All over SE Arizona

Another mammoth day of target birding, taking in Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties…

Near Saguaro National Park West:
Male GILDED FLICKER on Mile Wide Road just west of Sandario Rd, still attending its nest in a saguaro.

Madera Canyon Road:
BOTTERI’S and RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS.

Proctor Road, Madera Canyon:
Male VARIED BUNTING, NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET.

Madera Picnic Area:
The GRAY HAWK nest is now replete with two large fuzzballs.

Carrie Nation Trail, Madera Canyon:
CORDILLERAN, DUSKY-CAPPED and at least five SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, HEPATIC TANAGER, YELLOW-EYED JUNCO. Couldn’t rustle up a trogon, but four were reported along the Super Trail.

Rio Rico Ponds:
11 WHITE-FACED IBIS in flooded field south of Rio Rico Drive. Five BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS on the main pond, with TROPICAL KINGBIRDS nearby.

Patagonia Roadside Rest:
I was delighted to see a THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD sitting on the nest. It later moved to the hillside under the cliffs to the northeast of the rest area.
Female VARIED BUNTING feeding in the shade with a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, a BLACK-THROATED SPARROW and a female NORTHERN CARDINAL, making an unlikely quartet.
GRAY HAWK flew across the road.

Paton house, Patagonia:
Regular visits from several VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRDS.

Huachuca Canyon:
Finally got a pair of ELEGANT TROGONS visiting a sycamore nest hole above the 1.7 mile mark.
WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL and NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL in their respective nest holes.
Pair of ARIZONA WOODPECKERS, several SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, HEPATIC and SUMMER TANAGERS.
Adult GRAY HAWK showed well next to the nest near the bathrooms at the 0 mile mark.

Beatty’s Guest Ranch:
In a very brief visit we didn’t find the White-eared Hummingbird. Tom Jnr said it was still around but wasn’t coming in as frequently as before, so was perhaps exploring up canyon.

Ash Canyon B&B:
We were sat in the wrong chairs for two or three brief visits from a Lucifer Hummingbird just before dusk, but we did see a fine male COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD. BOTTERI’S SPARROW was singing away and a MONTEZUMA QUAIL was calling in the distance. COMMON NIGHTHAWK again patrolling at dusk, and an ELF OWL was heard having its nightly tussle with Acorn Woodpeckers.

87 species in all. I’m going for a lie down now…