Portal Arizona April 17-22 2014

 Five days in Portal Arizona yielded some good birds for us.  This is our third trip here and we had 2 specific birds in mind; the Mexican Chickadee and the Olive Warbler.  Both were found on the last day after a 2 hour sit on top of a hill up Turkey Creek (Paradise).  Our list for the trip stands at 255 species.  When we left S. Padre it was 210 so we added 45 more birds at Portal.

Dian outside our cabin at Cave Creek.

View from Cave Creek

View from Cave Creek

Another view from Cave Creek

The office and bird feeders at Cave Creek.  Deer and javelinas come in to clean up the bird seed.

Red-naped Sapsucker South Fork

Grace's Warbler Turkey Creek

Hermit Thrush at Cave Creek

White-throated Sparrow.  A little unusual at this location?

Blue-throated Hummingbird at dusk.

Black-chinned Hummingbird with a bill that is almost cut in two.  He was quite feisty even though his bill was compromised.  

Acorn Woodpecker South Fork

Pocket Gopher at Research Center.  I don't believe I have ever seen one this well before.

Yellow-eyed Junco at Research Center

Cassin's Kingbird 

We had 2 of these Mexican Chickadees come to our sit, up Turkey Creek.

First year Olive Warbler up Turkey Creek

Says Phoebe Research Center

Red-faced Warbler up Turkey Creek

Black-throated Grey Warbler up Turkey.  Note the huge caterpillar which it is eyeing and caught.

Northern Flicker Rustlers Park

White-winged Dove Cave Creek Ranch

Cactus Wren Cave Creek Ranch

Javelina with young one at Cave Creek

We have met Richard Fray, a local tour guide, at various locations in Arizona on our trips.  What a friendly and helpful guy.  He verified the id on the Cassin's Kingbird for me even though he was leading a group and has offered information on other occasions.  Here is what he looks like at 6AM : > ) Thanks again Richard.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Plumbeous Vireo South Fork

Swainson's Hawks in 2 different morphs.  The male had just given the female a tidbit.

She apparently liked it.  

These are just a few of the birds we found in the Portal area.  South Fork was quiet this year compared to last year.  Maybe we were a bit early.  Now we are in Green Valley Arizona, where we will spend the next month.  This is just south of Tuscon and close to the Mexican border.  We still have Montzuma's Quail and Sinaloa Wren to find.  Any help would be appreciated

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