I Remember Well

White-lined Sphinx Moth

Looking back.  Looking forward.  And here I am.  They say autumn has begun.  I lock myself indoors pretending it's cold outside when in reality it's still like opening an oven.  So what to do? Escape to the great White Mountains and feel the sensations of being cold!

Painted Lady

I have discovered many of the birds here in the US.  Oh, there's about 50 or so I need for the US but they are in pockets here and there that require a one trip visit.  It's more than just birding now.  I want to make my home and garden come alive again.  I started cooking after almost 2 decades of not cooking and it brings me joy.  I sit and watch old episodes of Julia Child making French things like French Onion Soup:)  And it makes me want to go back to France again.  Old personalities like Julia Child and Bob Ross bring with them a sense of comfort.

We sat and watched the Elk graze in Greer at sunset

My travels abroad this summer forced me to cook in the kitchen and save money.  And it brought me joy.  I began taking notes in Trinidad, Hawaii, and Mexico.  In Maine, I collected more ideas.  Then I discovered the Farmer's Market of produce and I began to make my own fresh food again.  For 10 years, at the job that pays my health insurance, Helen always made me a fresh salad during lunch. It was the highlight of my day. But to cut costs, the district got rid of her.  In one deadly strike, I lost a friend and an amazing salad. 

So I began making my own lunches.  I got a membership to Costco, then to the National Parks and then we got a membership for the Desert Museum.  I've somewhat stepped out of the Arizona birding. Birders have told me this happens.  It's not that I am not birding.  I am.  I'm just not into chasing birds around this state as much anymore.  It seems goofy driving hours on the road observing a bird that I've seen many times in other places. So I stick to my patches.  And bird.  And cook. And save money for the big treks that are coming up. It's gotta be a really rare bird for me to chase.

Greer Lake

I get nostalgic this time of year.  I am reminded of the passing of time.  The passing of friends and family.  Of my aging.  It makes me happy.  It makes me sad.  I try to recreate recipes that my Grandma's made for me while they were still alive. After their passings, I took their iconic cookware and brought them home.  I mix salads and pastas and soups and desserts together in them. I pull out their fine glassware that they always put out for me on their tables during holidays or visits.  Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and be that dish that sat on their dinner tables just so I could hear their voices again. They stood preparing delicious foods with this glassware and now I do the same. And it connects me to those memories. 

Warbling Vireos migrate through the area

I'd, of course, have to place those dishes out-of-reach from a certain sister who likes to eat all the black olives. Sometimes Grandma would place the olives next to my Grandpa's magnifying glass where he read the newspaper, away from little hands but within reach for the adults. She didn't know that we could climb up chairs:) That fancy crystal bowl now sits in my cupboards with the rest of their dishes.  I began to pull them out again and fill them up with fresh lemons, tomatoes, onions and avocados.  My siblings would instantly recognize them because they were fun pieces that were always full of fresh veggies and crackers. They, too, bring comfort. 

The infamous West Baldy Trail #94

Over the next several weekends, I will be reflecting often.  This past weekend we escaped to Pinetop and Greer to get away from these horrible 100+ temps here in Tucson. 

Wilson's Snipe

 Then I'm off to Wisconsin where I'll spend some relaxing time with the family.  It's also a bittersweet visit in that I will say good-bye to Bernie.  He passed away a couple months ago and I was stuck here working.  I couldn't fly home for the funeral so I will go where I first met him as a child, Woodland Dunes.  I was just a beginning birder and he showed me my first Northern Saw-Whet Owls and how I could band them.  I'll meet him at that old red barn when I thought everything would last forever. Woodland Dunes was his life's work.  And today, it's his legacy.

A Sora dances around with another Sora hiding out in the reeds

I've written about this before but going home is harder the older I get.  I see people getting older; not myself you see because I'm immortal:) But this is the time of my life when I have only a few good decades, maybe years with lifelong friends who are now older.  What I wouldn't give to have unlimited money to visit them all.  I have to stay true to my goals.  And whenever possible, incorporate friends into the birding madness. 

But for now, I meander.  I go where I feel like going.  

We sat watching the elk eat the grass.  We played detective and found our friendly American Dipper.  There we sat with the dipper as the sun was setting and watched it get ready to go to bed. 

An American Dipper takes a break from the dipping

I bird my local patch every week at Reid Park and connect with my birds.  Some would say that that's boring.  I thought that once too, but now I find it a fun challenge.  When you've seen every possible bird around the region, you make it a game trying to find a new bird for your local patch.  And just like that, it's exciting again. Plus the data is super interesting from month to month and year to year.

A beautiful Cooper's Hawk perches

I drool at the blooms and butterflies this time of year.  I get excited.  Now that the outside painting is done at our place, all I want to do is work on my garden!  I stopped feeding my birds because I didn't want them to get poisoned with paint fumes.  So I removed all the water sources away from the building and let everything go quiet for awhile.

September is a great month for flower gardens and butterflies.  In fact, I believe it's also one of the best places for a birder to observe birds as migrating warblers like to feed from the bugs in the garden while finches, etc like to eat the seeds.  You could be at a stinky steamy hot slop pond searching for a Red Knot or sitting within a beautiful garden watching art naturally happen. I prefer the latter.  It's not going to get me anything rare, but I don't care.  

We live. We hike. And we explore.  Bring on the cold!  Let fall arrive!

And then in between, I want to play outside and grow plants.  During the summer, I stare out the window and think of the winter projects I want to do.  We have a wooden fence and I'd love to hang quirky bird houses on them!

Hunt's Bumble Bee, note the rusty brown band around the abdomen

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to the cooler temps and the final chapter to this year's birding. We'll visit several gardens around Tucson this month.  Then in October, we'll be back in Wisconsin visiting with friends and later in the month, we'll be in Rocky Point, Mexico having some fun with gull ID and shorebirds. Life is one grand adventure and it's always best when shared with friends.  Thank you for following Las Aventuras.  Until next week friends.....

Crazy Daisy

Five-striped Sparrow

Every year, I wonder how I'll end up seeing the Five-striped Sparrow in Arizona because somehow I always do. I never plan on searching for the bird but it's the birding community that demands to see this very special sparrow.  So once again this year, birder friends from Wisconsin really needed to end the search for their nemesis sparrow.  It was the last one on their list for the lower 48 of the US.  In Phoenix, my friends take people to see the LeConte's Thrasher.  Down here, it's the Red-faced Warbler and Five-striped Sparrow that people want to see. 

A very bright Warbling Vireo!

Last year in December, I had some sort of sinus infection that affected my hearing loss.  For several months, I wasn't able to hear the lower/softer hoot/chip notes of the birds and I became a little scared. The allergies/sinus infection cleared up and my ears are back to 100 percent again.  The reason I share this story?  Had I not heard the chip notes of the bird, I wouldn't have been able to pinpoint the location of the Five-striped Sparrow on the hillside. My eyes are soooo bad, but my ears act like my binoculars and locating beacons. 

Veined Ctenucha Moth

So as we all searched for birds, we noticed lots of wonderful bugs (and a snake!)  It's fun helping people find their birds and teaching them their calls.  

We did VERY well that day.  We heard and saw all of the Southern Arizona specialties like the Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Elegant Trogon, Sulfur-bellied Flycatchers, Five-striped Sparrow and even heard Montezuma Quail!  

I have to say though, the female Elegant Trogon was SILENT and I would have missed that one completely if it wasn't for Tom's eyes!  Even with his scope, I had a hard time finding the bird.  The female blended in perfectly with her surroundings at a very healthy distance (so for Tom to spot this bird with his binoculars was epic).  

Tiny Checkerspot

We had beautiful weather that day in Box and Florida Canyons.  

If you come to Southern Arizona this time of year, it's hard NOT to notice all the insects.  There are SO MANY strange and beautiful looking bugs. 

Sleepy Orange

 States in the US continue reporting a decline in bee populations.  I'm not sure if that's happening here in Arizona.  But again, I'm not sure if they've done research in the state.  What I can tell you is that I've observed healthy populations of bee species here in Southern Arizona.  I don't see the Sonoran Bumble Bee often, but then again, I'm not looking for it while on my treks.  I try to stay away from the buggier trails like the DeAnza trail this time of year.  I showed Tom and Carol a piece of this awesome trail and now I am regretting it with all the chigger bites:)  Chiggers are the worst!  

As we said our good-byes for the morning, we took a photo remembering the awesome views of the Five-striped Sparrow.  No longer a nemesis for these two amazing birders.  

An awesome moment!  Note to self, hair cut needed and that hat I'm wearing makes me look goofy

As I headed home looking forward to a shower from the suspect chigger attack on my legs, I looked over at the water treatment plant to see if I could spot the rare Brown Pelican.  I saw the bird and I saw a ton of birders there.  The pelican has been at this spot for weeks now. Surely they weren't there for that bird.  I continued down the highway and something inside of me told me to check the listserv.  Sure enough, another common but rare migrant for this time of year, the Sabine's Gull, was hanging out at the Amado WTP.  I high tailed it back to that spot to add this bird to my Pima County list.  

Sabine's Gull

There are several lifetime goals as a birder in general.  First priority, life birds.  Second priority, AZ State birds.  Third priority, Pima County birds. On this day I added Lucifer Hummingbird, Sabine's Gull and Five-striped Sparrow to my Pima County list.  Super exciting!  That doesn't happen very often!

While there, yet another state bird was being reported, the Roseate Spoonbill.  And not just one but TWO!  So Deborah Carney said let's go and I said ok.  I wasn't feeling the drive alone to Willcox after a busy morning out so I am grateful to her for driving and her optimism even after they were reported GONE!  It didn't change the fact that we were heading to Willcox.  It's a beautiful location and the sunsets are incredible.  The smell isn't so good because there is sewage here but if you plug your nose....

After not seeing the spoonbills, I began to watch the birders and just take in the surroundings.  This soft spoken birder took advantage of the cooler breezy weather to walk the grasslands around the "lake".  Just speaking with him made me feel at ease.  

There we stood, Deborah, this kind man and myself watching the White-faced Ibis settle in for the evening.  We watched for Lesser Nighthawks but no luck.  I went over the nighthawk calls with both birders and told them to listen for the "rarer" Common Nighthawk that could be passing through the area. I've had them here in the area before.  I was with Ms. Kathie Brown the first time we heard them so many years ago.  And on this night we were rewarded with a couple loud "PEENTS".  Not a bad way to end the day.  Until next time.....

PS.  This is the best time of year to see our butterflies!  They are everywhere!

Painted Lady

Peña Blanca Lake

Northern Cardinal

Before my trip, I got a little crazy with my time off.  The power of finding the next bird is overwhelming sometimes.  I'm addicted.  Free time=time to bird and hike.

Rock Wren

But there are limitations and sacrifices.  Sleep is one of them.  Heat is the other.  It is super dangerous to go to these canyons or desert areas alone.  Many times, I lose wifi service including my ability to call for back up.  To avoid the heat, I will get up at 4 AM in the morning and get on the road by the time the sun rises.  The birds now call before sun and they are only really active during these first few hours of decent temps.

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

I did have a bit of anxiety on this day.  When there is too much going on, I tend to get antsy.  Do I shop for my trip?  Or do I bird and try to get new species on my list?  The latter question wins and I'm on the road. I absolutely hate shopping of any kind.  So I try to go when people are busy.  It's really a lot like birding.  The earlier you go; the less of a crowd you'll have to deal with:)

Ash-throated Flycatcher

On this day, I had my information all screwed up.  I went to film Canyon Wrens.  I've seen them before but I don't have any great ID shots of them. And again on this day, there were two flying around a rock cliff, but there aren't any photos.  I'm beginning to think there is a conspiracy going on!

Cinnamon Teal photo bombed by a mystery bird

So I went to Peña Blanca Lake.  Alone.  I had been looking for a Least Tern.  So I looked around the lake where terns tend to fly and perch.  I listened for the birds because I know their calls.  And I wasn't hearing anything.

Barn Swallow-not a great pic but I like the outline

By this point, the temps had reached into the mid-90's.  I went into a shaded area and didn't stray too far.  I had limited water.  I forgot to take the water out of Pat's car and put it into mine!  I only realized the fact after I got to my destination.  I went to the public bathroom area to see if I could spot a water fountain, etc but there wasn't anything.  So then I located the few people fishing around the lake in case I needed to call on their help.  This is how my mind works.  I don't care what anyone says, but Arizona can be a dangerous place to bird.  If it's not the heat or the illegal activity around the border, it's the chiggers, monsoon floods, lightning, etc.  Summer is a time to be very very careful here.  Just recently a 21 year old died from heat exhaustion.  He wasn't the first victim nor will he be the last.  We have wonderful and incredible things to see here that will make you fall in love with our state, but be careful during our monsoons and always bring plenty of water with you.  Forget the suntan.  You'll get it whether you like it or not:)

I did have water with me, but I always like having more.  I'm a big guy who drinks more than the average person. Wisconsinites, in general, sweat a lot.  People say it's good to sweat, but I think it to be a pain sometimes.  Our genes overdo it!  Most of us prefer breezes and cool air. Don't ask me why, but that statement is generally true for most of my kind back home:)  Maybe it is for you as well?  And therefore, I must always make sure I bring enough water on these epic treks.  The birds are always incredible.

So back to lack of preparation.  I searched for a Least Tern.  There were none.  I went into the public restroom searching for the reported nesting Canyon Wrens.  They weren't there, but a Barn Swallow shot out from the toilet area and scared me half to death. Maybe I should have knocked?  On my way back to the car, I noticed a Grebe floating around the waters that wasn't a Pied-bill Grebe.  I took shots to study back in my cool and comfortable dining room.  I was sipping my coffee when I finally was able to examine the shot below.  It was one of those "ah-ha!" moments.  For it was not a Least Tern I should have been looking for......but a Least GREBE!  I then went over my other photos and began to laugh.  The bird was present in nearly all of them as if to say, "Hey idiot, LOOK at me! I'm right here.  I'm the one you want!"

Least Grebe

But I was distracted by other birds.  Today I present two happy shots.  One, the Least Grebe, is lifebird 337 for me. And the other is below.  Finally!  The Warbling Vireo has been a difficult one to get shots of, but it was just in reach of my camera lens and that made me smile.  There was a nest and the parents were feeding them. It's a very quick and tiny bird!

Warbling Vireo

Peña Blanca Lake is a real treat to hike and bird.  I pulled out some fish wire from the water though.  I was very upset by some people's lack of respect towards the wildlife in the area.  I nearly cut myself on the fish line, but I got it all out of the water.  Someone used a water bottle as a way to fish from the lake.  It was a makeshift fishing rod which leads me to believe that these may have been illegals crossing through the desert for some food.  Our wildfire season will be coming to an end with the onset of the monsoon rains.  Several fires every year are caused by illegal activity along the border(and also from cigarette butts thrown out of the car).   Whether it is drug trafficking or from people entering the US for work, they have caused some of the worst environmental pollution in our deserts.  Trash is left behind.  Fires are not completely put out causing the wildfires. This last bit is also caused by campers or recreational day users who ignore the rules concerning grilling out.  This year I grieve for the 19 firefighters who have lost their lives near Yarnell. One of the biggest tragedies that come to my mind in recent years.  And safety is a concern, especially early in the morning or late at night, when a lot of birding is done. The lake is situated near the international border between Mexico and the US.  Lock your doors, but also have fun.  And if you can, bring a buddy with you. Please have a safe and happy 4th of July everyone.  And if you're in Arizona be careful with those fireworks.   More to come.....

Sans Images

Wilson's Warbler

One of the things I struggle with like any birder, I suppose, is getting better shots of birds.  If I see a lifebird, but don't have great photo documentation, I get a little irritated.  The little ones are the trickiest! All of the birds featured on today's post were birds I had seen first but didn't get great shots of at the time. Take for example the Canyon Wren.  I saw the bird.  Tried to get a pic.  Ended up getting the rear end and it was gone.  Then I hear the descending call and it seals the deal.  I have to count the bird but without a decent shot.

LBJ(Little Brown Jobs) or LGJ(Little Gray Jobs) can blend in perfectly with their surroundings.  They move quick and it's important to note the field marks.  My ears are faster at "spotting" than my eyes.  The Bell's Vireo caused me a bit of confusion because it is a relatively new bird for me.  I had only seen it twice and with another birder who knew the bird.  Apparently there are 4 subspecies.  Plus Gray Flycatchers, Bushtits, Gnatcatchers, etc etc. If you don't get great observation time, these little birds become impossible to ID. So it's all about the observations!

Bell's Vireo

One of the thrills about birding is that I can't always predict who will make nice showings for the day.  I may have seen the species 100 times.  But on the 101th view, the bird might be doing something spectacular. The Lesser Yellowlegs held myself and another photographer captive for 20 minutes as it ran around with its buddy chattering away.  It made for some great laughs during their chases.

Greater Yellowlegs

Shorebirds can either be too far out, hidden behind reeds or against the sun.  When these Greater Yellowlegs made for a great show, I took the opportunity to snap off the shots.  Before this day, these birds were always out of photo reach or on the wrong side of the sun. 

A Wilson's Snipe happened to also make an appearance for me out in the open.  But the sun was setting and it made for tricky photography.  I had seen this bird last year but had poor photos to go with the sighting.  Now I am more comfortable with the shot below.

Wilson's Snipe

If I see a lifebird, I mark it down but make a mental note that I need a better shot.  A lot of energy goes into those first shots.  I would like to put a book together in several years of all the birds seen around Arizona.

Several of the birds on my list today that I don't have great shots of include the Canyon Wren, Red Crossbills(high up for the camera), Pinyon Jays(seen while on a slow moving bus loaded with wall to wall tourists at the Grand Canyon), Rough-Legged Hawks(seen while driving with 3 cars riding my tail), White-throated Swifts(oh so high!), and many of the Swallows(oh so quick!). A couple of the nocturnal birds(too dark) and of course the little birds(very spastic)......

Take for example the shot of the Warbling Vireo below.  It was too far to get a nice close up yet I was still able to get a shot of the bird.  The same goes for the Williamson's and the Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers!

Elf Owls are small.  You all know how I love owls.  Well I stayed one night alone in a canyon in total silence.  My eyes were adjusting to the encroaching darkness.  And then I hear the call!  With my ears, I followed the faint yet continuous call.  Two other birders were in the area and had been friendly with me earlier so I led them to the sound because my eyes are terrible at night.  Having two other people look for this tiny bird would be very helpful.  It paid off.   We spotted the little tiny owl that looked like a knot in a Sycamore tree.  He was so cute.  I have a policy about filming nocturnal creatures.  No pics with flash.  And therefore, I do not have photo documentation.  I'm hoping to get shots of this bird one day.

The Lucy's Warbler.  I met this bird for the first time in mid-March.  Afterwards, the Lucy's Warbler seemed to be everywhere and allowed me some nice observations and pics.  It's the bird with the cinnamon crown and coverts. 

I also do counts at my school.  As of today, I was standing at my friend's classroom window when a Dusky Flycatcher flies right in front of me!!!  No camera.  At work.  Frustrating.  I am parallized as I am forced to watch the bird without a camera.  Inside I fight the frustration as I observe the bird alone.  No one realizes how exciting it is to see this bird.  Students snickering as I scream, "NOOOOOO!!!" as the bird flies away.  The "old man" who should have died at the age of 30 clearly had lost his mind. Oh teenagers. And yet I just saw the Dusky Flycatcher!  I just have to believe that I will eventually be in the right place at the right time with my camera to capture these birds.  The same thing happened with the Burrowing owls...and then on one perfect day, an owl sat perfectly in front of me.

Why is it important to get those shots?  My eyesight isn't great and constantly challenges me.  I need the pics to study at home.  I also heavily rely on my ears to help locate birds.  Once I have the photos, I can relax and bird.  That's why I enjoy birding at Sweetwater so much in Tucson.  I know all the birds well enough to practice my listening skills and develop my bird calls.  In a sense it's my training ground that always seems to have one or two new finds each time I visit:)

So I finish off today's write with this question.  What birds/animals/plants/bugs would you like to get better shots of?  And if you're a photographer in general(of all things not just wildlife) what would you like to get shots of?  Some fun journeys ahead.  Stay tuned for more!