I spent quite some time, on several days, sorting out Juncos at the Santa Rita Lodge feeders. Most of the birds were the Grey-headed version of the Dark-eyed Junco — like this guy.
I was looking for one of the few Yellow-Eyed Juncos that sometimes frequented the place but they were elusive, even though others had spotted them. (You should have been here ten minutes ago…”} Finally I spotted one and the next day, both Sally and I saw this one. A nice life bird, especially after the search.
We have had a few magical days of nice weather and wonderful hiking and birding and in a surprise, I’ve added 8 new birds to my life list.
Last night I saw two Elf Owls, who have just shown up, in an old telephone pole where they have nested for seven years. Lots of waiting, some calls, a quick look, and they were off in the dark to forage. And I had life bird 477.
We are staying at a lodge in Madera Canyon, a wonderful birding site known all over the world. There is a bird feeding station that attracts thousands of people, hundreds of birds, and a flock of Wild Turkeys who act like they own the place. It’s mating season so they are friskier than ever.
Tuesday turned out as forecast – cold, misty, and windy but we’d brought our cold weather gear and layered up to give it a try.
We headed south toward the border and stopped to check out the local airport for birds with no sightings but an old Beech 99 landing in a stiff breeze.
We saw our first Red-trailed Hawk soaring just above us as we turned into Kino Springs, a local development/golf course. Sally spotted a male Vermilion Flycatcher and I went out and could barely hold the camera in the wind as he moved away from us.
In the same spot, a dozen sparrows moved through (you can see one in the photo above,) and when we got home, we identified them as Lark Sparrows.
The balance of the trip involved a short visit to Nogales, Mexico and some stops for provisions. The forecast is looking better..
After a cold front and lots of rain, it’s a little soggy in Southern Arizona. ?This morning, I bundled up and took a walk around the neighborhood and found all sorts of bird activity.
The last bird of the morning, right beside our little trailer home. was a Hermit Thrush, the state bird of Vermont. Fitting end to a Vermont-like March/April morning.
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We escaped from frigid Vermont this weekend and after a long travel day, rolled into Patagonia to a funky AirBnb rental and this morning, walked the quarter-mile down the the Paton Center for Hummingbirds Center. Here are a few of the birds we saw:
One of our favorite birds has become the Phainopepla. We just love how this guy struts his stuff, posing like a male model, feeding like a flycatcher, whistling and calling like a Northern Cardinal.
The other day at Organ Pipe National Monument, I saw a female Phaina fly out of a bush near the trail with her partner nearby. Peering in to where she departed, I spotted this nest.
Waiting quietly with the dog, I watched her watch me and after a bit, ease toward the nest. She settled in and I took a few shots and left her alone, showing her to Sally a little later. We loved the punk hairdo.
As Vermonters, we tend to forget that February is nesting season along the border, but the next day, a similar thing happened. I saw a Cactus Wren emerge from a Cholla Cactus and watched her scout around for grass and twigs. I went over and found a nest, which was under construction.
Retreating, I watched her return with nest lining matter and then pause before her next venture.
Now really interested about nests, we started to find several others. I peeked into one, jumped back with a shout of surprised, and then carefully looked at a nesting Curve-billed Thrasher. Can you see her?
She’s at the bottom of the dark area, her beak is headed toward the ten o’clock position and her red eye is barely visible behind a tiny branch.
Looking for nests is a good way to sharpen our birding skills and observe bird behavior unobtrusively. It is a nice new challenge.
Yesterday’s walk started out tough. As I walked up the campground road I heard a Cactus Wren and was surprised to see it right beside me, except it didn’t look like a wren. I watched it sing and feed but it didn’t have a curved beak. It appears that is lost the tip of its beack and just had a stub. It was sad to see but it certainly had a lot of early morning pep.
Penny and I took a trail where she could roam a bit off leash and of course, she didn’t help my birding. I did see this American Kestrel way off.
It was very windy and most birds were resting but the Black-tailed Gnatcatcher was very cooperative.
Less cooperative were the cacti. The Jumping Cholla, the reason I wear jeans on these walks, got Penny several times in the foot. Removing them without getting stuck yourself is a challenge.
We were out for a good three hours and the rain showers and wind finally made us head for the van. This Gila Woodpecker, refusing to let us get close, greeted us at the campground.
We earned an early lunch and nap with desert wind and showers buffetting the rig. Can’t help but wonder how long that wren will hold on. Tal es la naturaleza.
Yesterday, I got an early start and visited the City of Tucson’s Sweetwater Wetlands, a 60 acre treatment and recharge project set up for wildlife viewing. It is a popular birding site where you can see nearby tractor trailers on I-10 while watching a Northern Harrier hunt for rodents.
I saw about 35 species in an hour but I also saw wildlife – or wild life. So this post might be PG or NSFW.
Moving along one of the paths that line the marshy lagoons, I noticed movement up ahead behind a tree and through my binos saw a big racoon – no make that two racoons. It was 8:30 in the morning.
I felt like a paparazzi as I watched and fired away with the Canon but they could care less. After about ten minutes, I slowly walked by them and if racoons can have a sheepish grin, this couple did. I left them to enjoy their cigarette and coffee or whatever.
It is nice to see a public facility so open and accessible – and such a neat teaching tool about wildlife and water reclamation. And its nice to think that in about two months, there will be three to six baby racoons to enjoy the place.