Early Holiday Deals

Sometimes the best birding spots are the ones often overlooked.  After a rainy trip up to Greer in August for a couple days, we stumbled on this little gem near Winkelman on the way back home. Sadly, I must report that Santa was not seen in this thick mesquite forest.

Rocky Mountain Toad or Woodhouse's Toad

So if Santa didn't live here, why would someone call this place Christmas?  Apparently on Christmas day in 1902, this mine was staked out and a town would be born. However, it is now a ghost town.  Some old abandoned buildings remain around this area including an old playground.  For three decades, the former post office here was a popular destination for letters postmarked, "Christmas."

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

I suppose it was like Christmas because I finally was able to obtain decent photos of a Canyon Wren!!!  For months, I had sworn to myself that this bird had it out for me.  I'd hear it, see it and try to get it on camera.  It would jump out on a rock and do its " ascending to descending" call right in front of me.  By the time, I'd get my lens fixed, the bird/s were gone!!  We heard the Canyon Wren calling down the verdant path and we quietly made our way over to where this bird was singing. Both Kathie and myself were able to get some of our best views ever on this bird.    So it was the best Christmas ever!  No cookies or milk were needed for this visit!

Canyon Wren

We marveled at this riparian area as it was full of life.  But Kathie mentioned that she wouldn't want to bird here alone.  I agreed.  Apparently Santa had some homeless elves living around the river as there were elfish things left around various places.

It should also be noted that under the dense mesquite forest, his reindeer pooped a lot.  However they looked more like cattle than deer, but I digress.  I couldn't find a red nose in the bunch.  But we did spot a Vermilion Flycatcher!

We continued under rainy skies searching for birds.  There were several paths and we followed them down to the river.  We were cautious because the river began to rise from the monsoon flooding north of our area.

We found a swing over the river. Not sure if this could hold Santa or not, but it looked like a great way to cool off on this hot and muggy day.  I imagined him taking off that shirt jumping into the muddy waters below.  It wasn't pretty.

Kathie had thought she had seen a Common Black Hawk up on our ride to the Greer area as we passed Winkelman.  We confirmed it once we heard and saw a juvenile Common Black Hawk taking flight.  Now that was pretty thrilling!  I'm not one for the crazy holiday season but I will have to say that this was probably the best Christmas ever.  I also learned that Santa was a miner and cattle rancher in another life:)  More coming up......
Today I'm linking with Wild Bird Wednesday.

Juvenile Common Black Hawk