Valley of The Sun 2015: Let's Talk Weather

It has been quite the week in the desert. Up until today we have been experiencing typical January weather, which is quite nice. This week we had a high temperature of 75F (24 C-anadian). The overnight temperatures are a comfortable 45F (7C-anadian). Things changed late yesterday when the storm clouds blew in from Mexico. At least Canada couldn't be blamed for this one, as we so often are. You hear it all the time......"Freezing cold temperatures in the mid-west are being blamed on an Arctic cold front coming in from Canada", or, "Snow and high winds pushing down from Canada", or Rob Ford is due to visit Chicago (got to update my jokes....). Not the case with this gusher. It seems the entire state of Arizona has been drenched in tropical fashion by system after system flowing in from Mexico. Rain today 1.5 inches (3.81 e-5 kilometres). The forecast is calling for showers overnight and tomorrow. It is expected we will reach close to 2 inches (50.8 mm) of rain by the end of this storm period.

I know how bad all of our friends and family feel that we are suffering with this terrible storm. I assure you that Dana and I are quite safe and we have plenty of food and soda on hand to weather, well, the weather. Please no need to send care packages, unless of course they contain U.S. currency. Please, NO CANADIAN funds. They are not worth anything here, and will be worth less next week I am sure.

By the way, the good news is that as of Sunday the sun returns and there is nothing but sunshine in the forecast for, well, quite a few days. High of 75F by Wednesday. I know all of our friends and family will be thrilled that we will be once again basking in the warm, dry desert air.

Enough weather, let's talk birds. I golfed Thursday morning and didn't get a single birdie. We birded several times this week and got plenty of birdies, including several new species for our year to date list that now stands at 116. We had a big day yesterday and added 5 species including a rare bird for this region, the Harris's Sparrow. On Tuesday we birded at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior, Az. We had a great time with friend Dale from Sidney, B.C. and added 6 new species. New species for the week are:

Sora
Brown Creeper
Western Bluebird
European Starling
Lark Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
Costa's Hummingbird
Red-naped Sapsucker
Hermit Thrush
Lincoln's Sparrow
Northern Cardinal

Other highlights for the week was the aforementioned golf with brother Mike on Thursday morning. Mike did get a birdie on the par 4 #14. Bocce Ball League match on Tuesday (we lost a close one). South Dakota style fish fry at Lila and Leroy's on Thursday evening. Awesome Walleye caught in the Missouri River. 2 bike rides this week - got rained out today ;-(

Super Bowl on Sunday! Hope to be posting good news on Sunday evening. Go Hawks!!!!!!

Leave you with some photos from the week. It's been a dandy!

Enjoy the photos. btw: just kidding about sending money.... just send love....