Arizona Photography

 Another crowd at the sanctuary today, the parking lot was full when I arrived.  Luckily, someone pulled out before I had to move on.  I saw license plates from several other states, mostly California, which I assumed were rentals.  So, there was no way to know all the different states represented.  Most of the visitors seemed to be looking for the Lucifer Hummingbird, leaving no seats in the main Hummingbird area.  I walked around to different locations and felt like it was a successful strategy. Green-tailed Towhee White-winged Dove Acorn Woodpecker (M) Lark Sparrow Lesser Goldfinch (M) House Finch (M) Brown-headed Cowbird (M) Lesser Goldfinch (F) Chipping Sparrow Spotted Towhee & Green-tailed Towhee Black-headed Grosbeak (M) Lazuli Bunting (M) Lazuli Bunting (F) White-breasted Nuthatch Yellow-rumped Warbler Scott's Oriole (M) Scott's Oriole (F)  

 A very nice morning in the canyon, despite a stiff breeze.  I spent most of my time in the enclosed blind, to be out of the wind, but the bird activity there was excellent.  Unfortunately, there were very few hummingbirds at that location, but I'm sure that will change as migration continues. Lark Sparrow Gila Woodpecker (M) Gila Woodpecker (F) Yellow-rumped Warbler House Finch (M) House Finch (M & F) Coues Deer (F) Scott's Oriole (M) Western Tanager (M) Western Tanager (F) Northern Mockingbird Black-headed Grosbeak (M) White-winged Dove Acorn Woodpecker (F) Turkey Scott's Oriole (F) Canyon Towhee Broad-billed (M) Lesser Goldfinch (M)  

After several days with above average temps, then a few days of average, we had another period of below average temperatures.  The cool snap caught me off guard this morning, with 42F and stiff winds in Ash Canyon.  My shorts and golf shirt just wouldn't cut it, so I headed straight to the enclosed blind to get out of the wind.  Turns out that Tim and another visitor were there, inviting me to join them.  Not only were we sheltered from the chill wind, the bird activity was really good there.  Several special birds showed up for the first time this year. Anna's (M) House Finch (M) House Finch (F) Black-headed Grosbeak (M) Black-headed Grosbeak (F) Yellow-rumped Warbler Lesser Goldfinch (M) Lesser Goldfinch (F) Lazuli Bunting (M) Hepatic Tanager (M) Acorn Woodpecker (F) Mexican Jay White-winged Dove Lucifer (M) Scott's Oriole (M) Scott's Oriole (F) Chipping Sparrow Broad-billed (M)