A Bigger January

Snowy Egret

It has been an amazing January so far.  And the month isn't even over yet!  If it's one thing I learned about last year's BIG JANUARY, it's not about how many birds you find as it is more about locating the rare birds first. And then finding the easier ones along the way. With that strategy in mind, I've really been able to rake in the birds this month.  So here are some of my birder tips for the Big January Challenge.......

Eared Grebe

Study where each of the birds hang out.  It took me a year(and I'm still learning about new locations!) to figure out where everything is!

Female Costa's Hummingbird

Take a trip somewhere fun on January 1st to jump start your Big January. It doesn't have to be far, but preferably a place with a different habitat full of different birds that you won't find in your own area. We chose the ocean and found lots of great water birds that of course, are rare to our desert.
 

Marbled Godwit

Familiarize yourself with human behaviors.  People can be difficult to work around....especially the ones with dogs.......and truly the ones that refuse to keep their pets on a leash!!!  Once people enter the picture on the trails or beaches, the birds disappear.  So understanding human routine is very important.  Plus birds are the most active during those early hours of sunrise. If you are chasing a rare to find bird, head directly to the area where it is seen and DO NOT STOP to count the other birds.  That can come later. More than likely the bird will be gone if you make too many stops. 

Fox Sparrow

As a global community, we have forgotten about working together.  Many things are done online or with computers which of course takes the human equation out of the picture.  I have found in my own profession that much of the work is now mandated without discussion.  Collaboration is just a word.  But in the real world it is still very much alive. Teaming up with other birders has allowed us to find greater amounts of birds and share in that celebration. And it is a celebration.  The greatest gift for a birder is a life bird. Plus we're really easy to shop for....anything with a bird on it:)

Recently, I teamed up with Gordon's Birding Adventures, Kathie Brown from Kathie's Birds and Melody Kehl(a bird guide who knows her stuff!) and Audubon. And there are more dates with other birders coming up.  We can accomplish the impossible with an extra set of eyes or ears. Together we all enjoy the benefits and beauty of this passion we call birding. 

Allen's Hummingbird

I will follow up with totals and other incredible birds on part 2 of this "Bigger" January in a few weeks.  But for now I'll leave with some special moments while on the trails.

Whimbrel

Willets

Townsend's Warbler

Mexican Spotted Owl

Rosy-faced Lovebird

Greater White-fronted Goose

Harris's Sparrow(juvenile)

Western Screech-Owl

Rufous-capped Warbler

Elegant Trogon

And that's why this January has been a much bigger January:)  Stay tuned for more......

The Hoot Suite

Blue-throated Hummingbird

Written the first week of June before the Guatemala trip. I should have been getting ready to pack, but instead I went into full birder mode before my trip to Guatemala. Is that terrible?  I promise those posts are coming up.  But I couldn't sleep at night knowing there were birds out there that would be gone by the time I got back.  I've noticed that the White-eared Hummingbird stops by for a brief month visit and then leaves elsewhere.  This year I didn't want to miss that visit and hung out at the hummingbird feeders.

White-eared Hummingbird (Lifebird 340)

I would have to say that this was one of my favorite days birding.  Pat was able to come along with me and see some amazing birds.  The White-eared Hummer flew quickly and near to me.  I had my eye out for this one as he would be the next new hummingbird to add to my hummingbird list.  If you'd like to see my Charm of Hummingbirds from last year, click on the link here.  You want hummingbirds?  Come to Southern Arizona.  They're all waiting for you:)

Magnificent Hummingbird

There was a man from the East coast with his wife at the CAS(the hummingbird feeder area) at Beatty's Guest Ranch.  It's the number one spot to see many of our North American hummingbirds.  Ash Canyon with Mary Jo also has a few others not seen up at Beatty's like the Lucifer Hummingbird.  Each place asks for 5 dollars to help fill those feeders etc. I sure do appreciate their generosity by allowing us a better glimpse at some of the rarer jewels found in the Huachuca mountains.  The visiting man was extremely nice and I helped him find his Blue-throated Hummingbird.  It's fun helping people find lifebirds. Normally it's the other way around:)   Their faces and expressions make me happy.  So what could be better than hummingbirds?  Do you really need to ask?

Look closely at the tree.  Past the blue throated lizard.  Beyond the gnarly branches.  Just below the second branch.

Life's little miracles.  Two Northern Pygmy Owlets are just about to explore our big world.   My smile was wide.  It was lifebird number 341.  Owls!

Northern Pygmy Owls(Lifebird 341)

For 30 minutes, we watched and watched the antics of these two little ones.

Some people find their target birds and quickly move off to see their next one.  Not me.  I watch until I can't watch anymore.  And sometimes that interferes with finding the other target birds.  There were 5 in Miller Canyon.  I dipped on the Northern Goshawk and Montezuma Quail.  I could hear them close by but I really wanted to see these Northern Pygmy Owls.

Owls make me so happy.   Like the man finding his Blue-throated Hummingbird, I smiled and smiled and smiled the whole time observing these little birds.   These owlets will grow to be just a little bigger than the Elf Owls.  Here's the Elf Owl below.  They are really tiny!  The pic makes them look bigger than they really are. I put the above shot of the tree to show you just how small these little holes in the trees can be.  The only way I can track them are with my ears.  If they don't make a sound, I'll walk right by them.

Elf Owl at Madera Canyon

There's a trick to owling.  I'm learning how to do it better.  Obviously the best(and easiest!) times to find them all are when they are nesting.  That's why this trip was important.  By the time I came back from Guatemala, they would have been gone.  These little birds are about to fledge.

I love all birds, but I am not embarrassed to say that I love owls and hummingbirds more.  Every bird has their place and beauty.  I see that every time I'm out looking for birds.  Even Turkey Vultures are majestic birds.

But there is something about the grace, intelligence, and gentle beauty of the owl that makes me fall in love with them everytime I see them.  Had Pat not spotted this Mexican Spotted Owl, I would have walked right past him:)  On this birdy outing, we had a beautiful hike up Miller Canyon.

Mexican Spotted Owl

Healthy Competition

  

I almost hate to admit it, but I'm going to make this confession today.  I love the competition that comes with birding.  Now granted, I don't really like playing board games or any of that stuff, but I do enjoy a nice game of cat and mouse.  Or playing detective.

The infamous Mexican Spotted Owls from Miller Canyon

I wish I could dedicate my full attention to the birding world, but I simply can't.  Nor can several other birders I highly respect via the internet.  So we have to plan with the time we are given. On this day, I introduced Kathie to the Huachuca mountains.  These are the mountains I know best because of my constant study of hummingbirds last summer. I know where the birds are and I know the people involved around the various canyons. Here's where the fun game begins.  A fellow blogger, by the name of Mr. Butler, and another birder with a DJ name, had gone out and snagged the Elegant Trogon.  I dipped so badly on this bird that it hurt.  Of course, they dipped on the Mexican Spotted Owl. Their links are below.  These are specialty birds that are difficult to find.   To stay within the top 10 birders of Arizona, I had to find these birds!  I had gone to Patagonia to find the Elegant Trogon but missed the bird due to several tourists clinging onto my every move. It's tourist season here.  Note to self. Never answer that question, "What's that little red bird over there?"  Answer.  Vermilion Flycatcher. 

He's sexy and he knows it.

 Bad bad move on my part.  Everyone LOVES this bird. Now Kathie would tell me that I did the right thing and that I was very helpful, but this is a game! But my Wisconsin half(the good side, always takes over:) It was difficult as I had to make choices.  Instead of directly heading to Patagonia State Park before the tourists got there, I went to Paton's House.  It wasn't bad at all because I found 4 new birds for the year!  But the Elegant Trogon is different.  It's something special and I REALLY wanted to see it.  Mr. Butler and Tommy D found their Trogon and did a happy dance.  And it  frustrated me to miss a bird spotted by hordes of noisy people beforehand....all because of a choice.  It's true what they say about paths:)

Kathie doing her victory pose for the new lifebird.  Note stance is similar to another birder:)

The drive is so strong that it overrides logic.  Kathie loves to bird in a calm fashion.  We're good for each other as she teaches me to relax and just enjoy it all.  Take it all in.  I do, but I can be impulsive until I find that new bird. She reminds me to just ......enjoy. That's the chaser in me.  I've had that in my blood since I was a kid. Several weeks ago, I burned myself out.  And I suspect the same happened with Kathie as well:)  I had Spring Break and that means power birding happened everyday.  Well almost everyday.  I did shutdown one day and sleep.  But most of it was spent on the trails tracking down birds!  On this day, my friend would pick up two lifebirds......the Lucifer Hummingbird and the Mexican Spotted Owl.  She would also be able to add Bushtits to her Arizona list.  It was a lot of fun watching her get excited.  Usually it's me finding the lifebirds:)

I had filmed these birds before but I was super happy watching Kathie get excited over these birds.  And that's how I feel about my friendly rivals out in the field.  I really enjoy their work and discoveries. For me, it's about becoming a better and stronger birder. We learn a lot from each other.  My frustrations come from not doing my best work out in the field because I'm tired from overdoing it all.  I have done a lot of research on each of the birds I go find.   Sometimes, I scratch my head.   But when birding in a new exotic location, I'm like a kid in the candy store.  Too many new bird calls.  Too many birds I don't recognize!  But thankfully in Arizona, I've got most of the 300+ birds down now.  Gulls, sandpipers, empids, empaths, and some sparrows are excluded as of this write:)  Whenever a birder asks, "What's that?"  I usually respond, "It's a Harpy Eagle."  And if we're looking at the thrashers, I usually say, "It's a Crissal.":)

 Here are the blogs from the people mentioned in this post today.
Butler's Birds-Birds around the Phoenix area, state of Arizona, and a beyond!
Tommy D's Birding Expeditions-Birds around Maricopa and beyond.
Kathie's Birds-Birds and reflections from around Tucson, the US, and state of Arizona
Their work is an inspiration.  If I'm feeling "out of it", all I have to do is read their adventures to get me back in the game. There are several other birders in this state that have blogs as well....so thank you! You all motivate me to get off my lazy butt. I limited my birding to a couple days during the week, a full day on Saturday, and if I get my chores done.....today.......which means getting the yard cleaned up, plants watered, and laundry finished, I can play.

Lucifer Hummingbird

I have a lot more work coming up for everyone.  It's getting warm outside.  Kathie is writing poetry.  School is coming to an end for this year.  I'm preparing for an epic trek back to Guatemala after a 7 years absence.  My study and focus again will be on the hummingbirds and photography (along with some spectacular visits to Tikal National Park, etc.)  So I have to begin my research for the trip.   As I step outside of the human world more, I am finding some interesting truths about life. Warning: Deep thoughts are coming......

I'm a conflicted man.  Raised with a  Mother who loves parrots.  I  began my education at a younger age.

Mom posing for her annual Christmas pic with Azul

But I believe in a world of cage-less birds......and so whenever possible, our parrots were left to fly around the house when everyone was gone. I know I know....the poo.  It was and still is my Dad's biggest complaint back home:)  And check out my nifty night glasses from the late 80's! PS. This lovebird is still alive!!!!

 This lovebird(Quetzali) and her kind became invasive in the Phoenix area.  I raised this one from a little egg. She escaped once in Tucson and I was worried she'd die.  Not a chance.  She came back to me again to undo the screws on my old glasses.

Monk Parrots(aka Quakers) have invaded Casa Grande and the US! California Border Patrol now searches for illegal immigrants and illegal Monk Parrots.  It's no joke! But it sure sounds like one.  Enough that my Dad laughed out loud.  The agent did not.   My lovebird was questioned during my move to the Bay Area. So I had to translate "bird" and we were allowed to pass.  Clearly Quetzali was NOT a Monk!  

Rubi, out in the wild with Mary Jo at Ash Canyon.  My mother has an African Gray by the name of Tamara.  Can you believe that Kathie and I found one in the wild at Casa Grande??!!!!

But back to deep thoughts. Each day we develop a routine like the critters around us.  Many raise children, go to work, pay the bills, require money to survive, stress over jobs and the little things. And for many, it is not so little. Perhaps I've been around the retired crowd too long this winter, but they all say the same thing........"Does any of it really matter?  We've done our time in society and now it's ours to live."  They step out of our daily routines and explore the world realizing time is limited.  Yesterday during a bird observation, I listened to a man from Canada who had seen so many wonderful things in his lifetime, but health-wise things were shutting down.  He was going blind.  He couldn't keep up with his wife anymore.  And he suspected it would be his last year.  And yet the thrill of the Lazuli Bunting made both of them excited as if they were children again.

I'll be blue for you. 

 We bird not only because they are cool creatures.  We bird for the game, for the thrill of finding something new and unexpected, for the competition, for the strange places we get to visit (because of the birds), for the people we meet.........and for me?  It's rediscovering that lost child inside.  This "game" for me is about finding as many of the 10,000 birds as I can before my time is up. The prospect is thrilling.  I cannot wait to take Pat on those journeys. As I finish up many of my Arizona birds, I will begin to visit other states and countries.  The Elegant Trogon can wait....for now.  Watching my bird buddy thrilled over lifebirds she had never expected to see in her lifetime was.....thrilling.  In a few days, we'll be visiting the Petrified National Forest, the Grand Canyon and a look at Orioles.     Stay tuned for more....

Those Special Moments

Ladderback Woodpecker

After a nice day hiking, it's great to sit down at someone's birdfeeder and watch the birds come to you!

American Robin

It's relaxing and fun!  Several of these birds featured today were at feeders while others just plopped out of nowhere for a nice viewing.

Painted Redstart

Everything is starting to green up around here and the wildlife is alive and HUNGRY!

As limbs start budding on the trees, squirrels begin eating the new growth.

Today it was about wings and flight.  I sat lazily at the feeders enjoying the wonderful weather watching the Yellow-rumped Warblers(below) treating themselves to some bark butter.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

There's something very special about watching nature up close. 

On this day, I'd introduce Kathie to Mary Jo at Ash Canyon and Mr. Beatty at Miller Canyon. The photo below is from Paton's House near Patagonia.  All of these places ask for donations starting around 5 dollars.  It helps them feed the birds around their properties.

Lazuli Bunting, Lesser Goldfinch

Sometimes finding birds doesn't have to be difficult at all.

Sometimes sitting from a nice chair with a cold drink is all you need to find those normally elusive little birds.

Bushtits

Some pointers for feeding birds in your own yard.  Orioles love fresh oranges, jelly placed in a container, citrus flavored suet, or just plain ol' hummingbird nector(sugar water).  They even make Oriole bird feeders!

Scott's Orioles

The Scott's Orioles were such a fun find at Paton's House.   The male is above and very colorful.  We found the female below at Ash Canyon Bed and Breakfast.

Here you can see a feeder at my Grandmother's house in Wisconsin.  She is wonderful with her birds.

 And she LOVES her Orioles.  Please send positive vibes her way.  She had a stumble over a week ago and while she is doing better, any positive thoughts you can send her way would be appreciated.  While the Orioles pass through Arizona, she awaits their arrival in Wisconsin.  They are, along with the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, just a couple of her favorite birds.  By the end of May, they arrive back into her garden and enjoy her feeders again.

House Finches

Thistle feeders attract your finches and siskins.  Regular seed=the sparrows.  Sunflower seeds attract your cardinals/finches.  And all seed on the ground attracts your doves:)  Peanuts=woodpeckers/nuthatches.  And dried fruits, bark butter=warblers, tanagers, orioles and every bird.  Sugar water=hummingbirds, orioles and bees:) Dried worms=thrushes, bluebirds, thrashers.  Nasty birdbath water attracts them all:)  Your wallet?  Empty:)

Pine Siskin

But the trails call.  And look who we found.  More to come......

Mexican Spotted Owls

For more fun, head over to Birding Is Fun! where you'll find my latest write on birding in Panama!