Beginning Birding 101

So I found myself in need of a new hobby.... since I really didn't have many I truly liked. So I took up watching the birds.... I love the outdoors... and I like to have lists of things I have accomplished... A life list of birds I have seen and positively identified... fits well.

So this morning after a few months of starting to notice birds and look over field guides... I went out on my morning expedition/ adventure...

My little point and shoot camera is not gonna work to take identifiable pictures...So you will just have to trust me until I can get a better camera.

So I went to an area of Forest park which has been returned to native vegetation with a prairie and a lake and stream... So this morning besides the everyday birds like robins and doves... I saw (pictures from the internet)

Starling:

First brought to North America by Shakespeare enthusiasts in the nineteenth century, European Starlings are now among the continent’s most numerous songbirds. They are stocky black birds with short tails, triangular wings, and long, pointed bills. Though they’re sometimes resented for their abundance and aggressiveness, they’re still dazzling birds when you get a good look. Covered in white spots during winter, they turn dark and glossy in summer
American Gold Finch:

This handsome little finch, the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington, is welcome and common at feeders, where it takes primarily sunflower and nyjer. Goldfinches often flock with Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls. Spring males are brilliant yellow and shiny black with a bit of white. Females and all winter birds are more dull but identifiable by their conical bill; pointed, notched tail; wingbars; and lack of streaking. During molts they look bizarrely patchy. These are active and acrobatic little finches that cling to weeds and seed socks, and sometimes mill about in large numbers at feeders or on the ground beneath them. Goldfinches fly with a bouncy, undulating pattern and often call in flight, drawing attention to themselves. Their song sounds like Po-ta-to-chip.
Barn Swallow:

A familiar inhabitant of barns and other outbuildings, the Barn Swallow is easily recognized by its long forked tail. It was originally a cave breeder, but now the swallow nests almost exclusively on man-made structures. Migrates fully to Central and South America.

Welcome to New Mexico

1. What is the capital of New Mexico? ____________________
2. Which country borders New Mexico? ______________________
3. What is the name of the large river that runs north/south all the way through New Mexico? ________________________
4. What state borders New Mexico on the west? _________________
5. What state borders New Mexico on the north? ______________________
6. What state just touches New Mexico at its northwest corner (at the famous "Four Corners," the point where four states meet)? ______________________
7. What 2 states border New Mexico on the east? ______________________ and ______________________
8. What is the largest city in New Mexico? ______________________
9. Name two mountain ranges in New Mexico. _____________________________ and _____________________________
10. What is the name of the National Park in southeastern New Mexico? _____________________________

We just entered New Mexico... near Gallup.... isn't nice to finnally be in another state?

Hope you enjoy the quiz!!!

Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert

The Painted Desert encompasses over 93,500 acres and stretches over 160 miles. It begins about 30 miles north of Cameron, Arizona near the southeastern rim of the Grand Canyon to the Petrified Forest about 26 miles east of Holbrook, AZ.

Petrified Forest

Petrified Forest National Park is along Interstate 40 between Holbrook and Navajo, Arizona in the United States. It features one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, mostly of the species Araucarioxylon arizonicum.
The park consists of two large areas connected by a north–south corridor. The northern area encompasses part of the multihued badlands of the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation called the Painted Desert. The southern area includes colorful terrain and several concentrations of petrified wood. Several American Indian petroglyph sites are also found in the southern area. Near the south end of the park is Agate House, a Native American building of petrified wood, reconstructed during the 1930s.

History:

Sites throughout the park tell of human history in the area for more than 2,000 years. We don't know the entire story, but there were separate occupations, a cultural transition from wandering families to settled agricultural villages, pueblos, and trading ties with neighboring villages. Then this story of early people, told by potsherds, rubble, and pictures on the rocks, fades around 1400 AD.
In the mid-1800's US Army mappers and surveyors came into this area and carried back East stories of the remarkable "Painted Desert and its trees turned to stone." Next, farmers, ranchers, and sightseers made their ways into the area. After a period of using the wood for souvenirs and numerous commercial ventures, territorial residents recognized that the supply of petrified wood was not endless. In 1906 selected "forests" were set aside as Petrified Forest National Monument. In 1932 some 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) more of the Painted Desert were purchased and added to the monument. In 1962 the area became Petrified Forest National Park, and in 1970, 20,250 hectares (50,000 acres) were further set aside as wilderness.

Road Trip

It rained a little while we were in New Orleans....

We saw a show!!!

Listened to some awsome Jazz!!!

Some people had a really good time....

The street music amazing!!!

So many blogs about the walk to Tybee here is what we did about a month ago.... Road Trip to New Orleans: Bourbon Street = fun

St. Louis Cathedral... We stayed at the Naval air station in Algers...across the river from the french quarter... we too the ferry across the river everyday....$1.00/ car... and this was the view!!

Two Guns, AZ

Ghost Town : Two Guns AZI think this is fun seeing where we are in this world of make believe and walking...

So we zoomed right past Flagstaff. We made it to Two Guns... a ghost town in Arizona. This is a great little site someone made that tells it better than I ever could... http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/twoguns.html

Parks, Arizona Kaiboab Natioanl Forest

Wow!!! what a great push everyone!!! We are almost to Flagstaff. As of now we are walking through Kaibab National forest. when looking this place up the one subject that is repeated over and over is the abundance of amazing hikes in the area. ...Sounds like motivation to my ears. hikes... we are have some hiking trails in our areas... short long and inbetween... with the wonderful weather why not get out there and and conquer a trail.... let me know of any you find... and don't forget the camera... here are some OOP (other peoples photos) from hikes in Kaibab forest.

Seligman Arizona.... A Real Cowboy town.

Cowboys inhabited this area and helped creat this town.

Roof top view of the town....

Very unique souvenir shop. Lots of maniquins. right along route 66.

Need to gas up?

You Kill It, We Grill It," says the Roadkill Cafe. Try deer delectables, fender tenders, swirl of squirrel, or the splatter platter at this quirky cafe on Route 66. Seriously though, the cafe is famous for its char-broiled burgers, steaks and ribs. The cafe is located at 502 W. Highway 66 in Seligman, Arizona.

In the mood for somthing more sweet?

When pioneers along the Beale Wagon Road passed through this area in the mid nineteenth century, it was known as Mint Valley. Later when the Prescott and Central Arizona Railroad planned to connect the area to Prescott, in 1886, the settlement was called Prescott Junction. Completing the tracks, the train had to run backwards to Prescott Junction because there wasn’t a turntable in Prescott.

Before long, the Railroad went out of business, shutting down the junction. However, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad took over the abandoned rail line, and the town changed its name to Seligman, in honor of the Seligman brothers, who helped finance the rail line south.

At the turn of the century, Seligman was populated primarily by cowboys working the large ranches of the area. Along with these rough and ready men, came a piece of the Wild West, complete with shootouts on the streets. At this time the saloons and brothels outnumbered the churches three to one. Over the years, Seligman settled down but today, is still populated by people working at some of the state’s largest ranches.

Another 50 miles to Flagstaff .... keep walking...