Only days would pass before I'd find myself back in Madera Canyon. It was inevitable. It has been a very active summer for birders here in Southern Arizona. Many are trying to find some rather difficult birds in our very trying Arizona heat. Mix it up with some crazy monsoon weather along with our active wildlife and as they are finding......it's a vacation they won't forget anytime soon:) So as Kathleen and Zeke left for our southern mountains, young birders Walker and Dalton arrived to find several lifers of their own.
Lesser Goldfinch-female
One of the birds on Walker's list included the Plain-capped Starthroat. This meant sitting at the feeders for a longer period of time. It's amazing how one day, the bird would show up without any hestitation. But it wasn't meant to be for Walker or Dalton. After several hours of sitting, we abandoned the feeders only to have missed the bird by 20 minutes after we left! That stung so bad. We went back and sat for a couple more hours. NADA. The Starthroat never showed up again and Walker would dip on both days for the Starthroat. We all have to have a Nemesis bird:) It just makes the eventual sighting even sweeter and more special.
male Broad-billed Hummingbird
I have certainly mellowed out a lot over the past year on this birding thing. I have learned to just enjoy what shows up. Walker reminds me of what it's like to have that youthful energy. I'm not by any means old but I knew we had our work cut out for us. This young man was going to bird hard and I mentally tried to prepare myself for the trek ahead. Normally I don't do long hikes in this crazy heat. But he could not afford anymore dips after the Starthroat mishap. And so it would happen as it has for so many birders before us......a trip to the mysterious and sometimes dangerous California Gulch.
Black-headed Grosbeak-male
As we left the feeder birding behind, we began our long trek past the Peña Blanca Lake area and headed onto a decently maintained dirt road towards the ghost town of Ruby. The California Gulch was just beyond this fascinating town. It has a very dark past. Last year, I went camping with Gordon at Ruby. We had a blast but we also knew that the border was only minutes from our location. There was a moment when we heard what we thought was a bird, but it turned out that it was someone from the Mexican side communicating something. Mexico is a great place but the border is known for drug and human trafficking....especially in that spot. So we headed back to our camp.
male Brown-headed Cowbird
The heat and humidity during the day increased. Monsoon storms seemed to be popping up and dotting the skies.
Whiskered screech-owl
From a distant hill, we could see the flash of lighting followed by the booms of thunder. Please be nice Mother Nature! The initial cracking sound silenced the ongoing cicada hum. Eventually we reached the general California Gulch area, but where exactly were the Five-striped Sparrows and Buff-collared Nightjars found? No internet. No GPS. Nothing. So we birded a stretch of the road with some good finds. Walker found his first Pacific-slope Flycatcher, but it wasn't one of the target birds. He's moving to Idaho and figured he'd find this bird there. It wasn't the Nightjar nor the Sparrow.
White-winged Dove
On our way into the vast expanse known as "the Gulch", we spotted at least 3 Five-striped Sparrows but they took off quickly and Walker wasn't able to get a picture or good ID of the bird. We had to continue on. This bird was a MUST!
Overlooking the California Gulch
Along the way, I was thrilled to find lots of our common birds jumping around with juveniles in the desert scrub. There was evidence that nesting had been a success for several species!
Bewick's Wren
But then something incredible would happen. I spied a WILD Desert Tortoise in the road. My only lifer for the day! And it was a GOOD one! This species is threatened and in decline due to human involvement.
When I spot one of these rare beauties, I document the time and place with a photo. I make sure that they are safely off the road before leaving the scene. And that means just watching to make sure it crosses. I do not carry them and as you'll find out there's a reason why. This tortoise was on a very quiet road and was safe from getting hit by a car.
the ancient Desert Tortoise
Here's some stuff I learned a couple years ago about finding turtles or tortoises in the desert and grassland areas. Never pick a tortoise up as it will void. This will cause dehydration and possible death. If the road is active, you obviously might need to move it. Arizona Game and Fish recommends picking up the tortoise slightly off the ground(not high) and taking it safely to the other side of the road. Recent estimates indicate that there are about 100,000 individual desert tortoises remaining in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. As late as the 1950's the desert tortoise population averaged 200 adults per square mile. More recent studies show the level is now between 5-60 adults per square mile. This tortoise is labeled "Threatened". One level above the "Endangered" category.
Five-striped Sparrow
Eventually we met up with several other birders who were also on the same mission. Together we joined forces and made it all happen. The Buff-collared Nightjar and Five-striped Sparrows were realized. Walker and Dalton got their hard earned lifers. And I had a bat fly into my head. That was a first. I think I had a huge bug on my hat.
But the real story isn't about any of us. It's about the father/son team we met. Enter James and Monroe McKay. James, who is recently retired, is traveling around the ABA world with his 87 year old father. Together they are accomplishing amazing things. Their one rule? Father and son must BOTH see or hear the bird before they can count it. Night birding operates primarily with the use of our ears. If we are lucky, we will just see the shadow of the bird fly around us. If we can ID the call, we can count the bird. Well, his father could not hear the soft "laughing" of the nearby Elf Owls. Birders united to help both these men see the owl.
Here are some hardcore birders. From left to right, James and Monroe McKay and Walker and Dalton Noe
And within moments, we had the world's tiniest owl pass through the mesquite tree next to us where it was hanging out with some juveniles on a branch. Mission accomplished. They moved on their way until their "laughter" disappeared further down into the canyon. While we waited for the night sky, I learned much about their wonderful adventures across the country. It is an amazing accomplishment!
Elf Owl
After hearing the Buff-collared Nightjar, we all drove back together in a caravan safely passing through the network of dirt roads until we reached the interstate. Border Patrol was active that night. Several bug people were out collecting. And Common Poorwills flew around our vehicle. Once we entered back into the Rio Rico area, Walker was able to contact his family and let them know we were okay. On MY way home, I had a crazy thing happen. A meteorite fragment flared across the front of my windshield and almost hit my car on the interstate! Maybe the hit from the bat messed up my head. But seriously, it was a bit scary! Anyhow,what an amazingly difficult and hot day out in our beautiful desert. There is no place like our wild Southern Arizona on this planet. The Sonoran Desert is a thing of wonder. Scary sometimes. But that's what makes it so amazing.
I wish Walker and Dalton luck on their journey ahead. Sure Idaho won't have all those Mexican vagrants, but Arizona isn't that far away. Plus, think about all the amazing adventures you'll have around that state. Idaho sounds like a beautiful place to explore. And full of amazing finds! Happy trails ahead for all!
The Glendale Recharge Ponds-normally it's a brutal survey of shorebirds. The shorebirds are great, but the intense heat makes it a killer. Bring plenty of water out to this area. And your scope!! It's your one stop shopping center for shorebirds in Arizona:) This place actually was quite beautiful as we went to find the Sabine's Gull around sunset.
On a final note, since we are heading into September in a few days, my North American bird tally is at 493 for the year. My latest addition is the Sabine's Gull. There are a few that are currently migrating through the state of Arizona thanks in part to the active monsoon weather patterns here this year. I will say this about August. It has been a long and tough month for me as a birder. My energy levels are waaaaay down now that work is here again. Plus the heat makes everything so much more difficult. In the days ahead, we will be exploring a lot more of the wild wild west. I am looking forward to these treks with great anticipation. Not only will the birds be great, if we find them, but the landscape and temps alone will make the trekking so much more fun. And perhaps we'll meet a fellow blogger or two along the way:) Stay tuned for more.... For more about birds check out Wild Bird Wednesday(link on the left side top) and Anni's I'd-Rather-B-Birdin'.
Micheal and I both work as a team. We enjoy exploring and scouting new areas together. And sometimes we work alone. I am constantly following up on information for this blog to keep it fresh and original. I couldn't do some of this blog without his help as you'll see today.
Brown-headed Cowbirds on Mule Deer
On our way back home to Tucson, we drove through New Mexico which is a really great place to explore. One of our favorite places to visit is Bosque Del Apache. We usually do a loop around the entire area on our way home. Afterwards, we'll get a bite to eat in the nearby town of San Antonio at the Owl Bar and Cafe. It's a unique place full of interesting locals.
Personally, I like the restaurant for it's dark booths and green chile hamburgers. Bosque can get warm and rather sunny during the summer making the "Owl" a good spot to cool off and let the eyes adjust to the darkness......and weird looking biker people. It's a hoot:)
Red-winged Blackbird
Once we got back home, Micheal had to work and I needed to get the garden area cleaned up. I've been promising for weeks now to do an update from the El Presidio Gardens. This is something I can only do now when I'm not working my regular job.
El Presidio Courtyard
I'm happy to report that many of the plants I put into and around the courtyard are doing well. June is usually the worst month as it is hot and dry, but this year the plants seem to be doing very well because they have finally established themselves. Around the fountain, we've placed bird and butterfly friendly plants that require very little water.
My side garden
This month our peaches will be ready to pick. We also have three species of hummingbirds nesting around our property right now which is pretty cool.
The fruit garden
I had two days off before attending a week long conference. As I'm starting the week inside a classroom, I get word that there are some recently fledged Western Screech-Owls in someone's backyard. But I cannot leave. So I sent Micheal off on a mission to go get the footage and take the data on these owls. They are by no means rare, but they can be tricky to find. Normally, a person will just hear them in the night making their ball bouncing call.
Western Screech-Owls
I go over the rules with Micheal about reporting owls on ebird. He knows them well, but we always review our target birds and how "sensitive" we need to be when reporting a special bird. "Make sure you move the marker away from the sighting and hide the report." Unfortunately, there are people out there who will cross the lines to get photos of owls at any cost (which includes the owl's safety). So owl reports in our home are always hidden from the public eye.
We also discuss keeping an appropriate distance from the owls while taking photos. He did a great job and had a fun day out. So I am very grateful that he followed up on this very special bird.
Finally, I miss my cats so much while we're out on our longer treks. So it's always wonderful to see our feline friends waiting for us when we get home. Nova, below, is a rescued feral cat that we captured at our home. Today, she is a pampered and neurotic kitty who constantly requires our attention:) In fact, all of our cats are rescued. Not only do we save bird lives by keeping our cats indoors; we help these cats live longer and healthier lives. Feral cats make great house cats, BUT you have to capture them when they are kittens.
Nova is happy to have us home
Now that I'm back home and finishing up with this conference, I'm getting ready for a bigger trek. Life definitely is not boring:) It's good to be home for a week and hide inside of our little home from the nasty heat.
Callie prefers a lasagna dish over her fluffy cat bed
Every day is an adventure if we make it one. We owe it to ourselves to smile and explore each and every day. Even during my conference, I found happy moments during the day. You can choose to drive through an area OR STOP and explore a bit. I have found that it's not always about getting from A to Z. It's about exploring all the letters in between that makes my day more interesting.
At a cool ramada in New Mexico during a lunch break
I don't care what anyone says, but ID'ing black birds(note that I am not writing "blackbirds":) can be a bit tricky. There are still many to find, but here is a list on several that have made me glance once, twice, thrice........
Great-tailed Grackle
Grackles should be easy to ID and yet there can be doubt. In Southern Arizona, a Common Grackle would be rare, but the Great-tailed Grackle(above) is very common. So when I was in Colorado Springs, I knew I could find a Common Grackle, but the issue was that both Grackles were found there. How would I distinguish between the two? When I spotted several on a branch(below), I actually stood longer than normal to ID the call and look for the field marks to make sure I did in fact see the Common Grackle. Pale Yellow iris, dark bluish glossy head and heavy bill were several of the things I looked at first. The rain in the area made it a little difficult to pick out the bluish tones in the head and yellow eye......but I was able to see it better with my own eyes than that of the camera.
Common Grackle
But how do you tell a Brewer's Blackbird apart from a Common Grackle? It also has a yellow eye. The difference? Habitat and behavior help. But body shape, slight difference in the bill and coloring also can help with ID. The Brewer's likes to feed from the ground. But in this case, the calls are different and I was able to quickly ID the bird.
Brewer's Blackbird
But what's this blackbird??? Before heading to Guatemala, I studied the calls and behaviors of this Melodious Blackbird below. The call is very distinct and can be heard above all else in the canopy tree tops. They usually fly in pairs around water ways. Both bob their heads up and down while calling to each other. Sometimes they'll sit in opposite trees calling to one another.
But I tell you.....that call! It is so distinct that you can't miss it. I dropped what I was doing to capture this bird on camera. Birding by ear can be a powerful tool.
Melodious Blackbird
Another black bird, related to the cuckoo family, is the Groove-billed Ani. They are very common in Central America and make me smile. They remind me of muppets with their scraggly and monster looking faces. Again their call is distinct and I had it memorized from the time it came to Tucson. I have it recorded on my phone because it's one of my favorite bird calls next to the Loon. They are larger birds and appear to lazily perch on fence posts in pastures or on open branches around rivers, etc.
Groove-billed Ani
So how about those "other" black birds? Crows and Ravens??!!! In Tucson, it's possible to spot the Common and Chihuahuan Ravens. But how do you tell them apart? More common are the Common Ravens. They generally fly in pairs, but can be seen at times flying in great numbers. Even the experts can have a difficult time ID'ing these birds from afar. Chihuahuan Ravens will flock around Pecan orchards here and of course, open grasslands. They have a shorter bill with long nasal bristles. However, they fly a bit differently than the closely related Common Raven. The Common Raven "rows" its way across the airways.
American Crows
And the American Crow is a smaller bird with a large bill but much smaller than that of a Raven. The calls are the easiest to recognize. Understanding their calls, makes the ID a snap!
European Starling
European Starlings are black but very easy to ID with their body and bills. Their starry patterns remind me of outer space. But still.....from a distance, I have to really look. But if I can see those triangular wings, short square tails and that stocky body, I know right away that I'm witnessing the European Starling in action. They also tend to flock. Again their calls are distinct.
Common Raven
One black bird(or blackbird:) that is an easy ID is the Bronzed Cowbird....if you can see the red eye:)
Bronzed Cowbird
The Brown-headed Cowbird at maturity has a black body with a brown head....hence the name. Both birds have VERY cool calls. They sound like spacy, liquidy whistles! AGAIN another easy ID! Many people miss this one and I have to point it out to birders visiting from out of state. I've helped 3 birders add the Bronzed Cowbird to their life lists. Watching someone add a cowbird to their life list makes me smile. We take them for granted here as they are rather common.
Female Brewer's Blackbird
Here's a flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds below in flight. You see how they could be difficult to ID? Usually they mix with other blackbirds to add to the confusion.
Flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds
Many out of state people come to find our Yellow-headed Blackbirds. I've witnessed this bird in the tens of thousands. Twice I have been caught in the middle of the tornado energy and it made me smile. My video below captures the many Yellow-headed Blackbirds making a landing in the fields adjacent to the gas station.
I was filling up my gas once and a black cloud descended around the parking lot. Another time I was birding in Tucson and an entire flock flew around me. I was surrounded by magic!
Yellow-headed Blackbirds
These blackbirds are easy to ID. Their calls are varied and diverse but thankfully their colors stand out among the rest. Someone asked me once, "What are those blackbirds with a yellow head?" Yellow-headed Blackbirds. "Oh, that's easy." Sure is.
So is this Red-winged Blackbird below. Interestingly enough, the female looks nothing like the male. To a beginner, they look like different birds. Is it a Waterthrush? A Finch? Nope. Just the female Red-Winged Blackbird:)
Red-winged Blackbird
Finally I end with a Chihuahuan Raven. Of all these black birds I shared today, I think the Common and Chihuahuan Ravens are probably the most difficult to ID. This may sound weird, but when I see a Chihuahuan Raven, I just "know". I'll mark them down wherever I am to keep tabs on their location. On Ebird, there is a Chihuahuan Raven expert who monitors our populations and I was able to email and chat with him about his studies. I have many more black birds to find, but here are the ones I've been able to ID so far.
Chihuahuan Raven
Common Raven
Finally, I'd like to add one last thing about taking pictures of black birds or animals. It's really difficult!!! I find that having a very light background brings the detail out on these birds. Below is a pic of our cat Cassie. She sometimes blends right in with the surroundings.
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