Back to reality

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Our vacation in Arizona was over and it was time to head back to Phoenix to catch our afternoon flight home to Florida. We took I-17 straight down from Flagstaff. The drive was amazing (I’m comparing it to our years of driving between Atlanta and Tampa).  I kept taking pictures through the window while Brett was driving.  Long winding road with very few billboards. My favorite sign was the picture of the elk crossing but I was disappointed. We didn’t see a single one.

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As we got closer to Phoenix, the Saguaro cactus were all along the road.

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On the plane, I saw several areas with these big circles. I’m assuming they have something to do with agriculture. Anyone have any ideas?

We made it back to reality and the hot steamy city of Tampa. I already miss northern Arizona. Some day we’ll get back there.

Skywatch Friday

Last of the Arizona birds

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A blurry shot of a dark eyed junco. I saw a lot of these while we were in Flagstaff.

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My 2nd sighting that week of a mountain chickadee.

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Some type of yellow warblers or finches. After pouring over my Stokes Birding Guide, all of the little yellow colored warblers look the same. Any ID’s on these would be great appreciated

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My first plumbeous vireo. Looked a little like a cerulean warbler but that white circle around his eye made it easier to identify.

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I thought this was another white breasted nuthatch but the all white head is throwing me off. Maybe a juvenile?

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This looks like a female goldfinch but it could be anything.

So many little birds. And I was snapping as fast as they were zipping around. At first I thought I was getting all the same bird but I realize now there were several different ones out there.  So many of these little birds look different in the fall than during breeding season. Or they could be females or juveniles.  Anyway, I was having too much fun running around the woods at the Flagstaff Arboretum taking pictures to stop and look them up while I was there. I’m more of a “shoot now and look it up later” kind of person. That doesn’t always work out when you are looking pages of birds and all you have is a small blurry shot.

The usual crowd

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Sometimes these little guys are just too cute to not stop and take a shot.

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Mr. Anhinga showing off for the ladies.

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You can usually find prothonotary warblers all year here.

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Warbler with a bug. I’m thinking this is a northern parula since I was hearing them there.

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The juvenile limpkin that hangs around the boardwalk.

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Creepy spider on the boardwalk. You have to watch were you are walking.

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The usual alligator next to the observation deck.

The usual stuff at Lettuce Lake Park in mid-October.

Our World Tuesday Graphicimage-in-ing

Across the country for red leaves

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I had to go all the way across the county to get some fall colors. These were taken in late September in Flagstaff. It’s now the first day of November and there is still no sign of fall yet here in central Florida. Still in the 80’s which is us normal for us.

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These were taken at the Flagstaff Arboretum. We were there in a transition period.  Not a lot of flowers since spring and summer were over but the leaves were changing and it was beautiful out. We took the long trail through the woods around the park and at one point, this is the view.  If you crop the picture you would think you were all alone out in the forest.  But then you see the solar panels. Brings you back to reality. I keep saying that I could live here, well, except for the 100 inches of snowfall a year in the winter.