Ruins of the Grand Central stampmill near the Fairbank ghost town. The stepped stone shelves supported giant crushers used to break up silver-bearing ores from mines in Tombstone. During the silver boom years there were dozens of mills processing the Tombstone silver all along the San Pedro River, which was the only source of water for generating steam to drive the machinery. The sound from the mills, which ran continuously day and night, must have been deafening.

Please click photo for an enlarged view.

Sacaton grassland, with a view of the Whetstone Mountains.

On the Fairbank trail, San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, Cochise County, Arizona.

Link to the gofundme page here.

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Dusty trail.

I posted yesterday about seeing a small flock that consisted only of female red-winged blackbirds—a behavior I had never observed before. Thanks to @francescaridesbikes, @celestialphotography, and my brother-in-law Jerry I have a better understanding. Among migrating populations, male red-winged blackbirds form a kind of advance guard, moving to breeding areas ahead of the females in order to stake out territories and select a favorable nesting site. The females arrive later in a second wave. Most of my years observing these marvelous birds took place in eastern Virginia, where the blackbirds enjoy a mild year-round climate, and there is no strong seasonal migration as seen in northern states, or here in southeastern Arizona.

Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus ♀) at San Pedro House, San Pedro

Riparian National Conservation Area, Cochise County, Arizona.

Habituation and Accommodation, Episode 1

I gave myself my first pandemic haircut today. I couldn’t wait until Easter when Trump’s magic bunny is going to open America for business again. What a galoot.

Anyway, the haircut was a solid first effort, not entirely lamentable, and better than many haircuts for which I have paid actual money. I give it a C+.

Next up: DIY Dentistry – crowns and extractions!

Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus ♀) at San Pedro House.

I’m hoping someone can offer some insights on a bird behavior I observed for the first time. I watched a small flock of about 25 red-winged blackbirds perched calmly in a tree at San Pedro House, but the group comprised only females – not a male bird in sight. Has anyone else seen this?

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Pipevine swallowtiail (Battus philenor), puddling for minerals on a muddy bank on the San Pedro.

At the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, Cochise County, Arizona.