Lovebird en cantata |
My cat Luna is exhausted watching me run in and out of the house for a rare bird |
Tucson's "new" premiere birding spot....."The Coachline |
Lewis's Woodpecker near Madera Canyon |
Pine Siskins with Lesser Goldfinches |
Magnificent Hummingbird |
Eastern Bluebird |
Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds |
Drake Wood Duck. Hide your brilliance! |
A Northern Shoveler leads the way for the Snow and Greater White-fronted Geese |
Canvasback |
American Wigeon with a rare Eurasian Wigeon |
People ask, "What happens after we die?" This past weekend I discovered the answer! Birds sit on our gravestones! |
Storm Wigeon-a rare morph of the American Wigeon. |
Laurence's Goldfinch |
Say it like you mean it...STOOOOOOOOOORM WIIIIIIIIGEON! Magill says the nickname of this AMWI morph sounds lke a 70's rock band! |
A Green-winged Teal showing off his.......brilliant green on the wing:) |
And just like that! POOF! My anxiety goes away. It's not the US anymore but a good portion of North America. I hope to see a Groove-billed Ani again which is definitely one of my top 10 favorite birds.
One of my all time favorite top 10 birds, the Groove-billed Ani. |
For now, it's all about combing the parks, cemeteries and rediscovering all the birds from last year:) And so the new adventure begins. Americano.
When I pass into the unknown, I hope that I am surrounded by birds. |
.. and, just like that...you're back!! woohooo.....
ReplyDeleteI loved all the little Siskins and Finches on the feeder...
J'adore this post Chris. it's always a joy to see someone experiencing an epithany, Ithink you have a fab year ahead of you, enjoy :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you've got your thoughts and feelings back on track. Looking forward to this years birding with you.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good plan, Chris.. I loved the post in this post. Awesome shot of the two wigeons together.. And I love the Siskins with the finches. Great series of photos.. Happy Birding!
ReplyDeleteChris, good for you! And I hope I am always part of your journey! I also learned something new from you: I had never heard of a "storm widgeon" before and thought it was something you had made up when I read your FB post. Who knew? :-) Keep on birding!
ReplyDeleteWell I enjoyed this post but was very glad when I go to the end that you had got yourself all sorted out and knew what you were doing this year. Happy Birding and ENJOY it.
ReplyDeleteThe Coachline Lake looks like a stunningly beautiful place, and sounds/looks like you are getting a good start on the year. I've had trouble deciding on what resolutions/plan to make myself this year...still thinking about it! Glad you found yours!
ReplyDeleteChris, I wish you a wonderful year searching The bird among birds. Life is marvelous and makes us always find something new to make it fun. Here you go.
ReplyDeleteGlad you have found a focus for your year. I had never heard of a storm widgeon either, thanks Chris, you are a fountain of knowledge.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you,
What a great post. Can totally feel the change in attitude. As always the photographs are wonderful too.
ReplyDeleteSo you have decided where you will be chasing the birds, so good luck. Regards.
ReplyDeleteI love it when a plan comes together.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post Chris - so glad you have worked out a new quest for this year. Look forward to sharing your birding adventures and good luck :)
ReplyDeleteSo many birds, so little time.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasure to view all your awesome bird shots.
happy birding this year chris!
ReplyDeleteas always...i love seeing your pic's!! i especially like the love bird shot, and all the little ones on the big feeder...and the birds hanging out on the wire.
the drake wood duck sure is a beauty!!
and luna. let's not forget her. aaaah. i can just hear her sigh of relief when you slowed down...and sat with her. give her a scratch from me.
:)
We can always learn, and it is good to just sit and watch and share sometimes, and seek out new territory in different ways - good luck with your 2015 birding adventures, Chris.
ReplyDeleteI love your enthusiasm, Chris- whatever route you choose, I hope you have lots of success in finding each bird you are looking for. The cemetery is no surprise to me- I have been photographing headstones for years and I always see a variety of birds in graveyards. Good luck and happy birding, wherever you go.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are still watching birds and photographing them for the rest of us to enjoy! That bird feeder with all the birds lined up on it is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteHi Chris!:) Sounds good to me!I hope you have a very good year.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing all these lovely birds, you have some great captures here.Loved the Lewis's Woodpecker, and the picture of the Siskins and Finches almost looks unreal, like little ceremic birds on a stand.
Wonderful photos of all the birds. I hope you'll have a spectacular year Americano.
ReplyDeleteSo many of these birds are new to me. I love the Green-winged Teal and Lewis's Woodpecker. That Coachline Lake looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I are planning a cemetery run soon (she got a new camera--better than mine--for Christmas!)I'm happy you are out of your end-of-year sadness. I hope you have a wonderful productive new year (and not so exhausting!) I need to check out the coachline lakes! Loved the photos of the birds...the line with the different blackbirds on it was wonderful! Good to see the comparisons of each. Had to chuckle over the female redwing comment...that's me all over, but about a lot more birds than just that one! I hope I id'd the white crowned sparrow correctly on my post!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff! I have spent many happy hours birding in Madera Canyon, probably one of the top twenty single birding destinations in North America (although I know that's a very subjective statement). I hope you are able to conquer your obsession to chase after rarities. Studying the familiar is far more rewarding in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteWanted to thank you, Chris, for advising me to up the sugar content in my hummer nectar when it's cold. I thought too much sugar would be bad for them, and it's good to learn that isn't necessarily the case. I'm glad you got back to Madera Canyon. LOVED the photo of the Magnificent. That weekend trip for us was priceless. Since we can't hike, it was wonderful to have the birds coming to us. I want to also thank you for your directions to Coachline Lakes...are you headed N or S on 10 when you take the exit and approx. how many miles out of town is the exit? Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteIt's always great to get a theme going - and the new year means everything is new again for your annual list, at least!! Pilchard is already doing the summer surveys down here - look forward to seeing what I can catch on camera too!
ReplyDeleteSo many interesting birds in one place! The Pine Siskins and other birds are so cute occupying all the perches in the feeder, and the Wood Duck is so adorable in demeanor and expression. What a treat that would be to raise them. The Ani is a remarkable bird.
ReplyDeleteI must say, I wouldn't mind at all to have killdeer keeping me company after I'm buried. They're so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteChris, I loved your commentary and your wonderful photos of so many different birds!! I just finished a watercolor painting of a wood duck and framed it. I shared it on my personal blog, Hootin' Anni's. Your image of this elusive duck [for me anyway] is just picture post card perfect.
Thanks for stopping by I'd Rather B Birdin'