Rock Corral Canyon, Palo Duro Creek Golf Course

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A very pleasant hike a couple of miles up the lovely Rock Corral Canyon was followed by a visit to ponds in Nogales, making for a great day.

Rock Corral Canyon:

A pair of vocal BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS was found quite a way up-canyon, around 1.7 miles beyond the Rock Corral and campsite.

Along the way we also found BLACK VULTURE, NORTHERN HARRIER, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, a pair of WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS calling to one another, GRAY FLYCATCHER, CASSIN’S and HUTTON’S VIREOS, ROCK, CANYON, HOUSE and BEWICK’S WRENS, BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER, HERMIT THRUSH, CRISSAL THRASHER, GREEN-TAILED, SPOTTED and CANYON TOWHEES, RUFOUS-CROWNED, RUFOUS-WINGED, and BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS of the OREGON, GRAY-HEADED and PINK-SIDED forms, and LAZULI BUNTING.

Palo Duro Creek Golf Course, Nogales:

A good selection of ducks was on show, comprising GADWALL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, CANVASBACK, RING-NECKED DUCK, RUDDY DUCK, and seven HOODED MERGANSERS (three male, four female). Watching icterids coming to bathe and roost was fun, with a few BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS among the many RED-WINGED, YELLOW-HEADED and BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS. Also there, PIED-BILLED GREBE, a couple of WILSON’S SNIPE, VERMILION FLYCATCHER, and ABERT’S TOWHEE.

Tubac:

A GREAT HORNED OWL silhouetted against the sunset was a delightful way to end the day – even if it was next to the border patrol checkpoint, perched between the northbound and southbound lanes of the freeway!