tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post10143669174409535..comments2023-11-05T04:21:47.608-07:00Comments on Sycamore Canyon: Big January is Upon UsKathie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10377224759599266209noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-13127395495840620162009-01-16T12:49:00.000-07:002009-01-16T12:49:00.000-07:00Big January is not on our agenda this year, the we...Big January is not on our agenda this year, the weather has kept us in so much. <BR/><BR/>WOW on the Costa's for your first bird of the year! THAT would be a cool first!<BR/><BR/>Good birding to you!Birdfreak.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16436705233393169415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-80896620706619804112009-01-07T09:57:00.000-07:002009-01-07T09:57:00.000-07:00Larry, you betchya!Larry, you betchya!Kathie Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10377224759599266209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-76350172466665188662009-01-06T20:37:00.000-07:002009-01-06T20:37:00.000-07:00All I can say is uh oh-I'm in trouble!All I can say is uh oh-I'm in trouble!Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17955054342034509500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-5158480179366527202009-01-06T19:40:00.000-07:002009-01-06T19:40:00.000-07:00Nadia, how nice of you to visit! Your comments ar...Nadia, how nice of you to visit! Your comments are so kind. I know a point and shoot can be a bit more difficult, but with some care you can get some really nice shots. The hardest part is getting close to the birds. If you have a computer program to crop and enlarge your photos it sure helps. I started getting much better pictures once we purchased our Nikon D80 and the 70 to 300mm zoom.<BR/><BR/>Natural moments, snow on cactus is really surprising. I realized those spines help hold the white stuff away from the tender green flesh. They defend the plant in more ways than one!<BR/><BR/>Hello Bobbie! See comment above about the snow.<BR/><BR/>Dear Lynne, eBirds does let you enter bird sighting from the past as long as you have the date and location. I'll try to do a post about this soon, but I am currently trying to enter some of my old sightings, it's just that I am so busy blogging! eBird has also started a new feature that lets one person from a group enter the bird lists for the whole group so each individual does not need to enter their list. I have yet to try this out since I don't know anyone around here who eBirds, but if we all go birding next year on that trip we can have one designated list entry person for each trip if we want to.<BR/><BR/>Ruth, I don't know if you will find 93 species up north either but Good Luck! Perhaps we should do a big April someday for those of you to the north. It would be more fair. I have the advantage of living in a state with a wide variety of habitats that is a winter destination for many of the northern birds!<BR/><BR/>Ruth's photo blog, thanks for the blessings. I can use them! As for the snow, we get some every year, especially on the Mountains. The mountains surrounding Tucson are quite high. So high, in fact, that we actually have a ski area up on top of Mt. Lemmon. Mt. lemmon is about 9,000 ft in elevation and boasts the ski area that is farthest south in the USA.<BR/><BR/>Deborah, you always make me laugh. I's like to see that!<BR/><BR/>Shellmo, that Gila WP was such a cutie and so close to the house that it was easy to capture its picture!<BR/><BR/>Mary, yes I did use the 70-300mm lens but the bird was right outside my patio door so very little cropping was needed for this particular photo. However, usually I have to crop and enlarge quite a bit to get the close-ups I want.<BR/><BR/>Gaelyn, We knew it had snowed on the 26th because someone from here had called and told us. The big surprise was that it was still here when we got home on the evening of the 27th and that is was still on the patio and rooftops the morning of the 28th. It was all melted off by that afternoon however. I can only assume that the 27th was very cold here. I know it was in NM as we were driving home. And we had a wonderful time in CO. I have much to write about but it will have to wait for now. I'm too busy birding!<BR/><BR/>Katnell, Gus got a big chuckle out of your comment about Steve's remarks. I am trying very hard to beat Larry and I am off to a good start with 3 days of birding in already. Wish you were here to help!<BR/><BR/>Oh Mike, I'm glad to hear that! We'll have to start a list of Big January counters or something!<BR/><BR/>Rambling Woods, keep on trying. You never know! I never thought I'd get as far as I have either but its really fun. My Life List has become a memory of the many places I've been to and the amazing birds I've seen.<BR/><BR/>Gina, yeah, he's perverse that way!<BR/><BR/>TR, yes you may use this post, but first I suggest you check out tomorrow's post, which you may like even better. Let me know what you think and I will add the IATB link to whichever one you choose.<BR/><BR/>You know abe, I had purchased a heated waterer right before I moved here from Utah. Thinking I would not need it in AZ, I gave it to my birding buddy, Katnell (above) before I moved. There are ususally only a couple of freezing days here in the winter, so it is not too hard to melt the ice and refill the basin with fresh water. But, thanks for the suggestion.<BR/><BR/>Lousie, now you are talking!Kathie Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10377224759599266209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-74956362302578662132009-01-06T16:28:00.000-07:002009-01-06T16:28:00.000-07:00That's a lot of birds. Wonderful pictures of the. ...That's a lot of birds. Wonderful pictures of the. I've never seen a hummingbird in the winter. I guess I need to come visit (or move).Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00984115229811752666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-78013430920429844012009-01-06T14:49:00.000-07:002009-01-06T14:49:00.000-07:00Kathie - I am submitting this to the host of the n...Kathie - I am submitting this to the host of the next IATB right away. He's a tough ole' geezer but this is such a fantastic, stunning, beautiful, enormously birdy post - how could he refuse? He must accept it. I will beg, plead, offer bribes. The world must be reminded of your stunning writing and photography. Oh, if only I had an in with him. OH WAIT! I do - it's me and guess what this is going up on Thursday!!! at the Faraway, Nearby<BR/>xxooTR Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00595967532391171082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-40325884463004835492009-01-05T05:34:00.000-07:002009-01-05T05:34:00.000-07:00Your list of birds are all uncommon for me except ...Your list of birds are all uncommon for me except the hawks and mourning dove and house sparrow and house finch.<BR/><BR/>Why don't you get one of those plastic pet's dishes for water that are controlled by a thermostat built in. They are not that expensive and the one I got I have used in freezing weather for many years. The cord is would with a wire to keep wildlife from gnawing on it. I think all pet stores have them. I got my at a farmer's grain elevator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-53182173253173691952009-01-05T05:07:00.000-07:002009-01-05T05:07:00.000-07:00Wow..unbelievable! And what a fantastic narrative...Wow..unbelievable! And what a fantastic narrative. Oh but the photos!!! Marvelous, marvelous images. You are such a bird photographer. May I consider this your contribution to IATB 91 posting in three days?TR Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00595967532391171082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-28599848304047351322009-01-03T21:42:00.000-07:002009-01-03T21:42:00.000-07:00wonderful photos! i had to laugh at the way gus l...wonderful photos! i had to laugh at the way gus likes rubbing his good fortune in with the maine folks.ginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15065280453944802698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-12944600128431873592009-01-03T20:29:00.000-07:002009-01-03T20:29:00.000-07:00Lovely series..I don't have 83 birds on my life li...Lovely series..I don't have 83 birds on my life list so I wouldn't get that many ever..LOL...Rambling Woodshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15080120317890707767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-4551965131952775002009-01-03T16:30:00.000-07:002009-01-03T16:30:00.000-07:00You're off to a great month, Kathie! Most of those...You're off to a great month, Kathie! Most of those birds are unlikely to turn up in my frigid clime, but I'm counting birds this month too.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12270174190098398240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-73655930351717541612009-01-03T14:03:00.000-07:002009-01-03T14:03:00.000-07:00Enjoyed this post. Great pics. Snow on the desert ...Enjoyed this post. Great pics. Snow on the desert floor must be a surprise. I told Steve about the pic of Gus eating breakfast on the patio in his shorts on News Years Day. (We were plowing snow.) You can imagine his comment. I look forward to seeing and learning about your January count. Hope you beat Larry this year! Happy New Year!Kathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07641155784689215782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-24529561280536910452009-01-03T12:49:00.000-07:002009-01-03T12:49:00.000-07:00I'll bet that was a shock to return home to snow a...I'll bet that was a shock to return home to snow and ice. For the birds too. That's when I really double the seed usage.<BR/>Hummingbirds are the most aggressive birds for their size. I guess they have to be in order to survive.<BR/>Great post and captures.<BR/>Hope your holidays in CO were happy.Gaelynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05784162697113288888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-56281143252589627942009-01-03T12:20:00.000-07:002009-01-03T12:20:00.000-07:00Aren't desert sunsets beautiful? And I love those...Aren't desert sunsets beautiful? And I love those close-up photos of the birds, Kathie. Did you use a 300mm lens? And I'm assuming some cropping was involved?Mary Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08077077785157768787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-11014339653400459842009-01-03T09:44:00.000-07:002009-01-03T09:44:00.000-07:00I just love seeing your part of the world! And the...I just love seeing your part of the world! And the detail of the gila woodpecker w/ it's claw securely on your feeder was great!Shelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17534904024320623895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-36479848900715634382009-01-03T09:29:00.000-07:002009-01-03T09:29:00.000-07:00More wonderful shots! Love that Gila - that's a r...More wonderful shots! Love that Gila - that's a real "Annnh, what's up Doc" pose! And just so you know (mock sacrcasm) I could have had New Years Day breakfast on my patio, too, if I'd wanted. It's just too hard to peel a banana in mittens...Deborah Godinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15175977572194074388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-40879256280427214922009-01-03T08:25:00.000-07:002009-01-03T08:25:00.000-07:00SNOW?I didn't know that it got cold enough for tha...SNOW?I didn't know that it got cold enough for that,bet it didn't last long though.When I read your posts I always feel like I'm walking alongside you and listening to your descriptions of the area and the birds.Beautiful. Blessings,RuthRuth's Photo Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10906250839947271541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-35750943952177842422009-01-03T06:00:00.000-07:002009-01-03T06:00:00.000-07:00It is surprising to see the snow in your area. I ...It is surprising to see the snow in your area. I wonder if there are 93 birds species in our part of Canada in the winter. Regardless, I am taking part in the January bird count and have started a list in my sidebar. I was very excited to see a Pileated Woodpecker on January 1st. I shall follow your list with interest.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15892804871759397018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-10511613778575659422009-01-03T05:53:00.000-07:002009-01-03T05:53:00.000-07:00I've thought about eBirds but I can't see that it ...I've thought about eBirds but I can't see that it lets you enter birds from the past. Am I wrong?Lynne at Hasty Brookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-47186623754546550312009-01-03T05:29:00.000-07:002009-01-03T05:29:00.000-07:00Beautiful photos as always, Kathie. It must have b...Beautiful photos as always, Kathie. It must have been quite a surprise to see snow on those flowers and cactus. Weird weather seems to be becoming the usual.bobbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00658103343742852411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-41055759354044518992009-01-03T03:25:00.000-07:002009-01-03T03:25:00.000-07:00Great photos of all of your birds. It's always in...Great photos of all of your birds. It's always interesting to see ice and snow on flowers and especially cactus. The Hummingbird does look a little cold.<BR/><BR/>Good Birding...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8337291898556479782.post-80202600235718140542009-01-03T02:48:00.000-07:002009-01-03T02:48:00.000-07:00I live in the desert, therefore I really love your...I live in the desert, therefore I really love your "snow in flowers" picture. We hardly get any rain here, let alone snow :)<BR/><BR/>I tried to capture photographs of the few birds that we have here, but with my point-and-shoot camera, it's not easy.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures :)<BR/><BR/>Love,<BR/>NadiaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com