March 28 & 29 2008
Day 1:
Strange how things work out. Nick's geoscience seminar class went to the Grand canyon for spring break. I finished my intriguing and educational interview with NAU's library and headed to the Grand Canyon myself. While driving through the Ponderosa pine forests outside of Flagstaff I got a call. I shouldn't have gotten a call, seeing as how signal strength just wasn't very good. Apparently someone wanted a job reference for Annie. I told them to email me with a date and time for the following week when I would be back home.
Again, I wish I had had more time, the scenery is so beautiful. I got to see the views from the Southern rim for the first time. I had hiked part way down on the North side when I was a geoscience student years ago. I tried to find condors, but no luck. while there, I got a call from Nick saying I could pick him up in Page UT and that we'd call to make further arrangements. Of course, phone signal is iffy out in the wilds of Arizona and Utah. The road to Page from the Grand Canyon is gorgeous.
We got connected enough that I was able to find him behind the urger King in Page. Scruffy, tired, filthy but happy, we piled his stuff into the big red suitcase and headed for Kanab where I had reservations at another hotel. We got to drive over the Glenn Canyon dam and past the much reduced Lake Powell.
Day 2:
It was great having someone help me with my bags! We headed out fairly early, our first stop was a funky tourist trap called Moqui Cave. It had been a dance hall and now was a museum, family history stop run by a very garoulous guy. He was great, but we had to hit the road. I had wanted to drive through Zions, but we missed the turn, drat. I had been through there before on the way back from Sarah's. So we drove and drove and went to Byrce Canyon. There I spotted my very first white breasted nuthatch. We did a bit of walking and looking but the clock was ticking and it is a very long drive to Pocatello.
Kinda nifty having Nick with me on the way home...
Photos from Northern Arizona University:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604328549608/
Photos from the Grand Canyon and road to Kanab:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604360160126/
Photos from Bryce Canyon, and the road to Pocatello:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604361393786/
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Flagstaff: sixth stop on the southern sabbatical circuit
The drive to Flagstaff took me through two detours, one the painted desert and two the petrified forest. Both were amazing, beautiful and astonishing. Nothing like huge petrified logs on the ground to get my attention.
http://www.nps.gov/pefo/
It was frustrating to spend so much time driving through amazing country and I couldn't stop and see everything. So I missed the meteor impact crater, and the ice caves and the worlds largest petrified tree in a museum and... The list of things I missed is very sad. I just wish I had more time for all of it.
On the other hand, I did get to see a lot of great national parks and monuments and scenery, not to mention all the libraries.
Flagstaff is a gorgeous town and the campus is stunning with all of its ponderosa pine trees. It is high enough up that it had bits of snow lingering about.
There's not a lot to write about most days because all I did was drive and drive and drive and drive. And when I wasn't driving I was working on writing up sabbatical stuff, visiting universities, eating or sleeping. Good think I LOVE to drive.
Photos of the drive: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604332516137/
Photos of NAU: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604328549608/
http://www.nps.gov/pefo/
It was frustrating to spend so much time driving through amazing country and I couldn't stop and see everything. So I missed the meteor impact crater, and the ice caves and the worlds largest petrified tree in a museum and... The list of things I missed is very sad. I just wish I had more time for all of it.
On the other hand, I did get to see a lot of great national parks and monuments and scenery, not to mention all the libraries.
Flagstaff is a gorgeous town and the campus is stunning with all of its ponderosa pine trees. It is high enough up that it had bits of snow lingering about.
There's not a lot to write about most days because all I did was drive and drive and drive and drive. And when I wasn't driving I was working on writing up sabbatical stuff, visiting universities, eating or sleeping. Good think I LOVE to drive.
Photos of the drive: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604332516137/
Photos of NAU: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604328549608/
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Albuquerque: fifth stop on the southern sabbatical circuit
I left around 5:00 a.m. in order to get through the Dallas/Fort Worth megopolis before rush hour. I took highway 287 heading north west. By paying close attention to the signs and breathing deeply I made it through. The rest of the drive through West Texas was tedious in comparison. So I drove and drove and drove stopping at Santa Rosa for the night.
The next morning I drove up to Pecos National Monument where I spotted my first pinyon jays. They are the cutest. Of course I say that about a lot of birds. Pecos (http://www.nps.gov/peco/) is a pueblo indian ruin complete with old ruined mission.
Albuquerque is where I really started seeing the route 66 signs. On the drive from TX to UT I managed to go through Amarillo TX, Gallup NM, Flagstaff AZ, and Winona AZ. On the way to Phoenix I picked up Kingman AZ. It was very hard to get the Route 66 song out of my head. I even ate at a Route 66 diner when I got to Albuquerque.
I loved meeting the librarians at this library. Johann deserves an honorable mention for being one of the most personable librarians I met on my sabbatical. I think I could listen to him for hours.
Innovative, intelligent, and a great natural story teller. We need to invite him to speak at more library association conferences.
Pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604272672825/
UNM photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604331781201/
ROUTE 66 from Wikipedia:
"Route 66", is a popular song and rhythm and blues standard, composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troup. It was first recorded in the same year by Nat King Cole, and was subsequently covered by many artists including Chuck Berry in 1961 and The Rolling Stones in 1964. The song's lyrics follow the path of the U.S. Route 66 highway, which used to run a large distance across the US, going from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California.
The lyrics read as a mini-travelogue about the major stops along the route, listing several cities and towns that Route 66 passes through. Specifically mentioned, in order, are
St. Louis, Missouri;
Joplin, Missouri;
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;
Amarillo, Texas;
Gallup, New Mexico;
Flagstaff, Arizona;
Winona, Arizona;
Kingman, Arizona;
Barstow, California; and
San Bernardino, California.
Winona is the only town out of sequence in the list. It was a very small settlement east of Flagstaff, and might indeed have been forgotten if not for the song's lyric, "Don't forget Winona", written to rhyme with "Flagstaff, Arizona." --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Route_66_%28song%29
The next morning I drove up to Pecos National Monument where I spotted my first pinyon jays. They are the cutest. Of course I say that about a lot of birds. Pecos (http://www.nps.gov/peco/) is a pueblo indian ruin complete with old ruined mission.
Albuquerque is where I really started seeing the route 66 signs. On the drive from TX to UT I managed to go through Amarillo TX, Gallup NM, Flagstaff AZ, and Winona AZ. On the way to Phoenix I picked up Kingman AZ. It was very hard to get the Route 66 song out of my head. I even ate at a Route 66 diner when I got to Albuquerque.
I loved meeting the librarians at this library. Johann deserves an honorable mention for being one of the most personable librarians I met on my sabbatical. I think I could listen to him for hours.
Innovative, intelligent, and a great natural story teller. We need to invite him to speak at more library association conferences.
Pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604272672825/
UNM photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604331781201/
ROUTE 66 from Wikipedia:
"Route 66", is a popular song and rhythm and blues standard, composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troup. It was first recorded in the same year by Nat King Cole, and was subsequently covered by many artists including Chuck Berry in 1961 and The Rolling Stones in 1964. The song's lyrics follow the path of the U.S. Route 66 highway, which used to run a large distance across the US, going from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California.
The lyrics read as a mini-travelogue about the major stops along the route, listing several cities and towns that Route 66 passes through. Specifically mentioned, in order, are
St. Louis, Missouri;
Joplin, Missouri;
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;
Amarillo, Texas;
Gallup, New Mexico;
Flagstaff, Arizona;
Winona, Arizona;
Kingman, Arizona;
Barstow, California; and
San Bernardino, California.
Winona is the only town out of sequence in the list. It was a very small settlement east of Flagstaff, and might indeed have been forgotten if not for the song's lyric, "Don't forget Winona", written to rhyme with "Flagstaff, Arizona." --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Route_66_%28song%29
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Staying in Italy March 17 - 24
So much to do and so many people to visit with. I had to do work though too. I ended up at dad's office typing away on my computer, transcribing notes, uploading photos, and planning for the next route.
I was able to meet up with Jeff and Randy (dragging Mom, Dad and Erika along) at the El Fenix restaurant in Dallas. The El Fenix is a marvelous Mexican restaurant that is a Dallas institution. We also invited them to Easter dinner at Moms. It was great to catch up with them. Dad gave us a comprehensive dome tour which is always interesting to me. I never can keep up with all of the innovations going on with Monolithic Constructors.
Mom, Melinda and I did some shopping. I loved the going out of business Liz Claiborne outlet and found $4.00 shirts that I would end up wearing on every other circuit of my sabbatical. The clothes were a great addition to my trip wardrobe. I ended up having to ship some of it home in boxes, cause even though I was driving my big red suitcase, it only holds so much. I also didn't want to encourage anyone to break into my car by leaving things in it.
Rebecca showed up part way into my stay, she was recovering or rather not recovering from a surgery. After I left she ended up in the Texas hospital for a second go-round.
Tessa hosted a breakfast for all of us and I got to see more of those cute nieces and nephews of mine.
While staying at mom's house I got awoken in the morning by this sharp rapping on the window. Eventually, I discovered that a bright red cardinal was attacking its image in the window. Defending his territory and functioning as an alarm clock, what a bird. I also got to see a lot of Carmella the albino house sparrow. Melinda and I did some birding and I was even able to spend a few days at her house. In the evening we would watch David Attenborough's Lives of Birds. It had rained enough to create a big pond in between Mike's house and Gary's house. Erika named it Erika's lake. It was a great birding spot.
I had a great visit with everyone.
Pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604165651309/
March 21 2008
“Erika’s Lake” at the dome & Charca
1. baird’s sandpipers
2. solitary sandpiper
3. wilson’s snipes
4. savannah sparrows
5. American pipits
6. house sparrows
7. greater yellowlegs
8. barn swallows
9. killdeer
10. red eared sliders (turtles
11. common grackles
12. scissor tailed flycatcher
13. eastern bluebird
14. mockingbird
15. brownheaded cowbirds
16. cardinals
17. mourning doves
18. white winged doves
19. Eurasian collared dove
20. blue jay
21. great tailed grackles
22. rock doves
March 22 2008
Lake Whitney, Milford, Hillsboro, Lake Erika
1. baird’s sandpipers
2. solitary sandpipers
3. killdeer
4. pipits
5. savanna sparrows
6. wilson’s snipes
7. savannah sparrows
8. American pipits
9. house sparrows
10. greater yellowlegs
11. starlings
12. eastern bluebird
13. cardinals
14. mourning doves
15. American crows
16. eastern meadowlarks
17. barn swallows
18. mockingbirds
19. turkey vultures
20. great tailed grackles
21. loggerhead shrike
22. lark sparrow
23. rough winged swallows / cliff swallows
24. coots
25. great egret
26. scissortailed flycatcher
27. herring gulls?
28. mallards
29. great blue heron
30. chipping sparrow
31. yellow rumped warbler
32. bewicks wren
33. blue jay
34. red tailed hawk
35. black vultures
36. Eurasian collared doves
37. white crowned sparrow
38. Carolina chickadee
39. hermit thrush
40. Carolina wren
I was able to meet up with Jeff and Randy (dragging Mom, Dad and Erika along) at the El Fenix restaurant in Dallas. The El Fenix is a marvelous Mexican restaurant that is a Dallas institution. We also invited them to Easter dinner at Moms. It was great to catch up with them. Dad gave us a comprehensive dome tour which is always interesting to me. I never can keep up with all of the innovations going on with Monolithic Constructors.
Mom, Melinda and I did some shopping. I loved the going out of business Liz Claiborne outlet and found $4.00 shirts that I would end up wearing on every other circuit of my sabbatical. The clothes were a great addition to my trip wardrobe. I ended up having to ship some of it home in boxes, cause even though I was driving my big red suitcase, it only holds so much. I also didn't want to encourage anyone to break into my car by leaving things in it.
Rebecca showed up part way into my stay, she was recovering or rather not recovering from a surgery. After I left she ended up in the Texas hospital for a second go-round.
Tessa hosted a breakfast for all of us and I got to see more of those cute nieces and nephews of mine.
While staying at mom's house I got awoken in the morning by this sharp rapping on the window. Eventually, I discovered that a bright red cardinal was attacking its image in the window. Defending his territory and functioning as an alarm clock, what a bird. I also got to see a lot of Carmella the albino house sparrow. Melinda and I did some birding and I was even able to spend a few days at her house. In the evening we would watch David Attenborough's Lives of Birds. It had rained enough to create a big pond in between Mike's house and Gary's house. Erika named it Erika's lake. It was a great birding spot.
I had a great visit with everyone.
Pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604165651309/
March 21 2008
“Erika’s Lake” at the dome & Charca
1. baird’s sandpipers
2. solitary sandpiper
3. wilson’s snipes
4. savannah sparrows
5. American pipits
6. house sparrows
7. greater yellowlegs
8. barn swallows
9. killdeer
10. red eared sliders (turtles
11. common grackles
12. scissor tailed flycatcher
13. eastern bluebird
14. mockingbird
15. brownheaded cowbirds
16. cardinals
17. mourning doves
18. white winged doves
19. Eurasian collared dove
20. blue jay
21. great tailed grackles
22. rock doves
March 22 2008
Lake Whitney, Milford, Hillsboro, Lake Erika
1. baird’s sandpipers
2. solitary sandpipers
3. killdeer
4. pipits
5. savanna sparrows
6. wilson’s snipes
7. savannah sparrows
8. American pipits
9. house sparrows
10. greater yellowlegs
11. starlings
12. eastern bluebird
13. cardinals
14. mourning doves
15. American crows
16. eastern meadowlarks
17. barn swallows
18. mockingbirds
19. turkey vultures
20. great tailed grackles
21. loggerhead shrike
22. lark sparrow
23. rough winged swallows / cliff swallows
24. coots
25. great egret
26. scissortailed flycatcher
27. herring gulls?
28. mallards
29. great blue heron
30. chipping sparrow
31. yellow rumped warbler
32. bewicks wren
33. blue jay
34. red tailed hawk
35. black vultures
36. Eurasian collared doves
37. white crowned sparrow
38. Carolina chickadee
39. hermit thrush
40. Carolina wren
Monday, March 17, 2008
Birding in Southwest Texas - March 15 & 16
This morning we packed our bags and headed back towards Big Bend. And this time we saw lots of birds including the beautiful little Vermillion flycatcher. We got up into the Chisos Mountain Basin where the oak grows wild. After a very long day of birding we headed for Italy. It was a very long way off so once we found a phone signal I called Nick to see if he could find us a hotel. Eventually I had to pull over and wait for his return call. Signal strength isn't exactly reliable in those parts.
A hotel was found in Monahans. The lady at the desk recommended a terrific restaurant, so we brought her back a piece of cheesecake. She had been having a pretty bad day. The look on her face was priceless.
The next morning we loaded up and headed out for Italy again. As we approached Fort Worth we saw the traffic backing up and many Texans heading across the side median to a frontage road. We just followed them. Unfortunately for them they did not have Melinda the super-navigator with them and they ended up back in line on the stalled freeway. We took back roads and saw more birds. It may have been the long scenic route, but I'll take that any day over stop and go freeway traffic.
It was great to arrive in Italy
Pictures from day 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604161092758/
A hotel was found in Monahans. The lady at the desk recommended a terrific restaurant, so we brought her back a piece of cheesecake. She had been having a pretty bad day. The look on her face was priceless.
The next morning we loaded up and headed out for Italy again. As we approached Fort Worth we saw the traffic backing up and many Texans heading across the side median to a frontage road. We just followed them. Unfortunately for them they did not have Melinda the super-navigator with them and they ended up back in line on the stalled freeway. We took back roads and saw more birds. It may have been the long scenic route, but I'll take that any day over stop and go freeway traffic.
It was great to arrive in Italy
Pictures from day 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604161092758/
- white tailed deer (not birds)
- mourning doves
- western meadowlarks
- red tailed hawks
- mule deer (also not birds)
- pyrrholuxias
- common ravens
- roadrunners (my trip favorites)
- loggerhead shrike
- black throated sparrows
- mockingbirds
- turkey vultures
- black tailed gnatcatcher
- verdin
- golden fronted woodpecker
- white crowned sparrows
- yellow rumped warbler
- cardinals
- vermillion flycatchers
- spotted towhee
- white winged doves
- ruby crowned kinglet
- golden crowned kinglet
- lark buntings
- chipping sparrows
- ladder backed woodpecker
- purple martin
- black phoebe
- mountain chickadee
- purple finches
- cassins finches
- house finches
- northern (red shafted race) flicker
- western meadowlarks
- cactus wren
- cottontail bunnies (not birds either)
- western wood peewee
- starlings (
- common grackles
- house sparrows
- harris hawks (mf pair plus juvenile near grand falls)
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Birding in Southwest Texas - March 14
Today, we got up early and headed for Big Bend National forest, the long way, of course. On our way to Pinto Canyon road we stopped at a culvert to look at the swallows. WHOOO HOOO cave swallows and then a miraculous appearance of scaled quail this was a very good omen of things to come.
The back roads started out pretty good, pavement gave way to broad, smooth gravel expanses. Our first heart stopping moment came with the cresting of a rise and trying to run over a small group of collard peccaries (wild pigs). A mule deer gave us another moment, and then we really got into back roads. It took us several hours to drive through the 35 mile back road of Pinto Canyon. It was wild and beautiful and there were birds. The driving though was slower than walking because a decision had to be made every inch of the way, turn left-miss that rock, turn right-miss that pothole. Learning to drive on the Menan Buttes in winter and spring was the best training I could have ever had for this road.
We came out back onto pavement at Ruidosa. From here we could see Mexico. We never did go into Mexico, but we sure saw a lot of its mountains to the South. We drove and drove along the Rio Grande, through desert and rock and over mountain. It was stunning and I wish I had more pictures. We stopped at an abandoned movie set (Controbando). Fort Leaton was interesting and had more birds and wonderful sun shades made of dried ocotillo. Ocotillo cactus looks like spiky rebar. At Terlingua ghost town we stopped at a diner for a late lunch. We still had miles to drive, but it was necessary. Terlingua is hot, dry, and dusty. When the wind kicked up the dust it was pretty miserable. The good and bad news at the diner was that the lady who owned it makes world class, blue ribbon winning pie, unfortunately she didn't have any available that day.
We made it into Big Bend national park and just drove on through. By now I was whining about never seeing a road runner. I really, REALLY wanted to see one. And then we turned a corner and I had to slam on the breaks again to prevent us from hitting one. Now that was an exciting way to see a bird. He was gorgeous and I am in love with the road runners.
We got back to Alpine, dusty, sunburned, allery ridden, and fell into bed.
Pictures of day 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604142402353/
Birds of the day include:
The back roads started out pretty good, pavement gave way to broad, smooth gravel expanses. Our first heart stopping moment came with the cresting of a rise and trying to run over a small group of collard peccaries (wild pigs). A mule deer gave us another moment, and then we really got into back roads. It took us several hours to drive through the 35 mile back road of Pinto Canyon. It was wild and beautiful and there were birds. The driving though was slower than walking because a decision had to be made every inch of the way, turn left-miss that rock, turn right-miss that pothole. Learning to drive on the Menan Buttes in winter and spring was the best training I could have ever had for this road.
We came out back onto pavement at Ruidosa. From here we could see Mexico. We never did go into Mexico, but we sure saw a lot of its mountains to the South. We drove and drove along the Rio Grande, through desert and rock and over mountain. It was stunning and I wish I had more pictures. We stopped at an abandoned movie set (Controbando). Fort Leaton was interesting and had more birds and wonderful sun shades made of dried ocotillo. Ocotillo cactus looks like spiky rebar. At Terlingua ghost town we stopped at a diner for a late lunch. We still had miles to drive, but it was necessary. Terlingua is hot, dry, and dusty. When the wind kicked up the dust it was pretty miserable. The good and bad news at the diner was that the lady who owned it makes world class, blue ribbon winning pie, unfortunately she didn't have any available that day.
We made it into Big Bend national park and just drove on through. By now I was whining about never seeing a road runner. I really, REALLY wanted to see one. And then we turned a corner and I had to slam on the breaks again to prevent us from hitting one. Now that was an exciting way to see a bird. He was gorgeous and I am in love with the road runners.
We got back to Alpine, dusty, sunburned, allery ridden, and fell into bed.
Pictures of day 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604142402353/
Birds of the day include:
- curve billed thrasher
- house sparrows
- brown headed cowbirds
- Eurasian collared doves
- common ravens
- white winged doves
- red tailed hawks
- northern harriers
- scaled quail
- cave swallows
- western meadowlark
- mourning doves
- eastern meadowlark
- loggerhead shrike
- American kestrel
- pronghorns (still not considered birds)
- vesper sparrows
- canyon towhees
- turkey vulture
- mule deer (not a bird)
- black throated sparrows
- pyrrholuxia
- roadrunners
- purple finches
- house finches
- yellow rumped warbler
- long billed dowitcher
- Mexican mallards
- northern shovelers
- green winged teal
- cinnamon teal
- great blue heron
- white crowned sparrows
- eared grebe
- cliff swallows
- say’s phoebe
- collared peccaries (truly not birds)
Friday, March 14, 2008
Birding in Southwest Texas - March 13
I picked up my birding partner in crime at the El Paso airport. Melinda and I hit the hot, sunny road heading towards Big Bend. Did you know you can do 80 mph on some of the freeways in West Texas? It may not be good for the gas mileage, but it's great for making the miles zoom by.
This was my first time to be stopped by border patrol in our own country. They took one look at the two blondes and all of our luggage and waved us on by. It is very weird that we as a country are doing this. It kinda creeped me out that we'd have this stop not at an entry road into the U.S. but just on one of the freeways near Mexico.
We stopped at Van Horn earlier in the day than expected so we canceled our hotel there and extended our reservation at Alpine. We had lunch at a darkened Mexican cafe named Chuys. The food was good and the people around us were very talkative, including us in some of their conversations.
Of course, we took the long scenic route from Van Horn to Alpine, going through the Baldy Peak area.
Here we encountered the Chihuahuan Ravens for the first time and still more Mexican Jays (of the Texas race). The drive was gorgeous.
As we approached Marfa we spotted a huge white thing on the horizon. It looked a bit like a hot air balloon, but it was close to the ground. It finally resolved into a really, really, big white fish. It
was almost as amazing as the Chihuahuan Ravens.
Photos for the drive to Alpine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604122222305/
Birds of the day included:
This was my first time to be stopped by border patrol in our own country. They took one look at the two blondes and all of our luggage and waved us on by. It is very weird that we as a country are doing this. It kinda creeped me out that we'd have this stop not at an entry road into the U.S. but just on one of the freeways near Mexico.
We stopped at Van Horn earlier in the day than expected so we canceled our hotel there and extended our reservation at Alpine. We had lunch at a darkened Mexican cafe named Chuys. The food was good and the people around us were very talkative, including us in some of their conversations.
Of course, we took the long scenic route from Van Horn to Alpine, going through the Baldy Peak area.
Here we encountered the Chihuahuan Ravens for the first time and still more Mexican Jays (of the Texas race). The drive was gorgeous.
As we approached Marfa we spotted a huge white thing on the horizon. It looked a bit like a hot air balloon, but it was close to the ground. It finally resolved into a really, really, big white fish. It
was almost as amazing as the Chihuahuan Ravens.
Photos for the drive to Alpine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604122222305/
Birds of the day included:
- American crows
- oggerhead shrike
- rock doves
- large fish (okay not a bird)
- red tailed hawks
- Mexican jays
- white winged doves
- pronghorns (not a bird either)
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Las Cruces: fourth stop on the southern sabbatical circuit
I began my drive to Las Cruces with a very, very tedious drive through Tucson's morning rush hour. Note to self: do not reserve a hotel on the other side of town from your next destination. Additionally, tis better to sleep in than play stop and go in rush hour.
Chiricahua (http://www.nps.gov/chir/) pronounced "cheery cow ah" is a national monument located in the southeast corner of Arizona. It is a stunning pile of volcanic rock formations with high desert vegetation. My goal to visit every national park and monument I could took me off the freeway to this gorgeous spot. As I got to the park I spotted a few tiny white tailed deer. Later I got to see my first Mexican Jay (arizona variety). The bird was hopping around the parking lot looking for food.
It is so frustrating to be a birder, but not good enough at it to spot all the great birds. Particularly when you're visiting a special 'these birds are only found here' spot. Frustrating to hear the birds but not be able to spot them. AAAAAAAaRRRRRGGGGGH. Melinda and I will have to come back here.
I took the long way back to the freeway and drove on dirt roads past Fort Bowie and lots of nut tree orchards. One of the orchards had this amazingly large flock of crows. They were in the trees, on the ground and everywhere. As I drove up to the fields they would swarm up and over, swirling among the still bare trees.
I finally got to my hotel in Las Cruces only to discover that I had booked myself into a D.I.V.E. The good thing was they screwed up my reservation and had me in a smoking room so I was able to extricate myself from the deal with no costs *phew*. Next problem, how to find a new hotel. Solution - call Nick. He was able to get me into a different hotel, he also helped me get un-lost. This is one of the few towns where I didn't have a map.
The next morning I went to the university. The campus is stunning and the people at the library were fabulous, interesting and innovative. I finished up with them in the early afternoon and headed for El Paso to pick up Melinda.
Road to Las Cruces including Chiricahua: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604113476916/
New Mexico State University: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604122180011/
Chiricahua (http://www.nps.gov/chir/) pronounced "cheery cow ah" is a national monument located in the southeast corner of Arizona. It is a stunning pile of volcanic rock formations with high desert vegetation. My goal to visit every national park and monument I could took me off the freeway to this gorgeous spot. As I got to the park I spotted a few tiny white tailed deer. Later I got to see my first Mexican Jay (arizona variety). The bird was hopping around the parking lot looking for food.
It is so frustrating to be a birder, but not good enough at it to spot all the great birds. Particularly when you're visiting a special 'these birds are only found here' spot. Frustrating to hear the birds but not be able to spot them. AAAAAAAaRRRRRGGGGGH. Melinda and I will have to come back here.
I took the long way back to the freeway and drove on dirt roads past Fort Bowie and lots of nut tree orchards. One of the orchards had this amazingly large flock of crows. They were in the trees, on the ground and everywhere. As I drove up to the fields they would swarm up and over, swirling among the still bare trees.
I finally got to my hotel in Las Cruces only to discover that I had booked myself into a D.I.V.E. The good thing was they screwed up my reservation and had me in a smoking room so I was able to extricate myself from the deal with no costs *phew*. Next problem, how to find a new hotel. Solution - call Nick. He was able to get me into a different hotel, he also helped me get un-lost. This is one of the few towns where I didn't have a map.
The next morning I went to the university. The campus is stunning and the people at the library were fabulous, interesting and innovative. I finished up with them in the early afternoon and headed for El Paso to pick up Melinda.
Road to Las Cruces including Chiricahua: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604113476916/
New Mexico State University: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604122180011/
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Tucson: third stop on the southern sabbatical circuit
I left Phoenix at an impossibly early hour in desperate need of an ATM and gas. I found both at a corner quick stop. The desert between Phoenix and Tucson is very different than the one between Las Vegas and Phoenix. On the way to Tucson the cacti get bigger, the ground gets barer, fewer shrubs and bushes, and more cacti varieties.
My first stop was the Saguaro National Monument. It was AMAZING. The short path I walked included signs with the names of the cacti. It was very hot, even though it was only Match 11th. The pictures on flickr just don't do this desert justice.
I then drove on into Tucson. Funny thing about maps, they just don't stay current with road building. I had to do some zen driving to find my way to town, cause I was literally not on the map and it wouldn't be the for the last time.
I had extra time, so I went to the public library and looked around and took a few pictures. I had a good meeting at University of Arizona, and really liked lunch at their outdoor Bookend Cafe.
Dinner came from Safeway and then I headed to my hotel, and drove, and drove, and drove, and drove.
The website said the hotel was in Tucson. It lied. The hotel was about 45 minutes outside of Tucson. Still, it was a great hotel the first of many best westerns to come. I was still nervous about traveling alone, so I wasn't unhappy that the hotel was so far outside of the main city and set in a beautiful, rural, area.
Saguaro National Monument photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604111511622/
Tucson Public Library photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604113314788/
University of Arizona photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604113438130/
My first stop was the Saguaro National Monument. It was AMAZING. The short path I walked included signs with the names of the cacti. It was very hot, even though it was only Match 11th. The pictures on flickr just don't do this desert justice.
I then drove on into Tucson. Funny thing about maps, they just don't stay current with road building. I had to do some zen driving to find my way to town, cause I was literally not on the map and it wouldn't be the for the last time.
I had extra time, so I went to the public library and looked around and took a few pictures. I had a good meeting at University of Arizona, and really liked lunch at their outdoor Bookend Cafe.
Dinner came from Safeway and then I headed to my hotel, and drove, and drove, and drove, and drove.
The website said the hotel was in Tucson. It lied. The hotel was about 45 minutes outside of Tucson. Still, it was a great hotel the first of many best westerns to come. I was still nervous about traveling alone, so I wasn't unhappy that the hotel was so far outside of the main city and set in a beautiful, rural, area.
Saguaro National Monument photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604111511622/
Tucson Public Library photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604113314788/
University of Arizona photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604113438130/
Monday, March 10, 2008
Phoenix: second stop on the southern sabbatical circuit
Friday March 7th - Monday March 10th 2008
Friday I drove to Phoenix. I know I've seen Hoover Dam before as a kid, but I just can't believe how stupendous it really is. The drive also took me through a piece of Joshua Tree forest the first of many desert terrains. I started remembering the various cactuses as this trip progressed.
It took some time but I finally started to realize that the problem with my pictures wasn't only due to shooting through the windows while driving. There had to be something wrong with the camera. Jamie confirmed it when I got to Phoenix. Jamie says that people pay lots of money for a lens with a softening effect. This old camera of Nick's has dust in the lenses. Perhaps it is due to the many dusty places he has taken it. In any case, it takes a great portrait, blurring out any imperfections...
It was fun to stay with Jamie and Sarah! I got there late Friday. On Saturday morning we hooked up with a friend and went to breakfast (fabulous oatmeal!). Next we stopped at the modern marvel of Phoenix public library. We dropped Robert off and went shopping. I found a great digital camera that uses double a batteries. I also got a huge expansion card so I wouldn't have to worry about uploading photos.
Saturday afternoon we visited and hiked around the White Tanks park. I absolutely love the teddy bear cholla cactus. I told Jamie about my walking to Rivendale goal (trying to walk 10,000 steps a day - using a pedometer for counting). Maybe she'll join me on this big hike.
Sunday we went to the wild animal park (mini zoo actually) and out to Brad's to see his horses. The big gray one kept trying to step into the covered porch. There's a 2.5' wall around the porch, but he really could step through if he wanted to. He was WONDERFUL. I really miss having horses around.
Monday was the big visit to Arizona State University-Tempe. It was spring break for them so the place was pretty deserted. I loved the palm tree lined boulevard in the middle of campus.
Jamie had me watch the funniest episode of the series ANGEL. It's the one where Angel is turned into a muppet. I laughed so hard I thought I would cry. We also watched the movie "Take the Lead" with Antonio Banderas dancing the hottest tango I've seen in years.
Hoover Dam: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073380583/
Road to Phoenix: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073398381/
Phoenix Public Library: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604077244253/
Wild Animal Park: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604121985021/
Brad's Horses: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073052870/
White Tanks Park: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604085964689/
Arizona State University: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604111640972/
P.S. The new camera is FABULOUS
Friday I drove to Phoenix. I know I've seen Hoover Dam before as a kid, but I just can't believe how stupendous it really is. The drive also took me through a piece of Joshua Tree forest the first of many desert terrains. I started remembering the various cactuses as this trip progressed.
It took some time but I finally started to realize that the problem with my pictures wasn't only due to shooting through the windows while driving. There had to be something wrong with the camera. Jamie confirmed it when I got to Phoenix. Jamie says that people pay lots of money for a lens with a softening effect. This old camera of Nick's has dust in the lenses. Perhaps it is due to the many dusty places he has taken it. In any case, it takes a great portrait, blurring out any imperfections...
It was fun to stay with Jamie and Sarah! I got there late Friday. On Saturday morning we hooked up with a friend and went to breakfast (fabulous oatmeal!). Next we stopped at the modern marvel of Phoenix public library. We dropped Robert off and went shopping. I found a great digital camera that uses double a batteries. I also got a huge expansion card so I wouldn't have to worry about uploading photos.
Saturday afternoon we visited and hiked around the White Tanks park. I absolutely love the teddy bear cholla cactus. I told Jamie about my walking to Rivendale goal (trying to walk 10,000 steps a day - using a pedometer for counting). Maybe she'll join me on this big hike.
Sunday we went to the wild animal park (mini zoo actually) and out to Brad's to see his horses. The big gray one kept trying to step into the covered porch. There's a 2.5' wall around the porch, but he really could step through if he wanted to. He was WONDERFUL. I really miss having horses around.
Monday was the big visit to Arizona State University-Tempe. It was spring break for them so the place was pretty deserted. I loved the palm tree lined boulevard in the middle of campus.
Jamie had me watch the funniest episode of the series ANGEL. It's the one where Angel is turned into a muppet. I laughed so hard I thought I would cry. We also watched the movie "Take the Lead" with Antonio Banderas dancing the hottest tango I've seen in years.
Hoover Dam: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073380583/
Road to Phoenix: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073398381/
Phoenix Public Library: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604077244253/
Wild Animal Park: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604121985021/
Brad's Horses: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073052870/
White Tanks Park: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604085964689/
Arizona State University: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604111640972/
P.S. The new camera is FABULOUS
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Las Vegas: first stop on the southern sabbatical circuit
This was my first long drive, 8+ hours, mostly on I15. I spent the night at Rebecca's house in SLC so it was a little shorter than it might have been. This was my introduction to interesting bird antics.
First, I'm driving down the road and off to the left is this sign about a ranch being for sale, and there in the process of crossing the dirt road to the ranch is a chicken...
Later in the afternoon I noticed a dirt road paralleling the freeway. This road had a dozen or so crows standing around. Weird. Then about 5 minutes down the road there's another murder of crows standing around on the dirt road. And again, and again, and again. It was like a crow convention with committees of 12-17 evenly spaced. I think there were about 8 committees in all. It was very strange. I wish I had pulled over to take pictures, but I just didn't think there would be so many.
The drive itself was gorgeous.
I ended up staying at the Gold Coast casino, I nice place to visit if you LIKE casinos. For me they're a bit like visiting hell. The slot machine noise and blinking lights are designed to give me migraines and the inevitable cigarette smoke leads to the inevitable asthma attack. Of course, the rooms are only accessible if you walk the length of the casino. The room was gorgeous though and very reasonably priced on a Thursday.
The university library was FABULOUS and more than worth the visit.
I tried to go birding at the Springs Preserve, but it was too hot and too deserted for me. I hit the road for Phoenix.
Salt Lake city to Las Vegas - Photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073211787/
University of Nevada, Las Vegas - Photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073262313/
Clark County Public Library - Photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073291123/
First, I'm driving down the road and off to the left is this sign about a ranch being for sale, and there in the process of crossing the dirt road to the ranch is a chicken...
Later in the afternoon I noticed a dirt road paralleling the freeway. This road had a dozen or so crows standing around. Weird. Then about 5 minutes down the road there's another murder of crows standing around on the dirt road. And again, and again, and again. It was like a crow convention with committees of 12-17 evenly spaced. I think there were about 8 committees in all. It was very strange. I wish I had pulled over to take pictures, but I just didn't think there would be so many.
The drive itself was gorgeous.
I ended up staying at the Gold Coast casino, I nice place to visit if you LIKE casinos. For me they're a bit like visiting hell. The slot machine noise and blinking lights are designed to give me migraines and the inevitable cigarette smoke leads to the inevitable asthma attack. Of course, the rooms are only accessible if you walk the length of the casino. The room was gorgeous though and very reasonably priced on a Thursday.
The university library was FABULOUS and more than worth the visit.
I tried to go birding at the Springs Preserve, but it was too hot and too deserted for me. I hit the road for Phoenix.
Salt Lake city to Las Vegas - Photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073211787/
University of Nevada, Las Vegas - Photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073262313/
Clark County Public Library - Photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604073291123/
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Notes from February's Sabbatical Visits to Utah
At Salt Lake City Public I discovered the new and exciting world of library photography policies. I had no idea such a thing existed. It makes sense though, when you consider all the professional photographers coming into the SLC publilc library to use it as a backdrop.
My visit to Orem included the mandatory stop at La Dolce Vita in Provo, an incredible Italian restaurant.
It is located at:
61 North 100 East
Provo, UT 84606
(801) 373-8482
http://www.ladolcevitaprovo.com/
On the drive to Logan I had an incredible impulse to call my aunt Susan. It seemed a little nuts since I have a brother, sister-in-law and 4 nieces/nephews there and I was going to be stealthy and not visit them. I eventually gave into the impulse and arranged to go to lunch with Susan. I met her at the Utah Festival Opera's building. Susan is the director for 'Opera for Children'. See: http://www.operabychildren.org/. We headed over to Great Harvest Bread Co., for a lunch of sandwiches. In the middle of a great conversation she suddenly looks up and says "there's your brother."
He, of course, loudly exclaims "Aunt Susan!" and comes over. I then get the best double-take I've ever seen from him. And he continues "and my sister!"
It was great to see both of them.
The way out of town was particularly exciting when deer jumped out in front of me on the road. I was driving slowly in part to save gas money and in part because of the 'watch for deer' sign.
Visited:
Salt Lake City Public - Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604004657195/
University of Utah - Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604000775304/
Provo Public Library - Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604005050647/
Utah Valley University - Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604000953468/
Logan Public Library - Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604001499630/
Utah State University - Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604005331249/
My visit to Orem included the mandatory stop at La Dolce Vita in Provo, an incredible Italian restaurant.
It is located at:
61 North 100 East
Provo, UT 84606
(801) 373-8482
http://www.ladolcevitaprovo.com/
On the drive to Logan I had an incredible impulse to call my aunt Susan. It seemed a little nuts since I have a brother, sister-in-law and 4 nieces/nephews there and I was going to be stealthy and not visit them. I eventually gave into the impulse and arranged to go to lunch with Susan. I met her at the Utah Festival Opera's building. Susan is the director for 'Opera for Children'. See: http://www.operabychildren.org/. We headed over to Great Harvest Bread Co., for a lunch of sandwiches. In the middle of a great conversation she suddenly looks up and says "there's your brother."
He, of course, loudly exclaims "Aunt Susan!" and comes over. I then get the best double-take I've ever seen from him. And he continues "and my sister!"
It was great to see both of them.
The way out of town was particularly exciting when deer jumped out in front of me on the road. I was driving slowly in part to save gas money and in part because of the 'watch for deer' sign.
Visited:
Salt Lake City Public - Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604004657195/
University of Utah - Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604000775304/
Provo Public Library - Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604005050647/
Utah Valley University - Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604000953468/
Logan Public Library - Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604001499630/
Utah State University - Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604005331249/
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