As I look back over the last year to try to discover where I went astray, one thing has become abundantly clear: Life is not a straight line. There you are, trekking along happily in one direction, certain of the clear path ahead, when suddenly, in the blink of an eye, Life throws something totally unexpected at you and everything changes.
Discovering birding was such a life-altering event for me a few years ago and I feel fortunate that I was able to pursue this passion with abandon, seeing more birds and more places in Arizona than in the entire 18 years we’ve lived here. In 2018, I even achieved an unexpected goal. Thanks to the friends I discovered along the way, I ended the year in third position with the most number of birds seen in Arizona that year.
But early last year, Life decided to throw several obstacles in my way (some of my choosing and others not). As my bird-chasing trips became limited and then virtually non-existent, I watched with envy throughout the year as friends chased some pretty exciting birds, many of which would have been lifers for me. Now, as a new year has begun, I find that although I still miss the thrill of chasing the uncommon birds that venture into Arizona with my friends, I’m learning to keep a more open mind about the new pathways and opportunities that have, of necessity, opened themselves up to me.
This is not an easy state of mind to achieve. One can easily fall into the rabbit hole of self-pity and waste a lot of time being angry and asking pointless questions such as, “why me? why us? why them?” The other alternative is that one can, as the proverbial phrase goes, “make lemonade out of lemons” and turn the bitter into sweet.
That being said, my choice to stay closer to home put me back in touch with the birds in my ‘hood and I was rewarded richly with a number of new “patch” birds – 23 in fact – bringing the total number of species I’ve seen in Verrado since I started counting birds in 2017 to 134. As we enter the first year of a new decade, I have resolved to remain positive and enjoy whatever Life brings me. I look forward to discovering what new treasures I may find in Verrado.
Let me share with you few favorite pics of Verrado birds from 2019. Click on any image to start the slide show and read about the birds.
Finding this escapee from a local zoo in 2017 catapulted me into the bird-chasing world and introduced me to a whole new circle of friends. I've spotted this White-throated Magpie-Jay at least once every year since then.
Five different Warblers, including this Hermit Warbler, showed up on the same day in the park in front of my house!
Even though I've seen Pine Siskins in the mountains before, this was a first for me in Verrado. According to the Cornell Lab, over much of the continent, Pine Siskins can be abundant one winter and gone the next. So far, I haven't seen any this year.
A returning favorite - the Western Kingbird. I love the squeaky, bubbling calls these bright yellow flycatchers make when they return each year.
Although not a glamorous bird, these male Bronzed Cowbirds make quite a striking image with their shimmering blue/black feathers and vivid red eyes against the blue sky.
Western Screech-Owls are nocturnal hunters and normally spend their days looking out from the entrance of a roost hole, so it was a treat to find this one sitting on a branch. Even more special was to return the next day to find three owlets.
I saw more Loggerhead Shrikes this year than in the past. Its hooked bill aids in catching smaller prey (such as beetles) right away, but these birds are famous for impaling larger items on thorns or barbed wire to be eaten later.
We have an abundance of Gambel's Quail here in Verrado. One member of the covey is often posted as an lookout on a fence post or shrub top, as this male is, while the rest forage at ground level. If I get too close, they explode into flight.
I spent at least an hour watching this Cactus Wren fly back and forth from the wash, where it gathered material, to the nest it was building.
The quintessential bird of the Southwest, Greater Roadrunners have evolved a range of adaptations to deal with the extremes of desert living. They secrete a solution of highly concentrated salt through a gland just in front of each eye, which uses less water than excreting it via their kidneys and urinary tract. Moisture-rich prey including mammals and reptiles supply them otherwise-scarce water in their diet.
I consider the Say's Phoebe to be a very elegant bird in the way it gracefully perches upon branches and effortlessly swoops out to catch flying insects. I never tire of seeing or photographing them.
Tiny Dancer. The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a small bird with overflowing energy as it forages frantically through lower branches of shrubs and trees. I have yet to get a good photo of a male’s brilliant ruby crown patch; maybe this year.
Black-throated Sparrows are said to be year-round residents of the desert, but they seem to disappear from Verrado during the heat of the summer. It is one of the sharpest-looking of all sparrows with its bold face pattern, but the soft brown back and pale underparts help it blend in with its desert home. Their little tinkling calls are difficult for some to hear as they forage on the ground for seeds and insects.
Wilson's Warblers arrive in the spring and fall and are one of our smallest warblers. Who can resist their brightly colored feathers and black button eyes?
Catching a glimpse of this tiny, elusive Elf Owl was the highlight of my year. One rarely sees them in the daylight and he stayed for only one day.
I believe this to be one of my best images. Although I've had a brief glimpse of an Elf Owl as it jetted out of its roost at dusk, I've never had the good luck to see one in day light on a branch until this one showed up in my neighborhood!
2 thoughts on “Forgive me, Friends, for I have been remiss. It has been 393 days since my last blog.”
Congratulations, Lyndie, on your “#3 ” Birding Spot! Quite an accomplishment!
Congratulations, Lyndie, on your “#3 ” Birding Spot! Quite an accomplishment!
Thanks, Pamela. That was a fun year and I learned so much! Hope you’ll subscribe to my blogs so you can join in the birding fun!