Tucson By Choice!

Silly Saturday Night Post: Eyes In The Back of Her Head

This western screech owl seems to have eyes in the back of her head.

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

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

Western Screech OwlMy 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.

Western Screech Owl in Saguaro "boot"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.

 ___________________

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.
Mike Jones (Tucson Mortgage Company, LLC): Loan Officer in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Call me
if I can help you with a purchase or refi mortgage;
(520) 349-9090

Photos copyright Mike in Tucson

18 commentsMike Jones • July 04 2009 11:40PM

The Colors of December in Tucson: Red & Green... and Orange!

Cardinal among the oranges

Yep!  That's a Cardinal

 

 

 

 

 Come

visit

Tucson!

 

  

 

December is when the oranges begin to ripen in my back yard.  The little monsoon begins at the same time, and the desert begins to look lush again.  We've had 1 1/4 inches of rain since the first of the month.  This male Cardinal has taken up residence with his mate somewhere in the arroyo behind our home, and he enters the yard by coming through the orange tree.  He's headed for the bird feeder, but not until he has looked around to make sure the coast is clear.

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.
Mike Jones (Tucson Mortgage Company, LLC): Loan Officer in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Think of me as your Tucson mortgage expert.
Call me if I can help you with a mortgage to buy your next house:  (520) 349-9090

TUCSON REALTORS:  You can hire me to take your First Impression Photos.  (same phone number)

23 commentsMike Jones • December 28 2008 09:25PM