Male Northern Cardinal at the Desert Botanical Garden, 5/11/12.
Today was a household chores & errands day, but I made a quick stop at DBG to check out the 40% off gift shop sale (sadly, nada there) -- and of course, it would be silly to go into DBG without my camera in hand. This cardinal was playing in the shade of the raised entry garden, and he sat still just long enough to be today's handsome daily bird.
Long-overdue updates and links to my Flickr slideshows have been posted in the right sidebar. Newest photos are always added at the beginning of each slideshow, so you don't have to watch reruns! Hope you enjoy.
Greater Roadrunner juveniles in a Desert Willow tree at Desert Botanical Garden this morning, 5/2/12.
First one and then a second young roadrunner hopped up through this tree to a spot where they could safely roost and call for Mom & Dad. They make an odd clacking sound, which seems to be the way they indicate their location.
Eventually the parents showed up, and they all disappeared together into the heart of the garden.
Green-tailed Towhee along the Wildflower Trail at Desert Botanical Garden, 4/24/12.
Green-tails are another species that induce me to stand and watch, hoping one will finally pop out of the shadows long enough for its beautiful coloring and markings to be captured and appreciated.
This one stayed in the shade, but you can see from its surroundings how well nature has colored it to blend into its preferred foraging grounds under trees and shrubs. If not for its quick hopping dance, it might well go unnoticed.
Male Anna's Hummingbird at penstemon, Desert Botanical Garden, 4/18/12.
Curve-billed Thrasher on a blooming cactus in the entry courtyard at Desert Botanical Garden, 4/11/12.
Curve-billeds like the insects in the flowers now, and later on, they love the cactus fruits.
And they're not nearly as fierce as they look...
Whitty-whit. Whitty-whit.
Happy Easter wishes to all from me and our sweet shy Desert Cottontails.
A baby Greater Roadrunner peeking out of its well-hidden nest, high in the center of a shrubby old prickly pear cactus at the Desert Botanical Garden, 4/7/12.
If you didn't already know this nest was there, you'd likely never notice it. But thanks to the birder grapevine at DBG, I've been watching...
Today, a departure from my usual daily bird...
The Desert Botanical Garden birder & volunteer family got the sad news that our senior bird expert Charlie had passed away overnight after a brief illness. Charlie was 90 years young and full of spirit. Many of us had a hard time keeping up with him on the trails.
This is a photo of the last bird I spotted with Charlie, when he & I were walking the Wildflower Trail last September -- in search of a Spotted Towhee, I think. Instead, we (Charlie first) caught sight of this Black-chinned Sparrow, and though it was moving quickly, I was able to get a couple of ID photos.
At first, Charlie wasn't sure about my ID because this bird had never been recorded at DBG before. But I gave him prints of my photos, and then he was convinced of the ID and conveyed the news to the Bird Walk leaders, who keep track of such things.
Charlie always seemed to know exactly where to look for birds and nests. He could find the daytime roosts of Lesser Nighthawks. He knew where the Greater Roadrunners nested. He spotted the rare Elf Owls last fall. He knew which saguaro holes housed the Western Screech Owls. And best of all, he willingly shared his knowledge and enthusiasm with anyone who was interested.
Rest in peace, Charlie. May your spirit happily roam the bird trails of this magical universe forevermore.
Green-tailed Towhee along the Wildflower Trail at Desert Botanical Garden, 4/4/12.
My first GT sighting of the year! Love these shy little guys and their funny scritch-scratch foraging dance. Thanks to birders Peggy T, Ann, Ellen & Jeff for letting me know it was there.
I hope there will be more migrant GTs passing through the garden in the coming weeks. (Maybe one will actually come out of the shade for a better photo op!)
