Winter Reflections

This post is for Weekend Reflections hosted by James at Newtown Area Photo, a fun photo meme where you can view all kinds of reflection images or share your own.




These puddle reflections are from last weekend. Puddles and snow are rarely seen here. The short winter in this little corner of the Sonoran Desert is coming to an end. Spring begins in February.

Spring: February through March
Fore-summer: April through June
Summer Monsoon: July through Mid-September
After-summer: Late September through October
Fall: November through Mid-December
Winter: Late December through January

Above are the six seasons for this area according to David Wentworth Lazaroff's Sabino Canyon: The Life of a Southwestern Oasis.

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Winter Morning Skywatching

Sometimes it's nice to take a moment on a busy morning to go for a walk and check out the sky...

Enjoy more skies from around the world or share yours at Skywatch Friday. Special thanks to Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy and Sylvia for hosting this wonderful photo meme.

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MWT - Around the park

Chris and I were at Reid Park Sunday morning for our son's running event. Since we would be there for a couple of hours, I decided to explore the path that goes around the park. The weather was a cool 40 F and there was still frost on some of the grassy slopes at the golf course.



Raven on top of a telephone pole
I don't know what building this is but it looked old and I liked the details on it.
A bank on Broadway Boulevard

El Con Mall across the street with snow on the Catalina Mountains in the distance
Lizard decoration on a home near the park
Mystery bird identified as Vermilion Flycatcher by EileeninMD.
Peaceful duck pond
Coot
Starlings on a saguaro cactus in the parking lot
I got back to the north side of the park just in time to see Kevin finish running his 10K.
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After the rain...

"The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful."
~e. e. cummings

Check out more Weekend Reflections at James' Newtown Area Photo.

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Winter Storms

A series of storms is passing through Tucson this week. On my walk Wednesday morning I could see snow in the mountains and Sabino Creek flowing nicely. Here's the dam on Wednesday:
But by Thursday it was a deluge:
Stranded hikers:
Flooded bridge:
This is what that bridge typically looks like:
Trams were still running yesterday but service area was limited.
A tornado watch was issued for this area for the first time ever last night. It rained through night, much more rain is expected, and maybe some hail. The storms will likely be gone from here by Sunday. What is the weather like in your neck of the woods?

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Skywatch - Monday's Clouds

Subtle Sunrise 7:30AM
Desert Drama 8:45AM
Foothills 5:55PM
Midtown Mystery 6:00PM
The last picture was taken by my son near the university. He called to ask if I could see the weird cloud. I couldn't see it so he sent me the photo. Thanks Brian!

Check out other skies from around the world at Skywatch Friday hosted by Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Sylvia.

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My World Tuesday - Desert Birds

Greetings from the Sonoran Desert! These are some pictures from my walk in the desert yesterday morning.

Cactus wren on barbed wire


Cactus wren on fishhook or barrel cactus


Cactus wren building a nest in chainfruit cholla cactus


Yes, we're having cloudy weather this week with the possibility of some much needed rain! This image of a saguaro cactus is naturally monochromatic. A couple of woodpeckers are perched near the top.


Zooming in on one of the Gila woodpeckers makes it easier to see.


Western bluebird in a mesquite tree


Bluebird feeding on desert mistletoe in mesquite tree


Gambel's quail like mistletoe too. A female enjoys the berries


while a male is on the ground looking full.


Hiding behind the prickly pear cactus, this little rascal is not a bird, but fun to watch anyway.

Harris' Antelope ground squirrel

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Weekend Reflections

morning sun
shines on canyon wall
the desert speaks

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Skywatch - Bear Canyon

Greetings from the Sonoran Desert! Here are some sky pictures from our long walk in Bear Canyon on Monday. The temperature was a crisp 40 F when we started at sunrise and had climbed to a pleasant 70 F by the time we finished around 1:30PM.




To see other skies from around the world, visit Skywatch Friday. Thanks to the Skywatch team: Wren, Sandy, Sylvia, Louise, Fishing Guy and Klaus.

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