10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2018

That was the best possible spot we could find from our Tucson base, and given our badly stressed budget. It just so happens, that there were some pretty decent priced flights out of Tucson, so Jeanne booked a couple of tickets, and then had to beat it back home from Texas. L ittle Big Year species – 1280. eBird submissions – 320?

Bahamas 113

Bahamas Tucson El Paso Texas 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2019

Now that Jeanne and I have finally settled on Tucson, Arizona at least for a while, I will pick up where I left off at the end of 2018. Located approximately 40 miles south of Tucson, Arizona, you travel on Highway 19 to Green Valley, and exit at Continental Road. From there you go one mile and make a right at Whitehouse Road.

Arizona 138

Arizona Tucson Florida 2018 138

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2019

When we returned to Tucson, from the Bahamas, I was approaching a milestone number, 1300 bird species, and drove myself hard, climbing, hiking, searching, and driving all over the state of Arizona looking for those last eight birds. With four days to go in 2018, why not try for a few more, right? Jean and Gary Siesener in Tucson, Az.

Costa Rica 133

Costa Rica Tucson South Africa Bahamas 133

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2018

My first ever Gamble’s Quail were feeding right next to the picnic area, and alongside the visitors center building, I spotted a thrasher. Right in our camp, we found Ladder-backed Woodpeckers. We are now headed to Tucson, Arizona, where we will park the 5th wheel for an extended amount of time, possibly as long as March 1st.

New Mexico 113

New Mexico Mexico Tucson Arizona 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2011

In the right season, with a little luck, we often find it, and sometimes it perches high and long enough that we can admire its scimitar of a bill, its stern face pattern, and even the patch of rusty red on the undertail that gives the species its English and its scientific names. Wicked, right? Hat-tip to Stella.

2011 140

2011 Tucson Arizona Deer 140

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

The bird was a little harder to find than I expected; I needed to triangulate the sounds of the call and finally, after standing and looking and walking around the tree where the bird had to be calling from, I took a deep breath, looked again, and there it was right in front of me, actually at eye level. At least for birders.

Arizona 102

Arizona Lovebirds Phoenix New Jersey 102

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2011

A widely published writer, popular speaker, and enthusiastic tour leader in North American and Europe, Rick lives in Tucson and in Vancouver, British Columbia, with his wife, Alison, and their chocolate Lab, Gellert. Wicked, right? One Response to “Cow Birds&# Mike Mar 22nd, 2011 at 1:19 pm I love observations like these, Rick.

Cows 142

Cows Cattle 2011 Birds 142

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 8, 2007

Tucson, like other communities in the southwest, has satanistic, witch, and other occult groups. Needless to say, animal-rights and other groups are up in arms. Someone entered the premises of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum , cut the lock on the bighorn sheep exhibit, and shot the male bighorn to death. It has not been found.

Sheep 40

Sheep Tucson Arizona Killing 40

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 12, 2018

Things had just started to settle down a bit, now that we had parked the RV in Tucson. We left Tucson on Monday, and drove to Alpine, Texas for our first night. There better be at least 30” was that number she threw out at me, as we were driving away from Tucson. This bird was sitting right out in the sun when I first found it.

Texas 130

Texas Tucson San Antonio Owls 130

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2018

One morning, I woke up to see a White-breasted Nuthatch in the tree right behind our 5th wheel, but before I could get out there with my camera, it was gone, never to see seen in the next three days. Guess I was just not holding my mouth right? Here is the gray toned female Mountain Bluebirds.

Colorado 113

Colorado Texas Trinidad Albuquerque 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 26, 2018

We have escaped the clutches of the Bahamas, and are finally back “home” in Tucson, Texas. Carolyn was able to get us into the right area, but was afraid that we were so late in the day, it was not likely that we would be able to find this rare bird. I quickly jumped out, and got some photos just to make sure it didn’t fly away.

Bahamas 126

Bahamas Costa Rica Abandon Abandoning 126