Try

I find chasing after a new bird has a cost because it doesn't always guarantee an excellent picture.....just a fuzzy one for that chance glimpse. And while running after that bird, many other species present themselves in broad daylight.  Ones that I've wanted to get great shots of since the beginning of this year.....but the distant call of the Groove Bill Ani calls me and I run.

Male Summer Tanager

As I run, the rare Male Summer Tanager taunts me sitting on top of a sign.  A test to see how bad I want this bird.  But I stop and hold myself together to snap shots of it.  The Ani calls again and my heart races and I must leave the bird that I've been trying to get better shots of........all for the Ani.

I walk briskly to the bird call.  Whenever there is a rare bird like the Plain Capped Starthroat Hummingbird or the Groove Billed Ani, I can't sleep well.   I memorize their calls and listen carefully while out in the field.  I hear the call repeatedly.

Meanwhile, like the devil taunting me, birds sit and stare at me giving me perfect shots of them.  "Come on!!!  Why couldn't you have done this before???  Why now!??"  The call comes again.

Rare bird indeed.  The only one in the US right now and the whole world is looking for it.  I find another birder also focusing her eyes on the same place I hear the call.

Cooper's Hawk

We look into the tree full of Grackles but a floppy jump catches my eye. "Everyone is here searching for you and we two lucky people found you."

But my eyes are distracted.  INCA DOVES!!!!!????  Come on!!!  Is this some sort of sick joke??!!!  I have searched for you all year long and now, NOW! of all times you and your friends are with the Ani in the tree.  

Inca Doves

A White Crowned Sparrow pops out....and perches perfectly for me.  I wish I had a copy of myself to observe them all at once.  But I can't.  And it's frustrating.  The Ani calls one last time and snaps my attention back like a tight rubber band. 

White Crowned Sparrow

And I catch it flying off into the reeds of the Sweetwater Wetlands.  And as soon as it all happens, it all quickly fades away.  Birders see us both get excited and MANY people come towards us.  I point the direction of the bird and they all quickly go after it.

Groove Billed Ani

"Try" happened twice for me to find this bird.  I had many sleepless nights. Finding the bird was pure adrenaline.  I won't forget that moment for a long time.  But I am a perfectionist and as a photographer, I was upset with my pictures.  I am OCD and went back the next day around the same time.  Would luck strike twice?  More tomorrow.....

Unfurl

From within, there is a passion or fire that has continued to burn.  It has been there for a long long time.  And yet for some time, it had been diminished.

Over these past two years, I've been able to rekindle that fire like I did in my twenties.  Like the Phoenix from the ashes, I feel like my best work is yet ahead of me. Luckily my partner has been there for me over these past years to keep me sane.

I wake up each day with an excited hurry to rush out that door and explore.  Over these next couple years as I release myself from debt caused by education, buying a home etc I will continue to end this chapter of my life quickly so that I can fly again.  I want to travel not once or twice a year but often. Whenever.

Turning 40 has been amazing.  I thought creatively it would end after my 20's but just when I least expected it, the magic and sparkle has come back again.  The passion was always there.  I was just so busy getting muddled up in the game of life that I forgot to keep hope. What happens when you surface above politics?  Above debt? Above petty arguments?  When all of that daily stuff becomes white noise and no longer matters as much?  Travel, here or there, is in my blood.  It has been there my entire life and soon all the hard work will pay off.

I lost a friend last year at the young age of 47.  I lost a Grandfather at 56.  I have friends who have lost parents at 50.  Everyday must count from here on out.  The video "Try" below begins a two part series about trying and not giving up.  Life is work.  There are no shortcuts in relationships, work or finances. There are no quick fixes with drugs or miracle weight loss programs.  "Try" is also not giving up.  And it's also about doing my best in everything I do. Soon, very soon, my wings will unfurl as I continue to  make those last steps towards this new chapter of freedom.  And adventure.

Stay tuned for the posts "Try" and "Birding Etiquette" over the next two days.  More tomorrow....

The Desert Speaks

Sometimes the bigger picture is just as amazing as the little one.  Sunset in Saguaro National Park is really wonderful.  If you come to Tucson, make sure you stop here or Gates Pass(or both!) for that wonderful Arizona sky.

It's hard at first to imagine that a desert is full of life because of the overwhelming "brown" color.  Most park visitors from out of state and new to the desert miss the little critters in hiding.  Can you spot the tiny Antelope Ground Squirrel in the pic above?  And for my plant friends, do you remember what those cactus-y twig things are called behind the rocks?  Clue.  Start with an "o" and end with an "o":)  Answer at bottom of the post.

Canyon Towhee

Look closely in and around the vegetation.  There is something always hiding nearby.  But remember not to go digging too much or you may find more than you bargained for:)

Saguaro cactus come in all shapes and sizes.  The above one is dead probably due to a lightning strike during monsoon.  And while they may be dead, they make great perches for hawks and other birds.

And if you listen carefully, you'll hear the desert speak.

Answer: Ocotillo   More tomorrow....

Chasers

Great Blue Heron

There's a lot going on behind the scenes here at Las Aventuras.  Almost too much.  Sometimes I need to tell myself to take a break.....and it doesn't always work.  I do enjoy counting birds, but it's also extremely fun playing detective trying to find new ones.  So the "rare bird of the week" will dictate where we go birding sometimes.  And sometimes, it's the only reason we go.

Black Crowned Night Heron.  Isn't it funny how we aren't shy when there is food around?  This fisherman gave his little buddy a fish from the bucket. I'll have to remember that one:)

I love that Kathie will text me and say, "Chris I'm here at the recharge pond looking for the Common Loon." I plot my GPS tracker on my way home from work and move quickly(and safely) to her location to help search for the bird.

But on this day, I would be near her coordinates and called her to get a Western Grebe on her Pima list.  There was also a Gull spotted in the area but work interferred for the prime spotting during the AM hours.  However there was a chance the gull may have still been in the area.  Kathie and I met up searching....and searching.   While waiting for her, I scoped out the area for the Western Grebe.

It's important helping your birding partner out and I feel really bad if we don't both see the bird. Kathie tells me not to stress about it.  And I understand but still....  Two are better than one because we can spot, track, observe and work together to list those birds in the area.  As a photographer, I am looking for that rare shot.  The "shot" is below, but we both lie to each other.  "I've only got an hour to bird."  Of course the hour turns into two.  The sun tells us that it's time to call it quits:)

Gila Woodpeckers

I spot the Western Grebe for Kathie and she gets to put it on her list.  We saw the Common Loon and get to put that bird on our lists for Pima County.  Of course, it doesn't always work out as you'll see in the upcoming week.  Life and location can be difficult.  I find that I am planning my days better just so I can fit in birding.....I mean exercise......oh hell....BOTH!

Vermilian Flycatcher

The shadows of the sun setting would reveal several Western Bluebirds on this day.  And that was AWESOME!  Kathie's eye caught that one.

Western Bluebird

But what really got her curiosity was this flock of blackbirds.  Her challenge, "Were there Cowbirds in the group?"  We crept closer....and closer.....and closer.

Blackbirds

And I saw a human walking toward the blackbirds getting closer....and closer.....and closer.  I smiled and warned Kathie the birds were going to fly.  And the two shots of the blackbirds in flight below are my favorites from this outing.  Kathie got her observations in.....I got the shot....and we both were satisfied and thankful that we got the chance to observe them.

Of course this post wouldn't be complete without the bird we were chasing.  The Western Grebe is a nice looking bird.  I had already seen it, but Kathie didn't have it on her Pima list. We are a team.  I research the night before and report back to Kathie the locations birds were found.  Sometimes I go alone....and other times, like today, we get to hang out together and look for birds and wildlife.

Western Grebe

Every day is a new revelation.  Every outing has merit.  It's an exercise of the body and mind.

And if you look closely, you might encounter a new surprise hiding.  Another exciting find was this group of Lark Sparrows.  I am so lucky to have a wonderful friend.  Thank you Gaelyn for linking us up again after getting lost in the blogosphere.  The best part is that our spouses are cool with us birding.  Well our spouses are pretty cool as well.  I have so much to write.  So much to share....and not enough time!  We are doing a Christmas Bird Count and will be busy "training" with Rich Hoyer over the next several weekends. Las Aventuras will be heading to Bosque Del Apache and Colorado Springs very soon:)

Lark Sparrows

Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season.  All my best!  Until tomorrow.....

The rare Northern Parula in Tucson.  I found this bird alone at Ft. Lowell Park.  Not a great camera shot.  Chasing isn't about great photography but finding the bird:)  

Art With Art

Female Anna's Hummingbird

Here's the female Anna's Hummingbird.  It may be "winter" in Arizona but these year long residents visit our feeders often in Tucson.

If life imitates art, then perhaps this is a perfect example.

I was chatting with Kathie and waiting for her to get her tea all prepped for our trip.  And while she was getting everything all together, I saw her hummingbird feeder busy with activity.

It was surprising because I can never get the hummers to come to these glamorous feeders.  They tend to like the cheap ones, but the key here was that this was in the shade.  And that made all the difference in the world.

Get ready for some incredible fun coming up on Las Aventuras. Let's have a kiki!  December is just warming up. Let the festivities begin.....

Sore Eyes

What happens when you search beyond the "Usual Suspects" while birding?

Hutton's Vireo

You get sore eyes searching for new ones!!!!  But boy is it worth it!  These shots were taken at Madera Canyon while a woman was singing a Karen Carpenter song loudly.  I couldn't hear the bird sounds very well because they were drowned out by....."Why do birds, suddenly appear, every time you are near?"  Very sick sense of humor....but I like that song.  And it makes me laugh....now:)

Tree Creeper

So while the audio waves were blocked by this mad singing siren, I had to keep my eyes focused on slight movement.  There were so many little birds flying around that it was once again hard to focus.  I'm finding that there is a certain time when all the little birds flock together and feed.  I was in the hot spot as it all happened around me.

Bridled Titmouse

On this observation, I'd pick up three more for the lifelist:)  The Tree Creeper and Hutton's Vireo were most welcome surprises.....especially the Hutton's Vireo.  I knew the bird was different because of the head formation but I put it out to the ID Bird Gurus and it sparked a long conversation on how this bird gets confused with others.  I got lost in the conversation somewhere but am glad I got that one checked off my list.  Cute bird but it can be one of the difficult ones out there to ID:)

But moving along, I observed this Dark Eyed Junco(below) along with many of his compadres as they fed around the feeders at a local B & B in Madera Canyon.  

Dark Eyed Junco

Always a thrill to watch and never shy to the camera are the lovely and loud Mexican Jays:)

Squirrels, Lesser Goldfinches, Hummingbirds, Wild Turkey were all present.

The little birds make you work.  They are quick, fast and usually in deep shade to get on film or plain old ID.  But after all is said and done, it can be very rewarding.  On this day, I would learn much about behavior.

I want to say that the woman was annoying but she wasn't.  I got a little misty eyed.  I listened to Karen Carpenter as a child on the 8 Track.  She was one of my favorites growing up.  It was my parent's wedding song.  And today it's the featured video.  RIP Karen.  I still listen to your music and apparently so do others:)  More tomorrow....

Abandoning Logic

Parrots have been a part of my life for a long time.  I know them.  I know their squawks, whistles, and intense curiosity.   I failed in my job to find Kathie the Peach Faced lovebirds that have gone wild in Phoenix.  In fact, they have been colonizing and extending their range every year.  While they're not as invasive as say the European Starlings, they have not shown signs of decline. When Kathie and I arrived at Gilbert Ranch, I had known that several of the lovebirds lived here in this area. But I never heard their sounds.

We left with a very successful number count on birds, but Kathie and I are suckers for not stopping.  What else could we find?  We both had a free day to bird and from sunup to sundown we used it.  On our way home we stopped in Casa Grande to bird before heading back to Tucson.  Kathie mentioned a Monk parrot colony lived there.  But we needed to fill up the car with gas.  And we did so.  For those of you who may not know the name Monk parrot.....perhaps you'll recognize the Quaker parrot?  This parrot has become invasive in many parts of the country and today fly free and fancy.  And my family raised these birds growing up in Wisconsin.  All of our birds were raised from eggs....tube feeding and all:)  These curious parrots are mischievous and full of sass:)  One time I played a game with our "Monk" parrot.  I hated caging birds so I always left the door open so that if they wanted out, they could escape.  Anyhow, I pretended to sleep on the couch knowing full well that "Chuckie" would sneak out and climb up on me.  I kept my eye cracked open watching the little green bird walking across the floor towards me.  He then climbed up on my chest and started "preening" my face....and messing with my glasses.  When he began doing that, I woke up and he bit me on the lip and started laughing saying his name in that naughty whisper...."Chuckie.....hehehehehe...."  Parrots are smart and require lots of TLC.  So back to our story in Casa Grande, AZ.....

While Kathie was filling up the gas tank, I heard them.  They were loud and up in the trees around this wildlife refuge house!  But something even more unusual happened that I wasn't expecting.....an African Grey sounded from on top of an abandoned building.  There was a sexy whistle and I knew right away among all the Quaker/Monk chatter.......that we were dealing with something different.  Grabbing my camera bursting with rapid whistles back to the bird, I got this extremely intelligent parrot to come out into the open.....and that's when I saw not one but TWO different parrots!

Here's the evidence.  My mother also has an African Grey by the name of Tamara and she is one quick study. I taught her the tune to "Flipper" and "The Andy Griffith show" while I was doing dishes one day.  But this find floored me.  What in the world were THESE two birds doing here?  Quaker/Monk parrots are one thing......but an African Grey??!!!  And a Yellow Crowned parrot??!!!  The house was abandoned because it was all boarded up.  Kathie drove quickly up to my spot that I was observing.  If we saw the Monks, we could count them for EBIRD (because they were wild and the bird gurus would be okay with that logistical account.)  But not these two parrots. So I'll share my theory in just a moment.

This beauty decided to show his tail feathers:)

Red tail=Congo variety

And a little extra bit, the African Grey was sporting it's pretty red tail feathers(meaning that this was one happy parrot:) So while we didn't spot the Peach Faced Lovebirds.  We did find some incredibly dazzling parrots!  My theory?  Here it goes.  Kathie and I both drove around the perimeter to establish the high parrot chatter and perhaps see several monk parrots in the Aleppo pines.  But by this point, it had gotten too dark to investigate further and the Monks were settling down.  The parrots were all located near a wildlife refuge and my guess is that they had escaped or that these wild parrots were being fed by this refuge and living in the trees taking advantage of the free food and shelter. Many parrots have incredible intelligence.  The African Grey, for example, possesses the knowledge of a 5 year old kid.  But I'm thinking we are underestimating that intelligence factor for this bird.   But being opportunistic birds, they are able to figure out their situations and survive them.  This was a weird find but it was still cool.  The best part of the night?  Kathie and I ran to a golf course to count birds right at sunset.  Coyotes were howling near a wash and we were able to watch them find one another.  Birding/wildlife is rewarding in many ways.  I've lost so much weight walking and running to new destinations.  Plus I witness such incredible things.  I'll say it again....much better than TV:)  More tomorrow....