Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Christine and I headed up to Flagstaff over the past weekend to see our grandson in the musical "Chicago." On the way we stopped at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. We hadn't been since 2011 and so had forgotten just how amazing and beautiful it is.

While I had my camera, I spent more time just contemplating its beauty rather than looking for birds to photograph.

I did come away with some photos, but they don't do justice to this wonderful place.

Turkey Vulture

Wilson's Warbler

Great Blue Heron and Turkey Vulture

Lesser Goldfinch

Harris Antelope Ground Squirrel

Canyon Lizard

Pipevine Swallowtail

Queen Butterfly

Cactus Flower

Hummingbirds at Ash Canyon B&B

It's the height of the hummingbird season, so after Huachuca Canyon I visited Ash Canyon B&B in hopes of finding Lucifer Hummingbirds.

It's a reasonable safe bet this time of year at what is perhaps the most reliable place in the United States to find this "rare" hummer.

Both male and female Lucifers made appearances, plus a good number of other hummers. Here are a few of the photos I took:

Lucifer Hummingbird Male

Lucifer Hummingbird Female

Broad Billed Hummingbird Male

Broad Tailed Hummingbird (young male)

Huachuca Canyon - Part II

Here are some of the Butterfly photos:

Dull Firetip

Orange Sulphur

Pipevine Swallowtail

Pipevine Swallowtail

Two-Tailed Swallowtail

Huachuca Canyon

One of my favorite places to hike, bird, search for wildlife in Huachuca Canyon at Fort Huachuca. Dawn morning is best for animals, early morning good for Montezuma Quail and Trogons, and when the sun comes over the mountain for the other birds.

I got out early hoping to get animals, and of course there's always a deer or two or ten. But not much else. I did hear Elegant Trogons for an hour or so and got a few photos. And flycatchers were more abundant than warblers this time.

The monsoon rains brought lots of wildflowers -- which brought lots of butterflies. I'll show those next time.

Here are some animal and bird photos: 

Young White Tailed Deer Buck

Elegant Trogon

Greater Pewee

Vermillion Flycatcher

Birding Mount Lemmon - Part X

Birding is all about being in the right place at the right time. Not approximately, but exactly since you may only get a glance before it's gone.

The key then is to put yourself in the place with the most potential -- your best chance of finding what you are looking for.

Sometimes that's not always possible. For instance, yesterday I couldn't leave until after I served breakfast to our guests. I started with a quick look at the Alder Picnic site. As luck would have it, there was a nice male Olive Warbler waiting for me.

My next stop was a walk from the Cookie Cabin to Marshall Gulch Picnic site. Again, as luck would have it just across from the Cookie Cabin was a Red Faced Warbler sitting on a branch cleaning himself (for at least five minutes). A little further down, another Red Faced Warbler. There were a few other birds but I think as time passes, birding slows down as more people walk, run, or drive up and down the road.

My next stop was Incinerator Ridge. I started at the bottom but not much going on. However, at the top it was so birdie that it was difficult to keep up. I had to decide what to photograph. I started just taking photos not always sure what I was photographing. Case in point, there were lots of Pygmy and White Breasted Nuthatches -- it wasn't until I got home and downloaded photos that I saw a Red Breasted Nuthatch among the photos. Just one, but it was good enough.

In a matter of three minutes or so, photos of Townsend's, Hermit, and Red Faced Warblers. Then there was another bird that appeared to be a fledgling that I have yet to identify. I'll show that as well. And lots of Hermit Thrushes, Mountain Chickadees, a nice Warbling Vireo ...

My next stop was going to be Rose Canyon Lake, but I was having too much fun at Incinerator Ridge so I never got to RCL. "I ended up taking 604 photos."

Olive Warbler

Olive Warbler

Red Faced Warbler

Red Faced Warbler

Red Faced Warbler

Hermit Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

Warbling Vireo

Red Breasted Nuthatch Female

Fledgling Something (Yellow-Eyed Junco?)

Mountain Chickadee

Yellow-Eyed Junco Juvenile

Birding Mount Lemmon - Part IX

On the way back down Mount Lemmon I made a quick stop at the end of Incinerator Ridge hoping to find a Virginia's Warbler. Not a great photo, but I did get a quick glance:

Virginia's Warbler

And a drive through Bear Wallow Road also produced a flock of Wild Turkeys:

Wild Turkey

Birding Mount Lemmon - Part VIII

Birding very early provides an opportunity to find animals, but also Turkey Vultures "en mass" before they head out for the day. Inspiration Point on Mount Lemmon seems to be a favorite site for Turkey Vultures. When I arrived there were three in one tree and seven in another tree just a few feet away. Here are a couple of photos:

Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Birding Mount Lemmon - Part VII

Driving the Sykes Knob turn off on Mount Lemmon:

Western Bluebird

Young White Tailed Deer Buck