Cienega Creek, Tucson, Az

Howdee all,

 

Last week we met up with Kathie of Sycamore Canyon blog again..to do some more birding..

This time Kathie took us to Cienega Creek Preserve.

Read Kathies Post of our Day…its so delightful..and she makes you feel like you are there with her..I know..because I was.

She makes an awesome German Pancake with apples..I am dreaming about it now.

After Kathies wonderful breakfast she takes us to the Preserve..

   First to an overlook..for a glimpse into the creek area…See the tall trees..

That is where we will hike to..  To the trail head We hike toward the tree tops..

  The trees are in a wash…  Almost there…the tops of the trees and views of the wash..

  Going into the wash..It was very quiet as far as birds…

We find water…and I find a Rock Face…

Do you see the face?

Two big eyes and a nose..melting into the landscape..

The creek runs right in front of the face..

As we follow the creek we see lushness

Bright greens line the creek…

This weed looks like watercress to me..but i wasn't sure..

We hike as far as possible in this lush oasis..

We spy a few Lesser Goldfinch..but..where are the other birds?

We decide to follow the creek in the opposite direction..hoping to find the source of the springs.

  We see just a few birds here…Why no birds?

We find the area where the water starts flowing from underground..making this sweet little creek. Just beyond a Black Pheobe…chirps

 

Onward we walk thru the wash…trees clinging to the water cut bank.

Finally we hear birds…lots of birds..hundreds of birds..Up high in these tall trees…

These trees are blooming…and the birds are finding food up high in them..

Flocks of Robins, Lesser Goldfinch, Yellowrump warblers, Gilded flickers, Gila Woodpeckers and more…most were hard to see as they flitted around the top of the tall tree.

WWe spent some time looking at the birds..then hiked out and left Cienega springs…

the

Oasis in the DesertAfter a nice lunch nearby..

Kathie took us to see this Great horned Owl nest…

See the hole in the bank off the side of the road?

We stayed in the car… So as not to disturb this beautiful bird… We had a wonderful time…

Thanks Kathie and Gus for your warm hospitality!

Lets go birding again.