The "Other" State

 The body grows tired, and my work gets mixed up in flowers, lizards, snakes, bats and bugs.  But onward I trekked with an amazing crew of wildlife trackers and herpers.  Being one of two birders, we safely entered the state of Sonora, Mexico which borders the southern part of Arizona. 

Flame Skimmer

We camped for several days and nights without electricity, air conditioning and other creature comforts.  And yet the rewards were higher on this trek than any other because we were in some remote areas around Sonora.  While the birds were in great numbers, they took a backseat on this trek.  

Pallid Bats

Some of the greatest mysteries still remain on the mountain tops of Northern Mexico.  Sonora is an amazing state full of surprises. As I've reported before, Arizona is a well birded state in most of the various regions.  In contrast, much of Sonora has not been ebirded. It's rather sad since it's all connected. Part of my job at our locale was to find birds and other rarities.  Birds like Green Kingfishers and Five-striped Sparrows are often seen in these places and this time was no different.  

I'm not a rough and rugged hiker as I do prefer the softer side of camping. And yes, camping can be fun and comfortable! One of my big dislikes for this time of year comes in the form of scaly fanged critters known as snakes. It makes birding a challenge! There were rattlesnakes and other venomous creatures hanging out in the thick grasses.  In one situation, I had a Black-tailed Rattler sound off with a loud "RAAAAATTTTLE!" and flee further back into the grasses!  I did my heebie jeebie dance and got away from the area.  The herper with me was sad that it had escaped. While I was freaking out, he was running after the snake!  Hopefully he didn't look back and see me doing my willy nilly freak out.  And yes, guys can admit that snakes freak them out.  Just don't kill them.  They are good to have around.....just not my personal space.  Herpers are a fascinating group of people.  Both birders and herpers are nerds in their own sense but I'll just say that one group is wilder than the other:)  Might have to challenge those stereotypes!

It was hard to ignore the many beautiful butterflies around the area. However our mission was to track Jaguars.  These elusive creatures had been found around several spots and so we went to check equipment around the various locations.  

Queen Butterfly

I am truly fascinated by this state.  This year Las Aventuras took you to Rocky Point, Sonora for a seabird adventure.  Now we're visiting the interior mountain region of the state.  It's a large area to cover and I hope to get further south for a closer look at the indigenous peoples and their tropical birds. 

Dark Buckeye

Finding a crew to go to Mexico is no easy task.  Not many Americans feel comfortable these days crossing the border.  And rightly so!  BUT crossing the border was a much safer option for me than staying near the border on the Arizona side to observe Five-striped Sparrows.  This year we ran into drug trafficking around the Ruby Road area and it was a bit unsettling. 

Africanized Bees!  Very dangerous when a swarm becomes upset.  Each year several people will die from their stings.

 One of my favorite things about the Sonoran desert is how wild and dangerous it all can be.  Poisonous critters, spiky cacti, heat and strange human varieties all inhabit this vast landscape.  Coming from Wisconsin, this place continues to fascinate me.  Every day I wake up in MY HOME, I think.....I live here!  I really really live here!  Purple sunsets.  Prickly cactus pads.  Sparkling hummingbirds.  Colorful lizards.  Outdoor dining.  Mountains.  Canyons.  It's all so beautiful and overwhelming at times.  And much of it is still so very wild. 

Ocotillo line a wash

The Sonoran desert enters a good portion of Mexico. Political lines, drug issues and very remote and rocky roads can make this area very undesirable to explore. And maybe language barriers:)  I'd love to piece together the "birdscape" puzzle between Arizona and the state of Sonora.  I'd get to use my Spanish and study birds.  Pretty awesome!

Southern Dogface

 While on this trek, a major discovery happened for me.  I glanced down on the ground and noticed this strange looking snake.  But it wasn't a snake.  Instinctively I knew this but it took me time to wrap my head around the creature I was staring at intently. Once my brain ID'd this lizard.....yes lizard......I did a secret herper lifer dance.  The move looks something like a snake wrapping itself around its prey. Not pretty at all.  There are not many lizards or snakes that inspire me to move in a positive manner, but the Madrean Alligator Lizard is like finding a Montezuma Quail!  Herpers and birders alike rejoice at these beauties.   Note their tiny tiny feet. 

Madrean Alligator Lizard

 With the recent monsoon rains, the canyon was ALIVE!  Imagine Julie Andrews singing the "Hills are Alive" running through the grasses and then getting bit by a venomous snake.  That's how green the mountains and canyons were!  Black and Turkey Vultures would quickly find her body and have a snack. Definitely not a Disney production:) Thankfully Julie never ran through THOSE grasses.

Common Lesser Earless Lizard

Most of the time, it's all very brown.  Yet with a wet rainy season, everything really greens up nicely!  All of this happens within a matter of a month!

The warbler migration has begun.  Most evident were the Nashville, MacGillivray's, Yellow and Wilson's Warblers dripping from the trees!  They were everywhere.  Blue Grosbeaks and Yellow-breasted Chats were also very abundant. 

Five-striped Sparrow

However, my mission this year was to observe Five-striped Sparrows and a Green Kingfisher.  I could not relocate the Rose-throated Becard.  Their nest was still present, but no one was home!

MacGillivray's Warbler

I am now home after a long weekend of satisfying work and bug bites! 

A special thank you goes out to Kathy Cooper and her daughter Mary Ann for making such wonderful meals.  It truly takes talent to work off the grid feeding a group of people without having the use of electricity.  Each meal was an amazing piece of art and our group was grateful for their hard work.  Kathy and Mary Ann, you both are one of a kind.  Thank you for organizing this spectacular event. 

Ares Metalmark

While it was a challenging weekend, we each completed our goals to help keep tabs on the wildlife in that area so that they stay protected.  We discovered Mountain Lions, Javelina, Coues Deer and so much more.  As for the Jaguars?  I hope they keep their secrets hidden from humans.  I know they are out there.  Once, 6 years ago, I came across one in the Amazon.  We briefly made eye contact and I smiled.  Some secrets are sacred.   For more on wild birds and other fun things found around our world, check out Wild Bird Wednesday!

The Discovery Trail

At Empire Ranch, Kathie and I found a gate.  A rusty brown gate.  It called our names.  And we entered searching for birds.

Fire Ants

While doing so, we faced massive amounts of insects on the trail.  If you're not careful where you step, you may find yourself badly damaged after thousands of fire ant bites.  So we avoided these patches while exploring the area.

Leopard Frog Protection House

In fact, this trail was really all about the insects.  The deafening sounds of the Cicada actually hurt our ears and blocked out any bird sounds.  But holy cow were the butterflies active in this field of wildflowers!

Common Checkered Skipper

I never tire of the Queen butterfly below and I apologize for constantly taking pics of them.  But I've added a butterfly "lifer" and new addition to Las Aventuras above.  This summer I captured the Checkered White Butterfly on camera.  Now we can also see the Common Checkered Skipper!

Queen Butterfly

So this monster Cicada flew into view.  All I can tell you is that these insects were sooooo LOUD!!!

Cicada

And as for the birds?  Well we saw the Say's Phoebe.  But Kathie knew a better spot to find birds and would we find some incredible things!  Stay tuned more from our adventures in the grasslands near Sonoita.

Say's Phoebe

Hanging Out In The Shade

Curve billed Thrasher

Before monsoon began, I seriously had to force myself out in the wild and attempt the impossible.  Birding during the midafternoon heat.  When I say that it was dead and not a single lizard, bird or insect was out, I mean it!  I had thought about going home in the 106 degree weather since the butterflies weren't out and about like I had thought they would be.  So I went into the shade for relief....and listened.

Female Anna's Hummingbird

No one was around and I was the only guy in the gardens which was actually quite nice.  What I discovered was that the world was indeed very active but only in the shade.  It wasn't obvious at first but after sitting and listening to my surroundings, I was able to locate a lot of critters.

 These colorful bugs are the immature, wingless nymphs of the Giant Mesquite Bug or Leaf-footed Bug (Thasus neocalifornicus).

While looking at some art, I discovered some "natural" work(above pic).  I thought it was fake at first until I took a closer look.  We have some cool bugs in this desert...especially during the monsoon season.

And birds aren't dummies.  This Cardinal was hiding in the reeds.  Unfortuneatly his red gave away his location.  His girlfriend was also there but didn't stick out like this guy.

Even this Anna's Hummingbird played it safe as she flew and hovered around flowers in the shade.

Queen Butterfly

I did find this Queen butterfly on the Texas Mist.  I was hoping for more shots, but this is okay.

And water from the fountain was quite popular with the birds.

Stay cool!

 More tomorrow....

The Queen's Jubilee

The Queen butterfly.  Mother natures own celebration:)

Maxine & Jonathan Marshall Butterfly Pavillion

My friend Marla

While I'm in Panama and collecting lots of cool info, I thought I'd take you to a place we visited in early April at the Maxine and Jonathan Marshall Butterfly Pavilion.  This next series takes us to the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens near the Papagayo park and Phoenix Zoo.  If you go right now, wear a hat and go early in the morning, but personally I think it's too hot to even enjoy the experience and would wait until October or November to visit. As some of you may or may not know, I am a docent for the Tucson Botanical Gardens and volunteer when I can in the Butterfly Pavilion there.  Most butterfly pavilions are closed now and quite frankly that's a good thing......it's just too hot to function is this weather.  However, we don't need pavilions here in the desert southwest during this time of year as we have lots and lots of our own native butterflies to enjoy here.  I have a series on butterfly plants written back in March so it's not too late to put a couple of those plants in for your own enjoyment:) 

The main differences between the two butterfly pavilions are that the Tucson display is enclosed and smaller while the Phoenix display is airy, open, and surrounded by a net.  The types of butterflies and moths are also different.   Our shipments come from Costa Rica, Africa, etc. and the Phoenix butterflies come from Florida.  All of them are very cool and that's what I loved about this particular butterfly pavilion.  There were lots of oranges and yellows flying all around us.  

These Julia(Dryas julia) are taking a break from their warm day and catching up on some fresh citrus.

I secretly shot my friend looking at something.  She had a stowaway butterfly on her shirt as she was trying to exit.  Many of the butterflies found in this pavilion can also be seen in the Sonoran desert.  There were Sulfurs, Buckeyes, Queens, Malachites, Longwings, and Swallowtails.  The mister would come on every several minutes to keep the moisture levels up for the butterflies.

A Swallowtail which can be commonly seen in our desert takes a break from the afternoon sun.

The Queen butterfly is a popular and welcome guest during our warm summer months in Tucson.

Stay tuned for more.........

The Zebra Longwing