Yesterday was my last run at the Riparian Preserve for this visit to Phoenix.
Not as many flowers this year due to the dryness. Water levels in the ponds were up a little over the last time I was there 2 weeks ago before the rain.
The birds were wonderful! There were at least 15 species of water birds. Hundreds of Least Sandpipers and Northern Shovelers. Many snowy egrets, blue herons, mallards, coots, anhingas, geese and black necked stilts. Lots of perching birds including white crowned sparrows, mocking birds, great tailed grackles, doves, cactus wrens, and lesser goldfinches. I saw several Albert's Towhees and one hummingbird, probably Anna's. The air is filled with the sound of birds. It makes my heart happy to be in such a place.
Another wonderful thing I have not previously mentioned about Mesa is the large number of orange groves. They are mostly in the northeastern quadrant and are what remain of even more orchards in days gone by. When we get off the 202 and head south into Mesa, the fragrance of the blossoms just hits you in the face. It is lovely! They have been in full bloom recently. The Mesa orchard areas resemble the Santa Clara Valley in CA (Silicon Valley) as it must have been before development overwhelmed the apricot orchards. There are still a few orchards here and there, but in the first half of the 20th century, the valley was known as Valley of Heart's Delight. It must have been beautiful. I wish I had seen it then. Many we know there did. So this area of Mesa reminds me of the Valley.
Sadly we leave here tomorrow. It has been a wonderful visit with good friends and our wonderful family both here and those who visited. We never get to do everything we want, but we did work in a lot!
On to LA.
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