Journeys With Judy

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Feb 27 2014
I left NM today and followed NM highway 9 all the way to Texas. I then drove to Davis Mountain State Park. It is located in the Davis Mountains not far from the McDonald Observatory run by the University of Texas, Austin. They put on astronomy programs at the observatory for the general public. They fill up fast and if you should decide to go you will need to order your tickets well in advance. There is also a National Historical site in the town of Fort Davis.
I had a good time sitting at the bird feeding stations with my camera. I was disappointed to find that the feeders at the entrance station have been removed. That is where I spotted a group of Montezuma Quail two years ago. I didn’t find any in the park and no one I talked to had seen any. I did find a few other birds.

Black-crested Titmouse - Davis Mountain State Park TX

Canyon Towhee - Davis Mountain State Park TX

Chipping Sparrow - Davis Mountain State Park TX

Ladder-backed Woodpecker - Davis Mountain State Park TX

White-winged Dove - Davis Mountain State Park TX

View From Skyling Drive - Davis Mountain State Park TX

If you look real close you can see my campground down in that patch of green - View From Skyling Drive - Davis Mountain State Park TX

Pancho Villa State Park New Mexico

Feb 24 2014
Today I drove to Pancho Villa State Park in New Mexico. I visited here in 2012 with a couple of friends of mine. My friends are avid birders and they pointed out several parks between here and the southern tip of Texas. These parks are truly a birders paradise.
This park also has a great museum that explains the story of Pancho Villa and some of his followers that raided this little town of Columbus NM and the US Army fort that was located here.

White-winged Dove - Pancho Villa State Park NM

Great Horned Owl Female Sitting On Her Nest - Pancho Villa State Park NM

Great Horned Owl Male Watching Me Photograph His Mate - Pancho Villa State Park NM

San Pedro House - San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area AZ

Feb 2014
During my stay in Benson AZ I made a couple of trips to the San Pedro House located in the San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area.

Pyrrhuloxia - San Pedro House AZ

Gila Woodpecker - San Pedro House AZ

Green-tailed Towhee - San Pedro House AZ

House Finch - San Pedro House AZ

Inca Dove - San Pedro House AZ

Red-winged Blackbird Female - San Pedro House AZ

White-crowned Sparrow - San Pedro House AZ

Yellow-headed Blackbird - San Pedro House AZ

Fort Hauchuca - Amerind Museum

Feb 12 2014
I decided to stay in Benson until the Olympics are over. I have cable TV in the park where I am staying and they carry all three NBC stations. YIPEE!!!
So during my stay I visited the Cochise Stronghold National Park, the Amerind Museum, and Fort Huachuca. If you are ever in the area I highly recommend visiting Fort Hauchuca. It is rich in the history of the original Buffalo Soldiers who served their country. This fort was also used as a detention camp for German prisoners of war. When they showed movies on saturday night the white German pisoners sat up front and the black soldiers sat in the back.

Load'er up. Picnic area at the Amerind Museum AZ

Sign at the picnic area of the Amerind Museum AZ

A memorial to the men and women who have lost their lives serving their country in a capacity that sometimes doesn't exist on paper.

A statue to commemorate the Indian scouts that helped the US Calvary. Old original fort barracks in the background.
Fort Hauchuca AZ

View from a hill at Fort Hauchuca AZ

Visited Friends at Patagonia State Park AZ

Feb 11 2014
Drove over to Patagonia Lake State Park today to visit with Mary Brumfield and her daughter. They are camping there for a couple of days. We sat by the lake for quite awhile, but I only managed to catch a couple of Eared Grebes that swam by and posed for me.

Mary Brumfield and Daughter - Patagonia Lake SP AZ

Eared Grebe Winter

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Saguaro National Park - AZ

Feb 4 2014
Saguaro National Park is devided into two sections. One is east of Tucson AZ and one is west of Tucson. Several years ago I visited the section west of Tucson. Today I visited the section west of Tucson. These two parks were established to protect the giant Saguaro cactus, but they are home to many variaties of cactus and other desert plants and animals. I highly recommend a visit to either or both of these parks if you are in the Tucson AZ area. http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm

Saguaros grow branches after they are about 75 years old

Giant Saguaro with Santa Catalina Mountains in the back ground

Cactus garden in the desert

By 100 years old Saguaro reach about 25 feet tall

Saguaro NM - AZ

Saguaros that make it ot 150 years or more can reach hights of 50 feet or more and weigh as much as 16,000 pounds

Saguaro NP - AZ

Other desert plants help protect the young Segauros from the elements and hungry animals

Teddy Bear Cholla and Ocotillo - Saguaro NP - AZ

Black-throated Sparrow - Saquaro NP - AZ

Harris's Antelope Squirrel - Saquaro NP - AZ

Harris's Antelope Squirrel - Saguaro NP - AZ

Chiricahua National Monument

Jan 30 2014
Today I drove up to the Chiricahua National Monument AZ. The park is full of Native American history and early white settler history as well as some wonderful geologic features.