13-JUN-2010
Canyon Towhee #4239
Canyon Towhees are common in Tucson, but they look slightly different from the Towhees we have in New Mexico -- ours have a bit more brown color on their heads and rumps, and a indistinct dark spot on their chest. There are hints of all these features on this bird, but they are much less obvious.
12-JUN-2010
Gambel's Quail #4152
I spent the weekend in Tucson visiting family -- one of the most common birds of the Sonoran Desert is the Gambel's Quail, which forages on the desert floor in large numbers. It is a very attractive bird, and has an engaging personality.
09-JUN-2010
Bullock's Oriole #3993
This is not the greatest bird portrait, but this Bullock's Oriole stayed in my yard for a total of 10 seconds, and then he was off. Fortunately for me, he chose to come by when I was ready with my camera. He is sitting on the top of a hummingbird feeder, wondering if there is anything there for him. I don't set out orange slices, so he quickly sized up the situation and flew off. This is a first ever sighting for me, and these birds are not all that terribly common around here, so this short little event made the day for me.
08-JUN-2010
House Sparrow #3942
There are many more House Sparrows that visit the back yard than I can get a picture of -- they fly low to the ground, diving into and hiding in the bushes, and forage behind all the garden plants on the ground for seed. Only when they stop by the pond for water, or temporarily perch on the fence (like this female), do I get a chance to take a picture of one.
07-JUN-2010
House Finch #3869
House Finches are now the most common bird visiting the back yard. We have been back home from our vacation for a couple of weeks, and since then we have seen more House Finches than all other birds combined. They are still flying around in pairs, although I remember last fall that they gathered in large flocks. I am guessing that their behavior changes once they are no longer breeding.
06-JUN-2010
Common Grackle #3752
The Grackles that have shown up this year seem to think we are a good place to stay. We almost always have one or two strutting around, chasing birds off the feeders, and vocalizing from the treetops. This one is taking a drink from the pond.
04-JUN-2010
European Starling #9740
We don't have as much of a problem with Starlings as many do. We see one or two crawling around in the grass every day or so, but not the flocks of dozens of birds. They did find the end of a suet block I had out, something with a bit of peanut butter in it, and they polished it off in two days. While that was going on, I had large numbers of them around. We are also seeing juveniles, so they are breeding happily in the area.
03-JUN-2010
Hairy Woodpecker #9693
After hearing the noise of a bird in the Ash tree I didn't recognize, I left my usual shooting location and wandered out into the yard to see what was going on. Up high in the tree, mostly obscured by branches and leaves, was this Hairy Woodpecker, a first sighting for me. He hopped from limb to limb for a few minutes, inspecting the tree, then took off to the tree next doors. I am guessing he did not find any tasty bugs
02-JUN-2010
American Robin Bathing #9556
With the weather getting very warm (mid-90's F), most of the bird activity is in the early morning when it's too dark to get good pictures, or late in the afternoon, also a bit on the dark side. But a few birds, like Robins, are willing to forage or play all day long. This Robin managed to hold his head very still while flapping about in the water.
01-JUN-2010
Lincoln's Sparrow #9501
Melospiza lincolnii
Lincoln's Sparrows migrate through this area in the spring; they have distinctly buffy malar stripes.
30-MAY-2010
Western Tanager #9423
We went camping to the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado over the Memorial Day weekend. The Western Tanagers that had been visiting us in early May have left our yard in New Mexico, but we usually see them at the Sand Dunes, as we did this year.