Archive for the ‘Sabino Canyon’ Tag
Luke, A White Crested Phainopepla — Image by kenne
This is the time of year some SCVN members state watching for the return of “Luke” to Sabino Canyon. Phainopeplas generally spend
their summers at the higher elevations of the Santa Cantilina Mountains, returning to the canyon to feed off the desert mistletoe berries
in the canyon.
What makes Luke unique is his white crest. For over eleven years, Luke can be spotted in the same general area in the canyon. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, we don’t know if Luke returned last year since many of us were not doing our usual nature walks in Sabino Canyon.
Phainopeplas usually perch high on canyon mesquite trees. They have digestive tracts specialized for eating mistletoe fruit.
These berries are low in nutrients, so the birds have to consume lots of them. The berries spend only about 12 minutes in a
Phainopepla’s intestine, and the birds may eat 1,100 berries in a day.
A singular bird of the Southwest, they are a brilliant sight in flight. Males are silky black and slender, with an elegant crest and bold white
wing patches that appear when the bird takes wing. Phainopeplas nearest common ancestors are the waxwings, which also have a glossy,
silky look to their plumage.
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Greater Roadrunner Gathering Sticks for Building A Nest — HDR Image by kenne
Rule 1.
The Road Runner cannot harm the Coyote except by going “beep-beep!”
— from 9 Rules for Road Runner and Wild E. Coyote Cartoon
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Nurse Tree for Four Saguaros In Sabino Canyon — HDR Image by kenne
“I have come to the conclusion,
after many years of sometimes sad experience,
that you cannot come to any conclusion at all.”
― from In Your Garden Again by Vita Sackville-West,
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Esperero Trail in Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
Near-record monsoon rains have turned Sabino Canyon into a desert oasis.
Sabino Creek Dam — HDR Image by kenne
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Life and Death in Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
First/Last Meditation
Time
is in night’s colors.
Quiet night.
Over enormous moons,
eternity
is set at twelve.
Time’s gone to sleep
forever
in his tower.
All clocks
deceive us.
Time at last has
horizons.
— Federico Garcia Lorca
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Surphur Butterflies on Creosole Bush Blossoms In Sabino Canyon (July 27, 2021) — Images by kenne
The recent monsoon rains have greened up the canyon, bringing out a lot of butterflies.
Unfortunately, I only had my 18-70 mm lens, so trying to photograph
the mostly surphur butterflies became challenging.
— kenne
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Giant Saguaro Cactus In Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
Along the mountain ridges,
Across the desert floor;
Arms like verdant armor,
Stalwarts guard our door.
Shading for the lizard,
Haven for the wren,
Source of inspiration,
For past and present men.
–Earl Bloss, “Saguaros,” in Arizona Highways, 1973
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Cactus Wren — Photo-Artistry by kenne
“Photography comes from the moment
existing at the time it was created.”
— kenne
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Cedar Waxwing — Photo-Artistry by kenne
they come every spring
flights of these impressive birds
attracting birders
— kenne
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Kids Love Rocks — Image by kenne
Touching each rock
with a magnet, she
learns which is magnetite.
— kenne
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Greater Roadrunner Portrait by kenne
Greater roadrunner
Is the court jester of birds
Funny bird to watch.
— kenne
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Sabino Canyon Panorama by kenne
Our Tucson blue sky
a very special color
shared with jet contrails.
— kenne
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Saguaros In the Morning Haze (02-04-13) — Image by kenne
The haze is lifting
Sun rising over the ridge
A new day has dawned.
— kenne
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You Look One Way, I’ll Look The Other (Northern Mockingbird & Phainopepla) — Image by kenne
“All of us–bright atheists and committed religionists–need to wake now and hear the earth call . . . .
We need to give and receive as love shows us how, join with each pilgrim who quests for the true,
give heed to the voices of the suffering, awaken our consciences with justice as our guide,
and work toward a planet transformed by our care.”
— Scotty McLennan
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Saguaros In Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
Sometimes happiness is a blessing,
but, generally, it is a conquest.
Each day’s magic moment
helps us to change and sends us off
in search of our dreams.
— Paulo Coelho
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