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;)

The Little Bitty Birds

Painted Redstart

Today's post is fun and incredibly awesome.  There were many lifebirds here for me and during my stay at the Birder's B & B in Portal, AZ I was able to drink coffee, read my book and bird!!!  Many people ask if it's worth spending your money on birding places and my answer is "YES!"  

Black-throated Gray Warbler 

While my hikes were productive, much of my finds happened outside of my cabin door!  There's nothing better than to have birds surrounding you at all times because you never know who will drop in.  These were some special finds......like the Blue-throated Hummingbird.

Blue-throated Hummingbird

Granted the lighting here isn't great here but I was so close!!!  I wasn't expecting this hummingbird around but apparently 2 pairs nest all year round here.

Hammond's Flycatcher

Of course during the quiet of my reading, a lot of these little birds would fly right up to the running water.

Hermit Thrush

I discovered over my 3 days here that the warbler and small bird invasion happened during the hours of 8:00 AM til 9:00 AM.  Well this was the best viewing that I had all day of these birds and it's one of the few times they would come out into the open for me to capture on film.

But it was incredible.  The Warbler Invasion was awesome.  I've heard about this happening in other places but never had I witnessed it in person.  Not only did the warblers come in great numbers but so did lots of Sparrows, Bridled Titmouse, Painted Redstart(also considered a warbler), Flycatchers, and hummers!  It was like a small bird party.

I sat smiling in the cool temps of Portal drinking wonderful coffee and reading a great book.

Chipping Sparrow

My personal thrills for this day were the Black-throated Gray Warbler and Painted Redstarts!  I think I jumped out of my seat.

They had been reported at Sweetwater in Tucson but I wasn't having any luck finding them.  Plus I wasn't even sure I'd know one if I saw it.  Then in Portal, I saw the tiny flying skunk in the sky:)  And I knew I had found myself a new lifebird. 

And while all of this was going on up in the canopy of the trees, I was watching the sidelines. Lots of fun action happening from previous birds I had already seen.....but they're still cool to watch:)

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Most interesting was the display that the Blue-throats were putting on around the property. 

And here we see some fancy flight work going on.   While I was having a conversation with one of the owners, I was taking pictures:)  Fascinating stuff here.

This Blue-throat looks like a young one as he was a smaller male compared to the rest.

The difficult part about the warbler invasion came from the huge variety of warblers that were out there.  And I know I missed a lot more.  But I did witness my last lifebird below.  Not only was my stay at the Bed and Breakfast relaxing; it was also rewarding.  It truly was a birding oasis and that's what I love about these places.  When you're not hiking, you can still relax in a rocking chair with a cup of coffee and watch birds.  More tomorrow....

Townsend's Warbler

The Land of Mañana

Sulphur Butterfly

"You're in the land of mañana, my friend", said the gas clerk in the strange town of Animas, New Mexico.  Where the hell was I?  Why was there only 1 gas station in a 50 mile radius?  No ATM's and even fewer people.  It was scary.  Isolating.  A step back in time by about 40 years. 

Yet I came here to escape humanity.  And while the trip was extremely rewarding, it had a bit of danger to it.  So I took the walking stick to protect myself, put on my sun hat and began searching for everything.

And while I spent my time in Portal, AZ, I attended a lecture with Roberta and Michael.  Practically the entire human community showed up on this cool night to listen to a couple of Chiricahuan researchers.   One was a New Yorker and hilarious:)

Mule Deer

Check out this data!  Did you know?

1.  Of the 43 bats found in the US, 24 species are found in these mountains.

2.  Of the 950 birds found in the US, 375 can be found in the Chiracahuas.

3. Of the 400 mammals in the US, 90 live here.   

The "Sky Islands" were unaffected by the last Ice Age and the critters were allowed to continue their evolution.   The Chiracahuan Leopard frog is an example of this evolutionary step forward.  Or the endangered, thought to be extinct but rediscovered, Mt. Graham Red Squirrel.

The Chiracahua Mountains are 40 miles long and 20 wide.   It is one of 42 Sky Islands that exist between Mexico and the US.  They are known as the Madrean Archipelago. All have a unique biodiversity found nowhere else in this world but here in these forgotten parts of the world.  Each different from one another. 

Acorn Woodpecker

Home to Jaguars, Jagarundi, Ocelots, Mountain Lions, and Bobcats.  It's one of the few places where these cats still roam together as they once did in other parts of Southern Arizona.

While the fires on top of these mountains have done damage, I'm happy to report that the Aspens are now human height.  These are the first trees to sprout after wildfires.  And it's also the reason many of the bears were coming down to visit:)  Portal is truly an exciting experience full of wildlife minus the people.  So remember to bring cash, your birding guide, and a full tank of gas because this truly is the "Land of Mañana."

"Above the Circle"

  

Portal, Arizona

Welcome to the isolated world of Portal, Arizona.  I ran away from home to escape the urban life for a much needed break. I had indeed found one of the last remaining places on this world mostly untouched by humankind.

Coyote

Well not really isolated when you consider all the incredible animal life around me.  But being the only one of the trails in the darkest forests felt at times eerie.

Mexican Fox Squirrel

I wrote to you all that I wish I could find bears.  And indeed I did but the danger factor was high.  I knew several spots where they were watching me from the bushes and I don't normally feel that "spider sense" on my walks but in Portal I did.  There was an edge of danger to the walks.  In this part of the world, Mountain Lions, Jaguars, and Bears roam freely up and down canyons. I decided that my life was much more important than to get a shot of a bear.  At one point I chased the Elf Owls but stopped when I realized that there was a bear hiding behind a boulder. The Elf Owls can wait.

Mule Deer

Portal is a world protected by desolation. In fact, I had to enter the sandy deserts of New Mexico. I could tell immediately that I had left my beautiful Sonoran desert home.  Not many humans live here and the ones that do consider themselves to be lucky to live "Above the Circle"......those fortunate enough to be surrounded by nature and escape the madness of the human world.  It's a world of quiet, deep reflection and constant exploration.  I think I could like that life:)  Well except for the little inconveniences like not having a gas station nearby.  There was an OLD fashioned one 40 miles away!!!  And all the ATM machines(3 in a 50 mile radius) were blown out by a storm.  It was isolating. So bring cash.

Tarantula

I did attend a lecture by the research station on a wonderfully cold evening.  I will write about the research tomorrow and it again backs up the importance of our sky islands and diversity of life in Arizona.  

Mexican Jays

I found myself on hikes during the day and reading my book during the dark and cold nights sipping coffee.  One night I sat and listened to bird calls on my CD player to help me find all the incredible feathered ones.  And I'll share those finds with you all in two days. Until then, I leave you with this Jay flying off into the Portal skies......