Arizona Photography

 For the variety of birds, and the number of unusual or rare birds, this was a very good morning at Ash Canyon.  Hummingbird migration is coming to an end, but the influx of songbirds is certainly compensating. Pyrrhuloxia (M) Pyrrhuloxia (M) White-crowned Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak (F) Gulf Fritillary Bush Tit Hepatic Tanager (F) Hepatic Tanager (F) I thought this sequence of the Tanager bathing was cute enough to share. Rufous (F)

 It was a special day in Ash Canyon, lots of different bird species, some fairly common but a few uncommon or rare in this area.  Driving into the canyon, I met Tim (the sanctuary caretaker) on his way out.  He stopped to tell me there had been a Rufous-backed Robin coming in the past two days, so folks were there now to look for him.  Well, I'd never even heard of this bird, so definitely had never seen one.  It's native to western Mexico and is rarely seen in the U.S.  It is extremely shy, or wary, and is considered elusive.When it appeared later in the morning, it stayed deep in shadows, making good photos difficult.  I got a few, but they don't have the detail I would like. Rufous-backed Robin Rufous-backed Robin Another bird I don't often see in this area, and one I long considered a "nemesis", is the Northern Flicker.  For years, all I saw of this bird was the white rump as it flew away from me to a distant tree.  I've gotten a few shots since, but n