@ The Preserve

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:

View NE towards Santa Catalina Mountains
American Kestrel @ Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea)
Black-throated Sparrow (juvenile)
Black-throated Sparrow (adult)
Gila Woodpecker @ blooming Saguaro

Except where otherwise noted, following shots are Black-throated Sparrow:

NE view II
Sign @ trailhead
Kestrel on Saguaro II
Kestrel on Saguaro III

Very cute picture of a Verdin looking upwards:

Verdin II
Purple Martin
Verdin III, rear view
Verdin IV
The desert w/ Saguaro & Prickly Pear (probably Opuntia engelmannii)