Autumn Birds in Sycamore Canyon

Sweet faced Gila Woodpecker in mesquite tree by Kathie Adams Brown 10-7-08

click on photos to enlarge for best view

Autumn must truly be upon us after this weekend’s record breaking low temperatures. This morning the official record at Tucson International Airport was 39 degrees Fahrenheit. The old record for this day is 43 degrees F. Still we slept with the windows open and the brisk air flowing through. Of course it reminded me of waking up in New England on a brisk autumn morning but it lacked the rustling of maple leaves and the damp smell of the forest. Still, I’ll take what I can get.

Anna's Hummingbird male by Kathie Adams Brown 10-13-08

The cold air makes the hummingbirds especially hungry. I refill the almost empty feeders and watch as these flying warriors vie for this liquid nourishment. They are not the only ones who seek it out as I am just as likely to find a Gila woodpecker or two dangling from a branch above and slurping up their sweet reward. My bird populations are changing daily. Hummingbird species have moved in and moved on. This year I am getting more Anna’s, along with last year’s Costa’s, but a rufous female or immature male is hanging around also and I see it every now and again.

Rock Wren by Kathie Adams Brown 10-13-08

I have been hearing the Rock Wrens for a few weeks now but this afternoon is the first time I have seen one in my yard. I watch as it searches about along the block wall looking for and finding insects to eat. I fear for the pesticides my neighbors have sprayed. I hope the little bird is not eating poisoned food. I have noticed a decline in the number of insects around my house, though I have refused to use pesticides myself.

The Turkey vultures still circle overhead in the warmth of the day, and I am surprised to still see nighthawks moving through the area. Friday night as I came out to water my plants I looked off to the west and noticed first one, then more nighthawks flying south up over the big wash. I grabbed binoculars and camera and proceeded to count close to 75 birds in groups of 5, 10, or 15. It was just after sunset and I think I caught the tail end of a much larger migration of both Common and Lesser nighthawks. I can only assume they are migrating and I wonder if they use Sycamore Canyon and the Santa Rita Mountains as their map to their winter homes. Farewell for the winter my crepuscular friends. I will miss you this winter and look forward to your return in spring. For now I will welcome Rock Wrens and the winter sparrows that are gathering in the wash. I will learn to decipher your field marks yet and call you by name when I can.

Silhouette of a nighthawk by Kathie 10-10-08

The Mesquite Tree and a Dust Storm

(Dust Storm photo taken by Kathie June 21, 2008 @ 7:21 p.m. MST)

The bugs are gone. After the mesquite tree was invaded by hoards of insects I water blasted them off the tiny leaves. This mesquite tree has only been in the ground for a year and already is providing lacy shade to our new patio. I am rather fond of the tree, especially since the birds seem to love it. It is a native Velvet Mesquite, the kind that grows scrubby out in the desert, but here in the landscape with a regular supply of water, it will grow tall and lush.

(Velvet Mesquite Tree taken by Kathie 6-22-08 @ 10:59 a.m.)

Yesterday the temperature was 111 degrees Fahrenheit here in the shade of my patio at 1:30 in the afternoon. I sought shelter in my room and watched a movie while keeping an eye out the patio door. Suddenly a strange bird landed near the door. I watched this small bird with a bright white eye-line that was different that anything I have seen around here before. I knew it was a sparrow and I was hoping it was the elusive 5-striped sparrow which I have never seen and is only in a few locations here in Southern Arizona. It would be Big News if it was here, but I would have to have proof. I crept out of my room and grabbed my camera which was in the den with the 18-70 mm lens on it. I changed it as quickly as I could and crept up to the back door where the strange sparrow was now perched in the ever friendly mesquite tree.

(Juvenile Black-throated Sparrow 6-22-08 by Kathiesbirds)

I started taking pictures but the bird soon got leery of me and flew off. As usual when I am excited, these are not the best, but once uploaded to the computer I was able to identify this new mystery bird as a juvenile black-throated sparrow. While it does not have the black throat of the adult, it has already developed the dark cheek patch and the white eye-line seen in its parents. Black-throated sparrows are frequently spotted here in the Sonoran desert. They make a lovely tinkling sound, like a tiny bell choir when they sing amongst the desert scrub.

(Adult Black-throated sparrow taken by Kathie in Sycamore Canyon 3-18-08 8:09 a.m. MST)

By late afternoon the temperature has dropped to 95F in the shade. I join my daughter-in-law on the covered portion of the patio where we sit in the shade and sip strawberry smoothies and talk. The sun is getting ever closer to the horizon when the wind starts to pick up. There is a noticeable drop in the temperature and I look towards Mt. Fagan only to find his face obscured by a thick gray veil. I wonder if that is rain on the mountain but as the wind intensifies our skin is being sandblasted. We gather up our stuff and head indoors. While we frequently have high winds here in the canyon, it is rare for us to have dust storms. This wind is blowing over the top of Fagan and down-slope to my house. It is now I realize that if the Rosemont Mine goes in this dust would be full of poison and there would be nothing I could do except flee inside and shut my door.

Dust obscures Mt. Fagan; Palo verde tosses in the wind. Photo: Kathie 6-21-08 @ 7:22 p.m. MST)

The wind is so fierce it lifts the seat cushions from my chairs and I remove them to the safety of the house. The flag in front of the model homes is full out and I wonder if it will be torn from its tether once again. Now the air is full of dust and the sinking sun is cast as an eerie copper glow in the sky. The sight is ethereal, beautiful, and mysterious but the beauty belies the possible danger to come.

(Dust over the desert by Kathie 6-21-08 @ 7:21 p.m. MST)

The wind is still howling when we head off to bed, but this morning all is calm in Sycamore Canyon.

(Gilded Flicker 6-22-08 by Kathie)

The birds are back at the feeders with gilded flickers and Gila woodpeckers eating peanuts, finches feasting on Niger and sunflower seed, while doves and quail fight for position beneath the feeders, scrambling for every scrap.

(Juvenile Gambel's Quail Poto by kathie June 22, 2008)

These scrappy juvenile quail showed up and joined the fray with the rest of them. The trees look none the worse for the bashing they received last night, and the temperature is rising once again. Let’s see, should I read a book, or watch another movie today?

(Peaceful Palo Verde and Mt. Fagan June 22, 2008 @ 10:55 a.m. MST Photo by Kathie)

It's Official

It’s official, I’ve become a wimp. The temperature is only 59 degrees today. The wind is gusting around 25 to 30 MPH and I’m freezing!!!!!! I cranked the heat up to 70 this morning, but now I bumped it up to 72 and put on a sweater. It doesn’t take long to get use to the 80’s. I’m ready for sandals and sleeveless shirts again! I’m not quite as bad as the natives, though. While I was outside in just a long-sleeved shirt this morning, the young man who delivered my tree was wearing a flannel shirt and a winter coat!