The Tucson CBC 2012

The Verdin

I always bird with my camera.  Not having the camera on our Christmas Bird Count would have been a bad idea.  I am a strong believer in photo ID.  And it would come in hand with an accipiter found.  Turned out it was just a battered Cooper's Hawk.  However our day would turn up some amazing species!

It had rained non stop for almost 2 days. However our morning cleared up and made for a wonderful day birding.  There were 4 of us walking the Tucson area.

We found some great birds including the Black Throated Gray Warbler and Male Summer Tanager.  It's amazing that the Summer Tanager has remained in Tucson for the winter.  The Tucson team counted a total of 6!  That's an incredible amount of Summer Tanagers for our area at this time.

Some of the regulars like the Cactus Wren put on a good show.  We found 9 of them hopping around a house.

It was cold so the birds were very very hungry.

As you can see, everyone is a little "puffed" out and huddled together.

This Curve billed Thrasher makes me laugh.  They have such a grouchy face.

And if looks could kill......

Tucson again reigns as the nation's number one Vermilion Flycatcher capital.  On this day, over 177 of them would be counted in our city.  That's a record breaker for the US.

A truly special find is the Peregrine Falcon.  This is a first time wild sighting for me and I was thrilled!

Rock Pigeons were numerous.

And so were the Broad Bill Hummingbirds.  All wonderful and lovely sightings.  Overall the Tucson CBC had one of its highest turnouts and counts of bird species within the city.  It was a lot of work but also quite fun.

Tucson Housing Market

Here's something different and a first for this blog.  I thought this would be a fun little game to play:) You have to use your imagination.  Pics are supplied and just your opinion is needed:) A wizard captured you and turned you into a bird. You are forced to choose a home. Which one would it be? Remember that the option description goes with the pic above it.

Option 1.  It's sci fi and something I'd imagine in Sweden, Finland, or Holland.  I don't know why I think this but I just do:)

Option 2.  A homemade gourd.  Very hobbit like.

Option 3.  You moved to England:)  Maybe Harry Potter lives here.

Option 4.  This house doesn't hang and is wheelchair accessible:)

Option 5.  It screams, "Heeeeey!!"

Option 6.  The Starbucks of birdhomes.

Option 7.  You're an animal!!!  Well no you're not......because you're a BIRD!!! Get used to it:)

Option 8.  I think they smoke something here.

Option 9.  "OMG!  Becky, would you look at that bird's butt!  It's like....so big!"

Option 10.  I sense there is beer drinking, some smoking with a table of friends...and a card game going on:)

Option 11.  African love!

Option 12.  Hoarders anonymous.

Option 13.  Muy mexicano.

Option 14.   Say your prayers every night.

Option 15.  Very Tucsonan.

Option 16.  A gardener lives here.  Maybe a Gardener on Sherlock Street or A Garden Wench:)

Just one of many birdhouses at the Tucson Botanical Gardens

So what's your verdict?  I'll share mine at the end of the day.  Do you love bird houses? If you're in Tucson, check out the Tucson Botanical Gardens birdhouse display!  Very cool homes all over the place AND there's many more I haven't shown you.  But until that time, what's your pick?:) Oh and since you were forced to be a bird, what bird would you be?:)

Hanging Out In The Shade

Curve billed Thrasher

Before monsoon began, I seriously had to force myself out in the wild and attempt the impossible.  Birding during the midafternoon heat.  When I say that it was dead and not a single lizard, bird or insect was out, I mean it!  I had thought about going home in the 106 degree weather since the butterflies weren't out and about like I had thought they would be.  So I went into the shade for relief....and listened.

Female Anna's Hummingbird

No one was around and I was the only guy in the gardens which was actually quite nice.  What I discovered was that the world was indeed very active but only in the shade.  It wasn't obvious at first but after sitting and listening to my surroundings, I was able to locate a lot of critters.

 These colorful bugs are the immature, wingless nymphs of the Giant Mesquite Bug or Leaf-footed Bug (Thasus neocalifornicus).

While looking at some art, I discovered some "natural" work(above pic).  I thought it was fake at first until I took a closer look.  We have some cool bugs in this desert...especially during the monsoon season.

And birds aren't dummies.  This Cardinal was hiding in the reeds.  Unfortuneatly his red gave away his location.  His girlfriend was also there but didn't stick out like this guy.

Even this Anna's Hummingbird played it safe as she flew and hovered around flowers in the shade.

Queen Butterfly

I did find this Queen butterfly on the Texas Mist.  I was hoping for more shots, but this is okay.

And water from the fountain was quite popular with the birds.

Stay cool!

 More tomorrow....

¡Caliente!

It has been extremely hot, but that hasn't stopped me from taking advantage of the gorgeous Sonoran desert landscape.  You are looking at the Saguaro bloom.  Here are a couple rules for this summer if you are new to the desert.....

Sunscreen!!!  Bring plenty o' water! and hike during the early morning or late afternoon.  NEVER....and I mean this from the bottom of my heart.....NEVER hike in the middle of afternoon without water OR during our monsoon season.  During the end of the month of June, all of July, August, and first part of September, washes fill up quickly and from out of nowhere. Sadly, every year, human life is lost because of rapid changing weather conditions.

Lightening strikes are common.  But there are other things to keep your eyes out for.....like rattlesnakes etc:)  They blend in very well with their surroundings.

There is so much to see in the summer.  And birding!!!  Well, birds are not dumb.  You have to get up early just as they do to see them out and about because by afternoon, they will all be hiding in the shade for cooler temps:)

And sometimes, while it's super hot, we forget to look closely at our surroundings and miss out on all the truly spectacular things hiding......like this Momma Thrasher in her nest within a cholla cactus:)

This post is a reminder for all to get up early and enjoy Mother Nature.  I began this photo shoot at 6 AM:)  And I had to get my birding in for the day:)!!!  Stay out of the heat!!!  Arizonans have more skin cancer issues than in the other 49 states.  Water plants early morning or late afternoon.  Conserve:) Our desert sun is magnificent...and brutal. More tomorrow...