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.

Try

I find chasing after a new bird has a cost because it doesn't always guarantee an excellent picture.....just a fuzzy one for that chance glimpse. And while running after that bird, many other species present themselves in broad daylight.  Ones that I've wanted to get great shots of since the beginning of this year.....but the distant call of the Groove Bill Ani calls me and I run.

Male Summer Tanager

As I run, the rare Male Summer Tanager taunts me sitting on top of a sign.  A test to see how bad I want this bird.  But I stop and hold myself together to snap shots of it.  The Ani calls again and my heart races and I must leave the bird that I've been trying to get better shots of........all for the Ani.

I walk briskly to the bird call.  Whenever there is a rare bird like the Plain Capped Starthroat Hummingbird or the Groove Billed Ani, I can't sleep well.   I memorize their calls and listen carefully while out in the field.  I hear the call repeatedly.

Meanwhile, like the devil taunting me, birds sit and stare at me giving me perfect shots of them.  "Come on!!!  Why couldn't you have done this before???  Why now!??"  The call comes again.

Rare bird indeed.  The only one in the US right now and the whole world is looking for it.  I find another birder also focusing her eyes on the same place I hear the call.

Cooper's Hawk

We look into the tree full of Grackles but a floppy jump catches my eye. "Everyone is here searching for you and we two lucky people found you."

But my eyes are distracted.  INCA DOVES!!!!!????  Come on!!!  Is this some sort of sick joke??!!!  I have searched for you all year long and now, NOW! of all times you and your friends are with the Ani in the tree.  

Inca Doves

A White Crowned Sparrow pops out....and perches perfectly for me.  I wish I had a copy of myself to observe them all at once.  But I can't.  And it's frustrating.  The Ani calls one last time and snaps my attention back like a tight rubber band. 

White Crowned Sparrow

And I catch it flying off into the reeds of the Sweetwater Wetlands.  And as soon as it all happens, it all quickly fades away.  Birders see us both get excited and MANY people come towards us.  I point the direction of the bird and they all quickly go after it.

Groove Billed Ani

"Try" happened twice for me to find this bird.  I had many sleepless nights. Finding the bird was pure adrenaline.  I won't forget that moment for a long time.  But I am a perfectionist and as a photographer, I was upset with my pictures.  I am OCD and went back the next day around the same time.  Would luck strike twice?  More tomorrow.....

Vanishing Into Nature

"Hey you! Yeah you between the trees....."

Painted Redstart

                                                                     "in the trees....."

Northern Cardinal

                                                     "flying between the trees....."

"clinging onto the trees....."

Red Naped Sapsucker

"thinking about leaving the tree......"

                                                 "peeking beyond the branches....."

"I know you're there. You can no longer hide from me. Especially when red is your color:)"

Summer Tanager

"And while they aren't perfect shots, they are proof you existed and that I saw you.  You glorious creatures."
And like everything in nature, it all vanishes away.

Taken this past Sunday morning from El Presidio Gardens.  Personally I like my Arizona skies blue;)