Madera
Canyon & SE AZ
June
28-29, 2003, hot & sunny
- narrated
by Henry Detwiler
Suzanne, Gaby, and Adriana and I camped out in Madera Canyon and visited
several other SE AZ hotspots
92
species total
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.
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Botteri's Sparrow next to Florida Wash
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We found this Botteri's Sparrow just south of
Florida Wash along the road to Madera Canyon. At Bog Springs
Campground, we considered ourselves fortunate to find & reserve
a camp spot for the night--little did we know that we would have the
whole campground almost to ourselves!
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Rose-throated Becard at Patagonia Roadside Rest Stop
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Rose-throated Becard nest
After a "quick" trip through Box Canyon,
we made it to the Patagonia Roadside Rest Stop, where we had great
looks at the becard, a Varied Bunting, and many flycatchers.
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| After spotting a few more birds, like Rufous-crowned
Sparrow and Thick-billed Kingbird on the east side of the road, we
headed south to Kino Springs. Alas, the city of Nogales was
cutting all the cottonwoods around the ponds to avert a "water
shortage". The birds were concentrated on the golf course
and around the sewage lagoons. |
Western Kingbird at Kino
Springs
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Vermilion Flycatcher at Kino
Springs
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Several families of Vermilion Flycatchers were hawking
for insects around the gold course and the sewage lagoons.
This was the only mature male we saw. |
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Broad-billed Hummingbird
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Broad-billed Hummingbirds were nesting in a
junniper. Both Cassin's and Western Kingbirds were using the
golf course, but it wasn't until we scouted the sewage lagoon that
we found a pair of Tropical Kingbirds.
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This accommodating Gilded Flicker was at the edge
of the pro shop grounds. A quick fly-by of a Yellow-billed
Cuckoo was unexpected--we looked but never re-found it.
Dusky-capped Flycatchers were also around the sewage lagoons, as
were Bridled Titmice. It was hard to leave!
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Gilded Flicker at Kino
Springs
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Common Raven at Patagonia Lake
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We did some boating and swimming at Patagonia
Lake, and watched this raven being dive-bombed by kingbirds and
mockingbirds. It finally flew off and the show was over.
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At the lodge we watched the Acorn Woodpeckers chasing off Mexican
Jays and squirrels. Farther up the canyon we spotted a
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher and a 200 lb. black bear, but missed
the Flame-colored Tanagers.
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Acorn Woodpecker at Santa
Rita Lodge
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Mexican Jay at Bog Springs
Campground
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On Sunday morning we hiked up the Vault Mine Trail
and found both Painted Redstart and Red-faced Warbler. And
lower down the canyon Suzanne saw her first Elegant Trogon--a
beautiful male! Even as we packed up our camping gear, the Mexican
Jays hopped about and watched us--it was a fine end to a great
weekend. |
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