The Southern Arizona Mountain Ranges are collectively called the Madrean Sky Islands. The Santa Catalina Mountains, or more commonly the Catalina Mountains or even Mount Lemmon, are the largest of these mountain ranges. Mount Lemmon is its highest peak at 9,157 feet. It receives 180 inches of snow each year. It is 18 miles long and 14 miles wide.
There are so many great birding spots on the way up Mount Lemmon that it is literally impossible to stop at all of them in a day.
Here are some of the "hot spots":
Molino Basin Lookout
Molino Basin Campground
Cypress, Middle Bear, and Chihuahua Picnic areas
General Hitchcock Campground
Rose Canyon Lake
Incinerator Ridge
Bear Wallow Road and Trail to Sunset Trail
Sykes Knob Road
Inspiration Point Picnic Area
Alder Picnic Area
Loma Linda Picnic Area
E. Turkey Run Road and Upper Sabino Canyon Trail
Summerhaven to Marshall Gulch
Ski Valley to Mt. Lemmon Sky Center Observatory
Experienced birders will no doubt have their favorites (as do I) and some will have spots not even on this list.
Mount Lemmon is essentially a Spring, Summer, and Fall birding site. Warblers abound in the Spring and Fall; though still quite decent in the Summer.
Over the next few days I'll show some of my latest photos from "birding Mt. Lemmon.:
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| Anna's Hummingbird |
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| Ash Throated Flycatcher |
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| Black Headed Grosbeak |
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