Arizona Photography

 After an extended break from birding, I finally got back out there to see what has changed in the birding world.  I left home with a beautiful, sunny, 60 degree morning.  And it was still nice when I arrived at Ash Canyon.  However, a chilly wind soon kicked up and I wasn't really dressed for it.  So, I stuck it out for an hour, then returned home.  I'm pleased to say it was a productive and enjoyable hour. Reportedly, Scott's and Hooded Orioles have returned from migration, but neither showed up during my hour.  Maybe next time. House Finch (M) House Finch (M) House Finch (F) Bridled Titmouse Bridled Titmouse   Lesser Goldfinch (F) Lesser Goldfinch (F) Lesser Goldfinch (M) Acorn Woodpecker Mexican Jay Mexican Jay Broad-billed Hummingbird (M) Broad-billed Hummingbird (M) Curve-billed Thrasher White-crowned Sparrow Bewick's Wren Pine Siskin Verdin Orange-crowned Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler

 After my trip to Santa Cruz county, it took a couple days to get settled in at home once again.  By Wednesday, I was back at Ash Canyon to see how things have progressed.  The answer is "not much".  It seems to me that things are running a little behind schedule this year.  I'm sure we'll catch up eventually.  In the meantime, our old standbys were entertaining as usual.  The Acorn Woodpeckers were all around, giving me the "Groucho Marx" stare.  "Hopalong", the little one-legged Bewick's Wren, was hopping all over the place.  And, the Orange-crowned Warbler gave me a good look at the namesake crown, which we don't often see. Signs of spring are popping up.  I don't know the name of the shrub/tree in the last photo, but there are quite a few around town, and they are beautiful. Lesser Goldfinch (F) Ladder-backed Woodpecker Acorn Woodpecker Acorn Woodpecker Acorn Woodpecker Brewer's Sparrow Curve-billed Thrasher Cactus Wren Cactus W

 After leaving Madera Canyon, I dropped by Historic Canoa Ranch.  The ranch was founded in 1821, while this area was still part of Mexico.  In 1997, the county bought 4800 acres of the property to preserve it as a public museum.  Tours are given, but I just wanted to visit their pond and get photos of a few water fowl there. Pied-bill Grebe Say's Phoebe American Wigeon (M) American Wigeon (M) Next day, I drove to Arivaca, near the Mexican border, to visit the Buenas Aires National Wildlife Refuge.  There are hundreds of such preserves around the country and I've been to more than a few.  Some are great, others not so much.  This one was disappointing because they had the roads inside the refuge closed until hunting season.  Bummer.  With 117,000 acres, walking is not a great option.  I was able to drive to a lake, but only a small part of it was accessible, and the parking area seemed to be home to some Mexicans men living in a car.  I didn't stay long.  While in the area,