The Benches of Sahaurita

Patagonia Lake, Az

Birds today at Patagonia, Az

What started out as a slow birding day, in the end revealed some very interesting birds.

The small gray flycatcher, with the gray back and light colored chest and a pink lower bill.

The lark sparrow with it Harlequin like face.

The amazing Ruby Crowned Kinglet, which only shows his

ruby crown when excited. Although it is a fairly common bird, I have only seen its ruby crown once before. Today we came upon two that were probably demonstrating for territory and we saw the brilliant flash of red,

We saw quite a few ducks. We saw a pair of Bufflehead; always a pleasure to see.

Here one can see the difference between the male and female.

And the magnificent Northern Harrier. Swooping low over the cat tails looking for prey.

A large Hawk it is identified by its size, reddish brown feathers and white and the base of its tail.

Photos from Google Images

The Cows of Patagonia

While birding at Patagonia Lake, I said "WHOSE

GOT THE COW BOOK?".

We were nearly surrounded by white cows of all sizes; moms, bulls and calves.

These are CHAROLAIS. a breed of beef cattle developed in France and introduced into the US in 1936. They can be straw colored to white.

These large and heavy muscled cows make good beef cattle because they have traits of a fast rate of growth and feed efficiency.

This herd grazes along the east side of the Patagonia lake and the Sonita creek.

They seem quite used the birders walking along the pathways. We were more nervous of them than they were of us. Only giving us an occasional glance, they continued to feed, chew their cud and swing their tails.

Chuck's Az. Desert Garden

Nowhere Boy - Review

If you are a Beatles fan this is a must movie. It is about the young John Lennon. When he is having difficulty in school and listening to the early rock and roll of Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis

he rediscovers his mother who abandoned him at age 5 and gave him up to his Aunt Mimi played brilliantly by Kirstin Scot Thomas.

His mother, played very well by Ann-Marie Duff, is a "not all together woman" who sees John as a friend to pal around with more than a son. But one can see that she probably provided the musical genes. Aunt Mimi in contrast is severe and very proper.

Although the movie covers the very start of his band, it is more about John sorting out his feelings about these two very different women.

Acting by Aaron Johnson as Lennon and Thomas Sangster as Paul are excellent young actors.

Great sound track.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - A play by August Wilson

This play, presented by ATC is the second of August Wilson's plays to be offered by Arizona

Theater Company. Jitney was the first.Wilson's legacy is the Pittsburgh Cycle, a series of ten plays chronicling the experience of blacks in the US. Two of these plays won Pulitzer Prizes -Fences and the Piano Lesson.

In this play centering on the real life "Mother of the Blues", Madam Rainey, Wilson portrays the tension not only between the white and blacks of the 1920's but also between the generation of musicians. The older members of the band playing for Ma Rainey see life AND music differently than Levee White, who wants to take the music one step further from Ma's Blues to improvisational jazz.

This was a great production. Loved the stage setting and the costumes. All of the actors were great interpreting Wilson's characters. My only criticism is that IMO the director and the actress playing Ma Rainey could have portrayed her strength and quest for power and still made her more sympathetic. By the end of the play , I found her character a little annoying.

This plays run is done here in Tucson but it is a play to look for and see.