San Pedro - Part II

I visited several birding spots yesterday: San Pedro, Miller Canyon, Ramsey Canyon, and Garden Canyon (in Fort Huachuca). Yesterday, I showed you three birds from San Pedro. Here are three more: First, Cassin's Kingbird. Unlike its' cousin the Western Kingbird which occupies the entire western US, the Cassin's is restricted to Arizona and New Mexico. It is slightly larger and darker than the Western. The second photo is a Mexican Mallard. The Mexican Mallard is also only found in Arizona and New Mexico (in the US). It has a olive drab bill as opposed to the orange bill of its cousin. You can also see that its' breast is spotted. The third photo is a Yellow Rumped Warbler. This is the adult female with its' breeding plumage. Tomorrow I'll show you so results from Garden Canyon.

San Pedro Wildlife Conservation Area - Birder's Delight

The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (NCA) is about 57,000 acres along the San Pedro River between the international border and St. David, Arizona.  The primary purpose for the special designation (by Congress) is to protect and enhance the desert riparian ecosystem, a rare remnant of what was once an extensive network of similar riparian systems throughout the American Southwest. It is home to 84 species of mammals, 14 species of fish, 41 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 100 species of breeding birds. It also provides invaluable habitat for 250 species of migrant and wintering birds and contains archaeological sites representing the remains of human occupation from 13,000 years ago. The photos are of three of the birds that breed there.  The first is a juvenile Summer Tanager, which will turn bright red as an adult. The second photo is the Brown Crested Flycatcher. And, the last which is familiar to Southern Arizonians, the Vermillion Flycatcher.

San Pedro Wildlife Conservation Area

Words used to describe Wildlife Photography usually don't include: spectacular, magnificent, or breathtaking. I have probably overused the words beautiful or wonderful to describe my photos. But, the only word that comes to mind in this photo is "Sweet." It is a very young White Tail Deer who seems spellbound to look at me. I think it is the combination of the tall grasses, and the fact that his ears fan out the way they do that make him look so "sweet." This photo was taken on a hike along the San Pedro River which is a 40 mile river that runs into Mexico from Southern Arizona. It is a birder's paradise with tall cottonwood trees and ponds. Scarlet Tanagers and Oriole's seem to love this spot in early Spring as they migrate into Arizona. Year round residents include the Vermillion Flycatcher, Brown Crested Flycatcher, Lesser Goldfinch, a host of Swallows and Warblers, Yellowthroat, and several varieties of Hummingbirds to name a few.