There's not much to celebrate this weekend. My Wildcats lost to USC and my D-backs lost twice! Yesterday I drove to Tubac to explore the De Anza Trail. A Prothonotary Warbler had been reported the day before. I knew it was a long shot, but I would see lots of other great stuff, right? Wrong! It was dead quiet when I arrived at 7:20 a.m. I should have stayed asleep. In two and a half hours the only warblers I saw were one Orange-crowned, one Lucy's, one Yellow, and three Common Yellowthroats. A far cry from the seven warbler species I saw
last weekend at Peña Blanca Lake in only 45 minutes. Where were all the warblers? It was like the calendar had turned and they were all gone.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8C_3rQ7yMMeEga1Qd67JAS5vrY82tcudgCTlMO-6729zpa7wE_JDTcDWPXZhyF-lMhc3gtSgz97y5Q9yPhMqnm1cqhtV5rg0-BAY0TvVtPx-k7AdVr_ltF2bfHCuWEyv2u6wS3W6VP1N/s1600/Common+Yellowthroat+580.jpg) |
Common Yellowthroat |
On the bright side, I saw a javelina and a green Painted Bunting. But I didn't get a photo of either. Do you see a pattern here?
There were grasshoppers everywhere! Every time I took a step, I parted a sea of them.
Also, I did get a few other decent photos, even if the birds were perched on ugly lines.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFnfCL9Osd1XU1LgqhQq07SVEzrQgxXASZw5nCA8pP5G28sMSImIuwflpINcydXCGKb2oM6F0xIGkocfTSK7gEBOTo_U6jnc5lz5Hdtj-jUw_40fvJ1pJ5dnpfxSEX-nnRwAqAptefQdf/s1600/Anna%2527s+580.jpg) |
Anna's Hummingbird |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9joO346YIpdoTsdVMhK3XD7ja21f19vnpBtglUPUTZ5aFi8-2pXxvt4cFJ8OgihEtaIExxECzRXaLYusMqicch2ODQFhcPKNQOnq0kbRXYDXFmxFHCsFM7JrGfElDgXFrkYLJzGdPrhqD/s1600/Say%2527s+Phoebe+580.jpg) |
Say's Phoebe |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVe-E6WhEqCEBJTNQ7MTfbtu7tPjN3AYkuE-nQEFrg7Scad920Jf_BsKW865JgpWpw1OGmIFgqTgE1sa30e_arf7HpcPlhOYPYfkjPolYi8MM60c8TkZ4Pbu9zIndmoHgtzkmIJ_IQyS2/s1600/Western+Kingbird+580.jpg) |
Western Kingbird |
Thinking my luck had to change I headed over to Santa Gertrudis Lane. But I gave up after a quiet 40 minutes. The only bird of note was a late Bell's Vireo. I figure I was paying my dues to the birding gods for last weekend's walk-up lifer Cape May Warbler. I guess that's why we do what we do. You never know what you're going to find next...
...awesome grasshopper shots, and I like seeing the birds on the wire (it's kind of artsy (juxtaposing soft feathers with hard metal and all that)!
ReplyDeleteThat second grasshopper is kind of crazy-looking. I like it. And a javelina!! Rad!
ReplyDeleteWonderful close-up shots
ReplyDeletedan
Fantastic images Jeremy!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I last visited Arizona I wasn't into birding yet. I know I'll be back though because I loved it there so much...and can't wait to look for the birds next time around.
Thanks for all your comments :)