*Hawks in nests
* a flock of Ibis in the marsh
*A Summer Tanager at our bird bath
*seeing an oriole in the top of a tree

We went to Arizona for a week of birding. We had a lovely time. We saw lots of birds that we can't see at home. The streams were running higher than I have ever seen them, because they have had a wet winter, just as we have in New Mexico. We stayed for a couple of nights in a cabin with a stream with little waterfalls running behind it. There was a little back deck, and it was so nice sitting there listening to the water. We also had a suite in one of the hotels, which was lovely because I could read in the bedroom while DH watched TV in the other room. As usual, we ran out of time to do everything we wanted to, and discovered some new things we would like to do next time.

When we returned, we found that all the summer birds had arrived while we were gone. We have lots of hummingbirds (we had a few before we left, but now we have lots more), and we have tanagers and orioles and kingbirds and flycatchers and grosbeaks. Hawks are beginning to settle down in their nests in the area I monitor. Yesterday I went to the park near my office to see if the local Cooper's Hawks were nesting there, and instead I found a Swainson's Hawk sitting in a nest. I am very excited about that. The only Swainson's Hawk nest I have ever been able to observe has to be watched from very far away because of where it is located, so this will be a wonderful opportunity to watch one.

I spend a lot of time out walking and checking nests at this time of year, so I am always carrying cheese sticks and yam or oat bars with me in my backpack. It's also the time of year when salads are very appealing. I throw all sorts of things in my salads, like meat and brown rice or garbanzo beans or roasted potatoes.

Allison