tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19589467347791425022024-03-13T11:51:04.633-07:00Birding Without BarriersIn search of accessible birding in Arizona. NEW Address www.birdingwithoutbarriers.COMPeggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.comBlogger295125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-38680620398696076362016-12-14T08:22:00.001-07:002016-12-14T14:27:15.248-07:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-64677250349189598422016-12-13T18:34:00.001-07:002016-12-14T16:16:02.241-07:00Christmas Bird Wreaths<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pomegranates and fig leaves</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">T</span>is the Season... to create wonderful edible wreaths for our birds! So start gathering up some pine cones, dried sunflower seed heads, nuts, fruit, seeds, berries, and grapevines.<br />
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Its easy! Just grab some floral wire or bakers twine, and slide on some fruit, popcorn (plain), and peanuts (raw unsalted). When making bows try to use natural fibers such as raffia, corn husks, cotton, burlap or wool yarn. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grapes, blueberries, dried cranberries, popcorn and cheerios </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Try using fresh cranberries because many dried fruits have sugar or high-fructose corn syrup <br />added. I don't recommend using processed cereals like Cheerios because of GMOs.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oS423XYQmTg/WFCax2tY0OI/AAAAAAAAHZ8/opmZPdgewUQgAb2udUrvhKQzBLUe11RFgCLcB/s1600/pinecone-feeder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oS423XYQmTg/WFCax2tY0OI/AAAAAAAAHZ8/opmZPdgewUQgAb2udUrvhKQzBLUe11RFgCLcB/s320/pinecone-feeder.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Pine cone feeders are fun and easy for kids to make. The usual method is to slather on peanut butter, then roll in birdseed. Since it's warm here in Phoenix you should mix cornmeal in with the peanut butter to thicken it up to keep it from melting. Use a bird seed containing several seed types so that you will attract a greater variety of birds.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Apples, pomegranates, pine cones can be secured with florists wire.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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When assembling wreaths, try to incorporate sprigs of local native plants.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Garland made of fresh cranberries and raw unsalted peanuts.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An old rake holds apples, pomegranates, and a big sunflower seed head.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can get free pine tree trimmings at many of the Christmas tree<br /> lots to make swags and wreaths.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-51665790971976369362016-11-30T12:45:00.001-07:002016-11-30T12:46:35.906-07:00Wordless Wednesday<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcb2H4q7obU/WD8r8Tfk-OI/AAAAAAAAHWM/9TPrP_VepUUuMtwvijXZrfRfUH9-3IzpQCLcB/s1600/TEXTDIVIDER5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcb2H4q7obU/WD8r8Tfk-OI/AAAAAAAAHWM/9TPrP_VepUUuMtwvijXZrfRfUH9-3IzpQCLcB/s1600/TEXTDIVIDER5.gif" /></a></div>
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<i>Photos by Peggy Thomas</i></div>
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<br />Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-41922787420606142312016-11-26T18:33:00.001-07:002016-11-26T18:33:30.931-07:00Scottsdale Ranch Park 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Bird Count<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Red-breasted Sapsucker at Scottsdale Ranch Park, Nov. 24, 2016<br /><i>Photo by Peggy Thomas</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> W</span>hat a great way to start Thanksgiving day! I thought the highlight of the Scottsdale Ranch Park 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Bird Count would be the Red-breasted Sapsucker and that the rest of the count would consist of the usual city park birds. I was wrong. There were a number of highlights on this count, starting with a Red-<b>naped</b> Sapsucker appearing in one of the mesquite trees near the tennis courts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XXj3gjWMs-k/WDolc6DQaoI/AAAAAAAAHTs/a_RrSsHF364fuz1ekfFuapVq8u94H1vvQCLcB/s1600/11-24-2016RNSapSucker5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XXj3gjWMs-k/WDolc6DQaoI/AAAAAAAAHTs/a_RrSsHF364fuz1ekfFuapVq8u94H1vvQCLcB/s1600/11-24-2016RNSapSucker5.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Red-naped Sapsucker at Scottsdale Ranch</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Park, Nov. 24, 2016</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Greater Roadrunner at Scottsdale Ranch <br />Park, Nov. 24, 2016</span></td></tr>
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Another Red-naped Sapsucker was seen later in a different area of the park. A Greater Roadrunner made an appearance early in the morning, sunning himself in the parking lot. A Bald Eagle was seen circling high above Lake Serena. Another highlight of the count was running into a few great birders/photographers - Pete Moulton, and Mary and Jim Griffith, all hoping to get some shots of the Red-breasted Sapsucker, a continuing rarity. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NhCaZ48A1tA/WDowLhJbJLI/AAAAAAAAHUU/9s5oC0bltRARSHeJtE7BO3OTbpO1ujFnACLcB/s1600/11-24-2016SRanchPark4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NhCaZ48A1tA/WDowLhJbJLI/AAAAAAAAHUU/9s5oC0bltRARSHeJtE7BO3OTbpO1ujFnACLcB/s400/11-24-2016SRanchPark4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A gaggle of birders gathered at Scottsdale Ranch Park, Nov. 24, 2016</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Says Phoebe at Scottsdale Ranch Park, Nov. 24, 2016<i></i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/scottsdale-ranch-park" target="_blank">Scottsdale Ranch Park</a> is very wheelchair friendly with sidewalks curving all around, and smooth grassy areas filled with a wide diversity of trees. There were so many different tree types that I wished we had an arborist with us! The Desert Garden area is a bit more challenging for someone using a wheelchair as the trail is sculpted to look like a long winding rattlesnake! Very cool art but a bit bumpy.<br />
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Other surprises on the count included two Says Phoebe, a female Vermilion Flycatcher, two American Kestrels, and a creepy but cool tarantula hawk (a bug, not a bird). The count was organized and led by Diana and Bill Herron. To see the complete bird count go to <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32724557" target="_blank">eBird.</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gQ0qwUWFNAw/WDo0L3jeizI/AAAAAAAAHUk/GPxSPYkEPJEg_jU_cGR8vwpTBZe4ODt6wCLcB/s320/11-24-2016yrwarbler4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A far-away Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 of 9 counted.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-opIfiQ0yWwg/WDo0uR8BTEI/AAAAAAAAHUo/BpqBuvwSYjUtrr_HvLU93Gq5RzT0R6qvQCLcB/s1600/11-24-2016FemCostas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-opIfiQ0yWwg/WDo0uR8BTEI/AAAAAAAAHUo/BpqBuvwSYjUtrr_HvLU93Gq5RzT0R6qvQCLcB/s320/11-24-2016FemCostas2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> A female Costas Hummingbird enjoying <br />the bottle-brush bush.</i></span></td></tr>
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<i>All photos by Peggy Thomas</i></div>
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<i>Thank you Diana and Bill for a wonderful <br />Thanksgiving Bird Count full of surprises!</i></div>
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Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-34975113206273164982016-11-16T15:34:00.000-07:002016-11-16T15:34:14.027-07:00Wordless Wednesday<br />
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<i>Photos by Peggy Thomas, 2016</i></div>
Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-30162658069862781372016-11-15T16:25:00.000-07:002016-11-15T17:50:14.827-07:00Desert Botanical Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Y</span>esterday's Monday Morning Bird Walk at Desert Botanical Garden was quite a hoot - with four Great Horned Owls! One was actually in camera-range instead of being impossibly hidden high up in the cottonwood trees.</blockquote>
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Several Verdin were clamoring over one berry-laden bush along the Wildflower Trail, not seeming to care at all that we were so close! You can even see the berry juice on the beak of the Verdins pictured above and below. (Personally, I prefer to eat my berries without being surrounded by paparazzi!)<br />
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Of course at the end of the walk when we calculated the numbers of species seen, the Greater Roadrunner and the Harris Antelope Squirrel had to make an appearance so that they could be included in the final count.<br />
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There were a number of species of note that I was happy to see - American Kestrel, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Pyrrhuloxia, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.<br />
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In recent weeks there have also been a Red-naped Sapsucker, two American Robins, a Loggerhead Shrike, and of course my favorite winter visitor, the White-crowned Sparrows!<br />
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To see complete lists of what has been seen in the Garden, see the awesome website, updated weekly, by William and Diana Herron,<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/dbgbirdwalks/home/dbg-birdwalk-birdlists" target="_blank"> <b>DBG - Birdwalks Birdlists</b></a><br />
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<i>Special thanks to the <a href="http://www.dbg.org/" target="_blank">Desert Botanical Garden</a>'s docents who have faithfully held the Monday Morning Birdwalks for I don't know how many years - William and Diana Herron, Andree Tarby, Don Witter, Jackie Anderson, Joyce Goodman, Gay Christensen, Merle and Dee Long and many others. We are so fortunate to have so much birding knowledge being generously shared on a beautiful weekly walk!</i></blockquote>
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<br />Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-29985011340825894562016-11-11T11:55:00.000-07:002016-11-11T14:26:09.225-07:00Tour de Bird 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> T</span>he<a href="http://www.desertriversaudubon.org/index.html" target="_blank"> Desert Rivers Audubon</a> really rocked it this year with their <b>Tour de Bird 2016</b>. I didn't make it to all the stops, but the ones I did see were spectacular. The pics above and below are a great example of maximizing the use of a very small yard. </blockquote>
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This amazing habitat is in the narrow back patio / yard space of a
townhouse! It was a warm day, but as soon as we stepped into this
mini-paradise it felt 10 degrees cooler.</blockquote>
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The waterfall and recirculating stream and the lush growth around it attract a variety of birds, even an occasional Green Heron! This male Anna's Hummingbird thought it was a worthy habitat, flashing his colors in appreciation I am sure (birds are deep-thinkers).<br />
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The home-owners installed the stream originally, then later had it re-vamped by the Pond-Gnome. The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThePondGnome/" target="_blank">Pond-Gnome</a> is a locally owned business in the valley specializing in design and installation of backyard ponds and recirculating streams and waterfalls. They also convert old swimming pools into beautiful eco-friendly, water-conserving backyard ponds. <br />
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Another backyard habitat on Tour de Bird 2016 also featured a recirculating stream installed by the Pond Gnome. This home had a much larger backyard with a wide assortment of trees and shrubs native to the Sonoran Desert. The large palo verdes and mesquite provide shade, and the dense shrubbery provides shelter for birds and other wildlife.<br />
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I lingered far too long at my last stop on Tour de Bird, there were so many PLANTS! Even plants for sale - cholla, prickly pear, milkweed, agave, aloes and more. It was like a mini-Desert Botanical Garden! Butterflies were fluttering around everywhere, enjoying a variety of milkweed plants.<br />
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If you are bummed out that you missed out on this year's Tour de Bird, mark your calendars for next year, the event is usually held on the first Saturday in November. Maybe MY yard will be on Tour de Bird 2017!</blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was even Devil's Claw available for purchase, singly or in bundles called "hats".</td></tr>
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See one of the larger projects the<a href="http://www.pondgnome.com/" target="_blank"> Pond Gnome</a> has done, utilizing and recycling the rainwater runoff from the apartment complex parking lot!</blockquote>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kTppLhJDNNk?list=PLpqwP6zqQLmeOPJdX_WRNE8lhYr_q1SKT" width="560"></iframe>Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-69724088093618784132016-01-25T17:23:00.003-07:002016-01-25T17:23:40.835-07:00Cooper's Hawk Carnage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Photos by Peggy Thomas, taken Jan. 25th, 2016 in Mesa, AZ.</i></div>
Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-73720510750150313362014-12-03T15:52:00.004-07:002014-12-03T15:52:59.487-07:00American Robin at Desert Botanical Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I</span>n many places Robins are a dime a dozen, but not so much here in Phoenix. So the Garden's out-of-town guests were quite amused at seeing us Phoenicians get so excited over seeing a single male <b>American Robin</b> on the<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/dbgbirdwalks/home" target="_blank"> Monday Morning Bird Walk</a> at <a href="http://www.dbg.org/" target="_blank">Desert Botanical Garden</a>. He was first heard by the alert ears of a few experienced birders, then he sprang up high in a tree along the Wildflower Trail to sun himself, or maybe just to show off his handsome rufous chest. Later on into the bird walk five American Robins were seen flying overhead.<br />
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Not to be out-done by a Robin, the female <b>Northern Cardinal</b> put on a nice show for us along the Plants & People Trail, swooping in and out of the drinking fountain for a few sips of water. No lowly pond water for this diva!</div>
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Four <b>Gilded Flickers</b> were seen on this week's bird walk. The prior week's walk was highlighted by the appearance of two <b>Red-Shafted Flickers</b>.</div>
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<br />No Great Horned Owls were seen in the Cottonwoods, but one <b>Hermit Thrush</b> was seen and heard near the Owl's usual hangout. (I opted to photograph the birders and not the bird!)<br />
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A young <b>Greater Roadrunner</b> joined us at the end of the walk at the Ullman Terrace to supervise our compilation of the <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/dbgbirdwalks/home/dbg-birdwalk-birdlists" target="_blank">bird walk bird list.</a><br />
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The Harris's Antelope Squirrel also joined us on the terrace, seemingly unconcerned over the danger of becoming the roadrunner's lunch.<br />
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<b>If You Go:</b> Remember, it's Luminaria time at the Garden and there will be <b>early closures!</b> The Garden will close at 4 p.m. with last admission at 3 p.m. each evening of <em>Luminaria</em> to prepare for the event. Early closure dates are: <b>December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 – 23, 26 – 30</b>. The Garden will also close at 4 p.m. with last admissions at 3 p.m. on December 24, 2014.<br />
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<br />Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-5119784613988990902014-11-12T16:18:00.000-07:002014-11-12T16:58:13.925-07:00A Few Winter Show-offs at Fountain Hills Lake<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bad shot of a beautiful pair of Hooded Mergansers on the north island of Fountain Hills Lake,<br />
at 10:00am on November 12, 2014. Photo by Peggy Thomas.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> A</span>fter a loooonnnnngggggg unwanted hiatus from birding, I'm finally baaaccckkkk! It was rough not getting a birding-fix for months on end. I must admit that I developed a serious case of bird-envy and had to stop reading the AZNM Listserve in order to preserve my sanity. My occasional forays into <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/birdingarizona/" target="_blank">FaceBook's Birding--Arizona and Southwest</a> page were agonizing, and brief looks at bird blogs were unbearable. I thought I could live vicariously through the birding adventures of such prolific birders as <a href="http://desertwing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Gordon Karre</a>, <a href="http://tommysbirdingexpeditions.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tommy D.</a>, and <a href="http://butlersbirdsandthings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Laurence Butler</a>, but that led me to fantasize about the possibility of teleportation, and then to a serious investigation into the latest advances in hover-craft technology (a gal can dream!).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another bad shot of Hooded Mergansers on the north island of Fountain Hills Lake,<br />
at 10:00am on November 12, 2014. Photo by Peggy Thomas.</td></tr>
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This morning while scanning flocks of mainly Ruddy Ducks and American Wigeons at Fountain Hills Lake (near the island at the lake's north end) a few of our flashier waterfowl suddenly appeared. Mixed in with the Wigeons were 3 gorgeous pairs of <b>Hooded Mergansers</b>! After taking a few far-off photos I began heading back to my van. Then I spotted 2 flashes of bright white out by the fountain. Too far off for a photo were a beautiful pair of male <b>Buffleheads</b>! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of several Horned Grebes (CORRECTION<br />- EARED GREBE) at Fountain Hills Lake, <br />
10:30am on November 12, 2014. Photo by Peggy Thomas</td></tr>
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Yessss, fall is here, heralded in by our wintering ducks. Now I just need to see a few White-crowned Sparrows in my yard for my November birding to be complete.<br />
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<i>Hope to see many of you out in the field, forest, park, or roadside soon!</i></div>
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<br />Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-60430790333353831792014-05-28T16:50:00.002-07:002014-05-28T16:55:03.360-07:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Photos by Peggy Thomas</i></div>
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<br />Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-74790243807014102852014-05-22T12:58:00.002-07:002014-05-22T12:59:57.169-07:00Thoughtless Thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Photos by Peggy Thomas</i></div>
Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-9755898406970173242014-05-20T15:55:00.000-07:002014-05-20T16:52:21.627-07:00Yet Another Backyard First!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">T</span>he parade of spring migrants passing through my backyard continues as this young female Bullock's Oriole graced my mesquite tree on Saturday, May 17th, 2014. </div>
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At first glance I thought I had another Vireo or a Kingbird, <br />but the yellow tail threw me off.</div>
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The mesquite tree has been the favorite of all the new yard-birds this spring, with the palo verde tree coming in a close second. I'm convinced, NATIVE TREES are the way to go!</div>
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Did you know that you can get 2 free native trees from Salt River Project if you are a customer and attend one of their workshops?! Check it out<a href="http://www.savewithsrp.com/rd/shadetrees.aspx" target="_blank"> HERE</a>. :-)</div>
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<i>Photos by Peggy Thomas</i></div>
Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-90935356606823756292014-05-18T14:56:00.000-07:002014-05-18T14:56:33.432-07:00BigBird Backyard Bird Sit <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UVVyol5g8h4/U3kW_IWafrI/AAAAAAAAF5M/cmQdU_496Oo/s1600/SaijaWarbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UVVyol5g8h4/U3kW_IWafrI/AAAAAAAAF5M/cmQdU_496Oo/s1600/SaijaWarbler.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilson's Warbler in mesquite tree, May 13 2014, Mesa AZ.<br />Photo by Saija Lehtonen.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">L</span>ast week photographer Jeff Stemshorn (a.k.a. BigBird) and his girlfriend, Wynn Ronstadt, were coming through town so we decided
to have a BigBird Bird Sit at my place in Mesa. Saija Lehtonen and Annie Hummel Pancrazio also joined in on the backyard shenanigans. I've been having some good luck with
migrants coming through my yard (warblers, flycatchers, vireos, grosbeaks) so we were hoping for a good turnout. Sure enough we had a hard-to-photograph Wilson's Warbler stop by. Thankfully Saija was able to get an ID shot of the flittering flash of yellow feathers (which is what MY photos of the Wilson's looked like).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AoWYy7U9cgo/U3kbTwN-4BI/AAAAAAAAF5w/_-BF8hRfNKc/s1600/jeffcowbird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AoWYy7U9cgo/U3kbTwN-4BI/AAAAAAAAF5w/_-BF8hRfNKc/s1600/jeffcowbird.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-headed Cowbird, May 13 2014, Mesa AZ. Photo by Jeff Stemshorn.</td></tr>
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Also in the mix of course, were White-Winged Doves, a pair of Eurasian Collared Doves, Mourning Doves, Inca Doves, Gambel's
Quail, Curve-billed Thrashers, Abert's Towhees, Northern Mockingbirds, Great-tailed Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds, House Finches, House Sparrows, Lesser Goldfinch, Anna's Hummingbirds and Black-chinned Hummingbirds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iKzK0lR7KAg/U3KkNGB2FuI/AAAAAAAAF4s/dMLi_5rnh9M/s1600/5-8-2014ByardFlycatcher1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iKzK0lR7KAg/U3KkNGB2FuI/AAAAAAAAF4s/dMLi_5rnh9M/s1600/5-8-2014ByardFlycatcher1.jpg" height="640" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ash-throated Flycatcher in mesquite tree, May 13 2014, Mesa AZ. <br />Photo by Peggy Thomas</td></tr>
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Later the Ash-throated Flycatcher came by, performing aerobatics as he caught flies high in the mesquite tree.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbXslvQxWRY/U3kceyga71I/AAAAAAAAF58/phb_dteFUiM/s1600/SaijaVerdin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbXslvQxWRY/U3kceyga71I/AAAAAAAAF58/phb_dteFUiM/s1600/SaijaVerdin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Verdin at orange, May 13 2014, Mesa AZ. Photo by Saija Lehtonen. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MwvB_xCQCa4/U3kZF9G6PoI/AAAAAAAAF5k/RkMq2TlGXYU/s1600/westerntanagerblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MwvB_xCQCa4/U3kZF9G6PoI/AAAAAAAAF5k/RkMq2TlGXYU/s1600/westerntanagerblog.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Tanager in Palo Verde tree, May 13 2014, Mesa AZ.<br />Photo by Peggy Thomas.</td></tr>
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The Western Tanager stayed out of camera range during the bird sit, but reappeared later just long enough for an ID shot.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jlXs05nB6zs/U3kb8K1-bYI/AAAAAAAAF50/m75-T-4E1gs/s1600/jeffdove2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jlXs05nB6zs/U3kb8K1-bYI/AAAAAAAAF50/m75-T-4E1gs/s1600/jeffdove2.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-winged Dove, May 13 2014, Mesa AZ. Photo by Jeff Stemshorn.</td></tr>
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As the temperatures soar over the summer, we'll be having more Bird Sits, from the cool comfort of my kitchen, photographing through the bay windows. Care to join us?<br />
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<br />Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-56860254610112566942014-05-15T04:00:00.000-07:002014-05-15T11:49:47.675-07:00Thoughtless Thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaXN3059IW8/U2K6WrQP5XI/AAAAAAAAFxA/gmd-7CQRWvo/s1600/DBG4-8-14Orange1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaXN3059IW8/U2K6WrQP5XI/AAAAAAAAFxA/gmd-7CQRWvo/s1600/DBG4-8-14Orange1.jpg" height="309" width="400" /></a> </div>
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<i>Photos by Peggy Thomas</i></div>
Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-10443361468366062162014-05-12T15:18:00.001-07:002014-05-12T15:18:44.141-07:00Ban Barbed-Hook Fishing at Gilbert Water Ranch<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-003oA3o0jl8/U2bESRzgOFI/AAAAAAAAFyw/S-TQffy3VU0/s1600/birdwhook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-003oA3o0jl8/U2bESRzgOFI/AAAAAAAAFyw/S-TQffy3VU0/s1600/birdwhook.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An x-ray of a deceased bird from Gilbert Water<br />Ranch with a barbed fishing hook embedded<br />in its trachea.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">M</span>any of us are regular birders at Gilbert Water Ranch and have seen birds
injured or killed by fishing line and fishing hooks. It is an awful sight, and leaves us feeling sad, frustrated, and angered by our inability to help the birds. This Thursday is your chance to be a
voice for our feathered friends<br />
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The Gilbert Town Council will vote this week on a proposal to limit fishing at the Gilbert Water Ranch to catch-and-release in order to mitigate injuries to birds from barbed hooks. The Town expects a large group of opponents to attend the meeting, even though the proposed change will expand catch-for-keeps fishing to two other parks. We need birders/photographers/naturalists to come out in support of catch-and-release. The proposal will be discussed at the <b>Town Council this Thursday May 15th at 7:00 pm</b>. The Council chambers are located at <b>Municipal Building I, 50 E Civic Center Drive, Gilbert</b>, Arizona 85296.<br />
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Please come out and help GWR Park Ranger <a href="mailto:jennie.rambo@gilbertaz.gov" target="_blank">Jennie Rambo</a> inform the Council of
the need for this change. You do NOT have to be a citizen of Gilbert to attend or to speak, just
a frequenter of the Water Ranch. When you get to the council meeting be sure to fill out one of the
comment cards where you can mark yes or no on the proposed change and
also indicate whether you would like to get up and speak in front of the
council. Your vote and comments will be entered into the record. Any photographic evidence you may have would help greatly in showing the Council the severity of injuries caused by barbed hooks.<br />
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If you can't make it to the town Council meeting this Thursday but would
still like to voice your concerns or give first-hand accounts of birds
injured by fishing hooks at Gilbert Water Ranch, please call or write to:</div>
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<br /> Rod Buchanan, Director of Parks and Recreation<br />Email:<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> Rod.Buchanan@gilbertaz.gov</a> </div>
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Phone: 480-503-6280 <br /> </div>
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<i><b>Directions to Gilbert City Council Chambers : </b>Take Gilbert Rd. south past Warner Rd., turn left (east) on Civic Center Dr., look for Municipal Building I, at 50 E Civic Center Drive. </i></div>
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Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-90027143997001762292014-05-11T11:52:00.001-07:002014-05-11T11:56:20.235-07:00Oriole Madness at Desert Botanical Garden!<div class="separator tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was absolute Oriole madness last week along the Wildflower Trail at Desert Botanical Garden! </div>
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High up in the ironwood trees four female and two
male Bullock's Orioles exercised their acrobatic skills as they foraged
on the yummy blossoms from every conceivable angle. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EDzeH81-6Mo/U2-yVoiqX-I/AAAAAAAAF2s/bqFoB6RGBQM/s1600/5-7-2014DBGBOriole4BG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EDzeH81-6Mo/U2-yVoiqX-I/AAAAAAAAF2s/bqFoB6RGBQM/s1600/5-7-2014DBGBOriole4BG.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3vF2CcXVSbo/U2-y3HObsCI/AAAAAAAAF20/K8PhtQzKsdI/s1600/5-7-2014DBGBOriole8BG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3vF2CcXVSbo/U2-y3HObsCI/AAAAAAAAF20/K8PhtQzKsdI/s1600/5-7-2014DBGBOriole8BG.jpg" /></a></div>
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Other birds of interest seen at the Garden last week include a Hooded Oriole, a Black-Headed Grosbeak, a Chipping Sparrow, nine Black-tailed Gnatcatchers, two migrating Warbling Vireos, and several warblers including Lucy's, MacGillivray's, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Gray, Townsend's, and Wilson's. To stay up-to-date on bird sightings at Desert Botanical Garden, see Diana Herron's <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/dbgbirdwalks/home/dbg-birdwalk-birdlists">DBG Birdwalk Birdlists</a> page.</blockquote>
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<i>Remember it's <b>summer hours</b> at the <a href="http://www.dbg.org/" target="_blank">Desert Botanical Garden</a>, it <b>opens now at 7:00 a.m. </b>through October 1st, and for members only the Garden opens at 6:00 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.</i></blockquote>
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<b><i>Photos by Peggy Thomas </i></b></div>
Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-23369684320363556062014-05-09T12:49:00.000-07:002014-05-09T12:49:40.237-07:00Another Yard First - a Black-headed Grosbeak!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-osZQ08faZIA/U20sCXEIuWI/AAAAAAAAFzg/Kg4-UUGq8QM/s1600/5-8-2014ByardBHGrosbeak4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-osZQ08faZIA/U20sCXEIuWI/AAAAAAAAFzg/Kg4-UUGq8QM/s1600/5-8-2014ByardBHGrosbeak4.jpg" height="640" width="456" /></a></div>
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This is a backyard first for me! The only other places I've seen Black-headed Grosbeaks is at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Pinal Mountain, and Mount Ord.</div>
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The Ash-throated Flycatcher continues to frequent my yard, also favoring the mesquite tree and the birdbath.</div>
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Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-35841952616300866232014-05-08T13:00:00.000-07:002014-05-08T13:14:02.435-07:00Thoughtless Thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-68731184921010565192014-04-30T11:10:00.002-07:002014-04-30T11:10:45.929-07:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-48473502256106786312014-04-28T17:13:00.001-07:002014-04-28T17:13:20.742-07:00More Flycatcher Action at DBG!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ash-throated Flycatcher perched high in a Palo Verde tree along the Wildflower Trail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too many bird-papparazi for the Flycatcher, he's outa here!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bullock's Oriole stretching out to reach for<br />the best bud or bug.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> D</span>esert Botanical Garden's Monday Morning Bird-walk started off with a bang. An Ash-throated Flycatcher made an appearance in the Wildflower Garden
as well as a bright orange Bullock's Oriole. In typical Oriole fashion, he remained high in the upper canopy of the trees, making it nearly impossible to get a clear shot.<br />
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A whole lot of nesting
activity is still going on throughout the Garden. The Verdin are very active building nests, Phainopepla are feeding their
fledglings. and one of the female Roadrunner's is sitting on her nest.<br />
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REMINDER: DBG opens at 7:00am starting May 1st, this Thursday! It will open even earlier, for members only, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 6:00am. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5vkUq5GVtSY/U17kj_tyj9I/AAAAAAAAFtk/_dsNwoXGBg0/s1600/DBG4-28-14Verdin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5vkUq5GVtSY/U17kj_tyj9I/AAAAAAAAFtk/_dsNwoXGBg0/s1600/DBG4-28-14Verdin2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Verdin couple deciding where to place a nice fluffy down feather in their nest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A female Greater Roadrunner tucked tightly into her thorny nesting spot, tail-feather up!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PJKqkkGR9pw/U17pPc0vOxI/AAAAAAAAFuU/2MF93W-t8Rs/s1600/DBG4-8-14Phaino3blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PJKqkkGR9pw/U17pPc0vOxI/AAAAAAAAFuU/2MF93W-t8Rs/s1600/DBG4-8-14Phaino3blog.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A busy Phainopepla mom flies off in search of berries to feed her fledglings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look closely and you'll see a female Phainopepla <br />with a fresh picked berry in her beak.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very happy bee collecting pollen in the poppies. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Round-tailed Ground Squirrel eying all the yummy wildflowers.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-8200275507221650082014-04-25T17:56:00.000-07:002014-04-25T17:56:53.299-07:00A Two Whatzit and One Warbler Day!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Whatzit? of the day!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">O</span>n the one day when I thought no bird within earshot would come anywhere near my yard, two whatzits and a warbler show up! With my backyard blaring classic country music, I sat basking in the aroma of my recently bloomed star jasmine. Eyes half closed and no camera at hand, I kicked back and relaxed, no need to scan for birds. What bird in his right mind would show his beak amid such an assault on the ears? <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Star Jasmine in full fragrant bloom!</td></tr>
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Then out of the corner of my eye a flash of bright yellow whizzed by. The birder within me awoke and I looked through my Palo Verde tree, with its fading yellow blossoms, and there he was in all his glory, a Wilson's Warbler with his sporty black cap!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first ever backyard Wilson's Warbler!</td></tr>
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This little Verdin popped out to see what all the fuss was about. Unimpressed by the warbler's arrival, he continued on with his usual flitting from branch to branch, bug to bug, and blossom to blossom. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeJMJppnvz4/U1r-Ggn2syI/AAAAAAAAFqc/deQM76Em2Eg/s1600/LucysWarbler4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeJMJppnvz4/U1r-Ggn2syI/AAAAAAAAFqc/deQM76Em2Eg/s1600/LucysWarbler4.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a>As if that wasn't exciting enough, another unfamiliar bird caught my eye, this time in the Velvet Mesquite tree! Gotta love those native trees! At first-glance I thought it was a Lucy's Warbler, then I downloaded my photos and thought Bell's Vireo. Then I thought I had better check with other birders to ID this surprise guest, who is not as obvious as the distinctively marked Wilson's Warbler. Jeff Stemshorn (who claims not to be a birder, hah) immediately narrowed it down to being a Flycatcher, not a Warbler or Vireo, and thinks it may be a Pacific-slope Flycatcher. Kathe Anderson, birder and guide extraordinaire, feels that I've "got a Cordilleran or Pacific slope (or dusky!) flycatcher (pretty good teardrop eye ring, largish bill, olive-sort of coloration)."</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second Whatzit? of the day.</td></tr>
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On top of all that, another whatzit lurked behind the
branches just long enough for this blurry masterpiece to be taken. Anyone want to take a stab at ID-ing this bird? My guess is Ash-throated Flycatcher.<br />
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Thank you Kathe Anderson and Jeff Semshorn for help with ID! </div>
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<i>Photos by Peggy Thomas, April 24, 2014.</i></div>
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Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-53755623737094653172014-04-02T17:32:00.001-07:002014-04-02T17:32:50.828-07:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Photos by Peggy Thomas</i></div>
Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-42946878292827342102014-03-20T12:04:00.001-07:002014-03-20T12:04:36.370-07:00Thoughtless Thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Photos by Peggy Thomas</i></div>
<br />Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1958946734779142502.post-46110747223109321062014-03-12T11:57:00.001-07:002014-03-12T11:57:51.846-07:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Photos by Tucson Audubon photographer Jeff Stemshorn (a.k.a. Big Bird)</i><br /><i>with cooperation of the birds at the <a href="http://www.abcbirds.org/paton/" target="_blank">Paton House</a>, Patagonia, AZ.</i></div>
Peggy Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08985079204022574432noreply@blogger.com1