Cottonwood AZ. Apr. 4-7 2013

Cottonwood Az. is a great place for different activities.  Hiking, scenery, old towns, etc.  We hiked around the campsite and old town Cottonwood Apr. 4.  Apr 5 was a visit to an old indian pueblo called Tuzgoot.  Then a trip to Jerome.  This is an old mining town high in the hills converted into a bunch of gift shops.  Oh well- the scenery was great.

Common Gallinule

A Lucy's Warbler showing off the red crest.

Verdin at its' nest

This lizard kept waving its' tail.

April 6 was spent visiting Tuzigoot Indian Monument.

This Rock Wren joined us at the top of Tuzigoot ruins.

Dian on top of tuzigoot.

Then a short drive to Jerome.  An old mining town recreated into a huge gift shop.

Old restored buildings make Jerome an interesting place for  those that like trinkets.

April 6 we decided to check out Montezuma's Castle.  Another ruins which is really interesting.  Lodged into the cliff face this area captured our attention for a few hours.

A beehive was tucked into a crevice.  We were assured they were not killer bees.

Sedona was few miles down the road so we checked out the scenery there.

Luckily we found the scene they use

for their advertising.  A young boy was playing on the stream.

This picture is HDR-3 pictures of different exposures.

I pull up a chair at the trailer and a beer and I wait for the perfect hummer shot.  I still have a week to achieve it.  These are best so far.  I went up to the feeder today to adjust a stick they use for a perch.  One of them landed on the stick as I was holding it.

A Vermillion Flycatcher greeted us this morning in camp.  We were waiting to go on a nature walk and it approached us.

A Great Horned Owl peeked out at us on our walk.  A youngster is barely visible.

I am writing this episode in a bakery in old town Cottonwood.  Dian has just informed me the temperature in Santa Fe is 10 degrees during the day and -5 at night.  We may have to change plans. 

We have another week and a half so let's hope the weather changes.  There will be lot's to keep us busy here.  Condors are 2 hours away at the Grand canyon.  It is tempting so we will monitor the situation.

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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. 

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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.