Oasis

Neotropic Cormorants

On a tip from several birders, I discovered that near the Sweetwater Wetlands, there is a park with a lake and an island!  And it was here that I discovered my best views of Herons, Egrets, and Neotropic Cormorants!  They had been flying into the wetlands but not sticking around......Where were they going?

Thanks to a tip off from my friend, I was able to visit this park for the first time and find the Great Blue Heron rookery located on the "island" in the middle of the lake. Granted it's not Lake Michigan big, but it was a larger lake stocked with fish and that's were I found all my larger water birds. 

It was fun to stop here.  How long have I lived in Tucson and never been to this area?  It makes me think that there are more of these little gems hidden around town.   We arrived at the park and quickly identified the island in the lake.  It was far away from humans for the herons to build their nesting area.

The Neotropic Cormorants are strange birds but they all hang together in a group.  The eye color, long neck, and slinky water movements sometimes remind me of a snake, a seal, or the lockness monster.

While the Neotropic Cormorant freaks me out a bit, the opposite can be said of the graceful Great Egret.  These birds weren't with the Cormorants or Herons but off to the side of another lake.  Absolutely gorgeous birds.....

It is always bizarre for me to see water in the desert. But stranger still are the birds that hang around these water holes....

The Christopher Columbus Park is located off of Silverbell road and is near Pima Animal Control.  It is also one of the few lakes stocked with fish in the city.

I had a lot of bird sightings which included a variety of smaller birds like the Vermillian Flycatcher, House Sparrow, etc.   There were also a lot of butterflies in the area.

During this day, I met up again with Sally and Robert and they were such a wonderful couple.  I laughed a lot because they both were very similiar to other birding couples I've met.  One is the extreme birder while the other enjoys hanging out with the other person and is the camera support.  That's my relationship with Pat as well.  We laughed a lot because they had some wonderful couple sparring going on.....and it was good for Pat to see because we have the same discussions/playful fights.  "You said you'd only be 15 minutes!!!  It's now a half hour later!":)  What is love if it wasn't for this kind of stuff?  And to be honest, I would miss that joking/serious poking at one another.  It's nice to know that we aren't the only ones who have these "discussions". 

So in the middle of this desert city, you will find an oasis here and there.  You just have to keep your eyes and ears open for them. Or ask other birders:)

And speaking of Oasis...check out El Presidio Gardens own little Oasis!!!  Two hummingbird nests!!!!  Here's Mom on her eggs:)

A Gaggle Of Geese

Nothing is more beautiful than geese flying over a river. 

While on vacation in Wisconsin, we stopped at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Bay.

The day was warmer and a bit foggy with snow flurries.....but you wouldn't know it with all the geese around.

All you have to do is listen and you'll hear them squack somewhere nearby.  They live all over Wisconsin.

As they take off, they will fly en masse semi "V" formations.

These shots are iconic of a fall or winter in Wisconsin.  The above shot is my favorite.  Take a closer look and you'll notice all the waterfowl in the background on the river and along the shoreline.

Some people bring bread and corn to feed the ducks or geese.  If you do this, just remember that geese have a nasty bite!  And some of them can be quite aggressive:)

Also watch where you step....

as their "droppings" are hard to get off your shoes......

But there is no denying that these are incredibly beautiful creatures.....

.....just watch your head:)