Bird Watching at Home

Over the past two years, I've spotted an American Robin where I live on two occasions.  The first time I saw him, he was getting a drink from a water spigot.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  Robins don't live in the Phoenix area.  Then months went by before I saw him again hopping across the lawn near the front entrance.  On Saturday I decided to take my camera down to center courtyard, just outside the pool area and sit for a while to watch and see if I could see a robin show up.  I didn't hold out much hope but within 15 minutes, I spotted one.  He appears to be a young one because his feathers are still pretty fluffy but, there is no denying that bright 'red' breast.

Then a few minutes later, I spotted a mature female.  After that, I saw several more females in the same area.  I grew up in Illinois, a place where robins were common.  We saw them all the time. But when I moved to Arizona, I never saw them and a little research told me that they just don't live in this area.  Imagine my shock when I saw the first one two years ago.  Since I didn't see him again for many months, I told myself he was just passing through.

I'm now convinced that a family of robins are living on the grounds most likely in the giant ficus tree that looms over the center of the complex.  I caught this female just after she took a rather rambunctious bath in a decorative pond.   Seeing these birds I've missed for so many years makes me so happy.  I'll be watching to see if I can catch some more photos in the future.