The Whispers of Wind

Wait.  Watch.  Listen.  Whisper.

American Kestrel

The secrets of the grassland eventually reveals itself.

Eastern Meadowlark, Lillian's

In a trance.  Cautiously, we watch each other.

Trust. Peace. Serenity. My world. Their world.  Our existence.

This moment of perfection and balance lasts only for a moment. Then the wind, as it moves the grasses, forces into motion the flocks of birds. They quickly take flight and then vanish into the golden haze. 

In the blink of an eye, everything disappears around us as if they had never been there.  Ghosts. 

It is here where I find peace and a spiritual connection to the universe.

Chestnut-collared Longspurs

I can travel the world and explore all of the amazing places, but it is here, in the grasslands, that I feel at home.

The cool wind forces the stagnant heat off of my shoulders. 

Say's Phoebe

I marvel at the sun and how it brings me joy.  My home. It's so good to be back.

Burrowing Owls

The thrill of coming home has never changed. My travels only reaffirm my love for Arizona. 

The thrill of finding longspurs!  In these photos, we discover the Chestnut-collared, McCown's and Lapland Longspurs

Until next time.......

My Stately Fortress

Oh it would be easy to sit back and do nothing BUT then I'd miss out on all the fun!  In an effort to collect photo documentation, I returned to several areas to get those photos and add new species to my state list. 

Elegant Trogon

If I sat around like this Elegant Trogon, I wouldn't improve my birding skills one bit.  However, the Elegant Trogon wasn't just sitting around.....

He was eyeing up a katydid for lunch.

Green Kingfisher

The true purpose of our trip out to Patagonia State Park was to help friend Gordon get the rare Green Kingfisher on his state list.  I also needed to update my photos of this bird.  This male is a stunner!

And along the way, such beauties like the Swamp Sparrow (below) bedazzle us sparrow lovers:)

Swamp Sparrow

Oh.....and who can resist the bright flashy pinks of an Anna's Hummingbird?!

male Anna's Hummingbird

Or stare up into the sky and wonder why a Zone-tailed Hawk is eating an American Coot? And why is it wintering in Tucson??!!!!  So many questions about so many things......

Zone-tailed Hawk

But the true challenge came when I added a Palm Warbler to the Arizona list.  Adding state birds these days is hard work!  And warblers are the worst....to find:)

Western Palm Warbler

And while not the greatest photo I've taken of a Rose-throated Becard(below), it's proof that I've finally seen one here in the US!

Rose-throated Becard

As I begin my year, I find peace and joy in Arizona birding.  I am grateful for the constant challenges that arise here.  Arizona truly is a birder's paradise. 

Say's Phoebe

When there aren't any rarities to chase, there's always an amazing group of local birds to find. I am proud to be an Arizona birder.  I have grown over the years as a better birder thanks in part to all the wonderful guides and professionals who live here. They continue to educate me and I continue to learn.  There is still SO much to learn.  Until next time....

Gilded Flicker in the rain at Saguaro National Park

For this post's reports, click on the links. 
Patagonia State Park(Green Kingfisher, etc)

Quail Creek Municipal Veterans Park (Palm Warbler)

The DeAnza Trail(Rose-throated Becard)

Surf's Up!

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Right now, the watering holes around Arizona are hot with migrating waterfowl from the north.  Birders are rushing to these areas to pick up a rare bird or two for their checklists.  

Thousand of tiny bugs catch the last light of the day.  

Over the past week, I've left work and headed straight away to our local parks and watering holes to see if I can catch a gull, duck or rare goose. 

Ducks and more ducks!  Ring-necked Duck, American Coots, American Wigeons and Domestic Ducks are just some of the characters who show up for their picture.

The light diminishes quickly now.  By the time I arrive to my destinations, I have about one hour to bird before it's completely dark. 

Coachline Pit Ebird Hotspot

In many ways, birding around water areas is very relaxing.  I grab my binoculars and just scan the waters.  Birds float past, fly overhead or just simply appear out of nowhere from beneath the water's surface when I stand in one spot. 

Western Grebe

Recently, Arizona has seen a great number of rare birds zip through the area.  

Clark's Grebe-my first decent photo documentation of this tricky bird.  Note orange colored bill and dark above the eye.  The above pic shows how similar the Clark's and Western Grebes are.  In Pima County, a Clark's Grebe is a rare gem. This bird was seen at Sahuarita Community Lake

There have been amazing birds like the very rare American Tree Sparrow, White-winged Scoter, Purple Finch, Bonaparte's Gull, etc......

When the report of a Surf Scoter surfaced, I drove 2 hours to go find it!  And so I sifted through every American Coot floating around the boat launch until I caught sight of my target bird. 

Say's Phoebe

With the cool temps and even cooler breezes off Saguaro Lake, I sat on a rock and watched my lifebird float past me nearby the shore.  There she was.  Something special.  A gem.

Saguaro Lake

Scoters tend to stay in the deeper waters.  Most people count them with their scopes from shore.  When I heard that this bird was hanging out near the shore, it was a no brainer.  The Scoter at this moment trumped everything else being seen in the state. 

Redhead

I watched this bird chase coots and dive into the water. She was magnificent and made Year Bird 456.  Next time you are at a park, check to see if a swan, duck, grebe, coot, scoter, heron, gull or sandpiper has stopped by.  You never know who is going to show up:)

Female Surf Scoter

While on my road trips this week, I've been listening to Rose Ave's new album.  I can't stop humming the tune to this song!

                                                   

From Out of Nowhere

Northern Harrier

Whether it be with another birder like Kathie or alone, I sometimes think to myself that it won't be very "birdy" when I first arrive at my destination.   Thankfully, I have lots of experience to suggest that giving "it time" will be full of great reveals.

The Whitewater Draw

The scenery, of course, is gorgeous and can draw your attention away from the action.  But I listen carefully for bird sounds and wait.  A burst of bird energy will surface and then all birds will be up in the air at once!

Blackbirds

These Blackbirds for example came in droves by the hundreds and then quickly disappeared.  I snapped as many shots as I could get so that I could ID them at home.  The flocks were full of Yellow Headed Blackbirds and Red Wing Blackbirds.  But there were others mixed in as well:)

Yellow Headed Blackbirds in flight

And so on this day at the Whitewater Draw, I thought I may not get a new lifebird until a group of birds came at me from out of nowhere!  Finding lifebirds is incredibly exciting and when that moment happens, all I do is snap pictures with an incredible focus.  I don't necessarily know what they are specifically at first but I have my bird guide close by after the shoot to research.

Eared Grebes in flight

Today it would be birds from the "Grebe" family.  Were they Western or the Eared Grebe?  Great question.

Eared Grebes

The first thing I do is check the Whitewater Bird List and write down the Grebes reported in the area.  Then I open my bird book and study the pictures both in the bird guide and on my camera.

For these birds, it took the markings on the wings to help me ID.  These were the Eared Grebes.  I observed for about 40 minutes as they dove in and out of the water.  They were quite cute and "playful".

Afterwards, I felt satisfied leaving the area knowing I added a new bird to my list. Several birders from Vermont were looking at a bird up in the rafters.  The woman declared it was a Western Kingbird and argued strongly with her mates.

Is this a Say's Phoebe or Western Kingbird?  What say you?

The men stood their grounds and thought it was a Say's Phoebe.

Can you tell which bird this is?

Buggin Out

Orb Spider

Today was one of those days that we shouldn't have been on the trails.  In the back of my mind I questioned hiking in the Buenos Aires Wildlife Preserves because of the bugs.  It had gotten cooler so I thought it would be safer.  Wrong.  So this post is dedicated to all the critters who help manage the bugs:)

Kingbird getting that bug

It was a quick run and shoot around the 2 mile path.  The mosquitoes were out of control!  But I wanted that iconic "Kingbird getting the bug shot" so I stood still while 5 mosquitoes landed on me and sucked my blood.   But I got the shot:)  Again, there were many Kingbirds sitting on the tree tops swooping in half circles for the bugs.

Female Anna's Hummbird

And while most of the hummers have fled the state, several stick around like this female Anna's Hummingbird.  Residents of Southern Arizona all year.  Hummingbirds "hawk" for lots of bugs this time of year.

Say's Phoebe

A first photo debut for Las Aventuras, this Say's Phoebe also "hawks" for insects on low perches.

And then there is bug on bug action.  But while on the trails, we ran for our lives.  Above us circled this Turkey Vulture waiting for us to die from all the mosquito bites....well that was Pat's thought.  So while we had a quick jaunt on the boardwalk around the streams and small ponds, it was still a productive outing:)  More tomorrow....

Turkey Vulture