good-times-rollin: Phainopepla

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Sabino Canyon Recreation Area

Tucson/Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
March 18, 2015

One of our most favorite places in Tucson is Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. We were up early and out the door by 8:00 am and hoping that the cloudy skies would deter other would be hikers. Our plan was to hike/walk for as long as we were enjoying ourselves and having fun. Hiking is not always about the exercise, it is also a time to connect with nature and all things beautiful...a time to relax the mind, heart, and soul. When we left Sabino Canyon, all was better than good!

It was not a first photographing a Gamble's Quail, but it was a first photographing one in a tree. I wish I could share the beautiful sound this fellow was making. The male's song is a single note caaw which we heard before we saw him.They belong to the "callipepla" family which comes from the Greek kalli (beautiful) and peplos (robe).

A juvenile Phainopepla will gradually acquire black feathers throughout it's 1st year.

Arizona Foldwing

Miniature Wollystar

Longflower Tube Tongue

Sasguaro Cactus bloom...first for the season.

Distant Phacelia

Wild Dwarf Morning-glory

Desert Rosemallow

Slender Janusia

From a picnic area where we stopped for water and a snack, we could see Sabino Dam. We decided to head that way...

I am so glad we did...

A Cooper's Hawk...I think...that we saw fly over the creek.

And a mama duck playing in Sabino Creek...

...perfectly camouflaged.

Last, we were excited to see our first Gila Monster...not one, but 2 in one hike! Since they spend 95% of their time in underground burrows, we felt like we had hit the jackpot! Because of human encroachment, they are considered a threatened species.

The first one was out in the open right next to the trail and not moving very much.

I clicked away trying to get a picture of his forked tongue...

The second one we saw was under a tree and brush...he was moving a bit faster...

Our time meandering through the desert was about 5 hours...mostly very peaceful and quiet. Life is good!

Until next time, take care and...

happy trails!

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Tucson/Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
February 21, 2015

Each time Joe and I have visited Tucson, we have tried to visit the Desert Museum. A parking lot full of school and tour buses each time have been an excuse to not stop. We got lucky last Saturday as there were lots of empty spaces! As mentioned in my last post, Mary Ellen and Jim stopped by Lazydays for a 3 night stop over on their way to San Diego. I was thrilled that we finally made it to the museum and even more excited to share it with friends.

On the "About Us" page in the museum's pamphlet, they proudly boast it is ranked on TripAdvisor.com as one of the top 10 Museums in the country. What I really liked is that about 85% of the museum is outdoors! It is nestled in the desert on 98 acres that include walking paths through various habitats and gardens.

Today's post is all about the birds I enjoyed...

The State Bird of Arizona...

The Cactus Wren is the largest wren in North America. It is a true bird of the desert and can survive without free standing water.

They eat mostly spiders and insects, and will occasionally enjoy fruit and scraps at picnic tables.

White-crowned Sparrows are very common in the Sonora Desert during October - March. They mostly eat seeds from grasses.

A Gila Woodpecker...what a beautiful wing design...

Their most common nest hole in the desert is the Saguaro. After the hole is made, the cactus forms a tough callous making the hole durable and dry. Years after the Saguaro dies, the hole remains and are known as "Saguaro Boots" because the resemble the footware.

This is a Phainopepla...a crested songbird of the desert. These are the most northerly representative of the Central American silky flycatcher.

male...

female

Mary Ellen loves birds as much as I do...we had a fun time "oohing" and "aahing". Our cameras got a good workout!

A Costa's Hummingbird

The Hummingbird Aviary was a highlight of my day. I have wanted to see a hummingbird nest for quite a long time and even though these were not in "the wild", it was still a thrill.