Recent Birds I’ve Found In The West Desert

Male Lazuli Bunting perched in a juniper

Last week I made two trips out to the West Desert and today I am sharing a medley of recent birds that I found while I was out there. I have already shared some of the birds I found in separate posts including Violet-green Swallows, a female Black-chinned Hummingbird exploring a knothole and a sassy, singing Rock Wren.

On the 26th of May the last birds I spotted were a Lark Sparrow and Lazuli Bunting which were perched on posts next to the road. They were on the wrong side of the vehicle and by the time I was able to get back to where the two birds had been the Lark Sparrow had flown away and the Lazuli Bunting had moved to a juniper. I was happy that I found the Lazuli Bunting and was able to photograph it. The males are such brilliantly colored birds I don’t know how anyone could miss seeing them. This male did sing but when he sang his back was to me.

Adult Red-tailed Hawk basking in the warmth of the morning sun

The first bird I found on the 27th of May was a gorgeous adult Red-tailed Hawk basking in the warmth of the morning sun while perched on a fence post. Having the darker mountains behind the bird seemed to make the hawk glow in the sunlight.

West Desert Western Kingbird on a juniper

After photographing a Rock Wren the next bird I found was a Western Kingbird just a bit up the road from the wren. I’m seeing more Western Kingbirds out in the West Desert than I have in the past and I kind of hope that trend continues. They are beautiful and feisty birds.

Adult House Wren in a mountain forest

I also found a House Wren up higher in the forest of the mountains near an old nesting cavity. This House Wren wasn’t very cooperative and spent most of the time in the shadows of the trees. When the wren landed on this branch and had light on it I was ready to photograph the sassy, little bird.

Warbling Vireo foraging in a wild rose

The bird that was the hardest for me to find was this Warbling Vireo foraging in a wild rose. I could hear it calling but for the longest time it stayed hidden from view. When the vireo popped out into the open for a few seconds the only reason I was able to take this photo was because I had kept my eyes on it.

Western Kingbird in the mountains of the West Desert

Coming back down the mountains one of the last birds that I found on the 27th was another Western Kingbird perched on a barb wire fence. It was across the dusty road from another kingbird and I hope that this pair will nest nearby.

These are just some of the birds I found and pointed out last week in the West Desert. I enjoyed photographing them all.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my bird photos in my galleries.