Before the “cuties”, let me own up to a birding failure. Yup, like most of us I make birding mistakes and this morning’s was a doozy. I decided to drive over to Mount Lemmon, and left a bit before 6 am … beat the crowds and get out birding early. Sounds good, right? The temperature when I left my Oro Valley AirBnB was 60F, and it always get hot in the desert, right? I drove the car up to 8,000 feet in elevation and got out to take my bird hike … 43F with strong winds. I am wearing shorts and golf shirt. Thankfully I had a “cotton” sweater vest in the car. I managed to bird for one hour before I decided the warmth of the car sounded extremely inviting. Note to self … for a boy from the flatlands … temperatures fall dramatically and winds increase exponentially as one goes up tall mountains. My dress was woefully inadequate for a windchill just above freezing. Way down below me a nice warm desert morning was in progress.

I did have a nice hike over at Sabino Canyon yesterday morning. The weather was warm, and I did remember to pack water for my hike. My birding walk started at 6:45 am, and I had a great time. Sabino Canyon is a beautiful spot, and even without birds I enjoy the location. I also hike off the main trail / road, and this always insures me solitude early in the morning.

Here was my view hiking up the trail just beyond the Cactus Picnic Grounds. I ultimately hiked up the saddle to the right beyond the first hill in this image. If you are birding the desert make certain you get out early. Birds tend to hide from the extreme heat of midday.

Early on in my hike this individual was soaking up the morning sun. I did not have the heart to ask it to move, and took a detour off the path.

My real fun of the morning was hoping this Curve-Billed Thrasher would stay on top of the cactus from which it was singing long enough for me to hike to the proper vantage point. I really wanted the classic Saguaro Cactus in the immediate background! In the first image shown below I have spotted the bird, and in the subsequent photographs I have hiked to my desired position!

This Cactus Wren hung out for me, but did not sing.

Finally, I really love Pyrrhuloxias, even if I have trouble pronouncing their name!

Super Monopod was back in action this afternoon … with 30+ mph winds. Mom was in a tree about 100 yards from the Great Horned Owl Owlets nest. I did not use Super Monopod for my pic of Mom.

I also finally found a cooperative Vermilion Flycatcher yesterday morning.

Tonight Molly and I are hiking to Catalina Pond at sunset. The pond is very small, but the only water in the desert for miles around. This is “not” a photography expedition. We hope the light of the moon will allow us to see animals that come in to the oasis to drink after sundown. There is a small wooden blind we may use for cover.

I hit the jackpot this morning when I visited one of the Great Horned Owl nests I had found and have been monitoring north of Tucson. I arrived just at 7 am just a few minutes after the sun cleared the mountain ridge to my east, and found both parent owls still out and hunting for hungry youngsters. The owls let me watch them for almost 15 minutes, before Dad flew to another perch. I backed off then and exited the scene. Once again, I was dumbfounded to find this Barn Owl hanging out within 50 yards of the GHO nest. Obviously the GHO’s tolerate this smaller owl’s presence.

I then proceeded to my second Great Horned Owl nest, and found both parents sleeping … Mom in the nest and Dad in a nearby tree.

Finally, I made a quick trip over to Madera Canyon yesterday where I plan to return tomorrow morning for a longer birding event. The Canyon has quite different birds as its north facing slope protects its habitat from the devastating afternoon sun.

Acorn Woodpecker

Broad-winged Hummingbird

Finally … I happened to be filming when Dad GHO finally took off. I reduced the speed by a factor of four (SloMo)(link for email subscribers)