Red Alert!

The male Vermilion Flycatcher

Back by popular demand.  You all loved the Vermilion Flycatcher so much that I thought I'd give you more action shots of this really cool flycatcher! And lately I've been seeing them everywhere!

The Female Vermilion Flycatcher eating a dragonfly

I absolutely love these birds because they are curious creatures and seem to follow me around wherever I go.

This pic above represents how they "hawk" for bugs.  It's easy.  You sit at the end of a branch and eye up the clouds of bugs.  Then get yourself something to eat.  But remember to return back to the branch and enjoy your meal:)

The smallest or largest of bugs are targets.  This poor dragonfly didn't have a chance.

Found around areas with water, which include many of our parks, Tucson is home to this beautiful little bird. So if you visit, keep your eyes open for these colorful numbers.  Best times to spot them are early morning.

More tomorrow.....

An Active Day!

Vermilion Flycatcher(male) and curious:)

It was El Presidio Gardens 2nd clean up event for this year and thank you to all the homeowners who came to help out on this very important day.  Without your help, our property would grow into a jungle!

Say what you like about pigeons but they do look beautiful in groups flying circles.  In fact, Miramonte Neighborhood has a group that swirls in circles AM and PM.  A signature piece to the Country Club/Speedway corners.

But on this day of write(10/6), something bigger would be revealed.  It has been hot here and now with the cooler temps arriving, it seems everyone has been breathing a sigh of relief!  Even the birds.

African Brown Goose

During our workday, I was overwhelmed by the number of bird species coming to visit El Presidio.  And let's not forget the butterflies.  For me, it was a testament that the gardens are serving their purpose.  Certain plants attract certain critters and for the first time(during the entire day), I was able to see how our property is attracting these magnificent creatures.  The research is paying off.

Black Crowned Night Heron

Certain areas have natural springs and of course, there are the parks......

Which is where I took these photos today.  Two Arizona blocks away is Reid Park.  I needed to get some birding in before our workday because I knew I would be exhausted afterwards. So I got up early and headed to the park where I would get my best shots ever of the Black Crowned Night Heron.

I was floored!  Never had I expected to find these magnificent creatures up in this tree.  In fact, there seemed to be an entire rookery up there!  But even stranger was this Great Egret on the adjacent branch!!!  Between this one bird and the many herons, I was snapping off shots for a half hour!  Even better was that I was finally able to get a nice shot of the Egret.  If you've tried to photograph these birds in the wrong lighting, you know what I'm talking about:)  In Tucson, our sun is intense and this bird glows on the shots because the white feathers reflect the sun!  Not today:)

But then, I nearly crapped myself.  And I almost missed it but thanks to my constantly evolving "bird sense", I spotted my first Kingfisher for the year!!!  The cherry on top of that delicious ice cream sundae.  This is the Belted Kingfisher.

I hope to get better shots of this wintering bird this year so we shall see.  But this bird is like spotting an owl....it makes me go "Ooooooo":)

Reid Park is my recommendation for those wanting to spot the Vermilion Flycatcher.  They are numerous here and seem to love the bandstand area.  Look at the trees around the building.  If this is on your life list and have limited time in Tucson,  head here early in the morning.  I spotted 5 pairs.  My female shots weren't so good.  She's yellow and has that black band around her eyes. 

While the pic below isn't up to snuff, I wanted to help you find where these birds like to perch.  This fence held two species.  The Gila Woodpecker stopped in for some fun.  It's one of the most reliable birds to see in the landscape.  You may not see the billion birds out there, but you'll always spot this Tucson favorite. And hear them as well:)

Like the Great Egret, this bird can also be difficult to get on camera because it's so small and if the sun hits the red feathers right, you may get blurry images.

There's plenty of water for these birds in this park.  I got there before the humans arrived with their dogs.  It was quiet, peaceful and the birds were happy.

Birding is definitely something to do bright and early.

Surprisngly I felt recharged and refreshed for some great gardening afterwards.  Although today as I type, my hands are full of cacti spines!  Yes, I wore gloves but none of that matters because our place looks fabu.

I came back and everyone was ready to work.  I pulled out my mental list.  Trees that needed pruning.  Weeds that needed pulling.  Plants that needed planting. Etc etc.

And while we were having our HOA meeting outside, I had a difficult time concentrating.  Because of the amazing life around me in the canopy of the trees.....the Curve Billed Thrasher, House Sparrows, House Finches, Cardinals, Verdins, Mourning Doves, Anna's Hummingbirds, Northern Mockingbird, etc etc.  They were all there and it was incredible. Truly incredible. And the butterflies hovered and clung to many of our leaves.  There were Queens and Swallowtails galore.

And I realized that once we add a water feature to the courtyard, we will have the perfect storm for maximum critter activity. Who knows?  We may become an EBIRD hotspot:)

And yet another shocker for me......this Starling.  They have invaded Tucson.  I thought I was seeing things but no....indeed, this was the Starling that gets everyone all angry.  But for me it was a life bird like the Belted Kingfisher so I kind of looked at this bird differently:)  Pretty scary looking.

And vocal!!!

To finish this post, I thought I'd end with a Swallowtail on Lantana shot.  Look at the wings of this beautiful butterfly.  You may notice that they aren't in great shape.  This is their last hoorah for the year and I will be sad when they disappear.

Vermilion Flycatcher

The Male Vermilion Flycatcher

I've been waiting for this bird to "appear" before me this year.  I even heard rumors it was near the bandshell by the zoo. 

Birders kept telling me, "I saw a Vermilion Flycatcher."  That's interesting. One would think that this hot red number would be easily spotted.....

I practically walked into him.  He just sat on the branch.  I had my short lense on and not the long lense. Switching the lenses=eternity!!!!

Female and Male Vermilion Flycatcher.  Together....the way it was meant to be.  Although 2 Male Vermilion Flycatchers might be considered scandalous or just too sexy:)

But he was sexy hot and around me all day.  I felt like he followed me around the park.  I was tipped off by a fellow neighbor that they spotted a Red Tanager.  But I don't hear about Red Tanagers here in Tucson.  And I saw them in Panama.  BUT I can understand how it happens.  They look "somewhat" alike.  This bird is definitely smaller.  I also have to add.....this was a first for me.  I know this bird has lived in Tucson, but I've never really seen one until today.

There were sounds coming from a tree that were different from other bird sounds I hear in the desert. (I am getting better at picking out the tones for certain birds).

So I continued to watch the behavior of this bird during the morning hours as it followed me here and there.

And then it flew off........and I went home to get ready for some gardening. 

There was this retired man who came out with his cell phone to snap a shot.  However the female Vermilion Flycatcher was only hanging out.  I said that the female was "over there".  But he said that he only "wanted the male".  I wonder if his wife knows.  More tomorrow.....