DROUGHT

The drought brings good birds to places like Christmas Mountains Oasis and Gage Gardens in Marathon, as well as other desert havens. But, as much as I enjoy those rarities, I'd prefer rain and water. Another new oasis species was photographed by Greg Jackson today. It's a poor photo, but at least documentation of the first oasis Yellow-throated Warbler.

Meanwhile, my sister-in-law, Dale, and I got a new county species for ourselves at Gage Gardens, a singing Tropical Parula.  Also my first photo of the species.

So now I'm trying to decide whether I want to go back to Gage Gardens tomorrow and try for another rarity there (Prothonotary Warbler that Dale saw, but I didn't), or hope the rare warbler is still at the oasis and try for it. Tough decisions. And I give my body no break! A good drought-fueled spring migration doesn't come along that often. And remember last fall? Migration was practically non-existent.

I'm pretty much ignoring my Alpine habitat (Johnson Ponds), where the mulberry trees are loaded with birds and berries. Sigh! And just this afternoon we got a much welcomed rain shower in Alpine. Sigh! I hope the oasis is next!