Rest and Recovery is for the birds.

Dana and I are both recovering from nasty colds that we brought with us from where we were before we got to the desert.  Doesn't really matter where.  All that matters is we are feeling nearly 90% and tomorrow we will be getting out on our bikes for the first time in 2015.  The weather here in the Valley of The Sun is sunny but has been quite cold since we arrived on December 30.  It warmed up some today and tomorrow looks to be warmer still.

Since our arrival we have spent considerable time getting set up in our aluminium chalet here at the resort.  While the chalet is well equipped there is always a few things that need to be acquired, in addition to food, refreshments and the like.

I gave up my first opportunity to golf today as I have yet to make it to the driving range for a bit of practice.  Plus, the finger I squashed before I left home, while healing is still a bit sore.  I will lose the nail but not for a while yet.  Fortunately the wound is on my left hand and may not affect my grip.

Enough of what we have not being doing.  Here is a bit of what we have been doing.  On January 2nd we went to one of our favourite locations for birding, the Gilbert Riparian Preserve.  In a little over 3 hours we counted 58 species.  Actually Dana counted 60 species.  I missed the Sora and the Greater Yellowlegs.  I am sure, or rather hopeful that I will see them the next time we are there.  Yesterday was a great day for birding.  We birded at Granite Reef on the Salt River.  This is maybe our second favourite location.  We counted 34 species.  The excitement came on observing 2 rarities.  A Chestnut-sided Warbler and an American Redstart.  Both Dana and I added these 2 species to our life lists.  You can see these 2 birds and others on my Flickr page.  Here is the link:

Barry's Flickr Page

The week ahead looks to be a bit more social than the last one.  Now that our colds are mostly gone we can get out and do a bit more visiting.  It will be great to catch up on what our friends here have been up to.  We also hope to do a bit of hiking and maybe a bit more birding, a given.  I also hope to take a few pictures of the "green" desert.  With all the rain this fall the desert is quite green.  For example some the Mesquite trees have leafed out.  In past years it is well into March before they do this.  We have yet to take a walk in the desert this winter.   We are looking forward to seeing what is out there.  I'll you know what we see.

Here are couple of photos from our first week in the desert.  Enjoy!


Greater Roadrunner - Arizona's iconic desert bird photographed at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve.  Dana spotted this bird hiding in the grass next to a Palo Verde.  I managed a couple of shots and this was the best of them.

Crissal Thrasher.  The National Geographic "Field Guide to Birds of North America" describes this species range as "Very secretive, hiding in underbrush; indeed, one of our most secretive passerines.  Found in dense Mesquite (trees) and Willows along streams and washes."  Which is exactly where Dana and I found this bird.