Odds and Ends and another birdy Wednesday.

July 29 we decided to take a short detour to check the marsh at the foot of Miller Flat Road.

 Only 1 Yellow-headed Blackbird was present near the cattle pens.

Hanging with the cowbirds

This unusually marked cow warranted a solo photo op

Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtails love the musk thistle, a highly invasive plant. 

We could hear a Common Yellowthroat, but he managed to evade my camera. 

Wednesday was our birding day with Kathy and Terri, we opted for La Luz Canyon, one of the original logging roads into the mountains before the railroad was constructed. 

The drive through Dry Canyon was amazing, the monsoon rains have transformed the roadsides into a kaleidoscope of brilliant reds and yellows and whites. The array of greens is boggling, too. 

Tularosa Canyon was loaded with Orange-crowned Warbler and House Wren. The Lazy/Sleepy Daisy, yellow and white, were closed upon arrival, twenty minutes later they were awakening to the warming sun. 

La Luz Canyon was alive with birds, too. Dark-eyed Junco, the local trash bird, didn't disappoint today. I counted "hoards". Stellar's Jay, Chipping Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker. 

The highlight was this...

 Cooper's Hawk dropped into the road, apparently his choice of prey was too heavy. He rested for 3 minutes, seemed longer, 

before taking flight into the woods carrying his treasure away. We were careful not to press him and luckily no other vehicles were on the road that morning. 

Just minutes and not even a mile later, Red-tailed Hawk came overhead with a tiny mouse for his morning repast, which he devoured quickly. Terri dubbed  it the Raptor Buffet. 

We decided to take Bailey Canyon Road and located a great meadow filled with Western Wall Flower and Northern Fritillary. 

Atop the ridge, we located Juvenile Mountain Bluebird, Juvenile Townsend Solitaire, Violet Green Swallow, and Pine Siskin. I also found Stinging Nettle. Luckily the Wet Ones took away the sting quickly. Another reason to carry those wipes everywhere. 

We finished the day with a delightful lunch at Cloud Cafe on Burro Street, a neat little bistro with excellent chicken salad. 

Another perfect morning with good friends, good birds, good weather, and fantastic scenery.