Where The Wild Things Are

Bald Eagle

A meteor exploded a kilometer over my car in the dark skies.  I drove watching this bizarre light approach my vehicle over the moonscape. What was it?  Hopefully not a UFO.  How would I explain that one?  No.  The light began to waver and exploded into three green fragments as they hit a cotton field.  What if that meteor had hit my car?  What if......

It was a nice distraction from the dark thoughts of late. We began our day with feral horses. A colt looks at us for the first time during a hike along the fast flowing Verde River.

We watch this beautiful scene play out as the horses cross the river.

I let the anxiety go and just enjoy the moment with my bud Gordon. I have not been well for several weeks.  This is my first real outing in a long time.

Two Bald Eagles, America's national symbol, fly over our heads.  They didn't choose to be symbols. But here they were riding the thermals up higher and higher into the bright blue sky. 

Rivers flow.  Eagles fly. And horses sip from the sweet waters of the river. This is my America.

The beautiful Verde River

Over the weekend, we all come together and enjoy some road tripping.  We needed fresh air to breathe after such a terrible week of news. It has not been easy to smile lately. 

Anxiety can create some of the worst pain ever with the knowledge that there are savages out there who'd take this country back 50 years!

Rosy-faced Lovebird in Tempe, AZ

Rosy-faced Lovebirds were never native to Phoenix and yet, they now live here in the 10's of thousands.  We have embraced them as part of our Arizona bird community. They add color to our lives. They show each other compassion as they cuddle up on the branches of trees. And it is here that they peacefully coexist among all the other birds in this city. Although, they do need to keep their eyes open for those prickly cacti!

It's not easy waking up in the morning realizing that things like our environment or people's rights are in jeopardy.  No one should live in fear except maybe that bright red Vermilion Flycatcher on the telephone wire.  American Kestrels and Merlins love little birds:)

Vermilion Flycatcher-male

No. It's not easy knowing that my country is bitterly divided. As an observer of the wild world, I worry most about our environment and the damage it will endure from a man who doesn't believe in global warming.

So I, along with over half the American voters, will be watching as these very difficult 4 years unfold. Until next time......

Blow A Kiss, Fire A Gun

Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson

December.  It's the month of crazy as we kiss the year good-bye.  Birders rush to get their birds before the year is over. Holiday shoppers clog the highways up.  And duck hunters are out shooting ducks. This time of year brings everyone together whether we like it or not. 

Pied-billed Grebe

It's always weird going back to work after an intense weekend. I'm constantly studying birds out in the field whenever I get the chance. I began on Friday evening at Sweetwater.  I needed to clear my mind and think about my options. I stood observing several birds for a long time deciding how I'd tackle the weekend. When I left, I had a plan. Possible life bird in sight! On Saturday, we headed up to Prescott to visit friends Cynthia and Roger. 

Green Heron

It was cold and rainy.  Perfect weather for a Tundra Swan.  So I kicked Micheal out of bed and we took a road trip up to find this not always present bird:)

Saturday was a really fun day.  It felt like the holidays!  I was lazy with the camera but thanks to Cynthia, I have photos to share from our visit to Prescott!  

Cynthia, Roger and Micheal

We eventually relocated the swan giving me a rare Arizona Swan Trifecta for the year!  Earlier this year, a pair of Trumpeter Swans came to Sweetwater Wetlands.  Then we got our non-countable(for AZ) Mute Swans.  This weekend, we finished the swan chase with the beautiful Tundra below. 

Tundra Swan-note yellow lores/Photo by Cynthia White

I wore my "old man" outfit.  I didn't care.  It felt SOOO comfortable!

At Willow Lake searching for the swan.  Photo by Cynthia White

However, the clock ticks and it was off again on Sunday for a very important bird known as the Rusty Blackbird. It was still hanging out along the Salt River.  So Sunday came and another early morning began. 

We reached the Coon Bluff area and were greeted by many Rock Wrens including the one below. This wren decided to perch on top of someone's tent.  Or maybe the bird owned the tent?

Rock Wren at Coon Bluff Campground

Once we got onto the trail, I spotted the infamous gang of wild horses.  For now the horses are safe.  At one point, they were going to be taken off these lands, but public outcry kept them from "disappearing". It has been a very controversial topic between environmentalists and the public. This wild locale is also a recreational space for many people living in the Phoenix area. Birders were birding.  Photographers were capturing with their cameras a pair of Bald Eagles nesting.  Horseback riders were crossing the creek. Hikers hiked. And fisher people fished.  This recreational area was getting plenty of use on Sunday.  All was calm. Until....

The last wild horse population in Arizona

Bullets flew past our heads!  I was with Magill at the time and we were very angry. These irresponsible "hunters" almost hit the photographer to the right.  Another photographer came out and asked if the guy was okay.  The hunters shot what they thought was a dove.  Turns out they were complete idiots.  They killed a Greater Yellowlegs! A NO NO!  Not a duck or a dove. Looks like these morons need to read and study up on what they are killing. It was all senseless.  It's duck season right now and there is hunting allowed in this area but most hunters were further down the river away from the crowds of people.  It's these kinds of people who give hunters a bad name.

Irresponsible Hunters

Calls were made to Game and Fish and the Sheriff's Department. They didn't apologize to the guy and when they saw the camera, they took off. The whole incident really made us upset and ruined a perfectly beautiful morning.  IRRESPONSIBLE!  We were okay as were the others.  It could have been a lot worse.  That morning we dipped on the Rusty Blackbird.  One of these days I will find this beauty but it was wasn't meant to be on this day. I'm just thankful we're okay.  These guys shot at ground level and through thick vegetation not looking to see if there was anyone in the vegetation.  Photographers like to hide in a natural or created "blind" to capture wildlife in action.

White-throated Sparrow

Over the past two weekends, we've added several sightings of rare sparrows from our walks. While the Rusty may have been a "no show", we were able to add on a juvenile Golden-crowned Sparrow. It was a first for my state list. I never pay attention to that stuff but all the birders have been asking me where my state list is at right now?  Still don't know. I first saw this (at the time) life bird in New Mexico at the magical Bosque Del Apache. While these photos are NOT of the bird we observed, the bird appeared similar to the juvenile below with the gold crown forming.

Golden-crowned Sparrow-Juvenile

The weekend was a success.  I would have to say that I was more of a birder than a photographer this time around.  And if we had a dollar for every time someone asked us if we had seen the Bald Eagles, we'd be rich. They ARE beautiful birds and our national symbol.  Don't think for a minute that I don't stop and enjoy their presence. It's just that a Rusty Blackbird is also quite amazing.  Its' populations are in severe decline and ornithologists still haven't been able to figure out what is happening with this species of blackbird.

For now, I wait.  I'll chase a local bird or two, but the year is not over.  And there's a job to do. For now, I'm staying away from areas full of weapons. Gun rights?  Not for everyone.  The US needs to get its' act together and screen people better.  Until next time. 

Summer Tanager-female