Category Archives: Southwest trip
Pushing The Camera’s Envelope
I have pretty much switched to my Canon SX50 HS digital zoom, leaving my more expensive camera back at the trailer. Generally, this is a good strategy but every so often, I end up pushing the digital zoom too much. … Continue reading
Posted in Nesting, Southwest trip 4, Texas birding, Texas birds
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Central Daylight Time
We have been perched just north of the Texas line for a week waiting out spring break. Today, we head into Texas and lose an hour right away as we cross into The Lone Star State. It’s is fun to … Continue reading
Posted in Southwest trip 4
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Texas School Break – Please End Soon
This is an interesting week, as thousands of schoolkids and their families overwhelm Texas State Parks. There are no sites available, nor have there been for months. The noise level is high, the bathrooms are oversubscribed, and even if you … Continue reading
Posted in Southwest trip 4, Texas state parks, Trip Planning
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Some Birds of the Desert
Gambel’s Quail are runners, very hard to photograph as they scurry through the brush. Here’s one almost obscured as it darted past me. On the other hand, this Red-winged Blackbird was so intent on singing that he allowed me to … Continue reading
Posted in Arizona Birding, Arizona Birds, Desert birds, New Mexico birds, Southwest trip 4
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Arizona Desert Flowers
Just before we left Arizona, we got a couple of modest rainfalls and the flowers started popping out. Of course, I have a dozen bird books but nothing on desert flowers – and we haven’t been near a bookstore since. … Continue reading
Posted in nature, Plants & Flowers, Southwest trip 4
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Birds of San Eligo Lagoon
The San Eligo Lagoon just south of our California camping sites, is a favorite of many local birders (although I met none in three visits but did meet a good birder from MA) and it is easy to see why. … Continue reading
Posted in CA birds, Southwest trip 4
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A Morning Surprise – #400
One of my 2014 birding goals was to reach 400 life birds – in my fifth year of birding. I saw two Black-tailed Gnatcatchers as I checked into the Salton Sea State Receation Area last weekend (for 398). The following … Continue reading
Posted in Arizona Birding, Arizona Birds, life bird, Life list, Southwest trip 4
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Hiking Brown Mountain
We are hanging out, enjoying great Arizona weather, at Gilbert Ray Campgound, a county park just west of Tuscon. We have a neat site which is relatively secluded with Cactus Wrens, Verdin, and Gambell’s Quail to entertain us. So do … Continue reading
Posted in hiking, Penny, Southwest trip 4
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My Cousin Vinny – Why Do We Keep Thinking Of It?
We changed plans and moved a little east to the Salton Sea Recreation Area where we had better chances of sites with hookup, and where there are thousands of birds. It was an easy drive through the high desert and … Continue reading
Posted in CA camping, Southwest trip 4
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Riding Out The Storm
We had set aside two nights at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park before heading further eastward. The trip from San Diego was longer than expected because of the steep winding roads crossing the mountains. The truck did fine but the brakes … Continue reading
Posted in CA camping, Southwest trip 4
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