BIRDQUEST2004

I have been doing more birding this trip and less photography but this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

While not a life bird for me, I can never get enough of Owls….this is my 10th Owl Species of the year and with luck I may find a few more in Texas.

Along W. Banister Rd. between Westmoreland and Brawley, CA., I found at least 10.  They all disappeared as I came close with the car.  This little guy just stood and stared, I pulled up and took this photo out the window.

Tomorrow I fly to Texas and can only hope for good weather and birds.

I woke up this morning with a problem, 2 birds to try for. Which one do I go for?

I decided to try for the Nutting’s Flycatcher and drove the 22 miles in the dark, the last 2 miles on a atv track. I was standing near the 2 Mile marker, as the sun crept up over the horizon, lots of movement but no flycatcher. I heard the bird calling about 100 yards back down the road but by the time I got there it was history. I waited around until 9am but never heard another peep. Dissappointed as I was, I knew I had to leave and try for the Blue-footed Booby.

20 minutes later I was overlooking Lake Havasufrom the Bill Williams River NWR headquarters, a lovely spot well worth a visit if your ever in that part of Arizona. I saw a golf course there that I’d love to play but that’s another story.

I waited for 30 minutes and nothing, then a speck on the far side of the lake caught my attention, as he got closer I cold see a hint of blue on his feet, there was no doubt…Juvenile Blue-footed Booby.

He put on quite a show for about 45 minutes, circling, plunge diving, splashing and in the photo below even came by to smile at the camera.

Ciao for now….