Birding in Southeastern Arizona

In August of 2018, just a couple of weeks after my return from Ecuador, I had the pleasure of taking some of my friends from eastern parts of the US, that I have known for a few years, birding in southeastern Arizona.  The first party was Brian and Larry DeAtley Ellyson and Brian's mother Judi Ellyson.  The second party was Jim Austin-Cole and Brian Ahern-Wilson.  Both trips covered almost the same areas and both trips took up 3 days of traveling around.  There were a few differences in what we visited though.  Both trips included a trip to the Chiricahua Mountains.  I really had a fantastic time showing them parts of Arizona that I do not get to visit as often as I would like.  We got to see a lot of different birds and it is amazing what one finds on one trip and what one finds on another trip just a few days later.  These trips were not the first times I had taken them birding in Arizona and I hope it won't be the last.  Now I have to find time to head back east in the future and let them show me some of their birds!

Birding in Arizona is Spectacular!

First part will be photos of birds, since that is probably what most readers of this blog would like to see. And birding in southeastern Arizona is one of the premiere spots for birders all over the world come to visit in the pursuit of a lot of specialty birds.  Further on down the post, I will add some photos of some arthropods and maybe even a mammal.

  

Red-faced Warbler

 'Mexican' Spotted Owl

 Eastern Meadowlark

 Pyrrhuloxia

Western Wood-Pewee chicks in nest, almost ready to fledge.

 Blue Grosbeak

 Common Ground Dove

 Five-striped Sparrow - Fledgling

Five-striped Sparrow - Adult

 Hooded Oriole

Montezuma Quail

And Now the Hummingbirds!

Hummingbirds are one of Arizona's specialties.  No other state in the United States has more species of hummingbirds than Arizona, so of course they are always a family of birds to be in the spotlight.

 Lucifer Hummingbird - Male

 Lucifer Hummingbird - Female

Lucifer Hummingbird - Male

Broad-billed Hummingbird - Male

 Broad-tailed Hummingbird - Male

 Blue-throated Hummingbird - Male

 Rivoli's Hummingbird - Male

Rufous Hummingbird - Male

Now for some photos of some other interesting creatures that we found on these 2 trips.  I do have a bit of a soft spot for butterflies, but just about anything that moves intrigues me and is worthy of photos at times.

 Golden-headed Scallopwing

 Marine blue

Tailed Orange

 Dull Firetip

 Golden-banded Skipper

Taxiles Skipper

Sooty Dancer

Flame Skimmer

 Desert Blonde Tarantula

 Bee Fly Species

Red Tachinid Fly-(Adejeania vexatrix)

Pronghorn

This had to have been one of the most satisfying weeks that I have had exploring southeastern Arizona.  Something new around every bend and even though some of the places were the same, it was a different cast of characters that greeted us.  I hope Brian, Larry, Judi, Jim, and Brian enjoyed the time as well.  

Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ

Santa Rita Lodge was my destination in Madera Canyon and the place I chose to use as my base camp while exploring the area.  The lodge itself provided plenty of birding opportunities and I found 2 new life birds right at the lodge.  The most exciting find was totally unexpected but it had been a bird on my 'want' list for for quite some time.  During my 2 night stay I ran into a very nice couple and their very young son from Texas that were also staying at the lodge and their cousin from Tucson had come down to visit, and they were kind enough to allow me to tag along.  We had decided to walk across the road to a picnic area and check it out before heading into town for a bite to eat.  We found a deer grazing in the grass and as I was trying to get my camera focused on the deer, the blurring noise of 2 birds flew across our path directly in front of us and landed in some grass nearby and disappeared.  By their flight pattern and sound I knew immediately that it was some kind of a quail, but it took us awhile to finally catch enough of a glimpse of them to see they were Montezuma Quail.  This little bird can be very elusive and it is a much sought after bird for many birders.  The male finally worked his way around a rock and peeked over the top to check us out and allowed us to get some nice photos of him.  Quite a handsome little bird don't you think?

Montezuma Quail



The Santa Rita Lodge also has many feeders out and lots of hummingbirds visit along with several Mexican Jays that seem to come and go and lots of Acorn Woodpeckers. But the most numerous birds were probably the Lesser Goldfinches. Here are some photos of some of the other birds that were in abundant numbers; Mexican Jay, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Lesser Goldfinch, Wild Turkeys, a female Hooded Oriole (that was a bit camera shy), and an Anna's Hummingbird sipping from a feeder right out side the front door of my Casita.

 Mexican Jay

 

 Black-chinned Hummingbird

 

 Broad-billed Hummingbird

 

 Lesser Goldfinch

 

 Wild Turkey

 

Hooded Oriole-Female

 

 Anna's Hummingbird

 

This last photo is one of another one of my new life birds, a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher.  It would fly into the feeding station area every once in a while and chase an Acorn Woodpecker or two and then fly off again.  It never did land in the right spot for a decent photo, but sometime birds do not want to cooperate and I guess I should count my blessings that I got to see the bird!