Patagonia, Kino Springs

Birding again with Evelyn and Craig Gutowski from Ontario, this time we headed south to visit Patagonia. Our first stop was at the Patons’ house, which, despite being a ‘quiet’ time of year had lots of nice birds including several bright LAZULI BUNTINGS, great views of GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, LINCOLN’S SPARROW and much more. It was nice to hear singing BEWICK’S WREN and WHITE-WINGED DOVE again.

Joining forces with Michael Marsden, Sheri Williamson and several others, we hunted for the Red-breasted Sapsucker along Pennsylvania Avenue. It was seen, but not by me. I did connect with a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER though, as well as ACORN, GILA and LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS in this woodpecker-rich area.

We headed for Kino Springs where we met Melody Kehl. Hopefully she had better luck in locating the Williamson’s Sapsucker than we did, although we did bump into the continuing PALM WARBLER, first by the big fenced off tank near the road, later in its favorite spot by the swimming pool. Also at Kino Springs, VERMILION and GRAY FLYCATCHERS and GREAT EGRET, GREEN HERON, TREE and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS around the pond.

A quick stop at Tubac didn’t turn up much beyond another GRAY FLYCATCHER and a few more singing WHITE-WINGED DOVES. A TURKEY VULTURE was over I-19.