A Weekend With Cheroot

Greetings everyone!  Before we begin this week's adventures, I wanted to let everyone know about a new feature to the Las Aventuras Blog.  We have a Las Aventuras store! We've had a lot of requests from over the years, and it has taken us awhile to figure this all out. On the left bar, you'll find a link that will take you to our products that range from fun pillows, cards, clocks, key chains, mugs, and acrylic prints. This has been a work of love from over the years and we are finally ready to share our work with you all. I have sold my work to magazines, individuals, books and businesses. Currently I am working with an owner of a birder bed and breakfast here in Southeastern Arizona where we will supply those final touches to the walls, beds and towels. I have been thrilled to see what people have done with my work and I figured we'd do the same with our own home.  We will be releasing new work every day from owls to hummingbirds and more! If you don't find something in the store and have seen it in the blog, let me know by sending me an email.  Now for this week's adventure! 

White-faced Ibis at Willcox

On my days leading up to our annual White Mountain trek, I did some quiet birding alone.  My work and this heat has drained me.  Every year I forget how much it all takes a toll on me.  I often think there is no end in sight.  Then a trek up to the White Mountains reminds me that the cooler weather will arrive soon. 

Mountain Chickadee

This year I had the pleasure of meeting a new friend by the name of Cheroot. My friend Celeste adopted this older furry little guy and brought him with us on our trek to Springerville.   

Clark's Nutcracker

I didn't know how that would go, but it was actually a lot of fun.  Whenever I introduce myself to new dogs, I let them smell my hand first so that they can get to know me.  This was especially important for Cheroot since he is nearly blind. 

On our lengthy trek up to the mountains, Cheroot trembled.  He was anxious about the travel and perhaps anxious about the idea of being abandoned. We believe Cheroot had a difficult life before Celeste and Cheroot found each other.  As an animal person, I tried my best to have him relax in my lap.  Yes, this little stinker made it to the front seat with me where he fell asleep on my lap.  Celeste and I both would take turns in the passenger seat.  It was easy to fall in love with this dog.  He definitely loves his new friend.  

There were moments I saw that little puppy emerge.  There were times I could feel his doubts from his past owner's neglect. There were moments when he played with us just to see what our reactions were going to be. And then there were moments when I observed the older pooch emerge. But it's quite clear that unconditional love makes Cheroot keep going. People who live with animals understand this emotion quite well. Unconditional love and trust. 

The views and the weather were wonderful.  Cheroot did our several mile hikes every day like a trooper. We'd have the morning to play and then the rain would arrive like clockwork at noon. 

There were times when Cheroot would become passionate about protecting his friends from other dogs.  

Celeste would do her best to curb his passionate growls and barks at the other dogs, especially the ones that weren't on a leash!

Once everything was in the clear, we'd continue walking the trails and looking for birds and anything else that would come our way.  

While we were there, we heard wolves in the distance and viewed lots of amazing birds. 

Western Tanager

Migration was upon us and so that meant we needed to keep our eyes open for rare eastern vagrants, which we did.  And we added a nice Eastern Kingbird to the state list. These birds are usually one day wonders and we just happened to be in the right place at the right time. 

Summer Tanager

The walks were amazing.  Cheroot took a moment to sip from the fresh mountain water. 

We kept our eyes open on our way down through the Salt River Canyon for Golden Eagles. 

Golden Eagles love to fly high around cliffs

On the Butler Trail, Celeste spies her first American Three-toed Woodpecker. 

female Three-toed Woodpecker

This bird can be tricky for birders in the state of Arizona. It's just a tricky woodpecker in general as they are dark and like to feed from the higher portions of the tree tops behind lots of tree branches. 

Yours truly is trying to shed some pounds after my treks to Maine and Wisconsin this summer.  The heat in Tucson has curbed my walking so I try to find ways to get my steps in.  For example, I walk more at work inside the buildings instead of outside. I'm also watching my exposure to the sun more now.  I don't want skin cancer!

Red-tailed Hawk

We trekked around Springerville, Greer and Pinetop finding all the specialties that occur in those areas EXCEPT my nemesis, the Dusky Grouse. 

Cliff Chipmunk 

A Common Raven snatches something weird from the ground at Sheep's Crossing.  Maybe it's better we don't think too much about what it is that the raven has in its bill. 

Common Raven

We weren't the only ones who had hiking in mind.  People from all over the west were in the White Mountains enjoying these wonderful temps. 

Cheroot loved it.  He was always with us.  It was interesting to note what pet owners have to endure as they travel with their pets.  For example, eating out was tricky.  We had to find a hotel that was pet friendly.  There were extra charges for having a pet, but it was possible.  During this trek Cheroot broke two rules!  He slept on the bed with his buddy!  Plus, he used his puppy powers to jump up on the bed!  

Black-throated Gray Warbler

And of course, he made it clear that he wasn't having the back seat anymore.  It'll be the front seat if he has his way from this point on:)

Cooper's Hawk

It was a fun weekend out and it flew by much too quickly. Until next time....

Happy Cheroot

The Tasty Pinecone

 

"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!", shouted the Cliff Chipmunk as he slammed his staff down onto the rock. 

So I parked my car and walked around him:)  But he was right.  The road behind him was not passable at all. Too much ice!  So I went on foot into the quiet forest of snow and pinecone. 

Another voice called out from the Ponderosa Pines.  It was the Olive Warbler!

There she hopped around screaming her scratchy, "Teacher teacher teacher!" call.  Yes, I know! I'm a teacher!

After she left, the woods went silent again.  

Until I heard a pine cone drop.  

One of the Abert's Squirrels said aloud, "It's not me!"

The Cliff Chipmunk just told me to keep moving along. 

In the sunlight, the snow turned to water and filled the creeks.  But in the shadows of the mountain, the snow remained. 

More silence until another pinecone fell. I looked up and saw Mr. Abert's having lunch. 

Then.  Breaking the silence, a high pitched "zzzt" sliced through the cold air.  Recognizing the call, my eyes scanned the lichen covered bark until I spied the movement of a camouflaged back. It was that of the Brown Creeper.

A Pine Siskin called out for me and said "hi". 

As I left the snowy trail, I found snow people enjoying the nearby ski lift. 

What a perfect day to go birding up on Mt. Lemmon!

There is still snow up on the mountain and plenty of pinecones for the critters to munch on. Until next time.........

Pewee's Playhouse

Yellow-eyed Junco(just how many bands can these birds hold?!)

Not all birds are the same. "Oh that's a Yellow-eyed Junco! You can always tell by their song." 
Whoa whoa whoa! Back up! That statement is like saying all white people look the same. Who's more vanilla?  Well, I'm originally from Wisconsin so I'd say I'm more cheese than vanilla.  And now that I'm living in the desert, I'd say I'm more fried.  So in a sense, I guess I'm a fried cheese curd:) Sounds good to me. While certain cultures and people share commonalities, there is not one person alike.  The same goes with the bird world, etc.  My eyes aren't so great.  But my ears can zone and tune into bird calls.

Cooper's Hawk

I have recordings on my cell phone and at home that allow me to listen to bird calls.  The more practice I have; the stronger I become out in the field.  I usually go to a place with a target bird in mind.  When I have a new bird, I memorize the features of the bird and also record the songs in my brain.  On this day, up in Rose Canyon on Mt. Lemmon, I would track the Greater Pewee.....a Mexican visitor.

We'd climb the dam and find all kinds of wonderful birds. Some were nesting like the Cooper's Hawk.

Many people were fishing as we climbed the hills trying to locate the unmistakable song of the Greater Pewee.

Hairy Woodpecker

Amazing views. Incredible finds.  Below is a shot of the tent caterpillar and favorite snack of the Vireo family:)

Tent Caterpillar

Of course, House Wrens don't mind a bite or two.  Heck I don't even think they bite.  It's chomp, chomp, and gulp!

House Wren

 We were exhausted and sat on the bench watching this Cliff Chipmunk run around the grass.  And then the song!  The one I had been waiting for.....but not exactly the one I had in my head.  The voice was similar but different.  I climbed the big mountain hill at the top as the Greater Pewee called out.

Cliff Chipmunk

As I reached the top, I stopped to get the ID shot and just sat listening to the song.  I marvelled at it all.  It's interesting because people tend to clump animals, birds etc all together. And we do it with people as well:)  It just shows that not all Greater Pewees are the same......just like people. This year we have found different vocalizations not only within the Pewee populations but also with our Mountain Chickadees.  During our road trips, Pat and I have memorized their particular songs and put words with their melodies.  This bird has a beautiful song followed by an annoying, da daaa, da daaa!  And without further ado, I present to you all the very special and unique Greater Pewee.  

Greater Pewee