Trusting From Within

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Recently on a photo shoot for Altrusa(literacy group helping children get involved with reading), I found myself taking shots of random kindness.  I don't like people posing for the camera as I consider it "fake".  So with the zoom lens, I snapped shots from far away to get those heart warming moments without being noticed.

Altrusa wanted me to get shots of the kids having fun at the event. 

It transported me to another time.....my own childhood.  But it made me think. When and where had I switched over to "jaded"?  It wasn't my 20's.  But sometime in my early 30's, I lost sight of the adventure. Every day blurred into the other. One monotonous bore after another. Go to work.  Pay the bills.  Wake up and do it all over again. 

When I see this young lady smile, I see pure wonder and imagination.   However epic treks into the bird/wildlife world with a new camera made me engage that creative side again.  Plants and gardening were the gateway drugs into this world:)  And only recently do I feel like this little girl again.  I've got the whole world in my hands:)

Children trust and love unconditionally.  

Thanks to the tricky birds(like gnatcatchers), I am quick with my camera for those special moments.  Don't blink!  Or you'll miss it!  Parents always speak about those special moments with their children. It's the one that makes them cry because it touches the heart. It lasts for just a moment and makes teaching kids (or parenting them) worth it all. Then they go back to their savage ways and that pure magical moment quickly vanishes!  But it's that moment of perfection we all remember for life:)

Ladderback Woodpecker

Whether I'm out in nature or doing a photo shoot, I'm really learning a lot about myself and others.  It's very healing.  Of course, I do slip back to my old ways and a negative moment may surface, but I'm finding ways to stay positive and let the bad roll off my shoulders....and it's like every moment is perfection.

How do we build such a callous attitude towards others over our lifetime?   Maybe we were hurt.  Maybe we are afraid. Maybe this life is all too overwhelming and stressful......

Bronzed Cowbird

But maybe the parenting(or lack of) of the Bronzed Cowbird(above) has it right.  The female doesn't raise her own.  Instead she places her eggs into the nests of other bird species. Her babies will be raised by other parenting birds......and yet retain their own identity after all is said and done.  And that is how I look at my own life now. There is so much to learn and understand from people and critters about our natural world!  I'm like a kid in a candy store.  Granted, it can be a scary feeling because I want to see everything now!

Harris Hawk

First flight.  First sight.  Believing that we can do better each day.  Making that difference.  Everyday we wake up, there is a new challenge that awaits us. I am so appreciative for my friend and mentor Kathie for making each day a fun game. Instead of it being another day that is forgotten and blurred into the other, it has become one adventure after another.  She made me remember what I had forgotten.  Of course, I am also appreciative for our spouses.  They are supportive and understanding about this hobby of ours.  Sometimes they come with us and other times they stay home while we count birds in crazy places.  When I'm out in the field, all the stress vaporizes into thin air. There is a healing and wonderful feeling that comes from being out in nature.  I must trust that inner voice as it leads me down this path.  For the first time in my life, I don't have the answers.  Just this insatiable hunger to know more.   What will tomorrow bring?  I don't know, but stay tuned for more:)

Tumacacori

Tumacacori

"Birding at a historical site??!!!  You're really off your rocker Ms.Kathie Brown!"  Birds and an old mission?  How can that be possible?  Plus fresh tortillas and beans?  This is too good to be true.  A little history with our birding was exactly what was in store for us this day as we struck gold at the Tumacacori historical site.

Hammond's Flycatcher

There is an incredible hiking trail known as the De Anza trail that passes along the mission and a river.  My slow brain put two and two together and smiled.  Oh yes.  This was indeed bird rich.  I love history.  I love birds.  And I love nice weather with good food.  This would indeed be a great day.  Along the way, we'd get some really great birds.

Rufous-winged Sparrow

The problem with me is that I get distracted easily with wonderful photo opportunities.  I found myself snapping shots left and right of the mission.  I had surprisingly never been to this place before but it was indeed full of great historical importance, design and nature.

So we both got lost a bit in our thoughts as we explored all the nooks and crannies of the mission.

I became a teacher because of this stuff.  This wonderful crappy old stuff.  Well warm weather, yummy food, Mexican parties, gardening, Spanish, bla bla bla also helped:)  But needless to say, this was right up my alley. And they were serving hot food out in the beautiful Mexican courtyard. Have you ever had fresh fresh tortillas? The place even had orchards!!!!

While we were out in the courtyard, Lark Sparrows were getting sips from the fountain!!!  No way.  Cardinals, Wrens, Phoebes, Warblers.........all in the courtyard!  It blew my mind!

Lark Sparrow

The Bewick's Wren FINALLY gave me excellent views.  This wren is a tricky one to capture for the camera!

Bewick's Wren

Lifebirds are tricky.  But I train my ear to their sounds.  I heard the call clearly and it snapped my attention directly towards the bird.  Lifebird means focusing all my energy on a good shot!  The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher!!!!  YES!!!  Another new bird!

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Tumacacori is located south of Tucson off of Interstate 19 towards Mexico.  It's easy to visit plus it's near the artsy city of Tubac.  It's a great way to spend the day with friends, birders OR both:) Stay tuned for more....

Lark Sparrows