Kitt Observatory and time with my family

Before leaving Tucson, we had a few things we needed to do. The night viewing of the stars and planets at Kitt Peak was one of them. It is still an active observatory with several universities with grad students working here.

 

 

The eleven miles up the mountain to the observatory way up there at 7000 ft.



 

We arrived by 5:10 which is the time set depending on the sunset. After feeding us a pitiful turkey sandwich, we headed out to watch the sunset and moonrise.

The sunset actually sets 8 minutes before we see it. The dust and clouds in the sky made a very nice sunset.

The sunset in front then we turned around to see the moon coming up.

These were actually the telescopes we looked through.

They shared with us about how the stars were used as the first calendars and the ancient Greeks and Romans would forecast the monsoons arriving with the stars. Also how binary stars rotate and those of greater mass burn out more quickly than those of less mass.  Much was pretty basic but that was a good start for us.

We returned to the visitor's center and split into groups. Half went to the telescopes and half to learn about identifying the 88 constellations. We learned how to use a viewing wheel and then went outside with binoculars. I think that was my favorite part. Then we switched places and went into use the telescopes.

It was quite chilly on the mountain with the wind blowing after dark. Then we went in to the big telescope and looked at Jupiter and it's moons and rings, the moon and its craters and other blue and red stars.

You hear how the lighting changes the pictures a person takes and different times of the day provides a different picture. I can see how true that is with the progression of the photos we took throughout the evening.

Our headlights had to be covered for the first mile down the mountain to prevent  light pollution when we left at 10 pm since this is an active observatory.

The next thing on the to do list was to spend some family time since Krista and Luke were in Arizona. 

Kyle above and Tyler in the pool.

I haven't had a lot of time to spend with Sandy and her family over the years. We got together several time over the past few weeks.

We have been in the desert for several months and are looking forward to our next adventures. Often when we think we have everything planned out something changes. That is part of what makes this nomadic life so interesting. We will keep you posted as plans unfold.



Madera Canyon and Great Horned Owl

 The desert is putting on quite a show now that cactus are beginning to bloom.

 The temps have been unseasonably warm in the upper 80s and seemed like a good idea to head to a higher elevation.  So we headed to Madera Canyon south of Tucson for a hike. 

 

 Southeastern Arizona's Madera Canyon is rated the third best birding destination in the United States. With fifteen species of hummingbirds, Elegant Trogon, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Flame-colored Tanager, 36 species of wood warblers, and over 256 species of birds documented, it is a "required" site for all serious birders.

There is a small reservoir holding the Bog Spring water. It could be part of the draw of the birds.

 

An area is set up along the creek of Madera Canyon so birders can sit and watch them come and go. I heard lots of different bird sounds but couldn't tell which was which. It turned out quite interesting just sitting and watching.

During our hike, I thought I heard turkeys.

 

 

Finch

Mexican Jay

More cactus blooms

I got the stitches out of the side of my face and have to say it doesn't look bad at all. The graft on my nose is still a bit scary looking. I have had a big white dressing on my face for 2 1/2 weeks now. Mike might not recognize me once it is all healed.

We are definitely getting the itch to be on our way. I am so glad that the doctor was able to get me all fixed up during the time we had planned to be in Tucson. 

In the evenings after dinner, we take a walk. I would hear an owl sometimes or so I thought. Last evening we ran into a 94 year old lady that looks like she is in her 70s and she pointed out the Great Horned Owl and it's baby. Tonight, we went looking at dusk and heard him in a different tree. Soon an entire group of people were watching them.

The birders around here have been giving us tips on where to see the birds. I did see an elegant trogon which is one that is a difficult find. No pictures it was flying.

 

 While riding along the Santa Cruz bike trail before it got too hot, we rode past 3 people on touring bikes with all of the  gear. I had to hear their story. After a brief interrogation, they asked where to have breakfast and we took them to the San Agustin Mercado. They are riding cross country from San Diego to Florida and loved the trail system here.

 

 

This handy bike shop is right on the Loop on the Santa Cruz trail.

Often in the mornings, we have coffee in San Agustin Mercado and people watch. This day was a young man practicing his juggling in the courtyard.

One more cactus in bloom before we go.

 

 

 



Tucson Mtn Park

Finally, a cool morning so we decided to go waking in Tucson Mountain Park. We only walked two miles since I am not supposed to sweat for a few more days because of my skin graft and the trail started getting steep. It was still early and decided to take a drive in Saguaro National Park. We noticed signs for an open house at the Desert Discovery Center, made a u-turn to check it out.

 

Gila Woodpecker

I have never seen such a dense population of ocotillos. So many are ready to bloom that we need to return later this week to see them.

I told Mike that that stick looks like a snake. He said it is a gopher snake. Ok, it was a snake that looks like a stick.

Once we got to the Desert Discovery Center, they were bringing out a Gila Monster.

We rubbed his cool belly even though they are venomous.

This King snake (nonvenomous) looks like a cobra snake (venomous) with a white on his head to differentiate them. I did not rub his belly.

We took a great geology hike.

Trilobite fossil

Fruit from the cholla cactus.

Must be the cousin to the gopher snake we saw on the trail.

That was a nice way to spend another day here in the Sonoran Desert.