The Mules

A wonderful conclusion to this year’s Southwest Wings festival: a morning in the Mule Mountains with Tom Wood and half a score of personable and enthusiastic birders! And with both of my lectures behind me, I could relax and enjoy the fine weather, the good company, and the spectacular views.

As is often the case with such amazing landscapes, it wasn’t particularly birdy; in fact, at this spot, Juniper Flats, the avifauna appeared to comprise half a dozen Rufous-crowned Sparrows and a male Spotted Towhee–so I was happy!

The towhee, a first-summer male (you can just see the molt limits in the photo above), perched up and sang at us for several minutes before deciding to make himself scarce.

A quick flight into the vegetation and he was gone, leaving us to turn our attention to the beautiful wildflowers on a delightfully cool morning.

A bindweed…

… and a dayflower, the reminder that even fine weekends of birding can’t last forever!