Rufous-capped Warbler, Black-capped Gnatcatcher

A nice day of target birding from Green Valley to the Santa Rita Mountains, with 74 species and the main targets bagged in style.

Green Valley:

Good numbers of CEDAR WAXWINGS were feeding on mulberries at Continental. Along S La Canada Dr in Green Valley, we found typical desert species including HARRIS’S HAWK, INCA DOVE, COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD, GILDED FLICKER, BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER, RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW, and HOODED ORIOLE.

Florida Canyon:

A RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER was found in the usual area above the oak grove.

BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER proved trickier to find today, with one eventually showing itself quite a way down canyon from the parking area.

Also in the canyon, a migrant SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, summer resident GRAY HAWKS, high-soaring GOLDEN EAGLE, GREATER ROADRUNNER, COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD, NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRRANULET, HERMIT THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN, PAINTED REDSTART, HEPATIC and SUMMER TANAGERS, LAZULI BUNTING, and SCOTT’S ORIOLE.

Madera Canyon Rd:

BOTTERI’S SPARROWS were fairly easy to detect at mile marker 9.

Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon:

A CASSIN’S FINCH continues, along with WILD TURKEY, MAGNIFICENT and BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, ARIZONA WOODPECKER, and PAINTED REDSTART.

This Acorn Woodpecker looked like it had either survived an attack from a hawk, or had a bad case of feather mites.