Rough Legged Hawk

When driving the entrance road of City of Rocks State Park, I kept getting a glimpse of a hawk, but not a great look.

I spent several hours studying my hawk references, so that if I got a good look, I could figure out what the species is.

Finally, I got my chance! 

Rough Legged Hawk

This hawk had a lizard he was eating for lunch, so he sat on the pole while I got his photo!

Notice the feathers that come way down on the legs of this bird.  That is the basis of the name given him.

Such a regal being.

Visitors from Texas

Last week I enjoyed visitors from Texas.  Becky and Gene had been my neighbors for over 30 years.  They were travelling to Washington State to see their grandson graduate from high school.

One day we went to Gila Cliff Dwellings.  It was a hot day and I felt that I could not hike that trail in the heat. So I waited in the shade at the entrance and watched birds.  I enjoyed the songs they sung and got a few photos.

Nuthatch

The Gila River flows through the canyon where the Gila Cliff Dwellings are, and this moist habitat provides beauty  in plant life and animal life.

Scrub Jay

Living the old song

I remember "The Sons of the Pioneers"'  From 1933 they sang moving songs about the cowboy life.  Wonderful music!

I am in SW New Mexico Mexico for a while.  We have many, many, many
tumbleweeds blowing across every road, every fence, and every ranch acreage.

They drift along with the wind, just like in that famous song "Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweed."



The members of that old quartet included Roy Rogers, who was in the earliest trio and then the quartet. The other members were not as famous as Roy Rogers but were as essential to the quartet's success.  Later they were in many movies and TV shows with Roy.

I feel that the RVing lifestyle enables me to drift along with the tumbleweed.  If the weather turns too hot, too cold, too windy, etc.  I start up the motor and move.

I am thankful to the Sons of the Pioneers for the inspiration, and the RV manufacturers for making it comfortable.

A tumbleweed in Chelan, Washingt