Mt Lemmon, Reid Park

The ninth day of our tour was a classic trip up Mt Lemmon, ending at Reid Park in Tucson.

Westward Look, Tucson:

Breakfast is always better when accompanied by BLACK-CHINNED and COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRDS.

Incinerator Ridge Rd:

As always, this was a fabulously productive spot, with WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER, PLUMBEOUS and HUTTON’S VIREOS, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED and PYGMY NUTHATCHES, BROWN CREEPER, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, HERMIT THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN, a pair of OLIVE WARBLERS, singing VIRGINIA’S WARBLER, several bright ‘AUDUBON’S’ YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, GRACE’S, and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, PAINTED REDSTART, YELLOW-EYED JUNCO, and HEPATIC and WESTERN TANAGERS.

We also saw ABERT’S SQUIRREL and CLIFF CHIPMUNK.

Summerhaven:

A female SHARP-SHINNED HAWK buzzed along Marshall Gulch, presumably a breeding bird. A couple of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS alighted high in a pine tree for a brief view. Also around town, nesting HAIRY WOODPECKERS, CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREO, STELLER’S JAY, and PINE SISKIN.

Iron Door Restaurant:

MAGNIFICENT and BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS were coming to the feeders.

Seven Cataracts Vista:

A pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS were wheeling around their regular breeding cliff. One perched up for a remarkably poor, distant digi-scoped image.

Geology Vista:

We persuaded a BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW to pop up, while SCOTT’S ORIOLE was seen further down slope.

Reid Park, Tucson:

A splendid male WOOD DUCK was among the puddle ducks, along with summering AMERICAN WIGEON and RING-NECKED DUCK, the resident, one-winged NEOTROPIC CORMORANT, and ridiculously tame BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS.