A special second post today (#more_bird) featuring another of the “Top 10 birds of the desert southwest,” the incomparable Vermillion Flycatcher. These morning shots at Christopher Columbus Park on the NW side of Tucson across the (normally dry) Santa Cruz River from Sweetwater Wetlands:
Usually “heard and not seen,” or at least not seen very well deep in the desert shrubbery, great to have a “more or less out in the open” sighting of lovely Bell’s Vireo outside the BIRDS field station:
Back to the top of Mt. Lemmon for more high elevation Arizona birds:
Finally, a sequence of Red-tailed Hawk exhibiting predatory behavior #nature:
Finally got around to checking eBird for heretofore unknown/mysterious birding “hotspots” in the greater Pine Top/Lakeside/Show Low area = a great morning outing to the rather surprising Pintail Lake at Allen Severson Memorial Wildlife Area. (Directions: drive 3.5 miles; 5.6 km north along Route 77 from Show Low towards Snowflake, look for the sign on the right.) Bird of the day: a beautiful White-faced Ibis:
Not the best lighting on the Ibis shots, but still get the idea of the amazing metallic/iridescent colouration of even its non-breeding plumage.
Region north of Show Low is a mix of flat/slight rolling hills w/ volcanic rock, grass/weeds, & old growth Alligator Juniper (Juniperus deppeana), other junipers, and scrub oak. Amidst this rather dry area is the “oasis” of Pintail Lake – a surprisingly large artificial wetland fed w/ Show Low tertiary wastewater.
Two main lake sections divided by a levee/dike, + a third, larger wetland area on the east end that’s mostly cattails.
More White-faced Ibis:
Dateline: 1 August 2024
More great Arizona birds, in the pine forest & meadows at the very top of Mt. Lemmon (2,792 m; 9,159 ft) in the Santa Catalina Mountains northeast of Tucson. Lots of beautiful Red-faced Warbler activity (6+ sighted in the same area) on this particular day/location:
Also lots of Yellow-eyed Junco activity on Mt. Lemmon:
Not the best pictures, but still a nice sighting of Orange-crowned Warbler (note overall yellow/olive colour, pointy beak, broken eye ring with slight eye line, & yellow undertail coverts):
Coming up next time, more Hermit Warbler & more Mt. Lemmon! #more_bird
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:
