Phainopepla

Phainopepla
Phainopepla

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Little Desert Delights

Yuma is on the western edge of the Sonoran Desert, in the Lower Colorado River Valley subdivision, the largest, hottest and driest of the six subdivisions.  Vegetation is much sparser here than in the Arizona Upland in which Tucson is situated, and is dominated by creosote bush (Larrea tridentata).  Saguaros are rare, except for those planted in landscapes, but along the washes can be found palo verde, ironwood and mesquite trees which provide habitat for a wide variety of birdlife.  The Colorado itself as well as man-made ponds and lakes give a home to many species of waterfowl.  While visiting our wintering Yuma friends for our annual New Year's celebration,  it was fun to observe the different species of birds who also winter in the mild Yuma temperatures.  On the golf course ponds we saw a large group of hooded mergansers, led by the stunningly beautiful male.  Cinnamon teals, pied-billed grebes, American wigeons, and egrets.  In the trees were flocks of Western bluebirds, and an American kestrel called loudly from his perch on a rooftop.  I was delighted to see dozens of monarch butterflies, which appeared to be wintering in the non-native trees.

Walking along a wash, we saw verdins, Gila woodpeckers, white-crowned sparrows, Say's phoebe, mourning doves and tiny ground doves.  Large millkweed vines grow up into the ironwood trees, attracting queen butterflies, and some of the seed pods were covered with the colorful milkweed bugs.



Near the end of our walk, a bird swooped low over our heads and flew to a perch across the road.  We were both delighted to see a male kestrel, and for our further enjoyment, he flew back to a nearby flagpole, where he sat and gave us a perfect view of his colorful plumage.


We got one more flyover as he moved to a palm tree and perched patiently in the shade of the large fronds.


I hung a hummingbird feeder just outside the kitchen window of our trailer, and by the second day of our stay, a male Costas was happily feeding regularly there.  He would perch in an ocotillo only a few feet away from the feeder where he could keep a good eye on it.  I felt bad when it was time to leave and take down the feeder, so we hung one in the ocotillo, hoping he would find it.

As we arrived back in Tucson, the weather continued to be unseasonably warm.  Can't say as I mind 78 sunny degrees on a January day!  And neither did this red-tailed hawk who soared above our house, then settled for a rest on a utility pole in the wash at the bottom of our driveway.


At our request, Tucson Electric Power has added raptor protection to some of its poles, and this raptor, for one, is very thankful!

I was happy to be back at the Desert Museum on January 6th, visiting with my friends and fellow docents, sharing the desert's secrets with visitors, seeing the hummingbirds already nesting in the aviary, delighting in the new blooms, and catching up on all the activity.

Red Barberry in Bloom (Berberis haematocarpa)
Baja Fairy Duster (Calliandra californica) - a hummingbird favorite

Ripening berries of the desert mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum)
The mountain lion was basking in the sun, napping on a warm rock, blending almost perfectly with the rock's tawny shade.  One visitor looked and looked where I was pointing, and simply could not see the cat!


A few butterflies are still flying at this time of year, including a lovely painted lady (Vanessa cardui) who was nectaring on the few lantana blooms that had not been hit by the freeze in December.



There's nothing like ending our day at the black-tailed prairie dog exhibit, whose occupants are endlessly entertaining.


Back in the neighborhood, phainopeplas spend the winter in our low desert, feasting on mistletoe berries, flashing their bright white wingbars in flight, and I see them daily in my back yard and on my walks around the neighborhood.


Mornings and late afternoons are the busiest times for hummingbirds at the feeders.  They come and go constantly, chasing one another, calling, perching for a minute, zipping by, then returning for another drink.


This is a female, probably Anna's, although I cannot see any red on the throat, so maybe she's a juvenile.

As the sun set on Sunday, the Catalina mountains lit up with a rosy hue, and the clouds matched them in vibrancy.


In a few moments, the night's real show began as the huge full moon edged over the Catalina's ridgetops.


Rapidly the orb rose and lit the landscape, while a few clouds began to encroach.  Such a powerful scene!


Sometimes we bemoan the lack of interesting wildlife and plant activity in January.  Oh, how I beg to differ.  Delightful little moments await around every corner.  Take a look.  You'll see.

16 comments:

  1. There's no lack of the intrigue of nature there!! Esp. for someone from away!! Great post.

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  2. Such a delight to enter a non-home landscape and be dazzled by it's unique beauty and then return home to feast on the more familiar. Wonderful photo tour.

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  3. Great photos and beautiful images Carole. You captured the quiet and striking beauty of the desert very well. I've lived in Phoenix for 18 years and never seen a Phainopepla. Guess I'll have to mosey down to Yuma...

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    1. Trying this new 'reply' feature on the blog. I'm so happy they have added it. From Yuma we traveled back home to Tucson, so I should have made that clearer.

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  4. Impressive!!!!!!!!!What a beautiful place. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Wonderful blog, Carole, I hope I can do as well!

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  6. Nature presents! I agree you share so we can delight it, too!
    Wonderful pictures as always! Thanks so much!

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  7. What struck me most about you when we met, was how wide your interests and knowledge is. Finding natural things is much more a function of the observer than the plant or animal. And learning to see, I think, is the secret to happiness and longevity. May you live long and prove my theory correct. :)

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  8. Hi, just called in via geogypsy, wow what a gorgeuos post lovely photo's and such colours and the wildlife..... I shall call in again, such a difference to my Yorkshire Dales!! We are very grey and wet at the moment but getting some glorious sunrises right now. Good to 'meet' you.

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  9. Carole, oh how wonderful! Such gorgeous sights. I am starting to yearn for Tucson again. I have been glad to be back here with my family, but now I am really starting to miss the desert. I never made it to Yuma, AZ but if I ever get to move back, I would like to visit there--in the winter! Too hot for me in summer! Love the shot of the moon rising over the Catalinas!

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  10. Wonderful to explore the flora, creatures, and birds of the desert landscape with you! What a great shot of the dozing mountain lion!

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  11. What a wonderful post. It is interesting that you saw the same birds as I am seeing here in California's Central Valley. We only see the Anna's Hummer, though except during migration and the phainopeplas is new to me.
    You make me want to spend a winter in Tucson.

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    1. Stunning photos! I have family in the Yuma area but haven't seen any of them in 35 years. Your pictures make me wish I was walking along with you!

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  12. Same planet but what different worlds we inhabit! The only birds we both see are the egrets and kestrels all the others seem exotic to me. What beautiful photos of a fascinating region and how I envy you the sun and the warmth as here we have mostly grey clouds and temp 7-9 degrees centigrade. See you again soon.

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  13. Great description of a beautiful desert january. I'm so hoping for the great wildflower spring that seems to be coming. Of course, besides beauty it would also bring some interesting insect species that were missing last year because they depend on the flowers.

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