ALLERGIES?

If you have allergies, this is a bad time to be in the desert. Everything is in bloom. On our walk around our subdivision this morning we found these plants in bloom. The cactus blooms are spectacular - photos don't do them justice!

Unfortunately, most of the cactus blooms only last one day so it's hard to see them unless you're out every day. Fortunately they don't all bloom at the same time so we will have a chance to see more.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Bob and I walked out to see the Burrowing Owls this morning. It's about a one and a half to two mile walk. We got to see one. He was hunkered down so all we could see was his head. We're hoping that more will move in and take up residence.

We started our walk around 7:30 a.m. It was chilly, but we didn't think this chilly!!The sprinklers had been going over on the golf course and they left this frosty tree. On our way back around the walking path we saw a:

ROADRUNNER

GAMBEL'S QUAIL

VERMILION FLYCATCHER

We saw 39 different birds on our walk, and the cactus are starting to bloom so I got some pictures of their beautiful blossoms:

There is nothing like spring in the desert!!

WHERE DID MARCH GO?

I can't believe it is already April. One year ago we came to Green Valley and rented a townhouse for the month. And now we have spent almost a whole year here. The last month has been hectic. We have been birding a number of times. At Madera Canyon we saw the following birds. (Not my pictures, but I wanted you to see what we saw).

HEPATIC TANAGER

PAINTED REDSTART

SCOTT'S ORIOLE

And we got a really, really good look at the Elegant Trogon. He was close enough this time that I could have gotten a good picture with my camera, but my battery was dead! Ugh!

On the 18th of March we went to Patigonia to the Nature Conservancy's Sonoita Reserve. These pictures of us show just how big the trees are there.

Shirley and Cliff had taken there RV to Patigonia Lake State Park so we stopped by to see them and some other friends on our way home.

We had a great day and saw 58 different birds.

On the 20th of March we went to Scottsdale to spend the weekend with old school chums. We stayed with Nancy Marcum. Barbara and Jerry Reese were there as well as Terri Hopkins and Cheryl Furman. We had a great time.

April is looking to be as hectic as March was. On April first a few of the women from our subdivision got together for a movie night out. We had drinks, geedunks, and watched "Mama Mia". A good time was had by all.

Before we know it, it is going to be 2010!

ANOTHER DAY OF BIRDING!

Bob read on the birding site he watches that the migration of Black Hawks, Zone-tailed Hawks, Grey Hawks, and Turkey Vultures was in full swing at Tubac. Sunday morning we decided to check it out. As you can see from the picture below, we weren't the only ones checking it out.

It was a very good day. We saw approximately 16 Common Black-Hawks; a couple of Gray Hawks, dozens of Turkey Vultures, but alas no Zone-tailed Hawks. We did however see a number of Red-tailed Hawks, an American Kestrel, and got a great look at a Peregrine Falcon. In the Accipiter category we saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk, and a couple of Cooper's Hawks. We saw a number of little birds such as a Black Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and this female Northern Cardinal which was the only one that would sit still long enough for me to get it's picture.

Bob waited patiently while I took other pictures around Tubac.

St. Ann's Church:

A colorful blue door:

A wagon wheel in a wall:

All in all we had a very good day!