Tag Archives: Sonoran Desert

More hawks

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The other morning, my husband saw seven Harris hawks in a tree in our backyard. By the time I got there, they were all gone. But a little later, this guy was hanging out on the fence. It’s quite a sight to see the quail take off like jets when the hawks appear.

Here’s the photo of the hawks in a tree that my husband took with his iphone. Not all seven made it in the photo.

It’s kind of hard to see them, but my husband said the three hawks on the right side were busy eating prey. I walked out later to the tree to see if what they had been eating in the tree, but there was nothing left.

I’m excited for my photography class which begins in January and runs through May. I ordered the text book on Amazon and it arrived this week. It’s a paperback called “A Short Course in Digital Photography.” The community college where I’m taking my class wanted $175 for it. I bought it for $50 on Amazon. I don’t think it’s right how much colleges charge for textbooks.

This is as close as I’ve gotten to catch a hawk in flight. He took off so fast and was out of my range.

Later in the day, my husband and I went for a walk. Walking out the front door, I noticed seven hawks in a tree in our front yard. We scared them away. It was spectacular to see them in flight, but there was no way could I get a photo.

What are your thoughts about the price of college text books?

A Hawkish Day

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I had a visitor for most of yesterday. The visit began early in the morning as I was writing my morning pages. I kept seeing a huge shadow swooping past the casita window. It had to be my Harris Hawk.

He landed on the fence and kept watch.

I went for a walk and came back home to discover the hawk was no longer on the fence.

Instead he landed in a tree.

As I was writing this post, he began to call for a friend

Flying by our window a second hawk screeched with talons outstretched, wings spread wide, five feet off the ground, going in for the kill. He flew over the fence into the bushes. I missed the action.

Eventually, the second hawk settled into the tree. Behind a branch with the other hawk.

Can you spot the two hawks in the tree?

I watched in awe as a hummingbird landed on hawk number one’s head. The second hawk was attacked by smaller birds including house finches. The little birds are not fans of hawks. The quail are keeping away. They must be prime targets of the hawks.

And then there were three.

One hawk is hidden from view, preferring the other side of the tree.

I signed up for an intro to digital photography class through Maricopa Community Colleges. The class begins late January and runs through May. I hope my hawks are around to model for my class.

Here’s a LINK to the Harris Hawk’s call from Cornel l Lab All About Birds website.

What are your favorite birds to watch?

Zoom, zoom, zoom

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My weekly zoom call was interrupted yesterday by four majestic Harris Hawks. Here are two of them. There were two more in a tree.

Thursday was busy. It was the day after our house guest left. I woke up early to get the house ready for my cleaning lady. She usually comes after 2 p.m. but she asked to come in the morning. But I had neighborhood coffee group followed by my weekly zoom call in the morning. I had to have the house picked up and garbage out before I left for coffee.

Neighborhood coffee is a casual group of neighbors who meet the first Thursday of the month. We meet at local cafes and take turns choosing the location. What was funny about this meeting was the women’s coffee group was seated at a table next to the men’s group. That has never happened before. Also, we had six women, but the men had a dozen. I wonder what they talk about?

My weekly zoom call consists of a group of people from Alaska, California to New Jersey and in between. We talk about all the stuff people usually avoid. Politics, religion and current events. The group has Republicans and Democrats and discussions are polite and civil. I’m learning a lot about history and world politics from very intelligent people. There are two neurosurgeons in the group, other doctors, lawyers, a woman mayor of a Southern California city, and a man who ran a bond desk on Wall Street. Yesterday there were 14 people on the call, which was a big group and interesting to hear their points of view.

It’s refreshing although at times exhausting. The group leader keeps us all in line. He sends us material during the week to discuss during the call. He has a plan for the day and asks each of us questions, with the point at the end, “What is the truth?”

I was sitting in the casita by the window while on the zoom call. Then bam! A hawk hit the window scaring me to death. Then I saw hawks swooping through the yard, chasing quail. I guess I’m responsible for that, because I put bird seed out for quail, which attracts the predators.

Then I took a break from zoom taking photos through the casita window.

Now my guests are gone, my house is clean, and my social activities are over. No more zooming around! Remember “Orange is the New Black?” Well, this week, Friday is the New Saturday!

Have a great weekend. Do you have any special plans?

Sunset and Sunrise Season

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This is a sunset view from my driveway earlier this week. I took this photo with my iphone.

This photo I took with my Nikon as rain was beginning to sprinkle.

I’m posting photos to celebrate the end of the election. I will be so thankful to never hear another ad for years. Living in a battleground state, it’s been unbearable. It doesn’t matter if my candidates won or lost, or when we’ll find out. I’m just glad it’s over!

Sunday we had clouds, rain, thunder and lightening. The sunsets have been spectacular! The sunrises are gorgeous too. Now the sky is bright blue. Everything looks washed clean and sparkling.

Look at that blue sky!

Sunrise in our back yard.

One more sunset photo. This one is from my husband’s iphone a year ago.

Are you happy the election is over?

Which is your favorite sunset or sunrise photo?

Happy Bird Day!

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This owl was hanging out in a tree all day and then before sunset moved to the fence.

It was awe inspiring to spot an owl in the tree outside our bedroom. I spent a great deal of time observing him. He’s a Great Horned Owl and he could spin his head around to look at us.

This was where the owl hung out most of the day. I’m looking out our bedroom sliding glass door.

Then something surprising happened. A battle of the raptors began with Harris Hawks appearing on a tree, then the fence.

The hawks moved from the tree to the fence. Five hawks strategically perched on the fence on both sides of the owl. The owl was surrounded. Talk about intimidation!

The owl gave up and flew away. Harris Hawks for the win.

I looked up owls and hawks and it turns out they are both fierce predators and don’t usually interact with each other. Let’s just say they don’t get along and they like the same prey.

Here are some links if you want to read more details about hawks and owls:

Hawks vs. Owls: A Face-Off Between Two Powerful Birds
https://www.wildbirdscoop.com/hawks-vs-owls.html

Hawk Vs. Owl: 15 Comparisons
https://birdchronicle.com/hawk-vs-owl/

Next time, I’d like to share better, clearer photos! I haven’t used my Nikon since we moved and it’s been tucked away in my closet. I’ll try taking photos with the camera versus my iphone and see which looks better.

So…the owl came back. I took photos with my Nikon and they are dramatically better! However, I’m not able to transfer them from my camera to my laptop or phone. The camera software is not compatible with either. Even after downloading new apps from Nikon, I couldn’t get it to work. I ordered a card reader which according to You Tubers is the easiest method. I’ll share the new photos soon!

This is a video of the last of the Harris Hawks flying off our neighbor’s chimney after they scared away the owl.

Which do you find more fascinating and why? Great Horned Owls or Harris Hawks?

Are you Team Owl or Team Hawk?

Early morning views

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Wednesday morning on our walk before sunrise was stunning!

 “As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see.” — Vincent Van Gogh

Now that our beach days are behind us, we’re back to desert life. We’re walking before sunrise to avoid the heat. But the past few days, the weather has cooled down. It’s been in the low 60s during our walks! Maybe we don’t have to leave quite so early.

On the other hand, it’s a gorgeous time to be outside. The first thing I saw was a wily coyote dashing across the street. Then I noticed the moon high in the sky with balloons rising in cool air.

This guy has been a frequent visitor to our backyard. We’ve got both Roadrunner and Wily Coyote.

Finally, the sun peeked over the horizon.

What is your favorite time to walk? What sights do you see?

Beautiful Blooms vs. Invasive Plants

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Look at how beautiful this cactus in bloom is! Photo taken Thursday.

I am discovering flowers where we have never had flowers before. Take the cactus above for example. It hasn’t bloomed in the three years we have lived here. But this year, plants I didn’t know could flower are bursting with blossoms.

This is what the cactus looked like Wednesday:

It’s beautiful with buds. But I wasn’t ready for the next day and how spectacular it would be (photo above.)

What about invasive plants?

The front page article for my community newsletter was a request to get rid of invasive plants. The two species to eradicate were Globe Chamomile (also known as Stinknet) and Desert Broom. Although Desert Broom is native to the Sonoran Desert, it’s aggressive and takes over, hence the need to get rid of it. I researched Stinknet and Desert Broom and found photos online for the newsletter.

One of our neighbors received a letter from the Scottsdale Fire Department to clean up their yard and to get rid of Globe Chamomile. Apparently, it can be a fire hazard as well as taking over land from native plants.

I haven’t seen Stinknet in real life but I’ve read about it from Erin on Existential Ergonomics. Also my graphic designer friends who make up my “lunch bunch” talked about Stinknet at our last lunch. I’m keeping my eyeballs peeled for it. I mistakenly thought brittle brush was Stinknet.

I keep hearing, “It’s the little yellow balls.” Well, brittle brush looks like yellow balls, because the petals are falling off with hotter days.

Imagine my surprise when I was taking photos of the beautiful cactus blooms and looked at a pot next to it and saw this:

Stinknet took over a planter in my backyard!

I sent the photo to my lunch bunch and got this reply:

“It’s insidious and will grow anywhere….

“Masquerading as a plant worthy of a pot 😂 is taking it up a notch!”

Since yesterday, I’ve found it growing next to our trash bins. The plant originated in South Africa, made it’s way to Australia and Riverside County, California before heading to Arizona. I never heard of it when I lived in Riverside County — it must not have made it’s way into the Coachella Valley.

I’ve been instructed to wear gloves, dig it up, throw it in a plastic bag, tie it up tightly and throw it away. I want to thoroughly inspect our yard for Stinknet. But then I just got an email from my next door neighbor that he found a large rattler in his backyard! Yikes!

Have you heard of Stinknet before? What invasive plants do you have?