Monday, May 4, 2009

So, What Can Happen in a Week?

Prairie Warbler 5-2-09 Lifer!

Well, at the New River Birding Festival I saw saw 106 species of birds, including 27 lifers. I saw this Prairie Warbler the last day of the festival in a mountainous place called Muddlety.


Muddlety 5-2-09

Though it was sunny for the first 2 to 3 days of our trip, the rains soon moved in and blanketed the mountains with fog.

Savannah sparrow @ Muddlety 5-2-09

Though the rain was soothing and refreshing I was often cold and most of us felt like this poor Savannah sparrow as we tried to watch birds in the rain. However, when I arrived home in Tucson this afternoon, the sun was shining and the temperature was 94 degrees! It felt so good to see that glorious sunshine again.

So, what CAN happen in a week when you are gone...


...your plants can die...



...your feeders will empty...



...your roof tiles can fall off...




...a whole new house can spring up...




...but I can wear flip flops again!

There's no place like home,
there's no place like home,
there's no place like home!

Stay tuned for more stories from the New River Birding Festival! I had a great time and made many wonderful friends!


My feeders are filled and I'm already for the birds to return. I think I saw some baby quail tonight as I was opening the den window. I'll be sure to have my camera ready for the morning!


21 comments:

TR Ryan said...

That darn prairie warbler has become my nemesis bird! I heard him at Muddelty and missed him at the City Park and followed him all around the mountain - to no avail.

Miss you kiddo!!!

Kathie Brown said...

TR! Welcome home! I'm falling asleep while typing so I am off to bed but I'll be back online tomorrow. I miss you also. What a fun time we had! So sorry you didn't get the prairie warbler!

Kim said...

OMG Kathie I can't get over all of the birds you saw and a big congrats on all of those lifers!!!!

Doug Taron said...

Welcome home. I've been reading about the New River Birding Festival a bunch of places on the Web. It feels a bit like I've missed Woodstock.

Aunt "B's" Backyard said...

Ok, 'Dorothy' click to heels together and lets see those pictures of your trip! Get some rest first, I'm sure you're exhausted! Anxiously awaiting.

abb said...

I'm impressed with the number of birds you saw! I was fortunate to see an indigo bunting for the very first time in 28 years at my house. Can't tell you how exciting it is!

bobbie said...

Happy Cinco di Mayo!

Sounds like you had a very successful trip.

And your dying plant makes a beautiful shadow.

denapple said...

We had grass halfway up to our knees, so Dick had to mow before we even carried the suitcases upstairs. It's still cloudy in Kentucky. Haven't seen the sun for over a week now.

Deborah Godin said...

Good for you - keep ticking those Lifers off your list!! Great shot of the Prairie w.!

Kathryn said...

Kathie,
I can't wait to hear more about your trip! Congrats on the lifers. Looks like Sycamore Canyon had quite a wind gust to move the roof tiles like that!
K

Warren and Lisa Strobel said...

Wow! Now that sounds like a trip! Hope you didn't bring home any ticks to add to the cold birding.

Mary said...

For bird photos, you got the goods, girl. They're great!

Glad you are home and enjoying flip flops. The rain in WV followed me home...

Mary

Heather said...

Glad you saw so many birds Kathie! Can't wait to hear more about your adventures at New River! And... welcome home.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Love that photo Kathie! I saw it but couldn't get a picture.

Miss you sweetie!

Anonymous said...

Great photo of the prairie warbler, Kathie. I'm reliving this through all our photos and videos.

Larry said...

I love Prairie Warblers and their ascending buzzy song.-They have facial markings that remind me of Mike Tyson's face tatto.

Don Wood said...

Happy birthday to the birthday boy XXX Don from England

Mary said...

That warbler is beautitul! Hope you get some baby quail shots. I never seem to be in Tuscan when the quail have babies. I've been wonderful about Gus and his test. I hope all went well.

DeniseinVA said...

So good to see you again Kathie. Welcome home. Looking forward to hearing all about the Festival.

Kathi said...

Prairie Warbler was my 100th trip bird, and my photo looks like a black smudgy silhouette among some leaves!

How did you get more species than I did? We were on all the same field trips. We gotta compare lists - I can't figure out what I missed.

~Kathi, at 102 for the week (or 103 if you count what I think was a Spotted Sandpiper flying along the Kanawha River on our "Wing It" day)

Julie Zickefoose said...

sweeet Prairie photo, Kathie! I'm impressed! Glad to have shared Muddlety with you!