Madera Canyon and Patagonia Lake State Park



Rufous-capped Warbler at Florida Wash

 

Snowy scene at Patagonia Lake State Park

 We spent a day in Madera Canyon and nearby Florida (Flor-ee-da) Wash with Randy and Sandra Rowe from Wooster - with some rain and hail. The highlight was a Rufous-capped Warbler. The next morning at Patagonia Lake State Park it snowed. The border with Mexico was only 15 miles south of us. Hmm. But there was sunshine the next day and lots of beautiful views and some nice birds, of course. - Bruce

Hepatic Tanager



Gray Flycatcher - imagine that the tail is wagging..



The air around me

These last weeks on the road with new sights, sounds, and smells have awakened a new awareness of the glory of sounds surrounding me.  Mexican Jays are not only a subdued, restful blue and grey in color, but make a delightful swoosh of sound as they take off from a branch above.



Mexican jay



Three evenings and two afternoons we’ve hear the sharp, yipping and singing of coyotes across  the way.  

Heard coyote calls at Tucson Mountain Park

Of course the 15,000 ( +or-) Sandhill Cranes’ ratchetly croaks as they settled in for the afternoon, flying out for a morning of feeding in the fields, or just hearing five as they vocalized above my head has to be one of the best sounds ever. 

And then there was the imperative sound of the wind coming up the canyon and making the pines sing,

And tens of thousands of snow and blueRoss's geese calling, honking, warning as they jostled for space to float the night away,

The scrunch and clunk of gravel under boot on a rocky trail,

The small sound of a tumbleweed rolling across dry sand,

The quiet flow of air through blackbird wings and their sweet tweets as a flock sweeps in arcs overhead,

Yellow headed blackbirds

The many chirps and cheeps of as yet unmemorized bird calls,

The slow flowing, lightly lapping, or rushing waters of that scarce and precious liquid in the desert,

Sonoita Creek, Patagonia Lake

The rattle of dry, brittle leaves in the breezes,

And, and, and.

I think I’ll spend a lot more time this spring and summer just sitting and listening, for, the sounds in The Woods must be as glorious as the ones here.  It just takes listening.

Helen

Tombstone, Arizona

It rained in the desert.  Last night it rained, this morning the air was moist, refreshed, and the skies were dramatic all day long. 

Sulfur Valley, rainy day.



Tombstone, Arizona, historic section

 We drove through Bisbee, and on to Tombstone.  There were people walking the streets in period clothing, hawking tickets to gunfights, and rides in stagecoaches.  We passed, except on the pictures! 

Merchantile in Tombstone, Arizona.

I didn't have a hard time passing on the tourist merchandise, but the gem and jewelry shop, Wizard's Workshop had an enticing array of "The Southwest's Finest Jewelry hand made on the premises". The owner/craftsman was a great storyteller and promoter of locally found and crafted stones. 



Don Paonessa, Wizard's Workshop

 Helen

Rocks, rocks, and fires

We spent the last two nights at Chiricahua National Monument at a wonderful campground.  This is the land of Geronimo, Cochise, and Fort Bowie.  Lots of history, including the road and the trails built by CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) guys in the 1930's, but more recently two serious fires.  The rocks survived!  The 8.3 mile hike we did yesterday was one of the most unique ever.  The rocks-pinnacles, balanced rocks, etc. were just awesome.



Campsite at Bonita Canyon Campground.



The original road going to Massai Point made by CCC workers was well engineered.



The trails in Chiricahua have been wonderfully maintained, but are still the originals from the CCC workers.



Formations in Chiricahua National Monumett.  Taken from Heart of Rocks trail.

Bruce on a crag.

Helen on Heart of the Rocks Trail.

Of course, we found some birds.  At our first rest stop, as soon as we got out the party mix, who should come visit us but a Mexican Jay. 



Mexican Jay.

The Acorn Woodpecker frequented the campground.

 
There were two recent fires in the park that burned around 90% of the park.  Some areas were lightly burned, others sterilized.  We walked through some of the serious burns, some where the vegetation is still whole, and other areas of recovery.

Massai Point, where our hike started. 

Helen

A day in the sun

We stayed the day at Roper Lake State Park.  It's been a relaxing day-bird watching, hiking the desert nature trail, bicycling, grilling supper, reading, and napping in the sun.  The 70 degree weather was welcome! 

Roper Lake island picnic area

The water level is way down, due to the lack of rain last season.  But with only a 10 -12 inch average rain fall per year, it will take a while to fill it back up.  The waters come from Graham mountain to the west, and we do see some snow on the upper ridges.
 

Yellow headed blackbirds.

There is a large flock that visits the rushes and tonight is roosting in the pines on the island.  They make the sweetest sounds as they fly overhead.



Roper Lake

That's our motorhome across the lake, almost hidden by the bushes.  Helen

Glenwood NM to Safford, AZ - Bruce

Mt. Graham and Safford, Arizona

We had a nice farewell Bald Eagle at Al & Marcia's place, then some great clouds/sky on the way across the mts. into Arizona. Roper Lake State Park looks good for birds - 100 ducks, thousands of blackbirds including 200+ Yellow-headed Blackbirds.

Up and Down; Glenwood, NM, 5000 ft. elevation to Roper Lake State Park, AZ, elevation 3100 ft.

We left Glenwood, Al & Marcia, Rounder & Sunny this morning. 

They have made their area an oasis for birds with feeding stations and water ponds.

Gambel's quail in the Glick's back yard.

Coming across from New Mexico into Arizona we travels through various types of terrain. We started in the dry juniper brushland, passed loved contoured hills with grasses, into pine forests, and then the wide open vistas of desert and mountains. 

We are campimg this evening at Roper Lake State Park.  Had a great walk around the lake this afternoon.

Interesting defunct bridge in the desert.

Interesting palm proportions. Helen

Family on the Mesa

We're still on the mesa.  The reunion is ending.  We had a great time, lots of catching up, delicious food, walks in the sunshine.  As the afternoon group was leaving today, a bald eagle circled above us for at least five minutes.  Thanks to Lindsy, here's a photo of the group.

Left to right:  Mike McDonough, Beth McDonough, Bruce Glick, Helen Glick, Paul Hershberger, Leah Mullet Hershberger, Lucas Hershberger, Al Glick, Marcia Glick, Jesse Glick, Silas McDonough, Marlea Glick, Holly Glick, Sofia Hershberger, Heather McDonough, Darrion Glick, Carol Mullet, Wade Mullet, Lindsy Glick

Lost, but not all is lost

Bruce may have lost his video of geese coming in to spend the night at Bosque del Apache WLF but I still have the one on my camera.  What a great sight to experience.

You'll need a bit of patience to view this to the end, or be a dedicated birdwatcher.

Helen

House on the Hill, Gila Wilderness behind

We arrived in Glenwood, NM late yesterday afternoon.  Al and Marcia gave a wonderful, warm welcome, a warm fire to sit beside;and a warm bedroom for a 15 degree cold night outside.  We'll stay here through the weekend when four of the five Glick siblings will gather for the first ever in New Mexico. Only a few of the next two generations will be able to join us, but we'll take what we can get and enjoy the time together. 


Al & Marcia's home in Glenwood, NM, at the base of the Gila Wilderness Area.


Front view of the Glick home.



Greenhouse wall detail.



   Announcing bell in the shield wall.

A new rug on their living room wall.  Al & Marcia are great proponents of the Crownpoint Rug Auction. 
Helen



Bosque del Apache NWR

Spent most of the day at this amazing refuge. The evening spectacle of many thousands of Snow and Ross's Geese, and Sandhill Cranes was one of the most memorable birding experiences of my life. I posted more photos as a Picasa album.

Shops not found in Millersburg, Ohio

It is so enjoyable to find that all of the USA is not homogeneous-even though the chains makes it seem so at times.  This chainsaw art would not be found on the downtown street in Millersburg. 

Grizzlys.  (Name of the shop) It has a sign offering tree removal.  What a great way to get artist supplies.

Or you could visit Dizzy Fridays.  She also has a chainsaw grizzly to welcome shoppers.



All three of the above shops are located in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Art gallery in Capitan, New Mexico. The above shop is also in this delightful town. These would seem just a tad too bright for Millersburg, eh?

Helen