Molly and I decided we deserved a quick getaway after all the health issues for both of us. Over the years we have grown to like Oro Valley just north of Tucson … for both birding and bicycling. The bike trails are extensive and keep you off the busy roads as the trails wind their way through the washes. On the birding side of the equation I like some locations that are north of town, and do not see many birders. Today I spent time first at Catalina Pond (not the state park). This wild area has a small pond, and water attracts life in the desert habitat. My other stop was the town of Oracle, Arizona. Once again while there is a state park near this town, my birding tends to be focused on a small quiet park in town. Oracle is about 25 miles north of Tucson, and has enough elevation change that it sees more precipitation than down in the desert. The town park has many trees which provide food for hungry birds. Enjoy … some images from this morning!
Red-Tailed Hawk
Acorn Woodpecker
Cactus Wren
Western Bluebird
Phainopepla
love that you and molly are on this well deserved trip. these birds are amazing- thank you!- and enjoy!
Enjoy the weather, the biking, and birding. I hope Arizona helps with the healing.
How cool is it for Rich to have a compadre from across the pond?!
So glad you’re enjoying some sun and fun in AZ 🙂
Hello Rich and Molly. My name is Gary and I am known as The Biking Birder. Well I have been enjoying your Green Birding adventures and children’s books for some time but I just loved the coincidence today. I had just put a number of photographs onto my own Facebook page, listing the names of a line of friends and family who came to make sure I left on the first day of my first of four whole year Biking Birding adventures in the UK. At the back of the line is Phil Andrews and his wife, Claire. Phil is better known as The Oracle!
Just love your blog and the photographs are superb!
Do you know about Dorian Anderson and Jim Royer? Also have you got a copy of Richard Gregson’s excellent book . . . Green Birding?
Good luck in all you do and thanks for the inspiration you give.
All the best, Gary
Gary: Thanks for reaching out. I have known about you, the Biking Birder, for some time. I will post a much more involved and complete response to you soon. Molly and I have biked over 12,000 miles on our own self-supported bike tours, including Scotland. Given you are from the UK, you would enjoy the story of this trip. As ALL the birds were new to me, I decided I would create my own names for the birds like I was an ornithologist who had just discovered these species. I had a blast coming up with my bird names, and I chuckled to myself later that summer when I researched and discovered the real bird names. I thought my names were better.
Rich
Here is a preview … have you ever seen a Caledonian Crested Quail?! Only I have had that unique experience while bike touring the Scottish countryside … https://www.365daysofbirds.com/2016/05/30/caledonian-crested-quail/