Shore Leave

Praying Mantis in our garden

Along the way, it becomes wearisome.  It doesn't go away.  Sometimes, I wish I could just shut it off, but it holds great power over me like a bad addiction.  I go back to the routines of work and feel the weight of them pressing me down. It also distracts my brain. I research and read and research some more wanting to be out in the field.  I take this shot of a Praying Mantis near a Hummingbird feeder at my home and forgot that these bugs kill hummers! But I left for work only realizing afterwards what was going on AFTER I took the pics! Thankfully, my nesting hummers are fine. That little tidbit I learned at a lecture in Portal, AZ last year. If I could have my way, I'd lock myself into my house at night and read about birds.  And during the day, I would find them.

Hooded Oriole

Now I know it doesn't seem apparent but I have actually taken a break from chasing birds.  I've just planned out my posts until I get back on the road again which will be soon.  The fact of the matter is that I needed to take a break about 4 months ago! I don't know how people with Big Years do it! There will always be rare birds flying in and out of the state.  Sometimes, I just have to sit back and say, "Time out."  And I'm actually okay with it this time.  I like taking a stroll and counting birds without feeling that anxiety of dipping on a bird.

Harris Hawk

Surprisingly enough that is when I found another lifebird.....the MacGillvray's Warbler. I was at a picnic table just sitting and watching several tiny birds flitting around on the ground.  This bird gave for a good show and got me a bit excited:)  It was nice just to see it as I saw it and not follow a report.

MacGillivray's Warbler

There are plenty of distractions like seeing a bat fly around during daylight hours.  It only did so because a Gila Woodpecker was bugging it's sleeping spot.  Sometimes it's about knowing our own birds well.  It's fun to observe wildlife.

So while I am taking a break, I've been putting together several photo essays dealing with black birds, hummingbird migration, warblers, and kingbirds.   There are several more posts from Guatemala, New Mexico, Colorado, Wisconsin and Northern Arizona coming up.  As you can see, a break was needed.

This video was taken in Tucson, Arizona by a resident.  You can see why the hummingbirds are stand offish at the feeders.  At about 2:25, the Mantis captures a bee coming to a feeder.  It's amazing the battles that can happen right outside of our windows.  I love hummingbirds and I love the mantis but I don't like these intelligent insects around my feeders:)  Thankfully they only show up during the monsoon season:) Much more coming up!  Until next time......

Yonder come day,

Double-Crested Cormorant with Neotropic Cormorants

 day is a’breakin’

Yonder come day,

Yellow-headed Blackbirds

 oh my soul!

Yonder come day,

 day is a’breakin’

Rock Squirrels

Sun is a’risin’ 

in my soul.

                                         Trees are green 

and the

air is sweet. 

Gila Woodpecker

The

Good earth is singin’

Vermilion Flycatcher

                                      underneath my feet.

                     I’ll point my feet down that freedom line.

Great Mormon Butterflies

                                  Walkin’ that road I’m
                                            feelin’ fine.

Harris Hawk

 Yeah!

Great-tailed Grackle

Walk That Road!

White Morphos

Walk That Road!

Yonder Come Day

Traditional Georgia Sea Islands Spiritual

Reliable Tucson Birds

Before I begin today, I have to apologize for the lack of blogging.  We have been hiking nonstop and when we're not doing that, I'm grading final exams.   It has been extremely crazy over here with the holidays in gear.  Personally, I believe everyday in life is a holiday if we make it that way....so I never quite understood this time of year.  I like the actual day when family and friends get together but everything else just weirds me out. What if we could just spread it all out over the year and be nice to each other all the time?  OR What if we didn't make the holidays such a big production!?  Of course I only write this because it gets in the way of birding;) Speaking of birding....

Anna's Hummingbird ....you can't miss 'em:)

Vermilion Flycatcher....get up and head to one of our many parks.  You won't miss this one!

The Red Tail Hawk is everywhere in Tucson.  In fact if you come to bird in Tucson, we'd like you to know that this hawk, the Cooper's Hawk, the Harris Hawk, Gila Woodpecker, Verdin and Vermilian Flycatchers are several of our main attractions.  Meaning....of all the birds that live in Arizona, you'll have a great chance spotting these birds.  There are others that are also reliable like the Anna's Hummingbird.  Some of our specialties(but not guaranteed to find) include the Sulphur Bellied Flycatcher, Elegant Trogon and  of course the many hummingbirds:) These birds are seasonal so check when they come to visit. We have the highest counts of these birds in the country! So here's my question for you.  If I were to go to your city, what would be a reliable bird I'd find on most to every outing?

                                                          Red Tail Hawk in Flight

Harris Hawks...depends where you look, but while I bird in Tucson, they are almost spotted on each outing.

The Verdin.  Research the sounds and listen for that hummingbird like sound....but not quite....and you'll find this little number hopping around you.  Sometimes you don't even know it!   

Reliable and Common bird....the Red Tail Hawk
Check telephone poles in the city.

Uplifting

It's all about the magic today.  Enjoy!

The Unexpected Surprises

Harris Hawk

Today's post if full of wonderful awesomeness.  It's when you're walking and stuff happens right around you. If you don't act quick enough, you miss the shot like the photographer trying to get the Harris Hawk during this day.  I had a private smile but that smile turned upside down the next day when I missed out on the American Kestrel attacking the Harris Hawk.  You win some and you lose some:)

And my camera is always right next to me at every turn.  On my way to Sweetwater in my neighborhood, a Cooper's Hawk sat on our street light.  I parked the car, aimed the camera, and took pics.  An older lady came my way and began talking with me.  She was sweet and replied, "A Cooper's Hawk on a Sunday morning.  It doesn't get better than that.:)"  But it would get better....

Cooper's Hawk

And like the Cooper's Hawk, I flew off to Sweetwater.

What an incredible day!!!!  It was super birdy and full of a billion bird species.  I began my count and within a short time, I had over 30 birds species!!!

Cactus Wren

Birds were either hanging out or flying by me at a rapid pace.

American Kestrel

I knew a Buffelhead was in the area but I kept my eyes open for other surprises.

Pied Bill Grebe

And I found everyone on my list that I was supposed to find!

Female Buffelhead

And while some of the photos weren't super great, I did have photo documentation that they were there.

From left to right, female Buffelhead, Northern Shoveler, and Mallard Duck.

Some posts, like this one, take time to process as I need to confirm the birds spotted.

With the Buffelhead, it wasn't an issue. The markings were clear and easy to see:)

But for this new species of Warbler and Sparrow below, I had to investigate.

Orange Crowned Warbler

This Orange Crowned Warbler sat in front of me for a few brief moments and then like all warblers took off!!!

But what took me the longest to research was this sparrow below.  Before any of my posts go out, I have several eyes check and verify pics before labeling them because I want accuracy on my reports.  Sometimes I'll throw the wrong name out there just to hear people give their explanations. About 60 percent of the time, I've labeled the "confusing" birds correctly.  But not the one below:)

Lincoln's Sparrow

It took one week to get enough feedback on the ID to prep for today's report. So many sparrows will just pop out of nowhere and surprise you along the way.  With sparrows, it's just important to sit and wait for them.

White Crowned Sparrow

Of course there are plenty others that are much easier to ID like the White Crowned Sparrow.  There have been so many of them lately around here and they have such cute faces.

Solitary Sandpiper

And Sweetwater is also home to the rare Solitary Sandpiper that has decided to call our wetlands home every winter:) And that is another wonderful unexpected surprise.  Here he is calmly taking a stroll in the stream.

More tomorrow....