AZ - Day 5 (PD)

Is it that late already!! The fifth day just dawned?

We had our first swim in the "quiet pool" last evening and I expect that will be on the cards tonight too.

Firstly we have  another place to visit; the Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior and out to the east on SR60.

It's owned by the state and is $10 a head entry with no allowance for being over 60! It was hot. In fact very hot. There were quite a few thrill seekers there who rather walk around a few miles of dusty desert looking at the garden a mining millionaire started in the the 1920's, that go to the lakes and pose or pig out. The latter is a guess, just  from seeing the massive coolers strapped to the back of trucks and filling cars.

Once again we saw hummingbirds. Too small and too quick for me and my camera. The cardinal wasn't quick enough to fly off.

Cardinal hiding in a tree

Although it did its level best to hide.

Boyce Thompson was a local mine owner and magnate and his house is across the park from the garden on a rocky hilltop. The park is in fact his garden.

The terrain rugged and even the 1.5 mile "main trail" with several offshoots was tiring in 100F temperatures!

Th highlight was the Cooper's Hawk best. The warden had set up a telescope so that visitors could see the action in the nest. The parents are locally nesting and this year have four chicks.

The pic I took with my iPhone isn't terribly good, but you can see the chick nearest the edge.

Then cropped to make is larger...

Such a marvellous sight.

Our return was pretty much in reverse. Another stop at Fry's for dinner, tonight it will be steak, and then back to the apartment.

Tonight? Quiet night in. TV movies.