bird-watching ...

[Getupngo]

The reservoir has been rising at a crazy rate ...and the water is close to my rig right now ... so I've been getting out my little spy-glasses and watching the shorebirds. I've seen an osprey, a pair of teal ducks, and three nesting pairs of Canada geese, with 4-5 goslings each (the adults were eying me closely. Don't want to tick one of THEM off!). I also saw another water bird -- white, with a black stripe from the top of its head down the back of its neck to its body, which is dappled gray. I need to look up and see what that is.

Oh, and the hummingbirds are visiting my feeder.

Had a banging hailstorm here today, and the wind has been blowing like crazy. It turns the reservoir wicked grey. Love it.

[Birdie]

Which of the Teal do you see? Blue, Green-wing or Cinnamon? The other duck could be a scaup or maybe ringed neck (mis-named because you can more easily see the ring around the bill and really got to look for the one around it's neck). I didn't check to see if they would either be in SLC. I just got back from hiking up a canyon and rocking around for 5 hours looking at some great birds. Target bird was Rufous Capped Warbler - and we got it. Sounds like your lake area is teaming with birds. Enjoy! Let me know what else you have up there.

[avalen]

Janice, your not in any danger are you with the water getting closer? Don't make us
worry now.
Birdie, are you in Tucson now? Thats not far from me, 2 hours, and I understand
Mt Lemon is a beautiful place now although I've never been there, have you?

[Getupngo]

Rising water ... RV ... hmmmm. Heck! I'm in no danger 'cuz Sparkle's not here!

The reservoir is full, full, full ... and they're letting water out like crazy. But it sure is nice to have the shoreline so close. A pair of pelicans dropped in today. Another lovely day in the Utah mountains.

'

[avalen]

ok, give a hollar when it starts lappin at your front door and we'll get some
advice from Sparkle

[snowball]

that is neat janice...we are in SLC for a few dd getting married Tues. but don't think we have the time to run up Keep watching the water though...and have a great summer
Sheila

[Birdie]

Yes, Ava, Mt. Lemmon is a great mountain and has beautiful birds up there. I hope to get back up and shoot some (digital camera, of course) this week. If I can get a good one, I'll post it up when I get a chance. It is usually about 20 degrees cooler up there than it is down here in this hot valley - but then you are usually about 7-10 degrees warmer in the greater Phoenix area than Tucson. (meant as sunburn)

I have been hoping to get to Tempe while here, but may not make it. Birding is booming and I am helping a friend find some birds - I can't believe that the hummers will start migrating shortly. An early migrant has already been seen in Ash Canyon - or maybe it didn't go North. Hope to see bunches of hummers next Wednesday down south of Sierra Vista at Miller Canyon.

Do you do that w-o-r-k stuff during the week and only get weekends to play? I know that this Friday night will be birding late and Sunday I am birding. I am not sure about the next weekend. But if your time is flexible perhaps we could GTG. Actually, if you could come to Tucson this Saturday, we could go up to Mt. Lemmon and be cool. I don't think I can make it up there and back here for Saturday evening obligation that I can't get out of. Sunday will be a 4:00 a.m. rising for me, so it is early to bed Saturday night.

Janice, water birds are so interesting. Since you know they are water birds, it makes looking them up in the book easier. Perching birds can be really tough cause you have 3/4 of the book that you have to look through. Thought I would never be able to tell the difference between bird types. Took a few years and it a lot of work. However, that being said - don't you become a water bird. Stay safe!