Scotland!! One of my favorite destinations is Scotland, and our last trip there was topnotch. I discovered new places to explore, and savor, and bird––all while delighting in the Scottish brogue. RSPB Reserve, Loch Garten (All photos by Narca) On this April trip, I was … Continue readingNethy Bridge and the Capercaillies
In recent Septembers, as part of our Rodeo-Portal Heritage Days, Elaine Moison and Dave Jasper have guided a field trip into South Fork, to discover and enjoy the wildflowers that flourish at the end of the summer monsoon. This year we found exquisite flowers, in … Continue readingAn Autumn Bouquet
Unsettled weather brings new possibilities, wakes us up. We’re more watchful, alert to what may be coming. What interesting changes are carried on the wind? Today, our weather is quite unsettled. A big storm passes through to the west, and we feel the winds it … Continue readingUnsettled Weather
Printing art on clothing has taken a new leap forward with an innovative company, VIDA, which I recently discovered. VIDA was founded in 2015 by Umaimah Mendro, a woman born in a village in Pakistan, who formerly worked for Microsoft. Based in San Francisco, VIDA … Continue readingVIDA: Art on Clothing!
After several years of a failed experiment with Envirolet composting toilets, I’ve installed two new ones of an innovative design –– Nature’s Head, a urine-diverting, composting toilet. Already I’m a convert, and elated with the results. Our Nature’s Head composting toilet I’m posting the news … Continue readingTribute to a Toilet
Dale Zimmerman’s new memoir, Turaco Country, has been published, and the advance copies are here! The big smile on Dale’s face says it all! Dale Zimmerman with his advance copy of Turaco Country (Photo by Narca) Turaco Country meticulously illumines Dale’s adventures and ornithological investigations in … Continue reading“Turaco Country” Arrives!
After 20 years, that most excellent of quail –– the Montezuma –– has finally deigned to visit our Roundhouse. Grasses around and above us are now very thick, giving them plenty of protective cover. A pair of Montezuma Quail, venturing onto new ground (All photos … Continue readingThe Grail Quail
Among the delights of living in the southwest borderlands is the opportunity to watch interesting reptiles going about their lives. Western Diamondbacks are the most frequent rattlesnakes to visit our yard –– sometimes to drink, sometimes to battle each other for dominance, sometimes to mate, … Continue readingOpen Wide, Diamondback!
My glimpse of an interesting bird at dusk was confirmed soon after when Dave Jasper called to tell us that he had just seen Rufous-backed Robins by the post office in Portal that morning. Rufous-backed Robin in Arizona Sycamore (Photos by Narca) Normally at home … Continue readingRufous-backed Robins Visit Portal!
Among many highlights of our recent trip to Cambodia and Borneo were treeswifts––the ultimate in avian elegance! Related to swifts and hummingbirds, treeswifts comprise one small family of only four species. For a long time they confounded ornithologists, who placed them with swallows. Even their … Continue readingTreeswifts––Pure Elegance!