Ruby Road to Arivaca Cienega

Howdee all,

More rain last night…clearing in the morning to frosty covered everything.

I took no frosty photos..as most of you reading this have had enough of the cold.

It was a chilly day here compared to weather the past week in the 70s.

Today mid fifties was tops…and colder with the wind chill.

We decided to take a long drive..on one of my favorite dirt roads..

Ruby Road

Ruby Road turnoff (Exit 12) 8 miles north of Nogales on I19

See the snow on the distant mountains?

So..anyway, Ruby road turns to dirt..

25 miles of Dirt road…

Lots of border patrol in this area, as its very close to the Mexican border

View Larger Map

Lovely dirt road…See the Green Rock in the distance..Lichen

Today, the road was wet with last nights rainsThe wind was howling..and kept most birds down..

We did see birds on the drive..

Rufous crowned sparrow, Chipping sparrows, a Great horned owl being harassed by Mexican Jays and two gray birds, robin sized, maybe Solitaire,but not sure,as the flew before we could get a good look.

 

  We then drove to Arivaca Lake to look for ducks..again, not very birdie, Coots, Pie billed Grebe, Mexican mallards, Ruddy ducks, Vermillion flycatchers,Tree and Rough winged swallows.

Onto Arivaca Cienega   I think everyone who goes here takes a photo of this tree…

I took at least ten..You are lucky I am sparing you and not showing them all. The wind had picked up and a storm was coming in…

  We saw  Black and Turkey Vultures flying over head in the strong winds.

Lesser Goldfinch frolicked in the reeds snacking on seeds..

Vermillion flycatcher couples flitted to and fro catching bugs.

We also saw

Vesper and Song sparrows, Kestrel, Black HawkTwo Sora hid from us, and called from the reeds..I love this green weed..Duck weed?I found this little stinkbug prancing about…       Don't let these photos fool you..it was chilly and windy…

  And a storm was a brewin..

Luckily it didn't rain till an hour after our walk.  I wondered where the water was…

Last time we were here I remember there being much more water..

I suppose the lack of Summer rains….

Hopefully the spring rains will make up for it …

It wasn't the birdiest day here, though considering the weather, I think we did good!