Each And Every Day

A Northern Flicker feeds from a Hackberry Tree

With my professional lens back in hand, it was back on the trails trying to recapture pics of birds I had seen last weekend. 

It's hunting season and Micheal is letting this Mule Deer to hide better

 However, we mixed it up a bit and stopped over at the Empire Gulch to see just how badly this past summer's fire damage had been. 

Loggerhead Shrike

 As with any fast spreading fire, it twirls and whirls around vegetation.  Some spaces are left unscathed while others are torched to the ground. It looks like the wintering birds don't mind.

A patch of towering Arizona Cottonwoods still stands, defiant of the fire

  Let me show you an example.  Here is a photo of the Empire Gulch before the fire a couple years ago during our yearly fundraising event(below).

It was a shaded forest.  After the fire, the sunlight has infiltrated the canopy of the riparian area

 The Empire Gulch is/was a migrant trap for many birds.  This is the "after photo" of the same magical space that is now changed. 

This ancient and magical Arizona Cottonwood is gone.  Even certain trees hold our hearts from over the years.  It was sad to see this beautiful tree gone.

This fire, caused by a border patrol agent target practicing during the driest part of the season, caused a massive grassland fire that destroyed homes and the very important Empire Gulch.  While wildfire is important to reinvigorate an area like the grasslands, it can also be devastating to riparian areas.  Unfortunately, this area will take years to return to its former glory.  And not all of the riparian area was affected (which is a good thing).  However, several of the HUGE and unique Arizona Cottonwoods are gone.  So while the grasslands truly benefited from the fire, the riparian area will take years to recover. Each of these habitats attract different birds. This gulch is important to our breeding summer birds like the Gray and Zone-tailed Hawks.

The mega rare Couch's Kingbird still hangs out at one of Tucson's local parks

 Back in town, I had to go back and get better photo documentation of the visiting Couch's Kingbird. 

Wilson's Snipe

 And also photos of one of my favorite species of bird, the Wilson's Snipe. They are beautiful shorebirds that often stay hidden in the grasses and mud clumps, but for some reason, these two birds didn't seem to mind being out in the open. 

Love is in the air between the two behind Micheal. They were the sweetest couple. 

We also explored a new place to catch a bite which is truly a wonderful piece of Americana. Micheal didn't want to go because it's a truck stop.  For years, people have been telling me about this place so finally, we made a stop at the Triple T Truck Stop at Omar's Hi-Way Chef Restaurant.  It. Was. Awesome.  If you're into people watching, this is the place. The food was great and cheap. And the service was fantastic.  

juvenile male Northern Pintail

I'm staying close to home so that I can spend more time with our Cassie.  And well, each day presents a new challenge.

I wish everyone celebrating Thanksgiving in and out of the US a wonderful start to the holiday season.
Until next time.....