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Tag: bird watching

12 April 2023

Sonoran Desert birds, bunny, and blooms

Mockingbird on Ocotillo desert Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZSeems I spend a lot of time watching Sonoran Desert birds, occasionally I see a rabbit, and there’s still some flowers blooming in the ever increasing temperatures at the end of March.

Saguaro desert Black Mt Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZAfter a week boondocking in the Sonoran Desert I had to go to town for fresh fruit.  Took advantage of a strong enough signal in Ajo to load a video about my drive from Owl to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.  Yes, I’m weeks behind real time on the YouTube channel and here on the blog.  I returned to the same camp, because I like it.

Jackrabbit Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZJackrabbit Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

One morning, motion caught my eye as a giant Jackrabbit, not a bunny really, bounded past camp.  Easter early but no eggs left behind.

cactus sunset clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZJust a beautiful sunset.

Flicker bird Palo Verde tree Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZMotion usually means Sonoran Desert birds, like a Flicker hiding in a Palo Verde tree.

Roadrunner bird with lizard Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZOr a Roadrunner catching a lizard.

purple Phacelia flowers Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZThe desert floor was heavily carpeted with purple Phacelia, also known as Scorpion Weed it’s prickly fuzz causes an itchy irritation to the skin.

desert Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZSeems most plants in the Sonoran Desert have a bite.  Some of the critters too but I’ve not seen any snakes or scorpions, yet.

Mockingbird creosote bush Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZSeems the Sonoran Desert birds mostly bite bugs so I’m safe, at least from the Mockingbird.

Turkey Vulture bird soaring Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZAnd unless it’s something dead the Turkey Vulture won’t bite.

Saguaro desert Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZSaguaro desert Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

I went for short walks that lasted several hours watching out for cactus that bite if you get too close and keeping an eye out for Sonoran Desert birds.

Saguaro arms Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZNeed a hug?

The Saguaros are captivating in their various shapes.

orange Globe Mallow flowers Bates Well Rd BLM Ajo AZI found a small patch of blooming Globe Mallow, but not like in past years when they were more dense.

red Ocotillo flowers Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

red fruit Ocotillo Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZThe Ocotillo flowers and fruit also bring in Sonoran Desert birds.

Blackthroated Sparrow bird Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZThe black-throated Sparrow was a new Sonoran desert bird for me to see.

desert mts clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZGood thing I went out the previous day, as Tuesday was cloudy and in my mind at only 66° cold with high winds including 40mph gusts.

desert light mts clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZMany RV neighbors left.  I’d rather be parked in high winds than driving.  Gave me time to work on writing and processing photos for the last blog post.

desert mts sunset clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZPlus, even though I didn’t get outside, I sure saw a lot of pretty right through my windows, including sunset.

trail-cam coyote Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZThe crazy wind set off the trail-cam all day and night with moving flowers and trees.  But it also caught a coyote after dark.

desert mts storm clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

Saguaro desert mts low clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZMore clouds the next day even brought a little rain, a special treat in the desert.

Saguaro desert sunset clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZAnd yet another beautiful sunset, this time looking east.

Saguaro desert light & shadow Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

Mockingbird on Ocotillo desert Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZBlack-throated Sparrow bird Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

The following day was clear with no wind and 65° suddenly felt warm enough to sit outside in the sun enjoying my desert views.  Must have been calm enough for the Sonoran Desert birds too.

trail-cam coyote Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZtrail-cam coyote Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

I checked the trail-cam in the morning and discovered coyote had been by again, several times over the night.

unidentified pink cactus flower Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZorange Globe Mallow flowers Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

Saturday I had company.  Paul Gill, well-known Arizona Highways photographer, was on this way to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to shoot cristate cactus and blooms.  We took a short walk but mostly sat in camp comparing notes and catching up.

DSL_2002lecwfbr Blister Beetle Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

Blister Beetle

Paul left before sunrise and I wasn’t too far behind on my way northward to Owl for the night and beyond to a water site the next day.

Lupine & creosote flowers SR85 AZLupine along SR85

Struggling to catch up, almost a month behind, and am now four places past this location.  Hard to keep up when there’s so much cool going on.

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Ajo, Arizona, Places I've been, Sonoran desert, United States bird watching, boondocking, desert wildflowers 13 Comments
04 April 2023

Sonoran Desert boondocking south of Ajo AZ

Cactus Wren bird desert Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZwhite Desert Star flowers Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

desert Ajo Mts reverse sunset clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZSonoran Desert boondocking during Spring means birdwatching and walks among the cactus and flowers plus expansive and colorful sunset skies.  And even a few sunrises.

desert leaving cg clouds ORPI NM AZAfter a couple days visiting Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Richard and I enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Granny’s in Why.  He hit the road about 11am and after coming out of my parked camper I thought Paul and Gary’s campers were in the lot so I went back into the restaurant, walked up to a table and said, “you folks really have to stop following me.” Before realizing they weren’t people I know. Oops.  They laughed along with me, or maybe at me.

camper rainbow around sun Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZI continued north to Darby Well Road and found a camp, exactly where I parked in 2020 while waiting to hear about returning to work at Bryce Canyon during the pandemic.

Cactus wren bird Ocotillo Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZGreeted by the song of a Cactus Wren cinched the site.

Purple Phacelia flowers Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

Phacelia flowers Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZNot to mention the lovely purple cast of Phacelia to the surroundings.

Sierra cat at camper door Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZSierra approved the view.

desert Ajo Mts reverse sunset clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

desert mts sunset clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

desert mts sunset clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZAnd at 65° I enjoyed a 360 sunset from my newest home view of Sonoran Desert boondocking.

desert mts sunrise clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

Saguaro desert mt Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZA real surprise waking up in time for sunrise and early light on the western mountains.

Saguaro desert light Ajo Mts Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZThen I spent most of the day taking care of housekeeping, on the computer because I rarely do housework.  The hard drive was almost full, lots of photos, so I had to back these up on external drives to clear space for more.

Saguaro desert windmill Locomotive Mt Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZIn the afternoon I spent time sitting outside under mostly cloudy skies reading and taking photos as the mood, and light, struck.

desert mts sunset clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZFinally, sunset put on a show.

Saguaro desert Black Mt Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZThe next morning my phone switched to daylight savings.  What the hell, we don’t do that in Arizona, especially when Sonoran Desert boondocking.  Took me a while to fix it.

trail-cam coyoteThen I checked the trail-cam, and sure enough a coyote came through the previous night.  I put out a pan of water and they must sniff it out.

Chiliquilies breakfastAfter that delicious breakfast at Granny’s, I was inspired to make one-pan Chilaquiles for breakfast.  Even took video of the process that may eventually make it to my YouTube channel.  Turned out real tasty.

unidentified bird Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

unidentified bird Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZUnidentified bird

Spent the rest of the day writing the last blog post and watching birds through the windows from my truckcamper birdhide while Sonoran Desert boondocking.

trail-cam coyote

trail-cam coyoteOnce again the trail-cam caught a coyote during the night.  They aren’t usually out during daylight when I can see them.

desert camper Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

Annas Hummingbird Darby Well BLM Ajo AZPhainopepla bird Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

                                    Anna’s Hummingbird                                                                                     Phainopepla

But I do see a lot of birds during the day, especially when I get out for a walk.

Organ Pipe Cactus desert Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZPlus lots of other discoveries while walking near my Sonoran Desert boondocking.

late light Saguaro desert clouds Darby Well BLM Ajo AZ

desert truckcamper sunset clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZThe partly cloudy day makes for nice backdrops that turn into superb sunsets.

trail-cam view Darby Well Rd Ajo AZSometimes the trail-cam catches nothing at all, could be the wind in the flowers and Palo Verde tree.  Birds don’t set it off flying by.

Curve-billed Thrasher bird Saguaro Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

Curve-billed Thrasher bird in flight Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

Curve-billed Thrasher bird in flight Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZHowever I saw plenty of birds, especially while walking in the Sonoran desert.  I’d been photographing a Curve-billed Thrasher on a Saguaro in the distance when it took off in flight and headed my way.

desert truckcamper Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZOne of the things I love about walking in the desert, I’m never far from or rarely out of sight of camp and that way my no-trail wanderings don’t get me lost.

Cholla desert Locomotive Mt moon Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

Black-throated Sparrow Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZBlack-throated Sparrow

Wonderful views in every direction and all times of day.

desert late light Ajo Mts Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZCloudless in the morning changed to layers of gray as a prelude of the rainy next day predicted.

desert Ajo Mts dark clouds Bates Well Rd BLM Ajo AZI woke to a light rain that lasted intermittently all day.  And at 70° with windows open the air smelled fresh with creosote petrichor.

Sierra cat sniffing outside air from window in camperEven Sierra enjoyed the aroma.

trail-cam coyote

trail-cam coyoteTrail-cam caught coyote four times between 2-5am.

Ocotillo Saguaro desert clouds Bates Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

desert mts clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZI spent most of the day working on a video and enjoying the cloudy views from my windows while Sonoran Desert boondocking.

desert light on Ajo Mts Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZSun broke through late to highlight the Ajo Mountains to the distant north.

desert sunrise clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZ

truckcamper shadow desert mt Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZAnother partly cloudy morning greeting with a pretty sunrise.

first light desert Black Mt moon clouds Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZOther than a short walk around camp I again worked on a video.  I like the challenge of making videos but it does take a lot of time to edit which cuts into my outside play time and reading.  Plus I need a strong signal to load the finished video onto YouTube.  I’m really not complaining, just stating a fact.

trail-cam coyoteOnce more the trail-cam caught coyote overnight, along with a spiderweb.  Time to clean the lens.

bumper rock collection Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZBumper rock collection from Darby Well Road camp

That’s OK, because it had to be packed away for my trip to town.  I was almost out of cream for coffee and had no fresh fruit.

lunch Tacos el Tarasco Ajo AZPlus I figured to treat myself to lunch at Tacos el Tarasco with green sauce for St. Patrick’s Day. Seems an extra treat because town is only about 20 minutes away.  And while in town I had enough signal to load the next video of my drive from Owl to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.  Yes, I am weeks behind posting both video and blog posts.   This all happened between March 10th to 17th.

Gaelyn & Sierra selfies in camper Darby Well Rd BLM Ajo AZOnce back in camp Sierra waited her turn to get online.  Then we settled in for another week of Sonoran Desert boondocking.

I will make a trail-cam coyote video soon, so watch for it on my Youtube channel.  What, not subscribed yet?  Why not?

How would you feel about listening to my story along with photos and video, instead of reading?

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Ajo, Arizona, Places I've been, Sonoran desert, United States bird watching, boondocking, spring, wildflowers 25 Comments
29 March 2022

Shooting the moon over a Sky Island in the Sonoran Desert

desert Black Mt moon rise BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo ArizonaWhen it comes to shooting the moon, I try to get the camera out at least two to three days before the official full moon to get a rough idea where the moon will rise over the horizon.  One of the reasons I chose this particular camp was the near location of a mountainous ridge, or Sky Island, to the east.  Plus lots of dense Sonoran desert vegetation.

solar shower bag sunset BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZBob rolled out of camp after over a week of visiting including following me to the BLM camp south of Ajo.  Sure enjoyed his company and all the places we explored.  Being that day’s high was predicted for 82° I decided to hang my solar shower bag on the camper’s ladder and heat water to wash my hair.  By afternoon I enjoyed a delightfully warm outdoor shower without shooting the moon at my neighbors.  Not sure a low flying jet pilot didn’t get an eyeful as I towel wrapped, but I didn’t really care.  It swooped low and punched it over the camper to roar down valley. Shook the earth, air, and me. They do fly low doing maneuvers, but this seemed excessive.  Turkey Vultures soar higher.  Seeing them tells me Spring has sprung in the Sonoran Desert.

desert Black Mt moon rise BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

desert Black Mt moon rise BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

desert Black Mt moon rise BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZI set up the tripod even though I’d be shooting the moon before it was entirely full with ambient light making it easier to shoot just before sunset.  Mountain ridge made a nice horizon line.

Saguaro desert Black Mt moon BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZLife is short and mostly BS, so follow your dreams and reach for the moon

Surrounding Saguaro also provided a nice foreground.

A10 jet Warthog over camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Turkey Vulture bird soaring BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZMore military flyovers the next day but not quite so low.  Called an A10 jet or Warthog.  They go so fast.  When I hear one, it’s not coming, it’s already been.  What does the wildlife think?

helicopter above Black Mt Bates Well Rd Ajo AZA helicopter circled the nearby mountain ridge several times then did a touch and go.  Guess it’s all about learning maneuvers.  I get the idea of practice makes better as I feel that way every month when I’m shooting the moon.

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZSo I set up again the night before official full moon and at first there was still a little post-sunset glow.

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZThen as it got darker I found it more difficult to even see if the camera was in focus, which it is so often not in limited light.  One of my nearest neighbors could be heard howling at the moon along with the coyotes.

Gaelyn by camper BLM 8115 Ajo AZAnother 82° day had me sitting outside reading and thinking, wearing the only summer dress I brought along.  With my birthday only a week away I wondered where I should be.

yellow Creosote flowers BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZFlowering Creosote bush

I messaged Joann about returning to her Congress camp and she was just coming down with a head cold so that was a no go for me.  I wished her virtual chicken soup and best vibes for healing.  I thought about returning to the Quartzsite area, but reality said to stay right there, or at least close by.

Saguaro cactus sunset BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZPaul, a Grand Canyon friend, was camped just down the road and leaving the following week.  So I decided to stay in place over the weekend, go to town Tuesday, and join Paul before he moved on.

full moon rise over mt BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

nose rock Black Mt BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ(Nose where above moon rise happened)

moon reflection inside camper BLM 8115 Ajo AZDidn’t set up the camera for shooting the moon as it was too late and dark.  Took a handheld shot out the door and a phone shot in reflection.

Turkey Vulture roosting BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Turkey Vulture roosting BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Turkey Vulture roosting BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZI’m not always awake for even a colorful sunrise yet enjoy whatever I get from my main window view.  One morning I saw a rather dark spot on a dead tree top maybe 1000 feet away.  As the early morning rays struck, the spot became a Turkey Vulture roosting on a guano covered snag.  It hung out for 40 minutes, preening and stretching wings with the light dancing around different parts of its body.  I wondered if perhaps there was a nest nearby.  Bob had told me they lay only two eggs directly on the ground.

Cholla desert BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZLater in the morning, one of my neighbors, the BobCats, stopped to say goodbye as they’d run out of propane in the night and were headed back to their Phoenix area home only a couple hours away.  They gifted me an extra gallon jug of water for my birthday.

Cholla desert sunset BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZI spent a large part of the day inside at the computer writing, processing photos, and editing videos while watching the clouds drift around.

glowing desert sunset BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

glowing desert sunset BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

desert mt sunset BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZThen outside for a wonderful sunset.  So hard to stop taking photos of an ultra worthy coloring to the late night sky.

wave clouds BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZ

snag desert mts clouds BLM 8115 Ajo AZLeft and down from center for the snag

The next day’s clouds were also outstanding and with temperatures in the high 60s and little wind it seemed a perfect day to go for a walk and maybe find where that Vulture snag rises from.

Cholla cactus desert mts clouds BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZBut no hurry as I’m not particularly an early morning person and the clouds lingered.

cracked mud orange Globe Mallow flower BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZAfter lunch I headed out avoiding the nickel-sized Globe Mallow breaking through the parched desert dirt.  Then I felt a few raindrops hit my thirsty skin.  Arizona 12 foot rule, that’s 12 drops per square foot.

desert animal trail BLM8115 Ajo AZIt wasn’t easy to find a trail through the dense growth along the dry washes avoiding spines from the Mesquite and Palo Verde trees plus Cholla cactus spines strewn about.

snag BLM8115 Ajo AZI managed to work back and forth crossing two dry washes before I stood at the base of that white-colored Vulture snag.  It was much more impressive from camp.   Didn’t find a nesting site. I ended up taking more video with the phone than camera photos.  I only got one thorn snag that drew a little blood on the back of my hand on an hour and a half walk.

desert Black Mt rainbow clouds BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZAfter my walk the clouds increased and temperature dropped and brought a little more needed rain.  Petrichor, with an added essence of Spring creosote bush.  Then came the best gift of all as a rainbow seemed to fall from mammatus clouds only to disappear behind the nearby mountain.

desert mt clouds BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZ

desert sunset clouds BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZIt didn’t last long but the clouds continued with sweeping shapes until a colorful sunset took over the show.

Turkey Vulture on topped Saguaro cactus desert BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZHard wind kept me inside the following day.  Sometimes I question my sanity hanging out in the Spring desert but it sure beats 25° nights at my Skull Valley home.

Cactus Wren bird BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZFortunately, with wind on the nose of the truck the camper door could still be open and I do enjoy not only a great view but saw—and even better heard–my first of the season Cactus Wren.

Chevron fuel prices Ajo AZ

tacos lunch Ajo AZAs I was finished shooting the moon and needed water plus a few supplies, I went to Ajo and included a lunch treat.

truckcamper BLM8115A Why AZThen returned to the Sonoran Desert and drove a bit beyond my previous camp to visit with Paul and settle into a new camp where I’d be joined for my birthday celebration.

bumper collection BLM8115 Ajo AZ

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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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Lijit

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