The Great Arizona Encore: The Patagonia Preparty

Leaving Green Valley was not easy. Breathtaking scenery, perfect temps, and posh accommodations are hard to leave behind.  On the other hand, leaving Green Valley was necessary in order to tour new (to us) parts of beautiful, southern Arizona and visit more hotspots of birding fame.   Our route for the morning would basically circle the Santa Rita Mountains taking us all the way down to the border at Nogales and back up north via Patagonia and Sonoita.  Then it would be back to Maricopa.

Sitting outside on the patio that morning, I was not focused on birding. I was having a slow morning after the epic Huachuca madness from the day before, a birding hangover if you will.  Sure, visions of Violet-crowned Hummingbirds and Barn Owls danced through my head, but it was the thought of breakfast that was winning the war for my mind as I waited for my family to pack, assemble, powder, puff, etc. Not even an unfamiliar bird song was getting me to move. Meh, I’ve seen it all around here, I thought.  But then, the bird song that sounds like a motor that won’t start actually got my birding motor started for the day. Thank you, Honorable Cactus Wren. This ability to coax even the most reluctant into birding and into beautiful Arizona deserts must be how you got your title of State Bird.

Cactus Wren

It didn’t take me long to realize the desert scrub around the hotel was quite birdy.  It was simply hopping with birds.  I could hardly believe it when I pulled up the binoculars on one of the first birds–Rock Wren a.k.a. the day’s first lifer.  And I almost didn’t even bird here.

Rock WrenI really, really like the pot-bellied appearance of this bird.  This may be my favorite photo from the trip. And is it just me, or does ROWR bear an uncanny resemblance to our 27th President?

President William Howard Taft Source: National Archives and Records Administration

President William Howard Taft                                         Source: National Archives and Records Administration

Turns out the Taft Wren wasn’t the only delightful surprise of this little foray beyond the parking lot.  A pair of Cassin’s Kingbirds gave a second lifer of the morning.  And yes, I did peek under their undergarments to look for white tail edges to make sure they weren’t Western Kingbirds, though once you see them in real life, they are obviously different.

Cassin's Kingbird

Cassin's KingbirdHigh on two completely unexpected lifers, I continued to scope out the fun birds around the hotel, not the least of which were numerous Lark Sparrows.  I have not seen enough Lark Sparrows yet.

Lark SparrowWhat I have seen plenty of in recent years are Say’s Phoebes, and I already have plenty of photos to prove it.  But these birds just know how to pose…

Say's PhoebeIt was also fun to see a prickly-looking Curve-billed Thrasher.  I’m glad they didn’t choose him for state bird.

Curve-billed Thrasher

Eventually the family was assembled and ready for breakfast, and the parking lot birding was over. But what a gem of a spot.  Last spring I had Hooded Orioles, Great Horned Owls, and Black-throated Sparrows here too.  I’ve got a nice little patch list going.

I know I promised Patagonia in this post, but we’ll pick up this story in the next one and get it started off right with a BARN OWL search.  But first, breakfast.

The Great Arizona Encore: Ash Canyon and Miller Canyon

Let’s face it, this blog title is pretty plain.  But anyone familiar with these two SE AZ birding hotspots knows that the birds there are anything but. After our adventure in Hunter Canyon, we made the short trip to the next canyon to the south–Ash Canyon.

Evan Ash Canyon

Much to my relief, we weren’t going to take another hike up a mountain.  Instead, we were going to the Ash Canyon B&B for a little geri-birding–or feeder watching from comfortable chairs.

Ash Canyon B&BWe got some great views of some fun birds while we rested from our recent hike in Hunter Canyon.  It was nice to finally see a much nicer Canyon Towee than the haggard one I saw in Florida Canyon last spring.  This bird was a lifer for Evan.

Canyon TowheeWe also got to see another Scott’s Oriole (female), but this one did not show itself well either.

Scott's OrioleSeeing a lifer Dark-eyed Junco sub-species, like this Gray-headed variety, is always fun.

Gray-headed JuncoAcorn Woodpeckers were a common sight at all our stops in the Huachucas. At least at Mary Jo’s feeders, you can get a good photo while sitting down–a great combo.

Acorn Woodpecker

Of course, some of the main attractions at the Ash Canyon B&B are the Hummingbirds.  Mostly there were Anna’s Hummingbirds, and most of those are unimpressive-looking right now.

Anna's HummingbirdEvan also got his Magnificent Hummingbird lifer with the help of owner Mary Jo who seems to constantly monitor the bird activity in her yard. Tommy and Gordon were watching a different set of Hummingbird feeders and had seen one of the reported Lucifer Hummingbirds.  So Evan and I joined them and watched those feeders for a short time to see if we could get this rare Hummer too.  That said, Miller Canyon was beckoning, both for what it held and for the short amount of time we had left to bird.  Thankfully the Lucifer was understanding and showed up in short order.  Note the thick, decurved bill.

Lucifer Hummingbird

Lucifer HummingbirdThe rarity of this bird was really cool even if the plain looks of this juvenile bird were not impressive.  I regretfully later found out that an adult male Lucifer had been visiting these feeders on the very day we were there. Doh!

After a total of 20 minutes at the Ash Canyon B&B, it was time to shoot north passing by Hunter Canyon where we had been and then stopping at Miller Canyon.  When I first wanted to go to Hunter Canyon, I had no idea how close it was to Miller Canyon, a place I’d read about many times.  Miller Canyon is arguably most famous for reliable and cooperative Spotted Owls.  So the thought of getting another Owl lifer on this trip, and a federally threatened one at that, was almost intoxicating. Hopes were raised further by a fresh listserv report that a pair them had been seen in the upper parts of Miller Canyon near Split Rock. It, of course, would mean another good hike up a steeper canyon than Hunter.  With an Owl prize at the end, it was worth the exercise…if we could gain access.

Miller Canyon

Like the power lines that obstruct a perfect view of Miller Canyon in the photo above, so too the Beatty Guest Ranch’s land blocks the easiest access to Miller Canyon.  Convenience always comes at a price.  We were more than willing to pay the $5/person fee to cut across the Beatty land, but a sign on the gate said it was closed for the season and no one was at the house. 🙁 Then, however, we spied a gun-toting man with four coon hounds coming down the path toward us.  It was the owner’s son, and he said he’d take us up the canyon.

We paid the man and dutifully followed behind him.  As a hunter myself I’ve been around a number of people with guns, but following this quiet stranger holding a lever-action .30-30 gave me a certain unease.  This is now the second time this year that birding has put my son in the company of a gun-toting, plaid-clothed, non-hunting stranger.  Any hopes of that Father-of-the-Year award have long gone out the window, especially if you note my position relative to Evan’s:

Evan Tommy Gordon

As we walked along, thoughts kept flipping back-and-forth from ‘I bet he’s perfectly safe’ to ‘I bet he’s pretty quick with that lever-action’.  You can see which thought won out as there is more to this post.

Evan was oblivious to such concerns and thoroughly enjoyed the canine companionship of the four coon hounds that crashed the brush around us on this oddest of all bird hikes.  Two of the hounds were spitting images of Old Dan and Little Ann.  Our mysterious, quiet guide showed his soft spot for nature when he scooped up a chilly Alligator Lizard on the path and showed it to us all before depositing it off to the side. Of course, I was hoping for a photo of it in its more natural, original state, but this one’s fun too.

Evan Alligator LizardAfter hiking nearly a mile uphill, we finally reached Split Rock.  Here there were two elderly women had been brought to this location earlier to look for the Spotted Owls.  Our guide checked out the usual perches for the Owls, a family group of four birds, but none of them held anything.  Then, real casually, he points to a different tree and says, “Oh, here’s one.” Sweet!

Spotted Owl

It was a relief, physically and mentally, to pause and enjoy this rare bird.  It also seemed to lighten the mood considerably as our silent guide unleashed a wealth of information on the owls and describing them and their habits and occurrences in the canyon with great delight.  It would have been the perfect moment for a beer.  Too bad no one thought to pack some along.

Spotted OwlThis Owl was a pretty mellow fellow, which I understand is typical for this species.  It could not have cared less that we were ooing and awwing over it.

Spotted Owl

Here is a contextual photo for you.  Can you spot Spotty?

Spotted OwlTommy and I went a little further up the canyon hoping to spot one of the other Spotted Owls on our own which is half the fun of owling.  But without any more luck, it was finally time to head back down the canyon. What a thrill it was, though, to get this prized lifer:

Spotted Owl

As we got closer to the parking area, a Canyon Wren decided to play nice for some photos.  This was a lifer for Evan as well.

Canyon Wren

Canyon WrenThen there was one last big gift for our big day in the Huachucas.  We were nearly to the car when Tommy thought he heard a Black-throated Gray Warbler.  I saw one last spring, but only briefly.  I was hoping for a better photo.  However, I’m just going to have to wait for that because the bird turned out to be a lifer Townsend’s Warbler instead! Now I need a redemptive photo of two western Warblers.

Townsend's WarblerWhat an incredible day it was at our three stops in the Huachuca Mountains.  It was finally time to hit the road to join my family back at Green Valley.  Once again, Tommy and Gordon outdid themselves and provided another fun set of SE AZ memories.  We said our goodbyes and vowed to meet up again this winter back in Minnesota where it’s not as warm, definitely not as scenic, but with just as cool (if not cooler) Owls.  Hopefully Evan and I can repay these guys with some awesome lifers of their own.

Coming up is still one more day in SE AZ…but without Tommy and Gordon’s help, how would we fare?  Check back and see.  Next stop: Patagonia.