogon
My life is now complete:)  I can now relax knowing that the Elf Owl and Elegant Trogon have photo documentation.  It also marks my 2nd graduation in the birding world.  Last year it was hummingbirds.  This year with the Elegant Trogon find, I believe I have reached a new level in birding.  It's now time to study the minute differences between Sandpipers, Sparrows, etc.  There are so many yet to find.  I had a great time birding with Gordon and look forward to many more adventures with him. And as the title to this post suggests, I am finally able to sleep better at night. 
I'm linking to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday.

31 comments:

  1. The pleasure was all mine! You netted me some great birds in the process and I am envious of your trip to Guatemala this summer. You are going to get a lot of great birds and I cannot wait to see your photos and posts. Let's do some more birding in the future!

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  2. holy smokes! i thought the yellow-eyed junco was cool, then you heaped on the varied bunting and that trogon!

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  3. Love that owl and I love little lizzards too. Nice shots.

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  4. Wow Chris, I am envious! Congrats on your lifers and sightings. Both the Elf owl and the Trogon are cool birds. Your photos are awesome. What a great outing!

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  5. You guys have had a few Epic Trips lately, with this one being the Icing on the Cake...Congratulations on your Life Bird accomplishments, you've definitely earned it!!!

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  6. Congratulations on such an Epic Trip...You guys have been rockin' it lately and your rewards are well deserved!!! Pam

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  7. So interesting to follow your adventures. Actually they seem to be starting for you :-)

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  8. Wow Chris... You truly hit the jackpot. The Trogon is gorgeous. SO glad you saw him plus many more.

    Glad Gordon and Katie were with you. It's fun to be with a good birding buddy....

    Now --you can relax and enjoy your big trip... I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  9. Wonderful~Happy you finally have your photo documentation! Great shots~

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  10. Chris, I can hear your excitement in your words! Very well written. the photo is amazing! I know we will miss each other but when we both get back we will have so many wonderful experiences to share! Have fun! I miss you too! I am sure we will squeeze in one more birding adventure before we go!

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  11. Okay, that bird truly is EPIC! Check out those colours, great catch, congratulations!

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  12. The trogon is so colorful. No wonder you've been hunting for it.

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  13. Qué lindas son las ardillas en todas partes del mundo. Y el OWl.. Precioso ahí camuflado en el hueco del arbol. Un saludo..

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  14. Great to see you've been out in the field again, Chris, and with such brilliant results!! Whilst the Trogon is spectacular, you won't be surprised to hear that the Elf Owl is, by miles, my favorite. Lucky you!!

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  15. Nice post - finding a bird like that is great - he says, trying to make it sound like its something he as done!!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  16. Great shots! i love the little lizard.

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  17. I love the owl. Wonderful photos all. And the lizard. Awwwww..... There must have been a splurge of lizard 'pregnancy's' over the winter. Wow do I have lizards here this spring. Hank caught a baby - tail-less - (I think he's guilty) and brought it into the house. I took it away from him and put it back out into the garden. It'll put in an order from Mother Nature for a new tail and be just fine and return to eating the bugs I don't like.

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  18. Lovely post and photos :) So glad you finally caught up with the Elegant Trogon :) Love the way your excitement is shown in your words :)

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  19. Wow! Birding really IS an extreme sport!!! Why don't more people realise this?!

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  20. Your excitment is contagious Chris:=) Wow! So many fantastic captures. Love the tiny owl, which is so well camouflaged that it almost looks like a knot in the tree trunk.

    Congrats on your sighting of the Bunting and the beautiful Trogon, another lifer under your belt:=)

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  21. I'm amazed that with your long list of birds that you still get 4 new ones in one day!!

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  22. Cieszę się, że Ty możesz spokojniej spać, a ja popatrzyłam na piękne ptaki. Pozdrawiam.
    I am glad that you can sleep peacefully, and I looked at the beautiful birds. Yours.

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  23. Congratulations on hitting the jackpot with the Elegant Trogon. I can imagine your thrill and great sense of accomplishment. You have some other amazing shots too.

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  24. Super exciting! Such a fun post, epic sightings that me & hubby enjoyed reading.

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  25. Love the owl sleeping! Whoooo knew.
    The squirrel is amazing too.
    You are really the wildlife photographer.

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  26. Wow, life is definitely good! Awesome shot of the Elegant Trogon!! Glad to hear you were able to get both your target photos. It is fun learning about all the creatures & critters we encounter while out birding!

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  27. Hi Chris... I see that you are in good company (lizards are wonderful conversationalists--i find that here too).

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  28. The Elegant Trogon is fabulous Chris, what a vibrant find, but the first and last pics of the Elf Owl are wonderful, j'adore owls.

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  29. Your enthusiam and pereseverance just bursts through your account there Chris. Many of those species sound so exotic even though it is still in the States and 4 lifers can't be bad.

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