Why does the image of a phoebe bring about a sense of peace and place within me? Is it the bird's association with old bridges and gently flowing streams, with childhood memories of long summers and the smell of moss and fresh grass? Or is it the attitude of the bird itself, placid, patient and unassumingly plain in plumage?
With fresh fall feathers, in the dawn's light, the phoebe's breast glows golden.
All winter it slurs its name "Shwee-be," or chips so sharply that the sound echoes, making it difficult to find the source.
Sometimes it permits a close approach, as this one did on the boardwalk railing in Chapel Trail Nature Preserve.
An unexpected visitor suddenly appears. "I wonder what it tastes like." The brightly colored Julia butterfly either mimics other bad-tasting butterflies or is itself unpalatable, so it passes by safely.
The Eastern Phoebe graces our Florida neighborhood all winter long.
By midsummer, when we meet again in Illinois, the phoebe is in formal dress, its breast bleached white.
This young phoebe has caught a Red Admiral butterfly. It will soon learn whether to do this again.
In August, the contrast between upper and lower parts is now striking. Sorry I cut off the beak, but I took this shot in a hurry to document it because the bird looked unfamiliar!
In early September, it is time for ragged feathers to be replaced in the post-breeding molt.
All of the above are Eastern Phoebes, but in the Southwest we find two other species, the Black Phoebe (photographed in Arizona)...
...and Say's Phoebe (digiscoped in my former back yard in New Mexico).
Sedona, Arizona, our next objective after departing Tucson, was a 250 mile drive that took us about five hours. On the way, we passed through some breathtaking scenery. The winding road moved along Oak Creek Canyon, which appeared as a lush oasis in an otherwise parched landscape.
As we approached Sedona, red rocks began to predominate.
Two horizontal formations, the Schnebly Hill Sandstone and the Hermit Shale layers, up to 270 million years old, are rich in iron oxide that imparts the rust color.
We did not attempt to enter the town, as the streets do not safely accommodate a 31 foot RV. This photo was taken through the windshield as we passed by Sedona.
Our one-night stay at Rancho Sedona RV Park was brief but restful and quite productive. Our space was shaded by tall Sycamore trees, only about 50 yards from Oak Creek. I could hear Bullock's Orioles singing overhead.
Once the RV was hooked up we all headed for the creek.
Although I was intent on finding birds, Graci immediately discovered this (presumed) Long-tailed Brush Lizard, which I happily photographed.
I had high hopes of finding an American Dipper, as I had seen them near here during a prior visit. I focused my attention on the rapids, where I waited for one to suddenly surface.
The dipper never showed itself, but a pair of frame-filling Common Mergansers shot the rapids right in front of me.
An Ash-throated Flycatcher made hunting forays over the water.
I was delighted to find a family of five Phainopeplas on a tree in the middle of a wide spot in the creek. Members of the Silky Flycatcher family, they hardly ever sat still as they repeatedly took wing to catch flying insects.
American Robins and a Song Sparrow stopped by for a drink...
...as did this Gray Squirrel.
The lawn next to our RV attracted a Black Phoebe...
...and a female Bullock's Oriole foraged on the bark of a pine tree.
An American Robin showed off his prey in great detail.
This female Summer Tanager was hunting spiders under one of the electrical supply outlets...
...and suddenly looked up, spider silk dangling from her substantial beak.
She had found a cafeteria full of spiders!
A feeder next to the registration area attracted Lesser Goldfinches and House Finches.
A Bridled Titmouse provided me with my first-ever photo of this species.
One of the staff called me over to see this insect, which looked for all the world like a dead leaf...
...until it opened its wings to show the brilliant "eye spots" of an Io Moth.
This outcropping came into full view just before we exited the campground on our way to the Grand Canyon. Note the mostly thin white layers of limestone within the red Schnebly Hill sandstone. The latter is said to be entirely devoid of fossils, and there are only few in the limestone, leading to the hypothesis that the limestone layers were mostly windblown as sea levels fluctuated up and down.
