Checking out Birds in mostly Pima County & a bit of Santa Cruz Co., AZ

May 7 & 8, 2019 with Jannie Blok
Day #1, Tuesday, May 7th
We departed early enough from the East Valley of Phoenix to arrive at Madera Canyon's Proctor Road Trailhead by 8:00 a.m.

Weather was clear and cool. Birds were singing. Although we didn't get as many photos of the half-hidden quick-moving warblers and titmouse as we wanted, the woodpeckers are usually a good target for me (I'm slow with the camera) and I came away with this one of the ARIZONA WOODPECKER -- that we don't have in the Phoenix area.

A brown-backed woodpecker trimmed out with large white neck patch and
lots of spots and bars on its white underside. Male has red patch at rear of brown head, so this is a female.

Mexican Jays are plentiful throughout the wooded lands in the canyon where Madera Creek was running nicely.

Mexican Jay

Jannie's eye caught this utility pole being utilized over the years by ACORN WOODPECKERs.

Holey Pole (that gets filled with acorns in the fall)

From the trailhead at approximately 4,000' elevation, we walked 1.5 miles up to Santa Rita Lodge which hosts a large feeding area for wildlife and seats for onlookers.

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK

We stayed about 30 minutes there enjoying hummingbirds, nuthatches and WILD TURKEY along with the BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKs and other birds.

WILD TURKEY(s) [Photo by Jannie]

ACORN WOODPECKER (male)  [Photo by Jannie]

Although we struck out on seeing the ELEGANT TROGON on our hike up, we heard it calling several times from the woods behind the feeding station at the lodge. 

A bit farther up the road at Kubo Cabins, closed to visitors today, we were still able to view its many feeders strung up in trees hanging over a section of Madera Creek (or a wash feeding into it). It was here that Jannie got to see the RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD (formerly known as MAGNIFICENT HB). Wouldn't you know, this magnificent bird hid behind a feeder but it is so large that its tail hung below it!  I've posted below a file photo of this beautiful bird I took a few years ago at Santa Rita Lodge.

RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD (formerly: MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD)

By then, I wanted to explore some new spots in the area so, using the Frontage Road beside I-19 from Continental Road, we arrived at the Raul M. Grijalva Canoa Ranch Conservation Park. Wow! Its main feature is a restored lake which, in cooler months is probably much more populated with waterfowl than the few ducks we found today. And, we had arrived at Bird siesta time: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Nonetheless, a BLUE-WINGED TEAL and two CINNAMON TEAL were swimming around, neither of which is all that common on our waters in the valley. As always, I had to take a photo of this bird:

VERMILION FLYCATCHER

Not far from that new and exciting park area lies the Amado Waste Water Treatment Plant pond where we arrived around 4:00 p.m. The only waterfowl I spotted were RUDDY DUCK but swallows were swarming above the pond. Trying to ID swallows in flight is tricky but I settled on NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED and BARN SWALLOW as the majority. I was thrilled when one swallow banked its white under parts toward me: it revealed its "necklace" or dark breast band separating its white throat from the rest of its white under parts. Not an easy swallow for me to find, so I was thrilled to see at least this one BANK SWALLOW.

It made for a good closing to our birding for the day. You can view our bird lists by clicking on the links below.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S55971119

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S55971094

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S55975131

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S55978058

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S55978932

Day #2, Wednesday, May 8th
We were on our way into Box Canyon by 7:40 a.m. heading to a "stake-out" site for the FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW. Having just seen several of this species at El Aribabi, I had no need to really see this bird but knew Jannie would love the canyon - and she did!

A few photos from our drive toward the stake out spot:

CASSIN'S KINGBIRD

HORNED LARK

A handful of other birders were already at the stake-out and had a handle on the movements of the FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW. We saw and heard other birds as well but didn't need to wait long for  the FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW to show up. Photos don't reveal its stripes well but, it is The Bird!

FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW singing from its perch on a tall agave limb

FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW  [Photo by Jannie Blok]

Driving slowly through the remainder of Box Canyon to Highway Route 83, we turned into the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, my favorite grasslands in the area. Located between the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts, its 45,000 acres of rolling grasslands is rich in diversity of habitat and wildlife.

So, one of our stops included the introduction colony of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs at its Prairie Dog Town.

Diagram showing how the underground housing was established for the prairie dogs

Black-tailed Prairie Dog

Upon our arrival, many prairie dogs disappeared down the hole. Distant ones kept tabs on us.

We must have passed muster.

It appeared to be a healthy "town" of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs co-existing with free-range cattle.
The best bird in the grasslands was this gem -- my best sighting so far this season:

When I saw this bird peaking out of a tree, I got really excited!

Male WESTERN TANAGER  (I don't see enough of these birds!!!)

WESTERN TANAGER (male)

WESTERN TANAGER  [This photo by Janna Blok]

Thinking no sighting would beat this colorful and delightful bird, I'm glad I hadn't put my camera away.  For no sooner had we begun the drive out of the grasslands than I spotted a SWAINSON'S HAWK soaring overhead.

SWAINSON'S HAWK flying out of the cloud cover into blue sky and white clouds!

With that, we did turn toward home, arriving late Wednesday afternoon.

Click on links below to see eBird checklists.

'Til next time I'm out in the field.

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View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56009799

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56027214

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56027535

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56009785

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56027460

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56026910