Category Archives: Year 9

Winter Still Here … Spring does not Exist!

Year 9,

Ahem … I can not even claim that Spring is on hold. It has never arrived here in northern Minnesota. It was -4F at sunrise this morning in Sax-Zim Bog. Most of our winter birds from up north have pushed out of our region. Given the 2+ feet of snow remaining on the ground, and the fact that lakes will not ice out for a loooong time … there is almost zero migration action. These Goldeneye females availed themselves of the only open water, the Cloquet River a bit south of Sax-Zim Bog. There was one male Goldeneye about 50 yards distant. Perhaps these females were courting him??

On the local owl front, my Great Horned Owls are doing fine. Mom continues to incubate and Dad protects against all the migrating crows. These photos are from yesterday.

A Tucson Desert Birding Oasis

Year 9

Everyone knows about birding hotspots with water in the Tucson area like Sweetwater Wetlands, but if you are a more adventure some soul, Catalina Pond Regional Park should be a birding target for you. This “park” is undeveloped and should not be confused with its BIG cousin, Catalina State Park (7 miles to the south). When the dry washes become dry, this regional park has a small pond that has water throughout the year. Birds and mammals are very aware of this fact, but not many birders. It is extremely rare for me to see even another person at Catalina Pond.

To find / access the pond drive North Lago Del Oro Parkway (the dirt road portion that leads towards the Pima Pistol Club (Google Maps Link). The dirt road becomes a narrow single lane, and after about 300 yards you will see a closed / locked gate on your left. Park next to the gate (do not block as park rangers use the gate for park access with the ATV’s). You will find a “door sized” opening to the gate’s right … enter and walk directly towards the wash (about 100 yards). You will find the pond about 50 yards just on the other side of the wash.

It is 100% legal to enter and hike the park land … signs are present noting same. This past week I could not actually reach the pond. The “Dry Wash” for the first time in my four visits to the Tucson area was a roaring river! However, the river will soon disappear. In fact this area becomes a better birding hot spot once the Dry Wash becomes dry once more, and bugs / insects start to appear in the area (April timeframe).

Catalina Pond Regional Park Desert Birds

Cactus Wren

Curve-Billed Thrasher

Gambels Quail

Phainopepla

Pyrrhuloxia

I actually took the images found below this point at Catalina State Park (not the regional park described earlier in this post). The “Dry Wash” is about seven miles further downstream. Not very dry, but at least at this point there are no close-in river banks and the water is able to spread out. I actually forded this area … carrying my bicycle across the wash (how I reached the park). You will note it was actually overcast at times for my bike hike.

Dry Wash

Abert’s Towhee

Cooper’s Hawk

Desert Phase Great Horned Owl

Year 9

I refound both the female and male Great Horned Owls north of Tucson two mornings ago (travelled home to Duluth yesterday). I waited for almost an hour, and finally the female with her beautiful grayish white plumage decided to perch out in the open for a few minutes! While not a Sub-Arctic or Western Taiga Phase Great Horned Owl, these owls with their gorgeous lighter color morph plumage are in fact recognized as a subspecies of Great Horned Owls in the Desert Southwest.

Desert Southwest Phase Great Horned Owl (female)

Great Horned Owl (male … non desert phase … he didn’t seem to happy to see me!)