"Fall Out"

After yesterdays amazing pics by guest photographers, todays are well....pretty terrible.  In fact they will probably remind you of the blurry Big Foot shot taken back in the 1970's:)

I'm wearing my Mancapris and this pic reminded me that I need a haircut.  There is no product in it whatsoever.

So I'll start off with our garden and then move onto my detective work and the exciting "Fall Out" that happened in Tucson and other parts of Arizona this weekend.   

Birding took a backseat because of life and chores.  Photography was placed on hold.  Just too much to do, but I made myself schedule the weekend so that I could get my birding and exercise in.   I began watering plants around El Presidio when I heard the unmistakable sounds of thousands of bees behind me.  An old rotted beam was sagging and I saw the signs.  The rain and water must have disturbed a hive.  It was the most dangerous thing I've seen on the grounds this year!  Residents should know that someone will be in tomorrow morning to remedy the situation.  I don't know enough about bees, but the swarm felt African and I stayed my distance.  If you saw the intense cloud of bees, you would have been scared as well. 

Black Neck Stilts and American Avocet

And thanks to a tip off from many local Tucsonans and Laurence, this weekend would prove to dazzle.  In fact, parks and water areas were "flooded" with birders from all over.  Our Pacific storm brought many visitors rarely seen in the Tucson area.  It was not an event to be missed.  Black Neck Stilts, Red Necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope, Yellow Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, American Avocets.....well the list goes on and on. 

I've never seen so many seabirds at Sweetwater.  Ever! But the diamond among them all?  The Phalaropes.  I didn't have to be a genious to figure out which pond area the Phalaropes were at because A LOT of birders were there.  My telephoto lens.....home:( But I do have blurry evidence that I saw these two birds and it was exciting.  People strained their eyes and toggled their binoculars to get a close up on these two movie stars.  But most did not succeed.  And I will admit this now.  I never saw them until after I got home.  I know I know....how lame am I?  Which begs the question....Does it count on your bird list if you accidentally get them in the photo?  Curious to hear what you all think about that one:)

I returned the following day hoping for better shots as did other birders.  Parking was out onto the street this time.  The best part of my Sunday?  Seeing a brilliant yellow Warbler fly around several trees.  Amazing!  But the story of the Phalaropes?  Well a Peregrine Falcon flew into the area during the morning chasing out all the seabirds into other secret areas.  We searched high and low for them in shallow water areas.  We looked for their circling....and found nothing. And then I had to get back to deal with the bee situation.  So I have only my shots from Saturday night which were pretty sad:) BUT.  I did accomplish the mission.  My eyes were tired from looking into the white grey waters that washed everything together.   And as for the bees? Homeowners in Tucson remember that it's not uncommon for bees to swarm around this time of  year finding a place to call home.  Bee urine releases a pheromone that attracts other bee species.  And this swarm must have picked up on the scent which led them to our place.   Beekeepers are looking to save them and have humane ways to capture and release them back into a better environment.  I have some really exciting posts coming up and I promise, my pictures will help rid the stains of today.  Wildflowers tomorrow....:)