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Borrego Springs, CA

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Settled in

Other than helping out with a big group of fourth graders yesterday for a few hours, I’ve had two days to settle into my new site.  I’ve needed that time to clean things up and just enjoy my new ambiance.

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Surprisingly, I found this beaver tail cactus blooming near the VC.  I don’t know if that was caused by the slight rains we had earlier this week or not.  I thought most blooms occurred starting in February, but I’m pretty new to the desert.

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Yesterday afternoon as I was sitting out with Emma, I got out my scope and set it up.  I wanted to see what was really around on the pond down below.  Although hard to see with the naked eye, I found a great blue heron and a black-crowned night heron perched on little hummocks on the other side of the pond.

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I decided to try shooting a photo with my little Canon PowerShot through the scope.  It didn’t work too well, but at least I can tell it’s a black-crowned night heron.  Sad smile

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I also enjoyed the effect of the sun’s rays on my saguaro cactus.  It looks like a shadow behind it, but turns out that there are really two saguaros right next to each other.  It’s so dry here in this part of the Sonoran desert that saguaros are not very common.  I’m guessing these two are just about the same age that I am since it takes 50-70 years to get that first arm.

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As Emma and I sat out this afternoon, a whole covey of Gambel’s quails came ‘gamboling’ through muttering amongst themselves.

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There’s a pretty steep drop off about four feet past my patio, but that posed no problem for these sociable birds.  They just ran right down it.  I think these quail along with the saguaro cactus will pretty much define my mind’s picture of the Sonoran desert.

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I’m also thinking you’re going to be subjected to a lot of photos of the view from my patio over the next four months.  Each view changes for me with the moving of the sun through the day.  Dawn and dusk are my favorites because of the shadows that bring out the nooks and crannies of the painted desert and the mountains.  Right now I’m enjoying both, but as the days start lengthening next month, I’ll probably see less of the dawns.  Winking smile

I’ll be working the next three days in the VC, but happily I’m doing a bird tour first thing in the morning.  The best part of that is Betty and Joe Graffis will be on the tour.  As many of you know, it’s always nice to meet fellow bloggers in person. 

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                                                                             THE END!!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

21 comments:

  1. We have a big bird that feels territorial about our camping area here on Long Key, FL. Merikay first encountered him/her when we returned late one night, and it "exploded" noisily in front of her, from on top of our picnic table. Since it seems mostly nocturnal, we know it chiefly by its grumbling voice in the night. We have seen great blue herons around, but have not seen our night bird well enough yet to know if it's a GBH. Does nocturnal, territorial, and vocal fit your knowledge of a GBH?

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  2. Judy, your view and the birds are wonderful! I'm glad that you are settling in well. I am coming your way next week and will contact you to find out if it will be okay to visit you. I will camp in Quartzsite, but drive down your way!

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  3. Quail and Saguaro cactus = Sonoran desert, for sure! Now that you have a "room with a view," I hope you are enjoying the quail, cactus and the desert. :- )

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  4. I love the photos of the Gambrel's quail. Such a striking looking bird!

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  5. Love the view at your new site! Aren't those Gambel's quails fun to watch and listen to?

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  6. That is a fabulous view. I'll never tire of seeing pictures of it. Can't wait to see those quails in person "muttering amonst themselves". Really great that Emma is not interested in chasing them or barking at them.

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  7. Love those quail pictures, they are a funny looking bird, must be a blast to watch them. :c)

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  8. The prickly pear bloom is a question for the Brown Shirts. I don't think it is because of rains, I think the bloom is triggered by temperature and Mother Nature has fooled this cactus. Or maybe it is just a fool cactus.

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  9. I also love the quail and I love your site. It is so nice to see the pond- water just has such a calming effect.

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  10. Glad you are getting settled in. What a super view. Looking forward the many photo's from your patio.

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  11. really, really lovely. . .I will enjoy all the pics of your view!

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  12. Betting you did enjoy meeting more bloggers.

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  13. Beautiful! I always love taking pictures of Great Blue Herons, but I've never seen a Black-Crowned Heron. And I thought the cactus blooms were over, too. I haven't seen one in ages. You're really getting Nature's First Class treatment in that site. :)

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  14. Looks like your new spot is working out just great!

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  15. Oh my those Gamble Quail are so pretty! I have seen them a few times, but have never gotten a good picture. They really can scoot fast. I would have a hard time leaving that site...it is perfect!

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  16. I'm just now catching up on blogs and of course am most happy to see that you chose your new site and are so happy with it. It's been so long since we've been around those neat water birds I hope I can still ID them next time we are nearby. Will you be doing a Christmas Bird Count there? If so, it looks like it'll be a busy time for you.

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  17. Good grief, I am so behind reading blogs. Glad that you are happy in your new site.

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  18. Lovely pictures. Looks like you are having fun with those desert shots and the gambols? I enjoy seeing them all!

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  19. Very pretty header photo.
    I am liking you new site more and more each time you post. We are so looking forward to seeing the saguaro again! I think they are just so lovely!

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  20. Have never gotten a non-blurry shot of the quail, they scoot away sooooo fast.

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  21. How adorable are those quail! You're going to be in the desert a long time. I was just wondering where you would be in the upcoming months because I like to have an idea where those bloggers are that I'd like to drop in on. I won't wonder where you are heading off to again until March, I guess. We plan our upcoming year where/when by February. One of these years I'm coming to find you and get a tour from the expert.

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