French
Joe Canyon & SE AZ
May
17-19
-
65-92
degrees
-
Henry Detwiler
Bob, Suzanne, the girls, and I took a trip to look for the Rufous-capped
Warbler.
77
species (list follows at end
of page)
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.
French Joe Canyon
|
We drove the long drive from Yuma to the end of the French Joe
Canyon road on Friday evening, and set up camp in the dark. A
Whiskered Screech-Owl serenaded us all night.
|
The next morning at dawn, Suzanne, Bob, and I set
off up the trail. Broad-tailed Hummingbirds were flocking
around the water trough, giving off their shrill wing
whistle. Other birds made the hour hike up to the upper
springs quite enjoyable.
|
Bob next to the Upper Spring
|
Suzanne looking out over the Upper Spring
|
Once we reached the upper springs, we were happy to see both water
and a wonderful bed of Yellow Columbines. Bob spotted the
Rufous-capped Warbler among the flowers, and we all got fantastic
looks at it. Hopefully our slides will come out--especially
since it was very tame! It worked the flowers, and then
disappeared from view.
|
Columbine
|
|
Yellow Columbine
|
A few minutes later I saw the same one, or it's
mate, and also heard a snippet of song. After that point we
lost track of the bird. Fortunately many other species were
also visiting the springs. We had fine looks at
Black-chinned Sparrow, 3 species of towhee, Western Tanager,
Black-headed Grosbeak, and Cordilleran Flycatcher.
|
On the way
down we stopped to photograph some of the few blooming
cacti. We also watched Cardinals, Scott's Orioles, and
Ash-throated Flycatchers. It was a beautiful walk, and we
bumped into two other sets of birders seeking the warblers.
|
Prickly Pear Cactus bloom
|
Henry on an Arizona
Sycamore, Ash Canyon
|
That night we camped in Ash Canyon, and the following morning we
awoke to the calls of Elegant Trogon, flycatchers
(Sulphur-bellied, Dusky, and Brown-crested), Bridled Titmice, and
Bewick's Wrens.
|
We
spent a couple of hours exploring the cave at Coronado National
Monument, and found this nesting Canyon Wren at the mouth of the
cavern. A stop for lunch at Marsh Station Road added
Yellow-breasted Chat, Bell's Vireo, and Lucy's &
MacGillivray's & Yellow Warblers.
|
Canyon Wren on nest-Coronado
National Monument
|
|