Monsoon Sunday, survey and storm. July 29 2012

Sunday I surveyed another area east of my neighborhood with my friend Kirk.   This area butts up close to the Rincons along the TV wash, and has some amazing habitat from the additional rainfall in the foothills.  Almost immediately we heard a Summer Tanager calling, and as we approached the running wash we spotted two White-tailed Deer standing in the water upstream, with fresh velvet-covered antlers adorning their heads as they enjoyed an early morning drink.  

Tiny desert toads were so numerous we had to walk slowly to allow them time to scamper from our path, and pools of water were teeming with tadpoles.   A bobcat traversed a tributary to our left and found safe haven in the thick vegetation.  This is the magic of the monsoon, Arizona's fifth and most precious season.  The desert is now just beginning its second and most substantial growing season, cherished by new baby birds, and early migrants.  Some nestlings, especially raptors, have even left to explore new territories, something called "post monsoon dispersal."    

The startling call had a loon-like quality to it as it pushed through the cottonwoods to our ears.  We recognized this piercing call as belonging to a Gray Hawk, and we rushed for a view of this elusive hunter.  "There, in some open branches!?  I set up the scope, turned on the camera, and managed one back shot before it took flight.  It was a juvenile molting into adult plumage, as seen by the tail section in this photo.  

We heard infrequent calls but couldn't relocate it for a bit.   Then Kirk pointed,"There!" as we watched it fly across the wash, getting great views of its white rump, a distinctive field mark.  We thought that was the end of our sightings, yet the hawk would give us one more show, allowing me to capture a few more images as it peered through the branches of a dead tree. 

Even as we watched, I couldn't help being distracted by a male Blue Grosbeak in the brush before us.   Then a Great Horned Owl flew through the mesquites, disappearing again against the similar looking mesquite trunks.  I thought I heard the loud trill of a Tropical Kingbird, but never got a second chance to hear the call.  A Harris's Hawk stood tall against an exposed branch.   I heard a "ZZZZZZ," call from the vegetation, recognizing it as a bunting.   I watched as a drab brown female Lazuli Bunting flew from the cover to a open branch.   Then a brilliant male followed, staying just long enough for a couple haphazard shots. 

Before leaving the wash we managed to plant some Sycamore seeds I'd been holding, and I was referenced as, "Johnny Appleseed." for the second time in a week.  I'd actually hope for a better name, maybe "Sycamore Sam," or the like, since these seeds were natural and from the same wash. No name would be nice too, just so long as I can see the wash flowing as it has in years past. 

Later that afternoon we received the most thunderous storm of the season.  One of the thunderous bolts shook the walls as it boomed angrily at the world, and apparently awakened our resident Couch's Spadefoot, who immediately began calling out.   This toad's mating call sounds more like a complaint against being woken rather than a musical serenade.  I watched, though, and soon another toad hopped toward the sound, and disappeared behind the curtains of the mulberry leaves.  

Meanwhile the Broad-billed Hummingbird tucked herself into her nest during the downpour, tail held high, keeping her eggs safe from harm.   

 

Thank you for appreciating nature and the environment on which it thrives.

IBA survey said.....Peregrine Falcon! July 20 2912

Today I got out to survey one part of the wash, which was accepted as an Important Bird Area this year.   Due to my sunburn experience on Monday (post still in draft stage) I had planned on walking with the sun at my back, since it was already half hour past sunrise, very late for summer birding.  Luckily I drove west toward my essential coffee source first, which runs past the west end of my transect.   There in the magical Eucalyptus mentioned in previous posts was a magnificent Peregrine Falcon!   Plans changed

Backyard wildlife July 19 2012

Yesterday it was partly cloudy so I did a little work on my water retention project-translation- building a stone wall to prevent rainwater from flowing out of our yard.  It is difficult since it is also freestanding and I have limited availability on large rocks.  But this method creates incredible habitat for lizards and the insects they feed upon, which brings more birds and mammals, etc.   I know we humans like to pick our neighbors and yard residents but I find it easier to just roll with the changes rather than continually trying to control the environment.   Removing one element could change others.   Removing scorpions reduces the chances of seeing a Western Screech Owl in the yard.   Spraying for insects affects the lizard population as well as birds, who like to scratch the ground for grubs.  

As I worked I heard the call of a Phainopepla, a bird commonly known as the black cardinal because of its crest.  Though not uncommon it is a rare treat to see one in our yard.  They love to hang out in the mistletoe in mesquites, eating the berries.  We only have one mesquite but luckily our neighbor also has one which flows into our yard, which is where I found this juvenile bird well hidden within the branches.

 Some lizards also came out to investigate my work and give their input.

For the last few days now we've had a female Broad-billed Hummingbird get very close to us every time we're on the porch.   It seemed so cute that she took such an interest in studying us so closely.   Today we discovered why her interest was so intense, as she began nest building on our catclaw vine, which grows under our porch's protective roof!   She's a fast worker and by the afternoon it was almost complete!  I was able to snap this picture as she tested the softness of her creation so far!

Thank you for appreciating the incredible wildlife which surrounds us!

Mount Lemmon bicycling/birding July 16 2012

If you read my last post you know I had planned to bike up Mount Lemmon on my Birthday (30 miles each way from 2500' to 8200').  So let me start by answering some preliminary questions you may have. 

Did you wake up early enough?                                                  No.
Did you make the attempt anyway?                                            Yes.
Did you take pictures?                                                                  No.
Did you bring the camera?                                                           Yes.
Did you bring the memory card?                                                 No.
What did you bring to document?                                               Video camera.
Did you get good video?                                                              No (automatic focus doesn't work well)
Are you going to torture us with video on the blog anyway.   Yes..no..yes...wait..no..ok no.
Did you make it all the way up to Ski Valley?                            Read on.

I began my ride just after 6:30 AM, later than I usually catch the bus for work.  It was already getting hot, the sun being out for the past hour.  I probably should have rushed straight to the mountain but the birds were singing this time of morning, and this ride was also about observing and appreciating the nature along the way.   Of the 22 species heard and seen on the five mile ride to the base the beautiful male Purple Martin on the telephone wires above me stands out the most. 

The sun's endless heated stare bore down on me for the first five miles to Molino Basin.  I was almost finished with my first liter of water and the trip wasn't half over by far.  The road turned

Birthday Bicycle Challenge

Well, tomorrow's my Bday and I plan on biking up Mount Lemmon from the house to celebrate.  It's like a bucket list thing to see if I can bike 30 miles from 2500' to Sky Valley at 8200'.   Can I do it?  Maybe.  I did accomplish this feat about 3 years ago preparing for a biking birdathon, but was in much better shape then, and started at the base of the mountain.   I think it will be a success if I wake up in time and attempt the climb.   And yes, the bins are coming too, as my rules do not preclude stopping for good birds.  It's all because of my philosophy (it's not about getting from point A to B, but what you experience along the way).  I will be bringing my Audubon guide for reference and my new pack (both Bday presents from Mrs S and our daughters).
So if it doesn't rain, or I don't oversleep, etc, I hope to have a nice tale to tell tomorrow.   I'm sure

Pre Birthday Bell's

Today when walking Kino I heard two Bell's Vireo's, one of which was in a resident's yard.  "Lucky Duck!" I thought envying the resident on their nice yard bird.   I did feel lucky the night before watching 3 fledgling Cooper's Hawks in this same area.  After returning our friend Tonya and I went to the cattail pond, which was pretty active.   The first bird was a flushed juvenile Cooper's Hawk in the small mesquite in front of us.  We delighted in our sighting.  Two more steps and another juvenile flushed from the same tree, then another.  Two Cooper's Hawk nests within a small area produced 3 healthy juveniles each.  Wow!   Here are their individual pics!

 

In the short time we were there we had 24 species, including;

Yellow Warlber, Lucy's Warbler, Bell's Vireo, Great Egret, Northern Mockingbird, Coopers Hawk, Harris's Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Gila Woodpecker, Gambel's Quail, Mourning Dove, White-winged Dove, Purple Martin, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Ash-thoated Flycatcher, Cassin's Kingbird, Bullock's Oriole, Lesser Goldfinch, Mallard, House Sparrow,Cactus Wren, and Verdin. 

Later we sat on the porch watching a rain shower and checking yard birds.   Verdins hopped about the mesquites, and a Great-tailed Grackle gave out high-pitched calls which could have come from dinosaur era.    One of our neighbor's trees drapes over our yard and provides great cover for birds.   When I saw something hopping around in the foliage I figured Verdin or House Sparrow since they had been using it all day.   As it hopped to the outer edge I zoomed in on the familiar face of a silent Bell's Vireo, a first for this year!  These birds are typically heard before seen 99 percent of the time so it must have wanted to surprise us.   I was thankful for such a variety of neighbors visiting our small patch of heaven.  

Thank you for appreciating our natural wildlife! 

Species appreciation -Sage Sparrow

Birding is sometimes like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get... or for that matter, when.   I focus on my neighborhood wildlife I would rather see lifebirds here than travel elsewhere to find them.  It is so much more of an enriching experience, especially if I am the first tgo discover it.  
In some cases, though, it is beneficial to study a bird elsewhere so you know it well enough to recognize it in the neighborhood when it finally does arrive.   Or perhaps it's just that I lose patience and take the easy way out.  One example of lost patience was the Elegant Trogan, for which, after some years of hoping for a sighting in our neighborhood, I broke down and went to Madera Canyon, where I received excellent views. 

It was the same story for the Sage Sparrow.  I had been so hopeful of a sighting in our neighborhood