SE Arizona - Mt. Lemmon, Madera Canyon, & Kino Springs
3-4
July 2006
by
Henry Detwiler
Suzanne & I spent a wonderful pair of days birding Mt.
Lemmon, the Santa Rita Mountains, and near-by areas, finding many of our SE Arizona
specialties
99
species -- bird list is at the bottom of the page
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized photos. 
MONDAY
| We started off the day taking Gaby to the Phoenix
airport and setting her on her way to Minnesota, to visit her aunt,
uncle, and grandparents. Then we headed down to Tucson and up
Mt. Lemmon. We were fortunate to find Olive, Red-faced, and
Grace's Warblers, some of them at eye level! Hail and rain
greeted us at the very top, and in the early afternoon we drove down
the mountain towards the Santa Ritas. |
Red-faced Warbler, Mt. Lemmon |
|
Lesser Goldfinch, Madera Canyon
|
A thunderstorm was hanging over these mountains, too. Under
the dark clouds we found both Rufous-winged and Botteri's Sparrows
along Continental Road. Varied Bunting was a welcome find
along Proctor Road, as was a Brown-crested Flycatcher. At the Chuparosa Lodge we added multiple hummingbird species and these
Lesser Goldfinches. |
| We checked into the Santa Rita Lodge, ate some fine
steaks, watched a Black Bear strolling up canyon through our picture
window, and then came out to greet the owls. This baby Elf Owl
was being fed by its mother in a telephone pole next to the parking
lot. We walked up to the amphitheater parking lot and after a
while heard Whiskered Screech-Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl, and
Whip-Poor-Will. |
Elf Owl, Santa Rita Lodge
|
TUESDAY
Flame-colored Tanager,
Madera Canyon |
On Tuesday morning, the 4th of July, we hiked up to
the Kubo cabins, where we watched Blue Grosbeaks, Sulphur-bellied
Flycatchers, and Hepatic Tanagers. Finally, the male Flame-colored
Tanager flew in to the top of a tree and sang his heart out.
This digiscoped shot isn't very good, but gives you an idea of the
bird's vibrant colors. |
|
Hiking up the Vault Mine Trail at the top of Madera
Canyon, we heard Hermit Thrushes and Elegant Trogons. Then some
helpful birders told us about the trogon nest, and some other folks
showed it to us. We watched as both the male and female trogons
brought some juicy caterpillars to the hole and fed their young. |
Elegant Trogon & nest hole,
Madera Canyon |
|
|
Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Paton's Home
|
At Mrs. Paton's we watched a slew of hummingbirds
tending the feeders, including this handsome Violet-crowned
Hummingbird.
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Displaying the violet crown!
|
|
The most common hummingbird by far at the Paton's was the Broad-billed. The
males were too busy bullying each other for good pictures this time, but
this beautiful female was cooperative. Blue Grosbeaks, Bronzed
Cowbirds, Lesser Goldfinches and others graced the seed feeders, and
Yellow-breasted Chats
were calling incessantly along the river. Nearby, at the
Patagonia Roadside Rest Stop, we struck out on the Rose-throated Becard, but
did hear a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and saw yet another Violet-crowned
Hummingbird. |
female
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Paton's yard, Patagonia
|
|
Lucy's Warbler, Kino Spring
|
Our final birding stop was a few miles south, at Kino Springs. Even though it was after noon,
there was lots of bird activity. Our first Lucy's Warbler of
the trip was coming down to drink at a pool left by watering the
roses, as were many other fine-feathered friends. |
|
Both male and female
Blue Grosbeaks, Song Sparrows, and goldfinches were scattered about the lawn
of the clubhouse, and this showy male
Summer Tanager landed in a tree not far away from us.
Blue Grosbeak, Kino Springs
|
Summer Tanager |
|
Our primary goal for Kino Springs was the Tropical Kingbird, and
we saw this handsome individual soon after we arrived. Unfortunately
it stayed fairly high up in the tree. Still, it was nice to
see! Across from the clubhouse, sitting high in a tree next
the pond, a Gray Hawk posed and called.
Tropical Kingbird, Kino Springs |
Tropical Kingbird, Kino Springs
From Kino springs we made the long five-hour drive back to Yuma in
time for a late dinner. Can't wait to return next month! |
|
