November 2023 (Revised)

I saw a beautiful Wood Duck at a nearby park I used to frequent all the time. It’s been a few years since last seeing any. So gorgeous.

And everything else in this post is from our yard. I keep saying we have to get out in nature soon again and…we don’t. We have been busy with social engagements, though, this time of year. It’s the perfect time of year to be out in the greater Phoenix area so I hope we do that soon.

Have you ever seen
anything
in your life
more wonderful

than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon

-Mary Oliver

Gila Woodpecker, male

The usual suspects are still around…

Gilded Flicker, male

Fiery Skipper on Lantana

And, yes, RayRay the Roadrunner is still making appearances. So exciting and strange.

Northern Mockingbird looking autumnal

American Kestrel in our pine tree

A pine tree is a fitting way to end as we head into the winter holiday season. Hope you don’t get overwhelmed with the hype…just the fun.

[Sorry if you received a previous incorrect version of this post. Something happened :(]

Sellah Park

There’s a small park in Tempe that I had never heard of with a little pond. The word got out among the local birders and bird photographers that a male Wood Duck and two females were hanging out there for the winter. Wood Ducks are not real common in the Phoenix area although a few are spotted here and there most winters. I hadn’t seen any in a couple years so I headed out last Sunday and got there shortly before sunset.

Of course, the male was the star of the show but the females are pretty, too.

It was getting dark but I was fortunate to catch a few golden patches of water.

Plus…to make things even better, there was a rare bird there, too, which was part of the draw. This tiny little guy is native to South America so everyone assumed he was an escapee from a zoo or private collection. Apparently, the latter is the case. He belongs to someone who lives a couple of blocks from the park and recently escaped. The owner knows where he is and comes to visit him but has decided he seems happy so is leaving him there. Hope he’ll be okay because he’s pretty tame and much smaller than one would think.

Ringed Teal, male

Both these boys were more than happy to pose for the cameras. I have so many photos that I had to try a couple special effects…

Orton Effect

Watercolor

My last Wood Duck experience can be seen here.