MAGNIFICENT SUNSET
GRAND CANYON SUNSET
Monday, May 30, 2011
THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY
Mark and Ellen, my mother Eunice, Larry and I had a brunch at Ruby Tuesday for Mother's Day. I love their salad bar.
Friday, May 13, 2011
APRIL 2011, THE YELLOW MONTH
April is surely one of most beautiful months in Arizona. Everywhere you look it's yellow. It's not just because everyone has planted trees and shrubs that have yellow blooms.
When you walk in the desert many plants are also blooming as you can see in the photo of Ellen and Larry who finally got out for their hike.
At the riparian I photographed the beautiful European Starling in the yellowness.
When I walked the desert this month I noticed all the ocotillo cactus were in bloom as well. After I passed one plant I heard a woodpecker call out as if to say "Hey, I'm back here". It took me awhile but I finally located him. He's so well camouflaged. It's a red-shafted Northern Flicker Woodpecker.
When these cacti are used in formal landscaping and are regularly watered their tiny bright green leaves appear when the blooms appear. In the dry desert the flowers are out first. This display is at the Community Center in Apache Junction where my mother lives.
A quick trip to the Rio Salado Habitat entrance on Central Ave. provided photos of these 2 next birds.
I think this one is a Wilson's Warbler but the other? The female perhaps?
One morning in April we both agreed a day trip was needed. The Prescott area was close enough for time to wander around and still be home for dinner. Our first stop was Lynx Lake which is in a National Forest. Cool and green with tall pines, surely there will be a ton of birds! Heck no! I was forced to take pictures of ducks and a goose!
To my surprise I decided to look in the guide and had trouble! So google helped me out and I found my ducks were Crested Ducks, a genetic mutation of the mallard. Awesome, a new duck!
Then yesterday as I was preparing this post, I took a better look at the goose from Lynx Lake. Wow, I think he is a Greylag Goose. He's listed in the Exotic waterfowl section and is from the Eurasian species. This exotic waterfowl group was brought to North America for private collections, zoos and parks and then escaped.
Deciding to move on to the Prescott County Courthouse Square seemed like a logical choice. The grounds are beautiful with tall trees and surely a lot of birds. Well, lots of birds were singing but I couldn't find them. They flitted back and forth in the uppermost canopy of leaves. Darn!
Just as we slowly made our way around the building to find our car, a guard asked us if we saw the owl? I thought he was joshing us because a building across the street had a fake owl on the rooftop in an effort to scare pigeons I guess. Who knew that every year a pair of owls build a nest high up by the clock on that beautiful building.
The guard pointed out the nest and said see?, there is the baby now. And come over here because the parent sits in a tree opposite and watches over the nest. Well, I was fascinated but I never got a full shot of either one.
Since I have never seen an owl outside the zoo I was impressed to have these photos of a Great Horned owl. That was a great road trip!
Easter surprised me this year. I wasn't prepared but at the last minute I arranged for Ellen and Mark to host my own egg hunt on Saturday.
Ferdy and Mimzie benefited with treats form Jen. Thanks Bolduc family!
At Howard and Jen's on Sunday we had a mammoth egg hunt. The kids cousin McKenna and her parents joined in as well as a neighbor family. The delicious dinner we all enjoyed before the activities didn't seem to slow us down.
The adults had already hidden dozens of eggs everywhere-- front yards, the back yard, high and low. It was definitely a challenge for the kids them to find them all. In fact, at the end of the day as we off I spied an unfounded egg in the shrubbery.
To Sophie's delight she found golden coins in some eggs!
Connie looks happy with her eggs!
Now, for the fun of seeing the what they got!
Brayden discovered the dangers of barefoot hunting.
Jen's beautiful rose garden was a popular spot to utilize in the hunt.
Some adults needed a rest period and blamed it on the dogs needing attention!
Thanks Jen and Howard. The food was wonderful! We had a great time.
When you walk in the desert many plants are also blooming as you can see in the photo of Ellen and Larry who finally got out for their hike.
At the riparian I photographed the beautiful European Starling in the yellowness.
When I walked the desert this month I noticed all the ocotillo cactus were in bloom as well. After I passed one plant I heard a woodpecker call out as if to say "Hey, I'm back here". It took me awhile but I finally located him. He's so well camouflaged. It's a red-shafted Northern Flicker Woodpecker.
When these cacti are used in formal landscaping and are regularly watered their tiny bright green leaves appear when the blooms appear. In the dry desert the flowers are out first. This display is at the Community Center in Apache Junction where my mother lives.
A quick trip to the Rio Salado Habitat entrance on Central Ave. provided photos of these 2 next birds.
I think this one is a Wilson's Warbler but the other? The female perhaps?
One morning in April we both agreed a day trip was needed. The Prescott area was close enough for time to wander around and still be home for dinner. Our first stop was Lynx Lake which is in a National Forest. Cool and green with tall pines, surely there will be a ton of birds! Heck no! I was forced to take pictures of ducks and a goose!
To my surprise I decided to look in the guide and had trouble! So google helped me out and I found my ducks were Crested Ducks, a genetic mutation of the mallard. Awesome, a new duck!
Then yesterday as I was preparing this post, I took a better look at the goose from Lynx Lake. Wow, I think he is a Greylag Goose. He's listed in the Exotic waterfowl section and is from the Eurasian species. This exotic waterfowl group was brought to North America for private collections, zoos and parks and then escaped.
Deciding to move on to the Prescott County Courthouse Square seemed like a logical choice. The grounds are beautiful with tall trees and surely a lot of birds. Well, lots of birds were singing but I couldn't find them. They flitted back and forth in the uppermost canopy of leaves. Darn!
Just as we slowly made our way around the building to find our car, a guard asked us if we saw the owl? I thought he was joshing us because a building across the street had a fake owl on the rooftop in an effort to scare pigeons I guess. Who knew that every year a pair of owls build a nest high up by the clock on that beautiful building.
The guard pointed out the nest and said see?, there is the baby now. And come over here because the parent sits in a tree opposite and watches over the nest. Well, I was fascinated but I never got a full shot of either one.
Since I have never seen an owl outside the zoo I was impressed to have these photos of a Great Horned owl. That was a great road trip!
Easter surprised me this year. I wasn't prepared but at the last minute I arranged for Ellen and Mark to host my own egg hunt on Saturday.
Ferdy and Mimzie benefited with treats form Jen. Thanks Bolduc family!
At Howard and Jen's on Sunday we had a mammoth egg hunt. The kids cousin McKenna and her parents joined in as well as a neighbor family. The delicious dinner we all enjoyed before the activities didn't seem to slow us down.
The adults had already hidden dozens of eggs everywhere-- front yards, the back yard, high and low. It was definitely a challenge for the kids them to find them all. In fact, at the end of the day as we off I spied an unfounded egg in the shrubbery.
To Sophie's delight she found golden coins in some eggs!
Connie looks happy with her eggs!
Now, for the fun of seeing the what they got!
Brayden discovered the dangers of barefoot hunting.
Jen's beautiful rose garden was a popular spot to utilize in the hunt.
Some adults needed a rest period and blamed it on the dogs needing attention!
Thanks Jen and Howard. The food was wonderful! We had a great time.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
2011 MARCH NEWS
Our grandson Luke was honored in March with the "Student of the Month" award. He worked very hard for the distinction and we could not be prouder. Way to go Luke!
On this months visit to the Audubon Center we crossed the bridge and took a turn through the Rio Salado Central Ave entrance. http://az.audubon.org/Center_RioSalado.html. It was a quick few minutes but I managed to take photos of 2 new bird sightings. The bird with yellow markings is an "Audubon's Warbler" a Yellow-rumped Warbler.
This black and white beauty is a Black Phoebe. I've gone back several times to take a better picture but have not had any luck spotting this bird again.
AHHH, Sedona! Eunice and I took a one day tour and stopped at Talaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village. The grounds are beautiful and filled with blooms of pansies, paths to wander around through and loads of shopping, restaurants, and places to sit and watch the crowds. I listened to lots of birds but they were not easy to spot. This tapping woodpecker worked long enough to find him in the tall trees.
I learned there is a chapel at the village couples can book to exchange marriage vows.
Over the Village walls glimpses of the famous red rock formations can be viewed. Sculptures are placed throughout the paths.
It was a great month to visit the Boyce Thompson State Park. The weather was cool, and we saw lots of great birds. This red male and dull colored female pair of Northern Cardinals were in the picnic area. I had my camera set wrong the whole trip and I'm hoping I will not repeat that mistake again. Visit this site for more information about the arboretum. http://ag.arizona.edu/bta/
In the hummingbird frequented section we had finally had great fun photographing the Broad-billed Hummer. What beautiful birds.
Below the grey and black bird is a "pink sided" Dark-eyed Junco I think and the red headed bird is an Anna's Hummingbird.
On this months visit to the Audubon Center we crossed the bridge and took a turn through the Rio Salado Central Ave entrance. http://az.audubon.org/Center_RioSalado.html. It was a quick few minutes but I managed to take photos of 2 new bird sightings. The bird with yellow markings is an "Audubon's Warbler" a Yellow-rumped Warbler.
This black and white beauty is a Black Phoebe. I've gone back several times to take a better picture but have not had any luck spotting this bird again.
AHHH, Sedona! Eunice and I took a one day tour and stopped at Talaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village. The grounds are beautiful and filled with blooms of pansies, paths to wander around through and loads of shopping, restaurants, and places to sit and watch the crowds. I listened to lots of birds but they were not easy to spot. This tapping woodpecker worked long enough to find him in the tall trees.
I learned there is a chapel at the village couples can book to exchange marriage vows.
Over the Village walls glimpses of the famous red rock formations can be viewed. Sculptures are placed throughout the paths.
It was a great month to visit the Boyce Thompson State Park. The weather was cool, and we saw lots of great birds. This red male and dull colored female pair of Northern Cardinals were in the picnic area. I had my camera set wrong the whole trip and I'm hoping I will not repeat that mistake again. Visit this site for more information about the arboretum. http://ag.arizona.edu/bta/
In the hummingbird frequented section we had finally had great fun photographing the Broad-billed Hummer. What beautiful birds.
Below the grey and black bird is a "pink sided" Dark-eyed Junco I think and the red headed bird is an Anna's Hummingbird.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
HMMMMMMM, FEBRUARY
Our anniversary month! So off we went to the Grand Canyon. I photographed 3 new birds this trip. It was another great time at the canyon. February is the best time of the year to go. Snow, few people and cold weather....what more could we want?
This beauty is a Juniper Titmouse.
Here we have a White-breasted Nuthatch, one of the few birds who climb up, down and around tree trunks and branches. What an acrobat!
Now these next 3 pictures may be the Western Bluebird.
Oh....maybe a canyon picture would be appropriate huh! AHHHHHH
Our resident hummer is still in the area looking for his food!
I have a lot of photos of unidentified yellow birds in my folders. They are the most difficult for me and I never do decide what they are. Lesser Goldfinch perhaps? I took these in our neighborhood.
I received flowers on our anniversary. They were so pretty even before I added a few silks to the vase to confuse Larry. I wasn't being mean only playful. After 42 years I'm allowed!
Luke and I started our puzzle marathon keeping each one together and now we have about 8 stacked on one another. I'm not sure where this is headed exactly!
This beauty is a Juniper Titmouse.
Here we have a White-breasted Nuthatch, one of the few birds who climb up, down and around tree trunks and branches. What an acrobat!
Now these next 3 pictures may be the Western Bluebird.
Oh....maybe a canyon picture would be appropriate huh! AHHHHHH
Our resident hummer is still in the area looking for his food!
I have a lot of photos of unidentified yellow birds in my folders. They are the most difficult for me and I never do decide what they are. Lesser Goldfinch perhaps? I took these in our neighborhood.
I received flowers on our anniversary. They were so pretty even before I added a few silks to the vase to confuse Larry. I wasn't being mean only playful. After 42 years I'm allowed!
Luke and I started our puzzle marathon keeping each one together and now we have about 8 stacked on one another. I'm not sure where this is headed exactly!
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