Field Trip to Sierra Vista, Empire Ranch, Box Canyon and I-19 Hot Spots in Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima Counties, AZ

     Birding was so good when Lois L. and I were birding Sierra Vista on May 14th, we finished only some of our intended Hot Spots. Thus, we returned on June 3, 4 & 5, 2023.

    On May 14th as we had birded San Pedro River trails in beautiful and comfortable weather, our most precious sighting was a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. The bird announced itself! "Did it do it intentionally? "

    "That's a waterthrush," I exclaimed! I remembered the SHARP CHIP call from prior group visits searching for it. Lois was first to spot the very camouflaged Waterthrush. Not a common bird for me to come upon, I was ecstatic...and selfish. No one else hovering for their own photos plus a very confiding bird.

Northern Waterthrush at San Pedro River, Sierra Vista, AZ 5/14/23

    Later in May, I joined other friends at a rental (former Observatory) between Rio Rico and Patagonia State Park for several days. Others might call us elderly; but we just go! I explained to my friends that all birding does not involve hiking. Places nearby like Santa Rita Lodge solve the problem of wobbly legs by arranging feeding stations for birds. So off we went (4 of us). It was a great treat made special by learning that an ELEGANT TROGON was being observed a short distance up the Carrie Nation Trail. Yay. Two of us, Beca and myself, hiked up the short distance (puff-puff) and managed many photos of the male (brightest colored of the pair) among a few other birders. Kylene and Lorraine found shade in the parking lot below us enjoying the many views.

Photo taken May 9, 2023

On June 3rd, DAY ONE of our return trip,

 I left home early to pick up Lois at her home in Tempe at 5:00 a.m.

    The temperature in our area of the Sonoran Desert at that hour was 74℉.

Stopping at Sweetwater Wetlands (69 deg.) in north Tucson, we stretched our legs to avoid sitting still for the additional miles to Sierra Vista. (both of us have back issues)

    With a new Canon camera borrowed from friend, Beca, (my Canon is kaput for now), I got a decent photo of a perching RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD.

   Much later, when I pulled into the parking lot of Brown Canyon at 9:30, we were ready for our second breakfast/first lunch. Without entering the property, we walked around as we ate, counting six species of birds in this lower region of Ramsey Canyon. CHIHUAHAN RAVEN, VERMILLION FLYCATCHER, and CASSIN'S KINGBIRD were the best.

In addition to sitting at Hummingbird Feeders arranged at various elevations in Ramsey Canyon, we walked the loop trail. Coming upon a Coues Whitetailed Deer, I snapped a few shots, not knowing if my pics were turning out well or not!                   

                                  

    At the feeders, both male and female BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRDS were frequent visitors.

female Broad-billed Hummingbird

File photo of male (it was dark under so many large old trees)

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S140364417

   

  Farther along Route 92, we pulled into the road leading up to Miller Canyon where its CAS

bird-feeding station is located at approximately 8600'. Cool under the tall trees, we watched many birds of the same species coming to the feeders. My lack of knowledge of the camera I was using meant I didn't want to mess around with the settings that appeared to be working, so many photos of the four RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD turned out black. 

BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (above)

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (above)

And, the bird we hoped to see, WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD

    Always wanting to include mammals and such we come across at our birding sites, today's surprise was a beautiful long yellowish harmless ground snake moving sinuously downhill. (Sonora semiannulata) The photo is from the internet. It disappeared down the hill before I could catch up to it.

    Wrapping up at Miller Canyon, we couldn't help commenting on how green the mountains were all the way up to the peaks.View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S140383864

 

     Not yet finished with our day, we felt like relaxing over at Tony Battiste's Bird Garden where we saw a good number of new-for-the-day species, including the "target" bird, the male LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD. My mind must have slowed down by this hour, 3:40 p.m. I looked at the bird at a feeder directly before me until Lois said, "There it is!" Dang! Just as I lifted the camera, the beautiful tiny hummingbird flew up behind big leaves in the tree above us. Occasionally, we would see a spot of purple filter through between leaves, but no photograph.  (saved by my files: see below, taken at Ash Cyn in July 2018)

LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (male)

 Other birds of note were the COMMON GROUND DOVE, BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (male), and PYRRHULOXIA (male).

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S140442896T

Then, thanks to a tip from Tony, we located a bird Lois had been looking for all day.                                                                   SCALED QUAIL (above and below)View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S140397255

    With having visited six (6) different birding sites, we wrapped up DAY ONE!

DAY TWO:  Sunday, June 4, 2023

Taking a break from our drive westward from Sierra Vista, we pulled into Las Cienegas National Conservation Area to see if we could hear any Botteri's or Cassin's Sparrows. Hearing neither, we continued. forward to Empire Ranch. 

Something new there: WILD TURKEY!

        Surprises are always fun. And, look at the size of those birds!

        Driving through the grasslands toward Box Canyon, a family of six PRONGHORN (Antelope) were grazing in a field together.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S140463074

    Temperature at Empire Ranch at 8 a.m., was 71℉.  In bare Box Canyon, it got significantly warmer very quickly. No trees; just shrubs on the hillsides and trees were below us in the Canyon.

    Approaching from the east, we checked out two sections of steep rock for the potential THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD reported there. Although I thought I heard and saw it sitting up and singing in the field opposite one of the steep slopes of rock on the north side of the road, my photo was too distant to confirm.  But the bird did fly back toward us into the rocks of the high wall. 

    It's amazing that after several years, I can recall a bush where I had seen a FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW. I stopped in that area but all was quiet. Lois stayed close to the car and the shade of the rocky hill while I slowly walked the dusty road looking down into the canyon for any sign of bird life!  Most reports of the bird were for earlier than 9:00 a.m. Knowing that the Five-Striped might be more visible during the monsoon season, I didn't extend my search beyond thirty minutes. Lois, meanwhile, had developed a good list that included SCOTT'S ORIOLE and VARIED BUNTING.

VARIED BUNTING - file folder

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S140494928

    Where Box Canyon Road met Madera Cyn Road, we traveled up to Santa Rita Lodge with the outside hope of finding the Berylline Hummingbird visiting the feeders. Photos of my favorite birds spotted there are below: 

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Above)

ARIZONA WOODPECKER (above)

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK-Female or young

     Pleased with our sightings at the Lodge's feeders, we moved on without seeing the Berylline. If that one had shown up, we would have heard people talking about it, as there was a stakeout group at its preferred feeder.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S140494622

    Next up, we stopped off at Montosa Canyon on the outside chance we could locate the Five-striped Sparrow at that location. Being noontime didn't help our prospects and we would leave without it. I considered it might be nesting. Most prominent were the two CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS squabbling with one another, plus BELL'S VIREO, SUMMER TANAGER and BLUE GROSBEAK.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S140507364

    Heading back toward the Frontage Road, we pulled off at Whipple Picnic Area as Lois had never been there. Liking to explore, I had headed up to it earlier this year and found it quite birdy at that time. No so much today, but still cooler under some trees.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S140511875

    From the Frontage Road, I noticed gorgeously colored birds in the air and knew I had arrived at Amado WTP. The flying birds had been BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKs with white in their wing feathers contrasting sharply with the remaining dark feathers. No photo of them in the air; the best I could do was catch them at the pond. See below:

BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK (above  below)

   VIew this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S140515513

 We still had time to check out the deAnza Trail in Tubac. 90 degrees at 3:00 when we walked into the woods, we were cooled by the canopy of the large trees and a light breeze. A pleasant walk in the dark forest to finish out our day felt special.

   Two COMMON GROUND DOVE met us at the beginning of the trail. Altogether, we tallied 21 species including HOODED ORIOLE, RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW, BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER and the ROSE-THROATED BECARD. 

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S140617840

    An overnight in Green Valley enabled us to start out with one more good birding Hot Spot before heading home the next day.

DAY THREE.      Monday, June 5th

    Reaching Canoa Ranch Conservation Park, along the I-19 Frontage Road not terribly far from Madera Canyon, at 7:19 a.m. enabled us to catch sight of some interesting feathered friends.

    Almost always on the man-made pond is a REDHEAD. Yep!

    Several KILLDEER were present. 

    One of my favorite birds is the BLACK-THROATED SPARROW. It may have only four (4) stripes but I think it has much more "personality" (if that word applies to birds) than the FIVE-STRIPED.

    As you can see, there is much more than the pond at Canoa Ranch. Many trails lead in various directions. 

    While birding some open trails in the rear (east?) part of the Park, a SWAINSON'S HAWK flew overhead. Delighted that my borrowed camera was able to catch it in flight, it's posted below.

    Several HOODED ORIOLE were flying nonstop between trees. Finding one briefly perched, the photo is below:

    Away from the pond, another KILLDEER was looking after two young ones, below:

young KILLDEER at tiny stream

    Returning to the lake area, this SUNFLOWER caught my attention:

At the Lake, a bullfrog stretched out for the camera:

    Winds were rising; it was time to head home. With the 31 species we recorded at Canoa Ranch Park, you can see it is a very worthwhile stop for birds. Most folks, though, are there to walk or sit on the benches to enjoy the natural area.

Round Trip: 558 miles @ 30.1 mpg.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S140595204

    Until I get around to this again, Happy Birding wherever you might be!!

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