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Even though Phoenix feels like summer for much of the year, it's nice to have the traditional Memorial Day weekend kickoff.
Not that we're doing anything particularly traditional this weekend, but still...
The summery photo above was taken at Boyce Thompson Arboretum yesterday morning.
Happy long weekend!
John and I have spent the last two Saturday mornings exploring the trails, trees and gardens of the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, a local destination new to both of us. It's a little over an hour's drive from home, out east of Phoenix near the old mining town of Superior.
We went primarily to do some birding (full disclosure: John doesn't consider himself a birder -- I'm working on that) but the varied habitats and dramatic scenery provide a peaceful escape into nature, even minus the birds aspect.
One half of the main trail loop is through steeper open desert canyon, while the other half is a gentle wooded meander along mostly dry Queen Creek.
We've been lucky to see a number of birds that were new to me, including this female Broad-billed Hummingbird. The birds at BTA don't let humans get as close as they do at the DBG, so the photography is a bit more challenging.
Birders tend to be generous with their sightings, like the woman who clued me in to this Yellow Warblers' nest about 30 feet up in a huge old eucalyptus tree. While I watched, both warbler parents took turns visiting the nest, and once there was even a glimpse of a tiny open beak visible above the nest's edge.
Birder bliss!
Must go back to BTA again soon.
Meanwhile, I've started a BTA Flickr set -- slideshow version here, or click through it yourself here. Enjoy!
Yesterday morning: a baby Western Screech Owl, perched in a mesquite tree along the Plants & People trail. Its mom was there too, hidden behind foliage in the far lower left corner.
This was my first full-length view of the screech owls; usually I just see their sleepy heads poking out of holes in distant saguaros.
This morning: a brilliant male Wilson's Warbler, also first spotted in a mesquite tree along the Plants & People trail. The P&P is the most native, least manicured section of the DBG, so it's always a good bet for finding an interesting bird or two. And the Wilson's Warblers are constantly in bug-hunting motion, so I was pleased to get a few non-blurry photos.
We've been fortunate that our weather has been moderate (under 100) for late May. Walking the garden provides physical/ mental/ creative exercise for me, so I hope I can tough it out as mornings heat up in the coming weeks...
The biggest *problem* with having a newer, better camera to work with is my frustration that I'm still missing some shots I'd sooo love to be getting.
If only I'd had a longer telephoto, maybe a 400mm (could I even lift such a lens?) I might have done a better job with this beautiful opportunity at the DBG Wednesday morning:
After I watched a hawk land on a hillside far in front of me, I looked through my binocs to the rocks where it landed, and saw there were actually two hawks standing there.
Most likely these are Red-tailed mates.
They stood there together for quite awhile, as I hurriedly wound my way farther along the trail to the closest vantage point, above.
Taken with a longer lens, the above cropped version of the top photo might actually be sharp and clear.
That would have been a good one.
Ahhh, lens envy...
But at least I caught the moment, grainy though it may be, of two beautiful wild hawks surveying their vast territory while virtually invisible to the naked human eye.
Which I guess is pretty satisfying, after all.
The mourning doves out front patiently sat on their two little eggs in their flowerpot nest for about a month, to no avail.
Finally, they gave up and flew off, and a few days later I found the undeveloped eggs had been broken by a predator.
Soon after, the doves got busy in a different flowerpot across the entryway, just outside the window by my desk. It's a much pricklier location than I'd have chosen, but they were not deterred. They built a new nest beside a euphorbia, thorny trunk and all.
We had to temporarily relocate the hummingbird feeder, so as not to have nectar-mooching woodpeckers continually scaring the expectant parents.
Things seem to be going well in the new location.
We're hoping to see some baby doves any day now.
The Greater Roadrunners have been conducting their own daily critter circus lately. Both parents and juveniles have been "hiding" rather noisily in trees (dead & alive) along the main paved paths through the DBG.
The funny thing is, despite their acrobatics, you can see how easily they might blend into the neutral landscape of sand and rocks and dead tree limbs. Tuck in the wings, stand still... with their patterned coloring, they're nearly invisible.
But especially between young roadrunners and parents, they make a unique rapid clacking sound -- presumably roadrunner chatter -- that gives their hidden presence away, to the complete delight of all humans in the vicinity.
Not one bit like the cartoons!
Finally (for a day or two?) my Desert Botanical Garden Flickr set is up to date.
Above is a pink Echinopsis Aurea cactus flower, one of my top favorites. I was lucky to catch it yesterday morning, when the light & shadows were just right for a bit of cactus drama.
You can see the updated slideshow here, or click through the set yourself here.
Either way, newest photos are at the beginning, so you needn't suffer reruns.
An Anna's Hummingbird & a Lesser Goldfinch faced off in a treetop this morning.
What could these two be arguing about, anyway?
Or maybe they're kvetching about all the feathered tourists.
Can't we all just get along?
Despite recent predictions to the contrary, the spring migration/ bird parade through Phoenix continues.
My new camera has been getting a workout. So have my feet, since the two most popular areas for spotting migrating birds are at opposite ends of the DBG. This week there have been lots of orioles, warblers, and a few UFFs, feasting on ironwood tree blossoms and mesquite tree bugs.
Once again, I have much catching up to do, but taking the photos comes first. This colorful parade won't last much longer.
So, after a few quiet days, I was thinking that the DBG spring excitement had perhaps finally run its course.
And then, I had a morning like this morning.
I arrived at DBG at 7:30 -- a half hour past opening -- I'm a slacker.
And what awaited me on the quiet, unpeopled far side of the Wildflower Trail was this:
two juvenile Greater Roadrunners, begging their parent for breakfast.
I got to watch these three Roadrunners all by myself for about 10 minutes. Amazing!
This is why I love the DBG. It's hard not to keep showing up, just to see what new miracles may be there, awaiting a witness.
I've made some good progress posting my DBG photos from the last few weeks(!) on Flickr, but I'm still lagging a few visits behind. Here's a sneak preview from yesterday's DBG visit, not yet on Flickr...
Look out, Rod Stewart!
This Green Heron stole his hairdo.
The cactus blooming is finally slowing down, as is the bird migration through Phoenix, so things should soon settle back to their normal "interesting but not frantic" pace.
And as the weather heats up, I'll be spending less time at the DBG and (hopefully) more time with my sewing machine.
Meanwhile, you can find my updated DBG slideshow here, or click through the photos manually here.
