Blow A Kiss, Fire A Gun

Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson

December.  It's the month of crazy as we kiss the year good-bye.  Birders rush to get their birds before the year is over. Holiday shoppers clog the highways up.  And duck hunters are out shooting ducks. This time of year brings everyone together whether we like it or not. 

Pied-billed Grebe

It's always weird going back to work after an intense weekend. I'm constantly studying birds out in the field whenever I get the chance. I began on Friday evening at Sweetwater.  I needed to clear my mind and think about my options. I stood observing several birds for a long time deciding how I'd tackle the weekend. When I left, I had a plan. Possible life bird in sight! On Saturday, we headed up to Prescott to visit friends Cynthia and Roger. 

Green Heron

It was cold and rainy.  Perfect weather for a Tundra Swan.  So I kicked Micheal out of bed and we took a road trip up to find this not always present bird:)

Saturday was a really fun day.  It felt like the holidays!  I was lazy with the camera but thanks to Cynthia, I have photos to share from our visit to Prescott!  

Cynthia, Roger and Micheal

We eventually relocated the swan giving me a rare Arizona Swan Trifecta for the year!  Earlier this year, a pair of Trumpeter Swans came to Sweetwater Wetlands.  Then we got our non-countable(for AZ) Mute Swans.  This weekend, we finished the swan chase with the beautiful Tundra below. 

Tundra Swan-note yellow lores/Photo by Cynthia White

I wore my "old man" outfit.  I didn't care.  It felt SOOO comfortable!

At Willow Lake searching for the swan.  Photo by Cynthia White

However, the clock ticks and it was off again on Sunday for a very important bird known as the Rusty Blackbird. It was still hanging out along the Salt River.  So Sunday came and another early morning began. 

We reached the Coon Bluff area and were greeted by many Rock Wrens including the one below. This wren decided to perch on top of someone's tent.  Or maybe the bird owned the tent?

Rock Wren at Coon Bluff Campground

Once we got onto the trail, I spotted the infamous gang of wild horses.  For now the horses are safe.  At one point, they were going to be taken off these lands, but public outcry kept them from "disappearing". It has been a very controversial topic between environmentalists and the public. This wild locale is also a recreational space for many people living in the Phoenix area. Birders were birding.  Photographers were capturing with their cameras a pair of Bald Eagles nesting.  Horseback riders were crossing the creek. Hikers hiked. And fisher people fished.  This recreational area was getting plenty of use on Sunday.  All was calm. Until....

The last wild horse population in Arizona

Bullets flew past our heads!  I was with Magill at the time and we were very angry. These irresponsible "hunters" almost hit the photographer to the right.  Another photographer came out and asked if the guy was okay.  The hunters shot what they thought was a dove.  Turns out they were complete idiots.  They killed a Greater Yellowlegs! A NO NO!  Not a duck or a dove. Looks like these morons need to read and study up on what they are killing. It was all senseless.  It's duck season right now and there is hunting allowed in this area but most hunters were further down the river away from the crowds of people.  It's these kinds of people who give hunters a bad name.

Irresponsible Hunters

Calls were made to Game and Fish and the Sheriff's Department. They didn't apologize to the guy and when they saw the camera, they took off. The whole incident really made us upset and ruined a perfectly beautiful morning.  IRRESPONSIBLE!  We were okay as were the others.  It could have been a lot worse.  That morning we dipped on the Rusty Blackbird.  One of these days I will find this beauty but it was wasn't meant to be on this day. I'm just thankful we're okay.  These guys shot at ground level and through thick vegetation not looking to see if there was anyone in the vegetation.  Photographers like to hide in a natural or created "blind" to capture wildlife in action.

White-throated Sparrow

Over the past two weekends, we've added several sightings of rare sparrows from our walks. While the Rusty may have been a "no show", we were able to add on a juvenile Golden-crowned Sparrow. It was a first for my state list. I never pay attention to that stuff but all the birders have been asking me where my state list is at right now?  Still don't know. I first saw this (at the time) life bird in New Mexico at the magical Bosque Del Apache. While these photos are NOT of the bird we observed, the bird appeared similar to the juvenile below with the gold crown forming.

Golden-crowned Sparrow-Juvenile

The weekend was a success.  I would have to say that I was more of a birder than a photographer this time around.  And if we had a dollar for every time someone asked us if we had seen the Bald Eagles, we'd be rich. They ARE beautiful birds and our national symbol.  Don't think for a minute that I don't stop and enjoy their presence. It's just that a Rusty Blackbird is also quite amazing.  Its' populations are in severe decline and ornithologists still haven't been able to figure out what is happening with this species of blackbird.

For now, I wait.  I'll chase a local bird or two, but the year is not over.  And there's a job to do. For now, I'm staying away from areas full of weapons. Gun rights?  Not for everyone.  The US needs to get its' act together and screen people better.  Until next time. 

Summer Tanager-female

The Swing of Spring

Swainson's Thrush

Birds are everywhere.  Lifebirds are just around the corner.  You don't have to travel far in Arizona to find them!  In fact, I'm pretty sure you never have to leave this state to find new birds:)

Female Summer Tanager

Spring has been a lot of fun.  One day a wave of several birds will come through and the next, they'll be gone.  But another group will be present.  Such was the case of the Swainson's Thrush.  I remember birders telling me about these birds.  I didn't know how I'd tell the Swainson's or Hermit apart. When I started to hear a different sounding thrush and noticed atypical movement, I was quick to pull out my recorder and listen to the call.  After plugging in the name, I was able to confirm on the spot that I had indeed heard and seen several of the Swainson's thrushes.

The night passed and the new day began.  I did my count around school and discovered several new species for my patch.  The Lark Sparrow!!!

Lark Sparrow

As the Saguaro blooms open, every bird becomes a fan and rises to the tops of this amazing cactus.  On 3 arms, there are 3 birds!  The White-winged Dove, Pyrrhuloxia and Curve-billed Thrasher enjoy the fruit from these plants. The birds will then spread the pollen around which will create fruit containing thousands of seeds.  The birds of course, along with other mammals, including humans, will eat the fruits. Birds will help spread the seed around the desert.  A Saguaro depends solely on this symbiotic relationship to survive in the Sonoran desert.

From left to right.  White-winged dove, Pyrrhuloxia, and Curve-billed Thrasher on Saguaro Cactus

So many wonderful birds can be spotted on top of these flowers.  Just point your binos on top and you'll find hummingbirds, bees, thrashers, warblers and.......well the list goes on and on.

Curve-billed Thrasher

Meanwhile back at the ranch.  The owlets at my school have finally begun to move out of their trees and nest. All 3 have fledged and are with Mom and Dad.  Many of the staff were worried that they were harmed, but thanks to plenty of observation this past year, I could ease their minds a bit:)  While they weren't in their nest anymore, they had moved over the weekend into trees away from the cafeteria area.  Very smart move on their part.  Teenagers are LOUD!  At dusk, one of the teachers was rewarded with the owl silhouettes on the roof.  5 owls living the American dream!

Great Horned Owlet

This is the youngest and last to hatch.  I worried that this one wouldn't make it but Mom stayed with the baby until the end and now this little owlet is on the move with the other two siblings.

Spring moves on and summer will be arriving quickly. The owls departure from their nest also begins to mark the end of spring migration.  However, one never knows.  Who will stop by tomorrow?  Stay tuned for more.