Tucson Mar 31-April 2 2013

It has been a good week in Tucson.  The weather in the morning is great but by noon we are in the low 30's so we try to get out early and get to bed early.  Tomorrow, Apr. 3 we head out to Dead Horse RV Park in Cottonwood Az.  It is close to Sedona.  Many of the following pictures were taken at the Desert Museum in Tucson.  The birds are flying free and easy to capture on pixels.

A Verdin at our orange blossom agave.

Same guy.

An Inca Dove.

Lucy's Warbler

Lucy's Warbler in the campsite.

Chihuahuan Raven-long nose hairs.

Cactus Flower-"headgehog" I think.

Great Horned Owl

Another Flower

Grey Hawk

Ocotillo Flower

Harris's Hawks-a sociable raptor

The cactus flowers are hard to resist getting a picture of.

This Ferruginous Hawk was a beauty.

Here he is in flight.

Prairie Falcon

Easter Cactus-I think.

Sunset over the RV Park.

Goodbye from Tucson.  Scroll down to see previous blog.

MAR. 28-30 2013 TUSCON AZ. AREA

 Desert Trails RV Park, Tuscon Arizona.  We are tucked into a nice spot beside the owners of Tickleberrys Ice cream.  We always drop into their place when we pass through Okanagan Falls.

Can you spot the Airstream?

Black-throated Grey Warbler in Florida Canyon.

Cactus Wren at our site.

Curve-billed Thrasher; different than the California Thrasher in the previous blog.

Gamble's Quail serenading us.

The Gila Woodpeckers have a nest beside the trailer.

A Hooded Oriole comes to oranges at the trailer.

Florida canyon is a known spot to find Rufous Capped Warblers. It is on the way to Madiera Canyon; a popular birding spot.  This is our fifth time into the canyon and the first time we have got good looks at the bird.  A beautiful hike of about 1 1/2 miles next to a stream in the shade. This bird a great find for us.

We met other birders who had got there before us and were heading out.  None had seen the warbler.

We found it almost immediately as it was singing on top of a tree.

Our agave is a great place to set up an orange buffet.

This Summer Tanager greeted us as we entered Sweetwater Reserve in Tuscon.

A Cassin's Kingbird tosses a bug at Sweetwater.

And catches it.

Harris's Hawk has set up home at Sweetwater.

This concludes the first few days around Tuscon. 

Scroll down to view previous blog. 

New Journey Starts Here

March 18 was the day we left Abbotsford.  Hauled into Seven Feathers casino in Oregon to spend the night and over ate at the buffet.  Next day we got as far as Fresno and then on to Wagners RV Park in Desert Hotsprings.  What a treat to get in the pool after 3 days of hard driving.  Joshua Tree Park was on our list to visit and we got there on day 4.  We took 3 different hikes before the temperature became uncomfortable (90).  Managed a few pictures;

Black-throated Sparrow

Spiny Lizard

Big Morongo Park Close to Palm Springs was our destination the next day.  Lots people there but we got there around 7AM and got views of a Bobcat as it bounded away.  Couldn't get a picture Darn!!  Met a group from Saskatchewan who put us on to a Barn Owl tucked into a Palm Tree.  Again, no picture as you could only see a glimpse.

Fence Lizard

Black Phoebe

Wagner Hotsprings Park pool

Cheap parking at Wagner Rv Park.

Market Day at Palm Springs

Big Morongo Park is a great place for birds and walking.  A bobcat ran along the boardwalk in front of us here.  Bullock's Oriole is one we see in BC.

Coopers Hawk at Big Morongo.

California Thrasher at RV park.

Oak Titmouse Big Morongo.

Phainopeola was at Joshua Tree Park.

Western Scrubjay Big Morongo.

Joshua Park.

Sunset at Wagner Park towards Los Angeles.

We left Desert Hotsprings Mar. 27 and arrived in Desert Trails RV Park, Tuscon,  after about 6 hours of travelling.  

Got a great huge site with 50 amp power at a good rate here.  Many RVER's are leaving and there are empty spots all over.  The next blog should be available shortly.

Sept.12-16 2012 Camping with the Bartels

The weather looked promising for the next week or so, so Dian and I hooked up the trailer and met Art and Marlene for a few days of camping.  Our first stop was Juniper Campground on the Thompson River east of Cache Creek.  We got the last 2 campsites even though we rolled in early; and they were almost side by side.  I walked the trails and got a few pictures but the birds were not that plentiful.  The Meadowlarks were still singing and Yellowrumps dominated the campsite.

White-crowned Sparrow

After the second day we decided to head to Tunkwa Campground.  The rise in elevation from about 1200 feet to 3000 feet and it was evident in the temperature at night when the thermometer in the trailer read 5 degrees.  Daytime temperatures were mid to high 20's.  Just perfect.  Tunkwa was not as crowded as Juniper and the people that were there, were mostly fishermen.  Many more trails provided more opportunities for hikes and as a result more photo ops.

Click on the pictures for a larger view.

Chipmunk

I followed this Hairy Woodpecker around camp and finally got a clear shot.

Quite a few Mountain Bluebirds were passing through.

Art and I were surprised by the sudden appearance of this Northern Goshawk.  I only had a short time to react with the camera as it glided by.

A Northern Harrier checked me out.

A Red-tailed hawk also wondered if I was a threat.

Around the campfire.

You can't camp with the Bartels unless you play Blongo.  Here is Blongo Man showing his winning form.

I didn't realize there was so much involved with the follow through.

Dian is going to connect this time.

It was a good 4 days and now it is time to winterize the trailer and wait for spring.