Oh Those Golden Grahams....

As it warms up, the Brown Crested Flycatcher finds its way back into Southern Arizona.   During a shoot for the "Supermoon" which turned out "Superbad", I did get wonderful shots of this bird at the Saguaro East National Park. 

I set the tripod up and was getting all the settings set up on the camera as the sunset began its decline.  I experimented with some landscape shots and discovered that one of these beautiful birds was hanging out on one of my favorite desert plants....the Ocotillo.

He sat there for awhile as I snapped a billion shots of him posing.  After a rattlesnake sighting that day, I was very aware that at dusk, these dangerous critters come out searching for food.  Let me just say that I was VERY careful where I stepped:)

I burned my eyes as I snapped this shot.  It's pretty though:)

The Palo Verdes were in bloom casting more yellow hues around the landscape.  Absolutely gorgeous!

The colors of our Arizona sunset come from all the dust particles in the air.  As the sun sets, the rays reflect off the particles creating the beautiful oranges, pinks, and purples in the night sky.

And so while I didn't get the moon, I was very happy with these very accidental bird shots on the Ocotillo....with blooms!!!

This post also proves that the color brown isn't such a bad thing:)  This line applies to both landscape and birds!  After I got done with this shoot, I got hungry for Golden Grahams cereal hence the the post title:) Stay tuned for more tomorrow.....

The Queen's Jubilee

The Queen butterfly.  Mother natures own celebration:)

El Parque Güell

Dear friends, I will be out on assignment again for awhile. I will be trying to keep up with my blogging comments, etc as much as I can.  I have a kindle that allows me to read your comments from around the world while I'm stuck at an airport etc so I'll be able to post from this device often, but I may or may not have access while I'm out in the field.  Just depends on the connection speeds. However, I have scheduled many wonderful posts on birds, wildlife and gardening over the next couple weeks. Have you ever been to a garden that makes a strong statement?  Over the past couple of years, I've done some writing on my trip to Spain.  Today I wanted to take you all on a journey back in 2004 to a garden that completely blew me out of the water.  Parque Guell is located in Barcelona on top of a hill. 

The easiest way to get there?  Take a taxi from your hotel and head to the area.  The entrance can be congested so most people choose to walk up the BIG hill.  This can be a challenge for some so if you can't do this walk, you'll need to pay a bit more for you taxi ride.  All I can say is that this was one of the big highlights for me in Barcelona.  Magical! 

The pictures you see today are from my OLD camera, but I think they are okay to show.  This park utilizes excellent xeric practices.  It also has great art by the famous Gaudi mixed in with the natural coloring on the various plants. Bring excellent walking shoes.  This is a nice little trek:)

I also love the bathrooms here.  You pay to do whatever inside that cubical.  And so I would laugh and laugh everytime my friend had to use it.  How does it work?  Well you put your coins inside and then enter.  Do the deeds.  Wash your hands!!! And then get out!  The door shuts and then begins to wash the inside with a spray.  My fear was that I would be "showered" while using this bathroom because I've heard it happens:)

The park was originally part of a commercially unsuccessful housing site, the idea of Count Eusebi Güell, whom the park was named after. It was inspired by the English garden city movement; hence the original English name Park. The site was a rocky hill with little vegetation and few trees, called Muntanya Pelada (Bare Mountain). It already included a large country house called Larrard House or Muntaner de Dalt House, and was next to a neighborhood of upper class houses called La Salut (The Health). The intention was to exploit the fresh air (well away from smoky factories) and beautiful views from the site, with sixty triangular lots being provided for luxury houses. Count Eusebi Güell added to the prestige of the development by moving in 1906 to live in Larrard House. Ultimately, only two houses were built, neither designed by Gaudí. One was intended to be a show house, but on being completed in 1904 was put up for sale, and as no buyers came forward, Gaudí, at Güell's suggestion, bought it with his savings and moved in with his family and his father in 1906.This house, where Gaudí lived from 1906 to 1926. It contains original works by Gaudí and several of his collaborators. It is now the Gaudi House Museum since 1963. In 1969 it was declared a historical artistic monument of national interest....a UNESCO World Heritage site.  So there's your history lesson for the day.  Amazing place and highly recommended if you're in Barcelona.  More tomorrow.....

Drought Tolerant Plants for Tucson

Feather Cactus

We've arrived.  June is here!!!  Where do we begin??!!!  Well this is a great month to get things done early in the morning or late at night.  There isn't that humid or muggy monsoon air....yet.  But it's the perfect time to get your cacti and palms into the landscape. 

Drought Tolerant plants are important for our landscape because it cuts down on the use of water(xeriscape) and your water bill.  But most importantly, it frees up some time in our busy schedules.  Most of us who love gardening would love to be outside the entire time doing work in our yards.  However for many of us, this is not a realty.  Drought tolerant doesn't mean that your place can't be beautiful or lush....quite the opposite!  If you plan with the right plants, your place can be gorgeous, xeric AND cut down on yardwork.

This is a great guide to help you choose the best plants for your landscape.  They can found at TEP etc.  While some of you love to garden and water, you may not feel this way down the road.  I am at that stage in the property restoration of El Presidio.  I don't like watering plants and I really don't like being outside during the hot temps.  And I've watched a lot of people go through these stages in their own yards.

Many have commented to me about our property and say that they are surprised at how lush and green El Presidio is.  Yes.  That is the biggest compliment ever.  I have researched hours and hours on plants to make our property water friendly and GREEN like back home in Wisconsin......but with a desert twist.   Obviously I don't plant Wisconsin things here, but I find similiar looking plants that have been adapted to our desert or native plants that will thrive in our climate.  They also must function to feed humans and wildlife.  The above shot is the beloved Persimmons tree located at El Presidio. This pic was taken in October of last year.  Some fruit trees love our climate like the Mulberry, Peach, Apricot, Fig, Pomegranate or Persimmons.  It's all about placement and lighting.

I also try to use color when I can......and BAMBOO!!!  Several types of bamboo grow very well here like the Buddha's Belly Bamboo.  Once it's established, it only needs watering once a week.  I have the bamboo placed around our buildings where it catches the extra rain from the roof.

Save yourself work and find plants that will lower your water bills and outside time this summer.  Keep your potted plants near the entrance to your home as it will be easier to water them with a hose.  Everything else should be watered once or twice a week.  June is hot and typically rain free.  Mountain Laurel and Texas Ebony are lush and extremely XERIC plants.  In fact, there are so many great choices.  Find the above guide and get started.  It's fun once you get going.

I found this guy in our garden last July during monsoon.  More tomorrow....

The Chuparosa Challenge-Magnificent!

Black Chinned Hummingbird

Greetings all!!!  This post is dated on May 5th, 2012 in Carr Canyon near Sierra Vista.   There has been a reported sighting of a Lucifer Hummingbird near a secluded Bed and Breakfast.  I went to find the place and discovered that no one was there....so I decided not to stay.  So I moved onto a busier area in the Carr Canyon region. This hummingbird challenge is fun because you get to sit watching feeders and talking to people.   It's probably one of the easier challenges once you find the place.   The tricky part is finding the places and of course....the photography.  Hummers are extremely fast.  For me it's gotta be a legit sighting for it to count.  And I need to observe the flight patterns etc for it to work. 

Of course the trickier part still is the identification of the female hummer.  Most of the females are tricky to distinguish from one another making me ponder the bigger question....."How do the males tell the females apart?"

While searching for the Lucifer, the Black Chinned Hummers flew around in great numbers.  Most people consider these hummers to be "boring".  To be honest, I think they are my favorite.  And I think they are quite elegant.....so I hope I captured this small bird to show you all how beautiful he really is.  If you look closer, you'll also notice just enough purple to give this little guy color.

But alas, I had already accomplished my goal of snapping shots of the Black Chinned Hummingbird.  Where was the Lucifer???

A sudden burst of blue....AND LARGE....flew into my line of sight and at first I thought it may have been the Broad Billed Hummer.  But on closer examination, I discovered the Magnificent Hummingbird!!!!  It was on the list of "Must Sees!"

The Magnificent Hummingbird

And this guy was quite large compared to the other hummers visiting the feeder......the chin up is blue with a longer black bill.

He disappeared rather quickly and I waited for awhile chatting with Mike at the Carr House.  It was a nice afternoon in the cooler canyon breezes. 

As I was getting ready to go home, the Magnificent came back and allowed me to capture several shots without flight involved.  Here you can see the dark bill and darker blues and purples. 

Are you looking to do some hummingbird investigation?  Here are some hints that help me out while in the field.  I like to wear bright red or blue shirts.  It seems to call their names.  Also find an area that hummers like to congregate around.....like canyons, bed and breakfasts, etc.  Wherever there is a feeder, you'll find hummers:)  Several birders bring their own feeders on trips to attract the hummingbirds to their cabin!!!  Brilliant idea!

So to date, I've seen the Magnificent Hummingbird, Broad Billed Hummingbird, Black Chinned Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird and the Anna's Hummingbird. 

And here's a visual review of what I've snapped....

Anna's Hummingbird

The Anna's and Costa's Hummingbirds are year round residents here in Tucson.  The Anna's have a pink head while the Costa's have a purple head.

Costa's Hummingbird

Broad Billed Hummingbird

And of course this is the Broad Billed Hummingbird.  Orange bill and lighter blue tones. I'm still on the hunt for more interesting hummers. I have so many more to find and as the summer heats up, they'll be hanging out in the cooler areas around the feeders.  Stay tuned for more from this series!

Cool pic.  Found this online at this blog.  How many do you recognize?

The Book of Thoth

Thoth - God of Wisdom, Time, Writing and the Moon-Head of an ibis

Thoth invented hieroglyphs, the picture writing of Ancient Egypt. He was the measurer of the earth and the counter of the stars, the keeper and recorder of all knowledge. The ibis is a bird rather like a stork, with long legs and a long beak(pictures taken here in Tucson at the Sweetwater Facility) which it uses for prodding in the mud to find small fish. It was a symbol of wisdom and learning because it has a beak shaped like a pen which it dips in the mud, as if it was ink.

The Book of Thoth had two spells in it. If you read the first spell aloud, you would be able to understand every beast and bird, and summon the fishes in the sea. If you read the second spell, you could bring the dead to life. Prince Setna, the son of a Pharaoh, knew the book was hidden in a royal tomb in the City of the Dead. With his brother Anhurerau, he broke into the tomb of Neferkeptah. When they found the burial chamber, they saw the mummy of Neferkaptah, and his wife and young son. The wife spoke to them, and warned them against taking the book of Thoth.

She said that her husband had stolen the Book from Thoth, and had read the spells, but Thoth was angry and had drowned her and her son in the Nile, and Neferkeptah had then killed himself. But Setna ignored her and moved towards the Book.

The mummy of Neferkaptah sat up and said "Play me at four games of draughts. If you win, you can take the Book." Setna was terrified, but agreed. He played the first game, and lost. He started to sink into the ground, up to his ankles. Then he lost the next game, and sunk up to his hips. As he was losing the third game, he shouted to his brother, "Run and fetch my magic amulets. Only they can save me!"

He then sank into the ground up to his chin. His brother ran out of the tomb. Setna played the fourth game as slowly as he could, trying desperately not to lose, but the mummy was too good at draughts. Just as he had nearly lost for the final time, his brother Anhurerau returned with the amulets, and put them on Setna's head. The spell was broken, and Setna grabbed the Book of Thoth, and ran as hard as he could out of the tomb.

As Setna tried to read the Book, he saw a beautiful woman walking past. He fell in love with her, and tried to persuade her to marry him.

She demanded that he kill his existing wife and children. Completely besotted with her, he agreed. When he had done this, she vanished, and he was appalled at what he had done. But he discovered that it was all a dream. He realised that he was being punished for stealing the Book of Thoth, and next time it might not be a dream, so he returned the Book to the tomb of Neferkeptah and resealed the burial chamber. Ever since then, no-one has seen the Book of Thoth.

The magic amulet may have been a scarab. The scarab or dung beetle makes a ball of dung by rolling it along the ground, and then lays its eggs in it. The Ancient Egyptians imagined a scarab rolling the sun across the sky. Source  When I see this bird, I think of Egypt and one day I'll be there to meet Thoth in person(via historical data). I'm also not trying to steal the book. When I see the Ibis, this is what enters my mind.  I'm also a huge fan of Depeche Mode.  Here's a creepy video from a couple years ago.  When I see the beak of an Ibis, I think think of this strange video.  But this song.....oh this song is one of my favorites.  I saw them in concert 2 years ago up in Phoenix and when they played this song, they used a raven in the background on the big screen....incredible stuff.  Here's the video for you to decide:)