The last three days got us 3 lifers-Five Striped Sparrow, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher and a face to face encounter with an illegal immigrant in California Gulch. The bird list is at 296.
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| This Black-capped Gnatcatcher was nice surprise. California Gulch. |
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| Swainson's Hawk on the Ruby Rd. |
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| Greater Roadrunner. California Gulch. |
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| Five-striped Sparrow. This is the best view we got and were not really sure if we had it until we processed the pictures at home. California Gulch. |
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| This is a blowup of the shot above showing white throat and breast spot.. California Gulch. |
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| Another blow-up of Five-striped Sparrow. California Gulch. |
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| We came face to face with this illegal alien who asked in Spanish for immigration. We sort of understood that he wasn't sure where to go so we indicated straight up the hillside to reach the road. This is a picture of him heading up the hill. Then we hoped we had given him the right direction. About 1 1/2 hours later, on our way out in the car, we met him again on the road waiting for border patrol I guess. We informed the first border patrol we met which ironically was at a spot where we had seen another illegal cross Ruby Rd. on our way in, that morning. We had informed border patrol about that sighting also. They still hadn't located the the fellow who crossed the road. |
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| Four years ago while in Mexico birding, Dian and I were confronted by a masked bandit with a gun. He took us back into the bush and made us get on our hands and knees where he robbed us. Needless to say this encounter today brought back memories. However this fellow was smiling and seemed like a really nice guy. When we met him on the road I was going to stop and give him a ride but Dian said no way. |
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| Mourning Dove on nest with young. Outside our condo. |
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| Turkey Vulture. Madera Canyon. |
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| Gila Woodpecker |
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| Plumbeous Vireo on nest. Madera Canyon. |
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| Hermit Warbler. Madera Canyon. See comment below. |
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| Broad-billed Hummingbird. Madera Canyon. |
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| Black-chinned Hummingbird. Madera Canyon. |
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| Wild Turkey. Madera Canyon. |
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| Cordilleran/ Pacific Slope Flycatcher. Madera Canyon. |
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| Sulphur-Bellied Flycatcher. Miller Canyon- lifer |
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| Sulfur-bellied Flycatcher Miller Canyon |
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| Black-headed Grosbeak. Miller Canyon |
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| Ladder-backed Woodpecker. Patons |
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| Violet-crowned Hummingbird with truncated bill. I had taken a few pictures and all had the tongue sticking out like this. It probably can't retract it all the way. Patons. |
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| Ghost Riders over Las Cienegas. Just a great cloud formation. Many people may think birding is docile activity. Obviously they have never tried it. A few blogs ago I posted a picture of a nest in the location of a Sinaloa Wren on the Anza Trail. We revisited the site and found a Bell's Vireo entering the nest with food for young. Mystery solved. End of this blog. Scroll down for previous blog. |
Wow, gorgeous hummer shots! I don't think Hermit Warblers ever have streaking on the flanks unless they have some Townsend's in them, so I suspect this is a hybrid. Also, this is an earlier than expected date for Sulfur-bellied Flycatchers but a few have been reported in other areas recently.
ReplyDeleteGood point Jeremy. I checked another shot I got of a different female Hermit (about 2 blogs below) and there were no stripes on the sides. Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteEnjoying your Arizona posts. Beautiful shot of the broad-billed hummingbird!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary
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