Mike Jones

"Grandma," I asked, "How did you know I did that?"

"I've got eyes in the back of my head."

My Grandma said that to me more than half a century ago in her kitchen on the eastern shore of Virginia. I was trying to snag a cookie. I'll bet yours said the same to you when you were knee high to a grasshopper.

So when this Western Screech Owl twisted her head around to keep an eye on me, I burst out laughing. "Hey, Grandma!" I said, as I clicked the shutter. "You really do have eyes in the back of your head!"

A pair of Western Screech Owls made their nest this year in a saguaro "boot" I put up in the corner of our back ramada. We can see the saguaro boot from the kitchen window. A dove had built her nest on the top, but didn't stay around long when the owl showed up with the eviction notice.

From time to time, the hummingbird (photo left) played brave and did her best to drive the owl from its nest, to no avail.

Two nights ago, we had turned in early, and had the blinds open and the downlights on outside on the ramada.

My Darlin' and I were treated to a private half hour wildlife show with both parent owls and the one fledgling flying from perch to perch on our ramada.

Surrounded as we are by Tucson Mountain Park, our community, Tucson Estates II, is a birders paradise. People come to Tucson from all over the world courtesy of the Tucson Audubon Society and their birding fieldtrips. You can see why.

If you'd like to make Tucson your retirement home, give me a call. We have great relationships with some of Tucson's finest REALTORS, and money's not nearly as hard to get as the media would lead you to believe.

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I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.

Call me if I can help you with a purchase or refi mortgage;
(520) 349-9090

Photos copyright Mike in Tucson

The granite promontory (above) is the identifying feature of Pusch Ridge, an upthrust of rock that runs north from Tucson to Catalina, AZ, and overlooks Arizona's Catalina State Park. This photo was taken from the community of Honeybee Ridge in Oro Valley, AZ.

Pusch Ridge is home to the last surviving herd of wild Desert Bighorn Sheep in the greater Tucson area, and perhaps in all of southern Arizona.

The ram on the right lives at the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum (one of the ten best zoos in the world.)

If you're thinking of making Tucson or one of the surrounding towns your retirement home, subscribe to my blog and give me a call.

7/4/09 EDIT: I received an email from John Peters, Jr. with the following info about Desert Bighorns on Pusch Ridge:

"...there have not been any bighorn sheep on Pusch Ridge for years. Despite numerous flyover and foot searches, no sheep have been spotted. Speculation is that the mountain lions took them out."

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I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.

Call me if I can help you with a purchase or refi mortgage;
(520) 349-9090

Photos copyright Mike in Tucson

5:45 a.m. and three of us had a tee time at the Santa Rita Golf Course in Vail, AZ. We played nine before starting the workday. I thought I was doing pretty well until we reached the fifth tee.

We were greeted by a sight I'd never seen. Donte' Ormsby (who lives on the course) told us that these vultures roost in this huge tree every night. That's Donte' on the right. (He's the man who created my website mikeintucson.com)

The vultures were catching the day's first rays, stretching and talking amongst themselves, when Kevin Wood (left) stepped up to do the honors. Kevin's a REALTOR with Realty Execs in Tucson.

"Ready?" he said. He saw me with the camera pointed upwards, and expected that the birds would take flight when he rocketed the golf ball down the fairway. He was right. The birds didn't hang around.

___________________

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.

Call me if I can help you with a purchase or refi mortgage;
(520) 349-9090

Photos copyright Mike in Tucson

Donte' Ormsby and I played 18 holes of golf yesterday at the Santa Rita Golf Course south of Tucson, AZ. We had intended to play only nine holes, but you know how that goes.

These two young hawks were roosting in a pine tree on the 18th hole. I have a few birding books, but try as I might, I haven't been able to identify them.

I got a view of the back of the hawk when one flew into a sycamore tree. The tail is barred, and it's underside has the same creamy yellow that you see on the breast.

Active Rain has become my favorite resource for stuff I can't figure out. Can one of you identify them?

EDIT: Here's an email from one of our local Audubon Society gurus, Darlene Smyth, with the answer. Darlene has birded extensively in North, Central and South America.

EDIT 2: Here are a couple of other shots of the juvenile hawks. The box above the bird is the nest.

___________________

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.

Call me if I can help you with a purchase or refi mortgage;
(520) 349-9090

Photos copyright Mike in Tucson, (except photo of Darlene Smyth is courtesy of the Tucson Audubon Society.)

Sometimes the most peaceful view at sunset is found looking away from the sun. That was the case this evening in Dove Mountain, Marana, AZ.

I hope your week was successful, and that you had a chance to vege just a little today. Enjoy the view.

___________________

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.

Call me if I can help you with a purchase or refi mortgage;
(520) 349-9090

Photo copyright Mike in Tucson