Where do I start today? Yesterday, a cactus wren came in from the cold. But, he never seemed very comfortable in my office. Kept looking out the window as if to say, "I'd rather be outside." Guess he didn't care much for my photos of bobcats, coyotes, and bears on walls. I suppose it could have been intimidating. In the afternoon, Christine and I took a hike in Saguaro National Park (five minutes from us). The desert is so renewing in both mind and body. Something about the life and death of the desert gives us pause to enjoy and cherish our lives no matter what the circumstance. We were greeted by this Phainopepla, or silky flycatcher. The photo above is the male. The female is more a charcoal color. They are similar in shape to a cardinal, just a wee bit smaller and skinnier. When sitting the male is jet black with red eyes. But, as he flies you see that there are white patches on the primaries. The Phainopepla is only found in Southern Arizona and Southern California. His main diet is flies. It's fun to watch as he sits atop a tree flies out about 10 feet or so, flutters a bit, then flies back to the same branch --- repeatedly. Looks like some sort of ritual dance, but he's just having dinner.
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