5_3 to 6_2012 Southern Arizona Birding

We've been busy with work and traveling. You saw the Palos Verdes trip, then the Joshua Tree trip. This one covers our recent trip to Southern Arizona to bird. We stayed at the Ramsey Canyon B&B. Nice place and lots of good birds on the grounds.

We were able to walk out of our room into endless trails for watching.  While the birds were cool, the plants were too. Check out this neat tree bark.

Though we birded extensively from the B&B we also headed out to some other locations. One stop our friend Steve Wolfe recommended with Mary Jo Ballator's home in Miller Canyon. You can see it is set up to be birder friendly!

We also headed out to the San Pedro River/Riparian area. This was an excellent birding spot even in the hottest part of the day - ad it was hot.

It was neat finding this lush area in the midst of the desert. The birds knew about it too. Loaded with birds.

We also headed to the Beatty Farm House. They have a viewing area for their hummingbirds. This location holds the world's record for most species seen in a day: 13.  We didn't see that many, but saw some nice birds.

Miller Canyon was destroyed in last year's fire. It has made a difference in the birds sadly. It will be after our lifetime before this intentionally set fire damage is gone.

From the B&B we were able to hike up to an outlook point.

From the outlook...

View from the outlook...

Back at the B&B, Dave stalked the Painted Red Start. The bird was onto him. That must be the fastest moving warbler (or wobbler as a guy from Connecticut said!!) ever!  All was not lost as he got lots of nice photos of other birds. AND he got nice ones of the Redstart too.

We ate out one night at the Outside In. I admit, the outside doesn't do a lot to make me want to go inside. The food inside is very good! Highly recommended if you are in the area!

While we were there, it was the night of the highly publicized "Super Moon".  We stopped on the way back from dinner to grab a photo with the point and shoot.

On our last day, we headed back to the San Pedro River.  Good stuff!

Our total species count was just over 70 birds. 62 of those we got on day one! Day two was oddly birdless. And day three was in between.  Great time! Dave is in Red Rocks now and will post up his nice bird photos when he returns (end of month). Look for those!

Until then, here is our bird list:

lack Headed Grosbeak
Mexican Jay
Black Chinned Hummingbird
Acorn Woodpeckers
Western Tanager
Painted Redstart (lots at the B&B)
Spotted Towhee
Lark Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Bridled Titmouse
Gambel's Quail (heard, never seen)
Crow
Yellow Rumped Warbler
Blue Throated Hummingbird (I was psyched as I'd really wanted to see one of these)
House Finch
Western Kingbird
Pine Siskin
Lazuli Bunting
White Wing Dove
Brown Headed Cowbird
Ladder Back WP
Bewicks Wren
Scotts Oriole
North Flicker
Turkey Vulture
Gila Woodpecker
Canyon Towhee
Wilsons Warbler (lots in many locations)
Townsend Warbler (lots in many locations)
Graces Warbler (first for me!)
Brown Crested Flycatcher
Broad Tailed Hummingbird
Broad Billed Hummingbird
Mourning Dove
White Breasted Nuthatch
Dusky Capped Flycatcher (with his sad little voice)
Magnificent Hummingbird
Lesser Goldfinch
Black Throated Gray Warbler
Common Grackle
Dreaded Pigeon
Red Winged Blackbird
House Sparrow
Starling
Hooded Oriole
Albert's Towhee
Cassin's Kingbird
Vermillion Flycatcher (LOTS at the Riparian area - saw a female on nest!)
Yellow Warbler (everywhere!)
Great Blue Heron
Yellow Breasted Chat (Riparian area)
Bullocks Oriole
Barn Swallow
Green Tailed Towhee
Summer Tanager
Song Sparrow
Mexican Mallard (Riparian area)
Pyroloxia (sp?)
Common Yellow Throat (Riparian area)
Swainson's Hawk
Common Ground Dove
Turkey
Elf Owl (!!)
Says Phoebe
Coopers Hawk
Hermit Thrush
Arizona Woodpecker (seen at the Conservancy and the B&B)
Hermit Warbler (a first for me yay!)
Plumeous Vireo
Red Tailed hawk
Song Sparrow
Lucy's Warbler (a first!)

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