Although we never lived near one another in Virginia, my friend Margie Reed and I just figured out that we have known each other for over thirty years by attending shared activities. She subsequently, also, moved to Arizona where I continue to see her from time to time. Very unfortunately, she suffered a brain aneurysm several years ago and can no longer drive but has recovered sufficiently to live on her own and take care of herself. To be without a vehicle after driving all one's life seemed catastrophic to me, so I asked if she'd like to take a road trip to escape the heat of the Valley. When I mentioned Reed's Lodge in Springerville, she couldn't resist. She wanted to find out if she was related to any of the Reeds in Arizona.
What a delightful visit! With Margie's need for much rest, I would then head out to bird nearby hot spots and was rewarded with having most places all to myself. June is not a "high" birding month as I soon found out but, at least, it was not as full of mosquitoes as one memorable summer trip up there about four or five years ago! No bugs; no extraordinary birds but much time in touch with fresh air and solitude.
Mostly, it was a time for Margie and I to reconnect.
Below are photos of some of the birds (and animals) I saw. Links to my eBird lists are posted at the end.
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| HORNED LARK |
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| GREATER ROADRUNNER with food (frog?) |
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| WESTERN MEADOWLARK |
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| BULLOCK'S ORIOLE |
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| BREWER'S BLACKBIRD |
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| Distant Female LAZULI BUNTING |
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| OSPRY with prey (above and below) |
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| WESTERN BLUEBIRD (male) |
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| YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD |
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| BLUE GROSBEAK |
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| HORNED LARK |
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| WESTERN MEADOWLARK (closer view) |
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| WHITE-FACED IBIS (above and below) |
In addition to birds, I ran across some interesting mammals:
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| GUNNISON'S PRAIRIE DOG (Becker Lake Area) |
And, out at a very shrunken Lyman Lake, I found more cattle than birds:
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| Longhorn Cattle grazing on far end of lake bed |
Margie woke up on Day #2 (Monday) wanting to go birding with me! She hung in for six hours as we visited South Fork area and Sunrise Campground. Sitting out in her walker, she loved being surrounded by trees, rivers and fresh air. Temperatures remained in the 70-80° range during our visit.
* * *
76 bird species from eight locations:
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46460984
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46478353
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46478750
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46478955
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46485467
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46503865
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46504180
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46528936
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