Arizona Photography

 A nice variety of birds in the sanctuary today, including more hummingbirds.  You can see hummingbird activity increase day by day.  So far this year, seven different species of hummingbirds have appeared, but in past years as many as fourteen species have been here at the same time.  On the other hand, most of the Orioles, Tanagers, Grosbeaks and Sparrows have moved on. White-winged Dove Brown-headed Cowbird (M) Brown-headed Cowbird (F) House Finch (F & M) Gila Woodpecker (M) Bewick's Wren Lesser Goldfinch (M) Lesser Goldfinch (F) Turkey Black-headed Grosbeak (F) Black-headed Grosbeak (J) Black-headed Grosbeak (M) Pyrrhuloxia (M) Lark Sparrow Blue Grosbeak (M) Anna's (M) Rufous (F) Anna's (F) Broad-billed (J) Lucifer (M)  

 Back in Ash Canyon, it was obvious that the number of hummingbirds is on the rise.  More than just the overall numbers, the number of species is growing.  I'm hopeful that even more species will show up before the summer is over.  Monsoon rains have started and the desert is green from all the water.  I think we've had at least six good rains so far this month, with no significant flooding. The Lucifer Hummingbird is primarily a Mexican resident, but a few sneak over the border to visit SE Arizona, SW New Mexico and West Texas.  It's one of the birds that attracts birders from all over the US to this region, and Ash Canyon is probably the most reliable place to see them. Lucifer (M) Sacred Datura Anna's (M) Brown-headed Cowbird (M) House Finch (F) House Finch (M) Inca Dove Broad-billed (M) Lesser Goldfinch (M) Lesser Goldfinch (F Anna's (F) Curve-billed Thrasher Black-headed Grosbeak (M) Black-headed Grosbeak (F) Black-headed Grosbeak (J) Gila Woodpecker (...

 For a change of pace, I took the fifty mile trek to Patagonia and visited Paton's Garden.  They usually have a few birds not present in my home area, but I'm often disappointed in the photos I get there due to the lack of exposed perches.The birds are either on feeders, some distant and shaded, or hiding in thick trees.  All that was true again today, as I saw two lifers but tossed many photos that were poor quality.  Maybe I need more expensive gear.  Hmmmm. Broad-billed (M) Broad-billed (M) Black-chinned (M) Black-chinned (M) Violet-crowned (M) Bell's Vireo Anna's (F) Anna's (F) Lesser Goldfinch (M) Gambel's Quail (M) Common Cuckoo Curve-billed Thrasher Ladder-backed Woodpecker (M) Blue Grosbeak (M)