White Throated Sparrow

Sparrows.  The bane of my existence.  They are so difficult to ID, but thankfully this little guy had all the right markings in all the right places:)

Easy to ID.  Not a common fellow around these parts but one that is welcome, the White Throated Sparrow does indeed have a white throat and yellow lores(fancy term for some yellow splash around the eyes).

Another first bird for Las Aventuras as we watched this bird dig around the dirt at Sweetwater wetlands near the bridge.

If you live in Tucson or are visiting, remember to look near the entrance by the bridge for all the little birds.  They like to hang out in the bushes and along the stream. It's where I've spotted many of my warblers and sparrows.  Cute little sparrow and one that doesn't take an expert eye to figure out.  My kind of bird:)  More tomorrow....

White Throated Sparrow

Uplifting

It's all about the magic today.  Enjoy!

First Steps

Today is a favorite of mine and I hope you enjoy this as well.  It's a happy story that I've been tracking now for several months.  The owlets! Mother of Pearls!!!!  I found them and I remember the excitement of it all.  I had been wondering about how they were doing so I searched a block near their nests.

It was before sundown and I was the only one on the trail.  It was so quiet.  As I walked closer around the bend, I noticed activity near the water.  It was a very special moment and I remember feeling the "presence" of others and remembered that the parents would be near......

There were 3 owlets.  One was in the tree while the other two were near the water.  Both mother and father were close by.  I kept my distance using my lens to get close shots.  Of course I didn't want to leave the scene, but I also didn't want to interrupt their feeding.  So I kept moving along quietly smiling......how cool was all this?  I went home very happy with my finds on this evening.

They are such beautiful creatures and I don't think that I'll ever stop taking pictures of them.  Plus this story is a happy one.  I'm very thankful that they have a place to grow up without human involvement and that they are able to develop on their own. 

So as I left, the parental units kept their eyes on me and I them....

Once I was out safely from the area, I looked back and took a couple more shots with the long lens. This was quite the special event and I wanted to make sure I took it all in......

And this is my parting shot of the owlets as they appeared from across the body of water.  What a wonderful night!!

Note how the owlet has more feathers than body.  The feathers make them appear bigger than they really are.

The Book of Thoth

Thoth - God of Wisdom, Time, Writing and the Moon-Head of an ibis

Thoth invented hieroglyphs, the picture writing of Ancient Egypt. He was the measurer of the earth and the counter of the stars, the keeper and recorder of all knowledge. The ibis is a bird rather like a stork, with long legs and a long beak(pictures taken here in Tucson at the Sweetwater Facility) which it uses for prodding in the mud to find small fish. It was a symbol of wisdom and learning because it has a beak shaped like a pen which it dips in the mud, as if it was ink.

The Book of Thoth had two spells in it. If you read the first spell aloud, you would be able to understand every beast and bird, and summon the fishes in the sea. If you read the second spell, you could bring the dead to life. Prince Setna, the son of a Pharaoh, knew the book was hidden in a royal tomb in the City of the Dead. With his brother Anhurerau, he broke into the tomb of Neferkeptah. When they found the burial chamber, they saw the mummy of Neferkaptah, and his wife and young son. The wife spoke to them, and warned them against taking the book of Thoth.

She said that her husband had stolen the Book from Thoth, and had read the spells, but Thoth was angry and had drowned her and her son in the Nile, and Neferkeptah had then killed himself. But Setna ignored her and moved towards the Book.

The mummy of Neferkaptah sat up and said "Play me at four games of draughts. If you win, you can take the Book." Setna was terrified, but agreed. He played the first game, and lost. He started to sink into the ground, up to his ankles. Then he lost the next game, and sunk up to his hips. As he was losing the third game, he shouted to his brother, "Run and fetch my magic amulets. Only they can save me!"

He then sank into the ground up to his chin. His brother ran out of the tomb. Setna played the fourth game as slowly as he could, trying desperately not to lose, but the mummy was too good at draughts. Just as he had nearly lost for the final time, his brother Anhurerau returned with the amulets, and put them on Setna's head. The spell was broken, and Setna grabbed the Book of Thoth, and ran as hard as he could out of the tomb.

As Setna tried to read the Book, he saw a beautiful woman walking past. He fell in love with her, and tried to persuade her to marry him.

She demanded that he kill his existing wife and children. Completely besotted with her, he agreed. When he had done this, she vanished, and he was appalled at what he had done. But he discovered that it was all a dream. He realised that he was being punished for stealing the Book of Thoth, and next time it might not be a dream, so he returned the Book to the tomb of Neferkeptah and resealed the burial chamber. Ever since then, no-one has seen the Book of Thoth.

The magic amulet may have been a scarab. The scarab or dung beetle makes a ball of dung by rolling it along the ground, and then lays its eggs in it. The Ancient Egyptians imagined a scarab rolling the sun across the sky. Source  When I see this bird, I think of Egypt and one day I'll be there to meet Thoth in person(via historical data). I'm also not trying to steal the book. When I see the Ibis, this is what enters my mind.  I'm also a huge fan of Depeche Mode.  Here's a creepy video from a couple years ago.  When I see the beak of an Ibis, I think think of this strange video.  But this song.....oh this song is one of my favorites.  I saw them in concert 2 years ago up in Phoenix and when they played this song, they used a raven in the background on the big screen....incredible stuff.  Here's the video for you to decide:)

Hiking Without A Camera

Today's post is unusual in that it is the first one NOT to use any pictures of any kind.  Boy, am I in trouble!!:)  So this means one thing......my writing has to stand out on its own.  Scary.  But the purpose of this exercise was to leave the camera at home and go on my treks without recording any of it. (It's a terrible idea for me not to post pictures on a blog! I kept moving this post off because I didn't want to release a post without pictures. I caved in and here is a recent photo shoot from the same area. My "new" thoughts are in parenthesis. )

For some of you, this is easy.  As for me?  It was one of the hardest things to do.  Could I just go on a hike without my camera?  Since I've been a kid, I've always had my camera with me at all times.  Would it be a valid experience if I didn't get the shots?  And Murphy's Law.  No camera=Lots of wildlife. (I now have found several shots to satisfy the reader:)

So I went for the hike and the minute I pulled into the parking lot, a Cooper's Hawk flies into sight. Yes, it was happening.  Lots of wildlife.  A coyote looking for food, three birds hanging out around the Coopers Hawk, Western Kingbird, etc. etc. etc.(Well, it's never the same, but I did get a Cooper's Hawk for you all....and a little bit more:)

But the weight of my camera wasn't there to prevent me from enjoying Mother Nature.  It was hot and a bit muggy, but the sun was setting.  I had a crazy day at work, stopped at Culvers for some fried cheese curds and got on the interstate.....passing by Sweetwater.  It was a spontaneous decision and one that proved to be wise.  (While it was nice, I can't let you down.  You need pictures!)

A cool breeze went through the willows and cottonwoods.  Little fuzzies from all the plants blooming floated around in the air.  Alone and relaxed, I took a walk around the trails.  There wasn't really anyone around, no rare bird sighting....nada.  It was kind of eerie actually because I'm used to my guy "friend" on the trail with me.  Well he doesn't know he's my bud, but I've decided that he'll be my friend.  You see....no matter what, I always head to Sweetwater on the weekend.  And my favorite quiet birder guy will be walking around with his binoculars and bird book.  He's also "the guy" because he drives an older bug.  Instant cool factor!  I don't know his name, but we speak once and awhile.(We were the only two there this night I shot these pics) 

Pied Billed Grebe-a first for this blog(you'll love the story related to this bird....stay tuned!)

The last time he asked me, "Did you see anything interesting?"  and I said "Yep."  But he saw more things than ANY of us did on the trails.  He is the ultimate observer.  I'll be looking over the basins lost in the sounds of the Red Wing Blackbird and he'll be secretly in the bushes observing unicorns and fairies!  How does he see this stuff??!!  Anyhow, I worship this guy and he doesn't know it.  (This time I saw PLENTY of interesting things....mostly not birds)

But today, he wasn't here.  I didn't have my camera.  It was wonderful and sad.  I kinda missed not having him around.....he's always there.  Just not today.  My question is, "Do you have these types of "connections" with people in your life?  So like this post suggests today, it's all about the absence of the familiar.  The Nothing.   But I did come home happier and relaxed.  (I'm still showing you pictures:)

Pictures will be back tomorrow.  I will never do a post without pics.  Why?  I'm too much of a visual person. Hope you enjoyed the shots today:) And more tomorrow.....

The Solar Eclipse

 Using my baseball cap to block the sun from eyes, I used my camera screen to make these shots and focus from my tripod.  This special post tonight was taken at the Sweetwater Wetlands.  It was just me at the park.  Note in the pics, the very magical dragonfly.  I had been hoping that they would show up.  Beautiful evening.

Solar Eclipse 2012 in Tucson AZ

Conspicuous

My best shot for the year of the Phoebe

You never know.  You never know.  I am finding that once I have that obligatory "snapped an excellent to alright shot" out of the way of a bird, I can relax a bit.  And then there are eyes.  They become sharper at spotting most of what would otherwise remain hidden from the public eye. Things that were hidden are now easier to find.  My birding skills are getting better and here is what I discovered on this particular day.......

Night Heron

I have wanted badly to spot a Night Heron and today I got that shot.  It took me minutes of scanning reeds before I found this little gem hiding.   What a beautiful bird!

Hispid Cotton Rat

And then there are the ears.  I hear something scrabbling in the reeds and think, "Warbler, Flycatcher, Sparrow?"  Nope. Just a rat.

Great Blue Heron rookery

And the rustle above your head, "Owl, Hawk?"  No!  A heron rookery!!!! And there they were....4 nests! FOUR!  It looked as if the parents were dropping fish into the nest and the young ones were feeding.

Most people walk by.  But not me:).

Your eyes will strain and your hands will get heavy from holding the binoculars or camera...

But if you're patient, you'll see this below!!!!  Look very very closely.  I'm not going to tell you what to look for.....be a birder.  Look closely.  Patiently.  And maybe you'll see it:)

 What?  You can't see it?  Look closer.  Hint.  My favorite kind of bird.  And another amazing capture without tips etc.  All I can say....exciting.  More tomorrow....

The Great Horned Owl nesting

Air Traffic Control

Neotropic Cormorant

Recently I went on the hunt for the Cormorant in Tucson.  It was specific and again tipped off by another Tucson birder.  So I got into my car and went searching for this bird at the Sweetwater Wetlands off of Prince road.

Common Moorhen

The "issue" this time?  The clutter all around the air space of this Wetland.  It's fine when you go somewhere and have time, but when you're in a pinch, the ducks and blackbirds can be a major distraction.  There were A LOT of them flying all over the place making it difficult to spot them.....at first.

While the ducks provided lovely moments of flying, they also drew my attention away from the other areas where there were hidden secrets just waiting to be uncovered. That was the challenge for the day.

My first evidence came from over my head.  Luckily there was a break from ducks and blackbirds in the sky which allowed me to spot this Neotropic Cormorant.  So I kept my eyes open and followed the bird over into the farthest water areas away from the main track.

Had it not been for the duck taking flight below, I may have missed the single Cormorant sitting on the log.  But I soon realized that there were others all hanging out in a colony together nearby.....

I'm not sure why but these birds reminded me of the Lockness Monster the way they slid through the water with their snake heads.  And I kind of got the heebie jeebies.  It's getting warm out and I'm now having to concern myself with rattlesnake patrol which means I need to keep my eyes open on both the sky and ground.  It can be pretty serious stuff.  I don't have the 2 thousand dollars to cover the antivenom serum!

And just like that, I succeeded in locating the great Neotropic Cormorant.  A cool bird to see in the wild.  And I thought I'd include this shot of the Phoebe since everyone loves them. I do like this picture:)  More tomorrow....

Black Phoebe