More bird, etc. content from an early morning visit to Sweetwater Preserve in the Tucson Mountains – great place for “close to town” classic Sonoran Desert hiking/nature, + popular w/ human mountain bikers and Black-throated Sparrow:
Except where otherwise noted, following shots are Black-throated Sparrow:
Very cute picture of a Verdin looking upwards:
Fun shots of Cactus Wren nestbuilding in a cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia genus, particular species unknown but perhaps Cylindropuntia tunicata a.k.a. Sheathed Cholla), at Sweetwater Preserve in the Tucson Mountains just west of Tucson, AZ:
Sadly, time once again to depart the BIRDS field station for returning to Presque Isle State Park and the forthcoming fall warbler/etc. migration. Lots of great ‘desert’ bird activity this year; “new for BirdingPI.com” sightings included Mountain Bluebird, White-faced Ibis, Neotropic Cormorant, Hermit Warbler, Cassin’s Sparrow, & Green Kingfisher (!), even a quick fly-by of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck. Relative to past years, special mention to lots of great Gray Hawk activity, plus extended viewings of Yellow-headed Blackbird & Five-striped Sparrow:
Plenty more Arizona content forthcoming; in the meantime, very special shots of lovely Broad-billed Hummingbird & Verdin at a Yellow Bells (a.k.a. Esperanza, a.k.a. Yellow Trumpetbush) plant (Tecoma stans) at Tohono Chul Park:
A great/fun comparison of the two North American members of the Cardinalis genus, female Northern Cardinal at Tohono Chul and male Pyrrhuloxia at Sweetwater Preserve:
ID tip: the upper and lower beak mandibles of Northern Cardinal meet at more-or-less a straight line, whereas in Pyrrhuloxia there is a sharp angle/curvature.
El Rio Preserve in Marana, AZ is a great place for birding generally, including plenty of desert hummingbird activity, like these lovely, mostly Anna’s Hummingbirds:
Finally, two shots of beautiful male Broad-billed Hummingbird:
Most excellent to see Mountain Bluebird recently at Scott’s Reservoir outside Pinetop/Lakeside, AZ:
In contrast w/ various Western Bluebirds in the Pinetop/Lakeside area:
ID tip: Western Bluebird male has rufous on breast; Mountain Bluebird is blue all over except for some black in tail.
Any Tanager sighting is great, let alone this uncommon encounter of an adult male Western Tanager feeding a juvenile, in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest outside Pinetop/Lakeside, AZ:
More feedin’:
The BirdingPI.com ‘summer desert hiatus’ continues apace, w/ beautiful hummingbirds “on and off the feeder” at Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon:
Especially in light of the recent initiative to “de-honorificize” bird names, sticking with Magnificent Hummingbird for this magnificent & beautiful male:
As seen here, the apparent/visual colouration is very dependent on light angle; frequently, these birds can look mostly black:
Finally, a lovely female Broad-billed Hummingbird at a feeder:
Coming up soon, more hummingbirds! Also desert sandpipers (!?!), both amazing and non-amazing Summer and Western Tanager content, “wrens that aren’t Cactus or House,” exotic bluebirds, the elusive White-faced Ibis, warblers on Mt. Lemmon, yikes – the list just goes on and on! #more_bird
Not a photo editing mistake, just an agile Painted Redstart at Madera Canyon:
For the sake of variety, right side up:
Seems like world-famous Madera Canyon (outside Green Valley, AZ) is the most reliable place for seeing beautiful Arizona Woodpecker, which was certainly the case Friday morning. Not only a female at the ‘feeding station’ at Santa Rita Lodge, but a male at the upper end of the nature trail.
Very nice shot of the female in flight:
Fun fact: this is North America’s only brown/white woodpecker!
Coming up soon: upside down birds! And more hummers!