beluga

beluga

Saturday, November 14, 2020

Another lovely spot

Thursday's sunset was a beauty, right out Beluga's front window.   We had a number of them and we never take their beauty for granted or fail to photograph them!  (pay no attention to the stupid dirt smudges inside my old camera....)




#27


 Friday afternoon we left our peaceful spot at Usery Mountain Regional Park and moved a short distance to another favorite, Cave Creek Regional Park.    These Maricopa County Parks are lovely and quiet, especially during the week.    They're close to everything one could want, but feel very removed from civilization.  Perfect combination.    They don't offer sewer hook-ups and some of the sites are not perfectly level, but neither of those things overshadows their charm for us.



In our years of traveling we've discovered which sites get good Verizon signal and plenty of OTA TV channels and are set up so we get morning sun, afternoon shade and lovely sunset views.    As in all these parks, birds abound.  

 At Usery we set out apples for the birds to enjoy and when they were finally all used up we tried an experiment with a banana.   Do desert birds like bananas?



Not really.    This female Gila Woodpecker sampled one end but decided it wasn't her cup of tea.   A couple sparrows tried but rejected it as too mushy.    Otherwise it was ignored.    It did seem to draw a few interesting observers, however.   A courting couple came, looked it over carefully then cuddled together above it for a long while.   Who knows what an experiment will accomplish?

Peach-faced Lovebirds

So, back to Cave Creek Regional Park......(I'm having trouble organizing these "stories" in their proper order since I can't figure out how to remove a picture that I've already inserted.   You'll have to just work it out, sorry.....) 


Happy Hour view

 
Cactus Wren watched our morning's Second Cup

    


Last week we did a little exploration around the Salt River area (looking for the Salt River Band of wild horses) and Saguaro Lake.       We also attempted to drive the mostly unpaved 40 mile scenic Apache Trail through the Superstition Mountains to Roosevelt lake, but the road was closed at Fish Creek Hill Overlook.    Signs on the barricade told of severe damage from the Woodbury Fire and the resultant flood danger in the scar area.      We were sorry we couldn't complete the entire loop trail but were happy to get as far as we did.   We left the Jeep for a short hike to look down into the Fish Creek canyon.   A little Wren accompanied us.


 Here are some pictures from last week.

Salt River

Saguaro Lake


one of four hunting Harris Hawks

one-legged hawk

Superstition Mtns.

Canyon Lake

synchronized swimming practice

Black Phoebe




Fish Creek Overlook


Today we loafed around, enjoying the beautiful day.   We sat in the sun and read, we took a long walk, we watched the Covid delayed Masters golf tournament, did a little future planning.    Just what we wanted to do.

12 comments:

  1. We loved our stays at the regional parks, they really are great. I think we only missed two of them last winter. I love all your birdie pics, and how exciting that the peach-faced lovebirds came calling! I didn't think I was missing the SW yet, but your tales do make me miss it a little. Lewis would probably take care of that leftover half a banana for you :D

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  2. For just killing time you surely came up with a number of beautiful pictures.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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  3. Maricopa County has some of the best parks we've found in the area. We only seem to go out that way for the Cactus League games. We were able to complete the Apache Trail on our last visit. There are some interesting Cliff Dwellings above the lake if you have the chance make it.

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    1. Lake Roosevelt - The ruins are in Tonto National Monument. we enjoyed the drive and returned via the paved road making it a loop

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  4. Agreed on the county parks there. They're some of the best we've visited and we'll happily forgo a sewer hookup any day if it means we get those views. Beautiful photos of the river and lakes and that synchronized swimming picture is hilarious. Enjoy all the blue skies and sunshine. It is perfect therapy these days!

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  5. Sounds absolutely perfect...birds, sunsets, lots of sunshine, lakes, and lazy days! Great photos Sue!

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  6. Looks like you found some cool stuff though! That last redtail(?) hawk looks positively crazed! haha

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  7. We agree...those Maricopa county parks are wonderful! Love your peach faced lovebirds. We've never seen them in the wild. How lucky you were to have them come to visit. Your photo of the colorful rocks in the Salt River is lovely, too.

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  8. Such a beautiful area. Too bad the Apache Trail was closed part way. It is a fun loop. Now you have a reason to return. I love the Peach-Faced Lovebirds. They are just so pretty.

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  9. I've not seen the lovebirds in AZ, what a great capture!

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  10. Not to disagree with our friend Pam but the drive from Fish Hook Overlook down to the bottom is one of the worst and most nerve-wracking drives I've been on. I did it in the back seat of a friend's truck and thankfully the down isn't on the edge. If it's more washed out now I wonder if they'll be able to reopen it. Love the area though and your pics are all so beautiful. You're getting to see so many wonderful birds too! I can hear how happy you are to be enjoying the sunshine :-)

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