Over the last few weeks, I have enjoyed birding, just in my back yard - watching the fall migration take place.
On weekends in September - I had observed a few large kettles of hawks fly overhead.
Over the last two weekends, I was able to find at least one Orange Crowned Warbler in the hedgerow behind my house.
I was sitting in my living room this past weekend, and heard a "bang" sound on my window. I was amazed to see a small warbler on the ground below the window. I was sad to see that an Ovenbird struck my window. I gently placed it on a small structure off the ground, just in case maybe it would recover, and perhaps avoid being eaten by a cat or some other predator while it recovered. It was gone the following morning - so it either recovered or was predated by another animal.
I have seen Lincoln's Sparrows in my back yard
Back in August, even had a new lifer butterfly - a Zabulon Skipper - which I have never seen until this year.
But over the last day or two --- a level 5 rarity showed up just minutes away from my home in Windsor. I could almost ride my bike to see this bird -- a Tropical Kingbird! I feel I have seen these birds during my trip to South East Arizona - so its not a lifer for me - but still- its a great bird to behold - especially if one lives in Windsor.
My birding trip to Southeast Arizona started on Tuesday Morning in late July (30th). I landed at Tucson airport at 10 am and obtained my rental car. I eagerly set my GPS unit to my first destination.
My goal on the first day was to cover the following three locations:
My first destination was Tucson Mountain Park - which features a very hot, arid desert type habitat. Cactus of all shapes and sizes amazed me because ... I don't think I've ever seen them so close up and in person. It amazed me that anything can live in this hot, sunny, dry environment.
Some birds seen where:
Western Tanager
White winged Dove
Cactus Wren (Lifer #412)
Verdin (Lifer #413)
Brown Crested Flycatcher (Lifer #414)
Curve billed Thrasher (Lifer #415)
Black tailed Gnatcatcher (Lifer #416)
House Finches?
Brown crested Flycatchers love hot, arid environments...
After about an hour - I moved on to a place about 1 hour south of Tucson called: Tumacácori National Historical Park (Santa Cruz River). This site is a historical park that features an old ruins of a church built by spanish jesuits. There are interesting historical stories at this site as this was the meeting point of Spanish colinizers with natives. They worked in co-operation at times and conflict at others. Two birds that I was hoping to see in this area were: Green Kingfisher & Rose throated Becard. I did not see either of these but found the following birds:
Tropical Kingbird - Note the notched tails and large bills, along with the location is diagnostic
Bridled Titmouse and Lesser Goldfinches bathing in the San Pedro River
This site is a riparian area along a river (the San Pedro River) which was reduced to a small clear stream. Lots of butterflies and birds were present.
After spending some time at Tumacácori, I needed to head towards Sierra Vista but the famous Madera Canyon was going to be an afternoon destination. Sadly - as I apprached this wonderful spot - dark clouds loomed overhead and basically, it was raining pretty heavily. Still, at Madera Canyon they had a visitor center with a wonderful birding location with lots of feeders.
There must have been 40 hummingbirds (of three distinct species) visiting 6 or so feeders. It was pretty incredible. Some birds seen at this site include:
Rivoli's Hummingbird (split from its former name: Magnificent Hummingbird) 423
Broad billed Hummingbird 424
Hepatic Tanager 425
Arizona Woodpecker 426
Black throated Hummingbird 427
Its was pretty fun to pick up 16 new life birds in this first afternoon. I was dissapointed that the rain inhibited my birding at Madera Canyon, but even still - I just tried to make due with what I had. The visitor center was beautiful with welcoming staff.
Good Birding!
Dwayne
PS: Bonus footage from Madera Canyon Visitor Center Feeders
