The Long Way Home

A very cooperative Crissal Thrasher in Prescott, AZ

Once the Lesser Sand Plover was seen, it was time to have fun and bird our way back down to Tucson.  This trek would take us to Prescott and then into Phoenix.  And along the way, we'd visit with wonderful friends Cynthia and Roger and Gordon and Chuck.  

Willow Lake in Prescott with Cynthia and Kathie

We spent a night in beautiful Prescott with Cynthia and Roger.  And it was here that Kathie was able to explore for the first time the beautiful Watson and Willow Lakes.  

Juvenile Gray Hawk at Sweetwater Wetlands

And along the way, we spotted so many wonderful birds.  Outside of Phoenix, Gordon took us to find Kathie's lifer Juniper Titmouse.  

Juniper Titmouse at Seven Springs

The heat was still killing my spirit, but we were all together and so we forgot about the melting ice in the cooler:)  Until we braked and my back felt a wonderful splash of ice cold water!  I don't know where the time went but it all flew by much too quickly!

Kathie at Bartlett Lake in Maricopa Country

We watched a Yellow-headed Blackbird casually stroll along the shore to Kathie's delight. 

Yellow-headed Blackbird at Bartlett Lake

Kathie was quickly reminded how hot it got in Arizona.  I think part of her missed Maine.  I understand that feeling. But the Arizona landscapes are way more picturesque.  Perhaps I am a bit bias:)

Gordon and Kathie search geographical locations to visit from Humbodlt Peak

To be honest.  Coming straight from Monterey, I had birded for a full week and it was showing.  My birding powers were waning. So I was grateful for Gordon and Cynthia taking over their lands and showing us their worlds.  Cynthia is from Yavapai country while Gordon represents Maricopa.  I am Pima. 

Townsend's Solitaire

Eventually, we made it back down to Tucson where we took it "slow" and birded locally.  Even then, we had lots of rare birds pop up on every one of our counts!

Black Vultures at Coachline "Lake" in Tucson

Quite honestly, I don't know where the time went, but we had a lot of fun.  Kathie noticed that I wasn't myself.  And she was correct.  I had wanted to bird for a full week during my fall break and we sure did bird. But I was tired!  From Monterey to Flagstaff to Prescott to Phoenix to Tucson!  During my first weekend alone, I slept!  What a wonderful and deep sleep it was!

One of 2 Wood Ducks reported at Reid Park in Tucson

 But our time was winding down and I was reminded that soon I'd be back to work. 

Celeste threw a party and we had a wonderful time saying good-bye to one another over several bottles of wine:)  It's hard saying good-bye.  I just hide it better than most.  Life revolves around birds for me BUT life is more than just the birds.  It's about the people and friendships that form because of the birds. 

By the end of the week, I felt like we had done an amazing job exploring the world of Arizona.  A special thank you to Celeste, Dom, Gordon, Chuck, Cynthia and Roger for one hell of a week. The Lesser Sand Plover trek lasted 4 days total and what an amazing trek it was!  Kathie, I miss you and love you.  Our next trek will be to Monhegan Island.  You will not get sea sick.  And maybe Gordon will join us?  For now, I am going to rest.  My body and mind are both exhausted.  Life is a wonderful adventure but I sure do need my sleep:)  Until next time.....

Gotcha!

Virginia Rail

We are now on month 3 of 2013.  Today's post is about discovering the impossible dream.  Capturing the most difficult birds with a camera!

Crissal Thrasher

My rule in birding is that I must photograph the bird well before I can count it on my observations.  I've heard the Crissal Thrashers and Virginia Rails before but couldn't count a single one until I got my eye on the bird!

Sora

My ear is good at picking up the slightest sounds.  The voice of the Sora is unmistakable and yet it is rarely seen!  The Virginia Rail is the same!  The Crissal Thrasher sings its elaborate song early in the morning.  The minute you get close enough to get a decent shot, it drops to the ground. 

Curve-bill Thrasher

Curve-bills are completely different.  They'll sit and look you in the eye.  But not the Crissal Thrasher. 

And the Treecreeper can be heard and seen easily.  Well this one particular bird had been on my list for awhile as was the Crissal.  And the most frustrating part? I would miss each one every time!  The issue is that I must work.......and it interferes with the times I can go and find some of these birds:)  I think I am not alone here with this issue:)

Kathie and I went to Saguaro National Park to specifically find this bird.  I had heard the bird in 3 separate locations but couldn't count it because of my rule.  And Kathie suspected she saw the bird off a trail during a walk she made awhile back.  We went to the trail and located the intricate song of the Crissal.  We found the bird near a wash.  But everytime we got close enough, the bird dropped.  It was tricky but very worth the effort.

On an outing to Whitewater Draw, my greatest dreams came true as a Virginia Rail was seen out in the open.  This is a very rare thing!  I was with another photographer at the time and we focused our cameras on this bird instead of the hundreds of Snow Geese flying over our heads.  Most photographers in the area were snapping shots of the geese but when a rail makes a grand entrance, you drop everything you're doing and get pics!

Treecreeper

The Treecreeper is hard to get a focus on as it matches with the bark of the tree.  Many times this bird will blur into the bark.  Very frustrating!

When these rare moments occur; complete focus happens. 

These shots made me smile.  So what birds would you like to get better shots of?