Birding Southeast Arizona: Part Two

Just north of the border with Mexico, lies Patagonia Lake State Park. This area south of Tucson may be one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the United States. Mountain meadow, forest, flat arid desert, grassland and riparian habitats support the many, varied bird species and wildlife in the region.

At one point in our journey, we stop to eat lunch in Willcox, hometown of Rex Allen, a 1950’s Hollywood icon who starred in Westerns. Our Audubon group poses for a photo with Rex below:

During our trip, we see a number of different Woodpeckers. This Acorn Woodpecker poses for me, below. How many different combinations of black, white and red exist in nature? Apparently … many!

We also observe the Arizona Woodpecker (photo below) and the Ladder-backed. Notice the brown, as opposed to black, feathers on the Arizona.

As we drive steadily along, we stare at Desert Antelope grazing on the hillside, oblivious to our admiration of them.

Once again, Scott discovers a Great-horned Owl perched way up high on a branch, hidden in the shady woodland.

In stark contrast to the miserable, urine-soaked cows we witnessed at the feed lot, we come across these happy cows romping in an open pasture while we are hiking in the mountains. We all notice how happy the cows are here, with the young ones playing and jumping around.

Below, Scott contemplates the happy cows:

If you’d like to learn more about this area, go to: patagoniaalliance.org

Paton Center for Hummingbirds

What a blessing for all of us that the Paton Family began to feed hummingbirds in their backyard during the 1970s. Today, the family home is open to the public year-round, and the center is managed by the Tucson Audubon Society. Before I enjoy the hummers buzzing around, I spot this Red-naped Sapsucker climbing a tree:

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers lack the red spot on the back of the head below the black.

Google it and compare! 🙂

Three different hummingbird species visit us at Paton’s: Broad-billed, Anna’s and Violet-crowned. This is the Broad-billed:

Anna’s Hummingbird (below)

and Violet-crowned:

Check out tucsonaudubon.org for more information about this amazing sanctuary!

The Green-tailed towhee is actually a Sparrow. So, then, why not just call it a Green-tailed Sparrow? Check out this cool bird:

And one bird I never would have imagined existed (looks like a cardinal, but isn’t)

Pyrruloxia

Madera Canyon

Once we are finished meandering through the treacherous mountain pass, we arrive at the Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon, where many unique birds visit the feeders and fountains daily. I recommend this place to every birder. It is simply delightful!

The first bird we encounter is the Hepatic Tanager:

The Magnificent (Rivoli’s) Hummingbird is one bird I fail to get a good photo of. You have to catch it in the right light in order to see all of its colors. Here is one taken by fellow birder Peter Briggs:

The Bridled Titmouse is my nemesis bird for this trip, along with the hummer and the road runner. I will have to go back to this area to try again.

Turkey Colors

Three Acorn Woodpeckers bathe in the turquoise, gem-colored bird bath. I wait until they are all looking to the left so that I can get this shot of them:

Next, the Yellow-eyed Junco begins to bathe itself in the clear water. It seems self-conscious and wonders if anyone is looking. Yes, little one. Everyone is looking because of your pretty eyes:

After a delicious picnic lunch in the Canyon, we walk across the road and someone in the group spots this Sharp-shinned Hawk sitting nearby. There is some discussion about ID, but it is determined to be a Sharp-shinned because of its THIN FEET.

We find a semi-domesticated Wood Duck in a public park with many other ducks, and that is the only way I am able to get this shot. Talk about nemesis bird, wood ducks in the Northeast have always been so secretive and elusive and they always fly away before I can get photos like these:

This quintessential western bird eluded me also, and I will end my post with this one, fitting, native bird to Arizona. It is a fuzzy shot because it was so far away, so please forgive me:

The Roadrunner!

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Diana