Holding The Front

Zone-tailed Hawk

If I didn't have birds, I would go crazy. It would seem like one endless day streaming into the other.  I view my bird outings as fun but sad!  Because after I'm birding, I know I will have to go home!

Every day, I find a moment and see something amazing.  And luckily, there are always things to see. Or experience. 

As this disease takes hold, I find myself having to end hanging out with friends on the trails.  Keeping the distance is important, but even better is staying home or AWAY from people altogether. 

It has become even more difficult to stay away from stupid people who think it's all a joke.  Some have even died.  One young man, a couple nights ago, lost his life while drag racing on our Mt. Lemmon road drunk.  No one is monitoring these areas. As a result, this guy is dead after driving off the side of the mountain. We were up on the mountain in the cold listening to owls and nightjars when we heard a lot of drag racing in the forested canyons.  It was just a matter of time before someone was killed.  Glad it wasn't us or the many other innocent bystanders who enjoy night hikes/birding on the trails.  And the wildlife doesn't deserve to be around our stupidity.

Sonoran Gophersnake

 I walk the trails listening for people.  Most people are good.  The few who are foolish are usually loud and easy to avoid.  Like a deer in the grass, I disappear.  I watch other birders and smile.  It is beautiful. 

Some days are difficult.  I want to get out but I can't because I have to go to the store or I have appointments with my work OR I just have work to get done at home!  It takes more energy these days.  The evenings are the hardest as I have come to discover that I hate watching TV.  

Western Kingbird

This week has been fun, but my greatest challenge has been the Gray Vireo.  It was a new bird for my Pima County list.  

Gray Vireos are common in Maricopa County but NOT in Pima.  They used to breed in smaller numbers here and still may do so in areas that are difficult to scout.  Outside of migration, it's a difficult bird to spot around Pima County.

I've seen many of them and recognize their call in AZ.  However, in Pima county, it's a different story. I've chased this bird 3 times this past week!  Finally, I heard the bird, but does it count?  The short answer is yes.  Plus I've seen it many times, but I like having photo records for my reports.  However, as a more seasoned birder now, I also respect the bird and will not bother it if it's not willing to show itself.  If it was a lifer, this would be a different story. 

Pyrruhuloxia

However, I can tell you with great enthusiasm that Lucy's Warblers are plentiful and very often seen around here before they hunker down to nest. 

In a really beautiful moment this past week, I headed out to Proctor Road for a rarish Golden-crowned Sparrow.  I met Tina and several other birders as we sat and watched her feeders.  It was a crazy experience.  So many good birds seen!

Broad-billed Hummingbirds fight over a spot at her feeders

But even better?  I missed talking to fellow birders.  I missed hearing their stories.  I missed the social part of it. Tina is "stuck" at Madera Canyon until the covid epidemic is over.  She's in an RV and in the most perfect place ever.  If she stays there long enough, she may even hear a Buff-colored Nightjar!

A rare hummingbird to the lower elevation, this Rivoli's Hummer comes in for a sip. 

The sunsets are gorgeous.  

And the spring migration show is out of the world. 

This female Broad-billed Hummingbird sips nectar from the wildflowers in the foothills of Madera Canyon. 

Sometimes she sits on the delicate branch to take a break from the high speed flying. 

For a moment, I forget the world is in chaos. 

Northern Cardinal

And in my excitement, I completely get lost in the moment as the Golden-crowned Sparrow comes out from the shadows. 

There are good days. And there are bad days.  I am fortunate that I have family to remind me to keep my sanity.  We zoom and drink.  My sister puts together games and we hang out.  There's a bit of ADD going on with this group, but I am grateful to have them there.  

I tried taking a pic but accidentally shut off my camera!

Stay well.  We still have a bit to go on this all. Nature is happening all around us. Until next time.....

The Transitional Slide

Northern Cardinals sing their hearts out this time of year to attract a mate

As winter fades into spring, the wintering birds begin their migration.

White-crowned Sparrow

February in Arizona is relatively a quiet time in the birding world.  Some rarities show up, but overall, it's a great month to catch up on yearly ticks in a relaxing manner.

The San Francisco Peaks

This year, so far, has been great for early hummers.

Anna's Hummingbird

During our trek out to the Desert Museum, we find several Costa's Hummingbirds actively feeding around the gardens.

Costa's Hummingbird

Their brilliant purple dazzles the naked eye.

But even rarer?  A male Allen's Hummingbird is hanging out with the Costa's in the area.

A rare male Allen's Hummingbird

February, March and April are busy times for bird guides.  While I am not an official bird guide, I find myself with many birders needing our Arizona specialties.  It's fun.  I meet new people and I get to watch their reactions to their "new" birds. One day, I'll be able to guide full time, but for now, it's stick to the program:)

During a tour to the Heard Museum, I found this Native American painting.  It accurately depicts a Great Horned Owl's preference for skunk. I imagine the meat is quite aromatic.

Verdin

With my parents at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, we notice Verdins and feeding Anna's Hummingbirds.

At the Desert Museum outside of Tucson, my parents admire the unique looking cacti and succulents.

While we visit all these amazing places, I stop and count birds whenever I can.

At one location, I discover a rare White-throated Sparrow.

rare White-throated Sparrow

At Saguaro National Park, we admire the moon in the background of a beautiful Saguaro.

This is the time of year when I begin to question why I'm sitting on my butt instead of chasing life birds.  Well, soon.  Very soon I'll be taking you all to a special place in search of several special birds while visiting with friends.  For now, I sit at a holding pattern. Until next time....

Tactical Alert

My weekly observations at Reid Park includes watching people watch birds.

Recently, I had to send my professional lens into the shop again because it locked up on me during our Wood Thrush journey.  So I sent the lens out of town for a fixin' and stayed close to home for some tactical training. 

My favorite habitat in Arizona, the grasslands.  And my favorite group of birds, the sparrows!

Tucson birders have pretty much all stayed in town this past weekend(which is uncommon).  A friend contacted me and asked if I wanted to do some birding in town.  I got the vibe that we were all doing the same thing and our plan went something like this, "We want to find something rare.  We don't care what it is.  But let's challenge ourselves and see if we can find something cool around town."

Magical and breathtaking, the open spaces of our Arizona grasslands make me feel alive

So that was our challenge. For the most part, it was unspoken but everyone who was doing a big year in Pima County decided that this was the weekend that something good was going to show up.  And I have to say we did great. 

Sheri, Jennifer and Peggy observe some great sparrows.

Before we did our big challenge, I had some friends come to town who needed help finding a Baird's Sparrow.  Easy.  

We sit at a water tank whispering and watching birds come to take a sip.  This Savannah Sparrow is thirsty....and wary!

We scanned the cattle tanks and along fence lines for our sparrows and had a great time observing some beautiful birds. 

Western Meadowlark

Around the Sonoita and Patagonia areas, we found several Baird's Sparrows, an American Bittern and a small flock of Chestnut-collared Longspurs.  

Patagonia Lake

It was a fun day out with Jennifer, Peggy and Sheri as we searched for all kinds of birds.  

Jennifer and Sheri are enjoying the butterfly show

So that was my fun birding.  Then came the tactical birding.  And again, the WHOLE week was set up to find something rare at our local parks and watering holes. Lens or no lens, the challenge was on!

Northern Cardinal at the Patagonia State Park feeders

It was a very good week full of surprises.  We had Cackling Geese, Red-breasted Mergansers everywhere, and something even more rare and special, a Couch's Kingbird. 

A Couch's Kingbird is a bird that might be seen in southern Texas but more commonly observed in Mexico. And here's how this chase organically evolved in Tucson.  One day I went to bird at Ft. Lowell Park.  I spotted Red Crossbills crunching away on pine cones. They were a nice find and I posted my sightings.  Then Melissa Williams went to find them the next day.  In the process of birding the park, she found an unusual out-of-place kingbird.

She posted on Facebook that she thought it was a little late for a Tropical Kingbird to be in Tucson.  And she was right. The next day, the Tucson birding crew all met up in one of those rare gatherings.  For a long while, we all worked together to figure out Melissa's bird and at the end of taking audio samples and photos, we concluded that her bird was a very special and rare Couch's Kingbird, a first record for Pima County!  This is not an easy bird to ID.  It looks a lot like our Tropical Kingbird:) If the bird calls, the ID is a snap.  Luckily for all of us, this kingbird made the "kip" calls.

Couch's Kingbird

 While all of this was going on, we were dealing with our poor Cassie.  She became very sick and was having a hard time breathing.  Afraid that we'd lose her, we took her to the ER.  I'm glad we did because we would have lost her.  She has a genetic disease known as Congestive Heart Failure. She is only 10 years old and hopefully with the meds, she'll be with us a little longer. I can say that her health has improved and her appetite has returned.  All critters have my heart.  They are my kryptonite.  She has health insurance which is better than our own! We still have a few more doctor appointments and we're hoping that she'll make a full recovery. 

Soon my professional lens will back and I will be preparing for some arctic cold temps in the North.  Until next time....

Ahhhh-Oooooo!

On an overcast day, Baby J sat in his stroller listening to the strange "Ahhhh-ooooohs" being made in the distance.  He made his own "ahhh-oooh!" and our hearts melted.

I took a break from the chases.  No more for now.  It was time to hang out with the family. So we headed to one of my favorite and yearly stops at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.  It's great for kids.  It's also a rehabilitation center for the critters.  And it's also a fantastic wildlife sanctuary. So Baby J got to go on his first birding adventure. 

At the Wildlife Sanctuary, they sell corn for the ducks and Baby J got to feed the hundreds of ducks. 

The baby J's hang out together

But he didn't get to see just ducks.  There were geese and turkeys and all kinds of critters.  

Wild Turkey

I watched his face as the ducks piled up around him. It was absolutely fun!

This is a great place for kids to experience wildlife up close.  Well maybe not too close to those Canada Geese:)

Northern Cardinal

It just so happened that we hit the day at the right time because it wasn't too cold and there weren't a lot of people walking around the park.

While at the sanctuary, he made duck sounds and wolf sounds, tried petting a Canada Goose....um.....yeah no. 

American Black Duck

He got to go down his first tree house slide, play in a turtle shell and throw milk on his uncle.  Stinker. 

The day went by too quickly and soon our adventures in Wisconsin would be over.  We had a fun last day together. 

And the real reason why I don't have kids? My family has contributed quite a few people to this planet.  Currently with a world population of 7 billion, quite a few of us will need to NOT have kids:)  So it's nice being the Uncle with all the nephews and nieces.  I'm just hoping that some of them will get the travel bug and maybe become a future birder?  

It's was nice to hang out with the family during the holidays, but it's back to the Arizona trails next week.  And the weather here is VERY nice:)  Until next time.....