Dry Reeds in the Wash (Tanque Verde Wash, January 13, 2016) — Image by kenne
Try to be saturated
in the glimpse
so the brief remembrance
will return in a dream.
— kenne
Archive for the ‘Tanque Verde Wash’ Tag
Dry Reeds In The Wash Leave a comment
Tanque Verde Grunge 1 comment
Turkey Vulture Near Tanque Verde Wash — Grunge Art by kenne
Share this:
Vultures Fly For Cover 2 comments
It’s migration time for Turkey Vulture, so it’s not unusual to see a lot of these big vultures in the morning and late afternoon.
Storms have been in the area with 30-40 mph wind gusts. We live near the Tanque Verde Wash where many of the migrating
birds roost overnight in the cottonwoods near the wash. Yesterday afternoon storms in southern Arizona caused the migrating
vultures to start coming in early by the hundreds. Some landed in dead trees near
Tanuri Ridge where I was able to take these photos,
after which they took off across the wash to spend the night in cottonwoods south of the wash.
Hundreds of turkey vultures flying in from the approaching storm. — Images by kenne
Share this:
Record Rain Fall In Tucson Leave a comment
Trail Next To The Tanque Verde Wash, Looking East.
Tanque Verde Wash, Looking East.
Tanque Verde Wash, Looking East.
Tanque Verde Wash, Looking South.
Tanque Verde Wash, Looking West — Images by kenne
Record rains have filled the normally dry Tanque Verde Wash. The rain gauge at our home located on one of the ridges above the wash measured 2.5 inches. The mountains north of us have received rain in ranges above 6 inches.
These photos were taken along the wash just east of where the it runs into the Rillito River. (January 31, 2015)
Currently, the rain has moved on leaving us a foggy damp morning. The forecast is sunny by mid-morning, making for great upper-sixties weather for the Super Bowl being played 90 miles north of us. Oh, and also for the Phoenix Open in Scottsdale.
kenne
Share this:
Capturing The Moment — Seattle Fog In Tucson 3 comments
This morning was as if we had brought the Seattle area fog and drizzle to Tucson. Fog, like snow, can be a real big deal in the desert, making for a pleasant change.
Meydenbauer Bay On Lake Washington, Bellevue, WA — Images by kenne
Tanuri Ridge Patio View (West)
Tanuri Ridge Circle View (East)
Desert Fog
The sliding doors opened to fog,
rendering the mountains a negative opaque.
The normal morning quietness
seemed even more somber,
not in a gloomy way
with its limited view,
instead consoling vanishing
dreams with an attentive hug
having loved once in splendor,
how tender is the morning.
— kenne
(Go To kenneturner.com to see all the “Becoming is Superior to Being” Postings.)
Share this:
Turkey Vultures After The Monsoon Storm 7 comments
Turkey Vulture at Tanque Verde Wash
Turkey Vulture at Tanque Verde Wash
Turkey Vulture at Tanque Verde Wash
Turkey Vulture at Tanque Verde Wash
Turkey Vulture at Tanque Verde Wash
Turkey Vulture at Tanque Verde Wash
Turkey Vulture at Tanque Verde Wash
Turkey Vulture at Tanque Verde Wash
Turkey Vulture at Tanque Verde Wash
Turkey Vulture at Tanque Verde Wash
Turkey Vulture at Tanque Verde Wash
Turkey Vultures Along Tanque Verde Wash — Images by kenne
(CLICK ON ANY OF THE TILED PHOTOS TO SEE LARGER IMAGES IN A SLIDESHOW FORMAT.)
Today’s mid-day monsoon storm may have cause the turkey vultures, who roust along the wash, to come back early. Normally, we only see them in the morning and late in the afternoon. I counted ten and within thirty minutes only four remained. The most I have counted in the summer is 24. The fall and spring migration can bring over 100 staying over night. Since I was down by the wash photographing water running in the normally dry wash, I could pass up photographing these big birds in the changing early afternoon light.
kenne
Share this:
Monsoon Rains Fill The Desert Washes And Rivers 3 comments
Tanque Verde Wash
Tanque Verde Wash
Tanque Verde Wash
Tanque Verde Wash
Tanque Verde Wash
Tanque Verde Wash
TanqueVerde Wash
Tanque Verde Wash
Tanque Verde Wash
Tanque Verde Wash
Tanque Verde Wash — Images by kenne
The monsoon has been pretty active the last few days, as a result the desert washes and rivers now have water in them — a brief experience in the desert southwest. Our community of Tanuri Ridge is located on the north side of the Tanque Verde wash, normally very dry, but not the last couple of days. There are trails along the wash where people walk and ride horses. This morning I went walking along the wash, which had some water. After afternoon rains I went back down to the wash with my camera and took the above photos (August 19, 2014).
kenne
(CLICK ON ANY OF THE TILED IMAGES TO VIEW IN A SLIDESHOW FORMAT.)
Share this:
Capturing The Moment — Turkey Vultures Migrating North Leave a comment
Migrating Turkey Vultures Warming Up In The Morning Sun — Images by kenne
(Click on any of the images to see a slideshow, or go to Flickr to see the full set.)
It’s that time of year when turkey vultures are migrating north, actually it’s been going on for about two weeks now.
We live on the north side of the Tanque Verde wash across from the Tucson Country Club. In the late afternoon the turkey vultures come from the south, roosting in the golf course’s eucalyptus trees — moving across the wash to sun at daybreak for more exposure to the sun. The sunning serves at least two important purposed, (1) to warm up before continuing their flight north, (2) to bake any bacteria that may picked-up from foraging.
Watching and photographing these big birds is a joy, having posted several entries over the last three years. You can use the search function (turkey vultures) to see previous postings. Also, you can see the complete set (over 60 images) of the most recent images at my Flickr account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kennetu/sets/72157642867149485/ where you can click the slideshow icon in the upper right corner for a full-screen view.
kenne
Share this:
Capturing The Moment — Coyotes, Suspicion Abounds 4 comments
Coyotes Near The Tanque Verde Wash — Images by kenne
Coyotes
Their eyes of light bay
Spire me with cunning keenness,
Suspicion abounds.
–kenne
Share this:
How The Turkey Vulture Saved The World 2 comments
Another Sign Of Spring, Turkey Vultures Overnight by the Tanque Verde Wash — Computer Painting by kenne
“In the time of the ancients,
the sun moved close to the earth
making life unsustainable.
Whereupon all animals gathered
to see what could be done,
deciding the sun had to be moved.
One by one, attempts were made
to move the sun.
Some, like the fox,
used his mouth
to pull the sun away,
but it was so hot
and he had to stop,
leaving his mouth black
still to this day.
Next, the opossum tried
moving the sun with his tail,
but he too had to stop,
or the sun was too hot,
leaving his tail bald
still to this day.
Seeing all this,
being the most powerful
and beautiful of birds,
the vulture feared the earth
would soon burn up.
So, she bravely placed her
head against the sun,
flying high into the heavens.
Even with her crown
of feathers burning,
she never stopped
until the sun was far away
and the earth was safe.
Now you know
how the vulture
saved the world
and lost her
magnificent feathers
still to this day.”
This is my telling of a native American myth.
— kenne
Share this:
Our Visitors Are Still Coming Through Tucson 2 comments
The turkey vulture numbers are fewer each day, but the continue migrating to places north. This mornings count was 52. — Images by kenne
Related articles
- We Have A Place For Ugly Birds (kenneturner.com)
- We Have A Place For Ugly Birds (tanuri.wordpress.com)
- Turkey Vultures (poesypluspolemics.com)
- The cleaner of the world (wildlifeinontario.wordpress.com)
Share this:
Capturing The Moment — Coopers Hawk 4 comments
Coopers Hawk As Seen On A Photography Walk This Morning — Image by kenne
Share this:
We Have A Place For Ugly Birds 16 comments
Turkey Vultures — Images by kenne
Art from Mary A Livingston’s book, “No Place for Ugly Birds”
We Have A Place For Ugly Birds
During our first fall in Tanuri Ridge (three years ago), I noticed large birds circling above
landing near the Tanque Verde wash to the south of us. Not knowing much about birds,
but my association with naturalist friends has resulted in a mark improvement,
I thought the birds were hawks — even writing a poem (Hawks Circle) and posting it on this blog.
Since then, I have learned more about these beautiful birds
(ugly is beautiful — in the eye of the beholder, you know),
having spent time counting and photographing the birds along the Tanque Verde wash.
However, when it comes to observing and keeping a record of the fall and spring migrations,
I bow to the official Tanuri Ridge turkey vulture counter, Larry Conyers.
He tries to get a count each morning and late afternoon,
and I fill in for him when business takes him away.
The vulture count only takes in the Tanuri Ridge property along the Tanque Verde wash.
There are hundreds more in the Tucson Country Club
(another place for ugly birds) on the south side of the wash from us,
which is why most of our street names begin with “Country Club Vista.”
Hundreds of vultures pass through our part of the Catalina foothills each spring and fall.
Maybe Larry and I need to start having our own “ugly bird” festival next fall, at first for Tanuri Ridge residents,
later opening it to birder friends — who knows!
Yes, we are a place for ugly birds — Tanuri Ridge!
UGLY BIRDS ARE WELCOME!
kenne
Related articles
- Capturing The Moment — Death At Sunset (kenneturner.com)
- James Goes Hiking Along The Tanque Verde Wash (kenneturner.com)
- The Poem Hawks Circle Revisited (kenneturner.com)
- Capturing The Moment — Morning Sun (kenneturner.com)
- Turkey Vulture Numbers Increase (kenneturner.com)
- Dove As A Symbol of A Love One (kenneturner.com)
- In The Dark of Night (kenneturner.com)
- Turkey Vultures Along The Tanque Verde Wash (kenneturner.com)
- Capturing The Moment — Migrating Turkey Vultures (kenneturner.com)
- “UGLY Birds” to Appear at Annual Return of the Buzzards! (thebackdoorartist.com)
Share this:
Snow Melts Quickly In The Desert 1 comment
Images by kenne
Share this:
Snow On The Catalinas — The Morning After 6 comments
“Snow On The Catalinas” — Image by kenne
This view is from the Tanque Verde Wash over Tanuri Ridge toward the Sabino Canyon area of the Santa Catalina Mountains after an unusually low elevation snow fall.
kenne
Related articles
- Capturing The Moment – Snow Covered Catalina’s (kenneturner.com)
- New Year’s Eve Snow On The Mountain – Panoramic Views (kenneturner.com)
- Bighorns could be moved to Catalinas (azstarnet.com)
