Ash Canyon - October 7, 2025

 I knew something special was up when I arrived and found only one vacant parking space.  Inside, at the big blind, it was standing room only and there was an air of excitement.  Someone explained that a Ruby-throated Hummingbird was reported yesterday, so the crowd here today was waiting and hoping it would return.  Sure enough, the young male appeared and thrilled the observers.  This was only the tenth Ruby-throat ever reported in our area.

Ruby-throats mostly winter in Central America, then migrate to North America for breeding, as far north as Canada.  Many of them migrate by flying directly across the Gulf of America/Mexico, a journey of 500-600 miles and 20-24 hours non-stop, with no place to rest or get food/water.  They will often "bulk up" to prepare for that arduous trip.  Others fly a longer, but easier, route around the Gulf.  At the end of summer, they repeat the migration, except heading south  My theory is that our visitor was trying to go around the Gulf but got lost and wandered all the way to Arizona.  Everyone hopes he will winter here, and he is still around as of October 27.

 I soon managed a seat near Tim, who told me he had seen another rarity yesterday, a hybrid cross between a White-ear (which I had never seen) and a Broad-tail.  According to Tim's research, this is only the second such hybrid ever reported.  When it finally showed up, I was more pleased than seeing the Ruby-throat.

 Another uncommon bird for our area put in an appearance later that morning when a Band-tailed Pigeon sneaked through the brush to reach the water feature,

Another species that is uncommon here is Lawrence's Goldfinch, so it was a treat to see four of them perched in a tree (three females and one male).  This was a lifer for me, so I took a photo even though they were truly too far away for good portraits.

    

Another oddity I'll share with you is a Mexican Jay with Avian Keratin Disorder, which causes the bill to be deformed.  Birds with this affliction often die due to inability to eat or drink.  Happily, this bird seems to do all right, even though the curve in its upper bill actually broke the tip of the lower bill.

 A Red-shafted Northern Flicker shows up occasionally, but I am always happy to see it, since it is one of my favorite birds.

 The rest of my morning was spent enjoying the usual birds that we just take for granted.

White-breasted Nuthatch (M)

Northern Cardinal (M)

White-winged Dove

Chipping Sparrow

Rock Squirrel

Curve-billed Thrasher

Lesser Goldfinch (F)

House Finch (F)

House Finch (M)

Javelina

Turkey

American Snout

Acorn Woodpecker (F)

Anna's (F)

Anna's (M)

Anna's (J)

Broad-billed (M)