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A lovely day in the Pajarito Wilderness with some of my favorite clients and some of my favorite birds.
Ruby Rd:
Driving in from the Arivaca direction, we encountered SWAINSON’S HAWK, GREATER ROADRUNNER, and LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, as well as both BLACK-TAILED and ANTELOPE JACKRABBITS.
Close to the Warsaw Canyon turnoff we paused to look at a HOODED ORIOLE, and it proved to be a very productive spot. Over the next ten minutes we found BLACK-CHINNED, COSTA’S, and BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRDS, NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET, and DUSKY-CAPPED and ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS.
Oro Blanco Mine:
I was delighted to see a CRISSAL THRASHER fly across the road, and after a while we eventually tracked down a pair of these elusive thrashers.
A pair of COMMON GROUND-DOVES was in the same area.
Confluence of California Gulch & Warsaw Canyon:
A pair of BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS were fairly easy to find in the usual hackberry and acacia thicket.
We couldn’t find a Five-striped Sparrow in the heat of the day, but did see BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW, SUMMER TANAGER, and VARIED BUNTING.
Ruby Lakes (aka California Gulch Dam):
We lingered here for a while as it was very pleasant and birdy. Sightings included ‘MEXICAN’ MALLARD, PIED-BILLED GREBE, GRAY HAWK, WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, YELLOW WARBLER, SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK, VARIED BUNTING, and BRONZED COWBIRD.
Arivaca Lake:
A smart male INDIGO BUNTING came in to drink, my first of the year. We also found GREAT BLUE & GREEN HERONS, BLACK VULTURE, TROPICAL KINGBIRD, BLUE GROSBEAK, and VARIED BUNTING. BOTTERI’S SPARROWS were singing along the entrance road.
Arivaca Rd:
A LESSER NIGHTHAWK flew over the road as we headed home.
Looking for opportunities for photographing scaled and harlequin (Mearn’s) quail. I understand these may be found in Calif. Gulch but you don’t indicate them.
Harlequin/Mearn’s Quail – official name Montezuma Quail – can be found at California Gulch and any of the border canyons, however they’ve very hard to see usually and you have to get lucky. Scaled Quail is a grassland species, so can be found at places like Buenos Aires, Las Cienegas, and around Sierra Vista, Willcox, etc.