Springtime at The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast - Part V Blooming

Also Blooming are the Ocotillo.  Here is one with a Black Throated Sparrow:

Ocotillo with Black Throated Sparrow

Birding Babacomari Ranch

Franciscan Friar Marcos de Niza was the first European to set foot in what is now Arizona. He is credited as the first to take possession of the land now known as the Babacomari Ranch for the King of Spain in 1539, 80 years before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.

The Babacomari Valley, located in the rich savanna rangelands of Southeast Arizona, has been supporting cattle and livestock together with abundant wild game and fish ever since.   

The current mission of the Babacomari Ranch is to holistically protect, preserve and enhance the natural resources, historic integrity and esthetic qualities of the Babacomari Ranch while providing a creative and collaborative environment that enhances the quality of life for its landowners, employees and neighbors.

The ranch's boundaries follow those of the original land grant "San Ignacio del  Babacomari" issued in 1832 by the Republic of Mexico to the Elias family, still prominent ranchers in Sonora. The ranch is nearly 28,000 acres, ranging from desert to riparian to woodland habitats. 

With water flowing through the Babacomari Creek year round, it is full of wildlife.

This was our first visit and we saw the potential for wonderful Spring and Summer birding along the riparian corridor. That's not to say we didn't find anything this wintery trip.

Here just a few of the photos:

Black Throated Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

Loggerhead Shrike

White Tailed Deer

In addition to the above, we saw Cooper's Hawk's, Vermillion Flycatchers, Say's Phoebe, and a host of other sparrows.

New Photos: Black Throated Sparrow

Here is a Black Throated Sparrow perching on some Ocotillo in Montosa Canyon of the Santa Rita Mountains:

Black Throated Sparrow

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area - Part VI

The "visitor's center" where the old ranch house was is also located along Empire Gulch, but a quarter mile up from the spring. Lots of very old, very big cottonwood trees as well as mesquites create a haven for song birds. Here are a few photos from last week:

Willow Flycatcher

Black Throated Sparrow

Hutton's Vireo

White Crowned Sparrow

Common Yellowthroat

Pacific Slope Flycatcher

While on the Subject of Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park has it's typical array of Sonoran Desert Birds. Here are a few:

Black Throated Sparrow (not as common)

Northern Cardinal (common but not abundant)

Verdin (again common but not abundant)

Bendire's Thrasher (common)

Raven (common, but again not abundant)

Juvenile White Crowned Sparrow (seasonal)

Phainopepla (common, not abundant)

House Finch (common and abundant)

White Winged Dove (abundant in season -- April through September)

Swainson's Hawk Chick in Nest

Birds of The Azure Gate: Part Four

I am off to Colorado. First stop Mount Evans to look for Mountain Goats and Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. Then up to Colorado State Forest in Northern Colorado looking for Black Bear and Moose. In the meantime, I'll leave you with more Birds of The Azure Gate. First the sparrows, which Christine refers to as LBBs (little brown birds):

White Crowned Sparrow

Rufus Crowned Sparrow

Rufus Winged Sparrow

Black Throated Sparrow

Young male House Sparrow waiting for food from mom

Female House Sparrow feeding baby