Elegant Trogon

It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted about the young Owlet. The Great Horned Owl family has now moved on. Presumably the adults are showing the young one the neighborhood.

In the meantime, we've been able to get away a few times to do some hiking/birding -- and, of course, photography.

Yesterday, we went with "former guests" (who have now moved to Tucson) to Madera Canyon. They had never seen (or heard) an Elegant Trogon. So that was the main goal of the day. While it took an hour and a half, we finally came across a very cooperative male Elegant Trogon.

I have seen and photographed them in the Chiricahua, Huachuca, and Santa Rita Mountains -- which are about the only places in the US where they can be found.

I have a couple of photos from yesterday that I want to show starting with this view:

What is interesting to me is the color of the back in this view. It is clearly blue! The head and nape are clearly green, as are the scapulars. Not having handled either a live or dead bird I had never noticed blue on an Elegant Trogon.  I consulted the many bird journals and found no mention of blue.

However, I found an interesting article on the coloration of bird feathers in the Cornell Lab Bird Academy. 

"The colors in the feathers of a bird are formed in two different ways, from either pigments or from light refraction caused by the structure of the feather. In some cases feather colors are the result of a combination of pigment and structural colors. The greens of some parrots are the result of yellow pigments overlying the blue-reflecting characteristic of the feathers."

There are three types of Pigmentation: Carotenoids, Melanins, and Porphyrins. These are substances in birds (plants, animals) that are in fact a specific color. A Cardinal for example has red pigmentation.

Structural Colorations are caused by light as it is refracted by the proteins in the feathers. The two types are Iridescent Feathers and Non-Iridescent Feathers. The most obvious example of Iridescent Feathers is the gorget of hummingbirds. And the most obvious example in hummingbirds on our property is Anna's Hummingbird whereby the crown and gorget can look "black" until the sunlight hits them and the red becomes striking. 

This brings us back to the Elegant Trogon that may well fit in that category of "... the greens of some parrots are the result of yellow pigments overlying the blue-reflecting characteristic of the feathers."

I am curious as to how often other birders have seen this blue coloration.

Here is a frontal view of this very cooperative Elegant Trogon yesterday in Madera Canyon:

Madera Canyon, Arizona

There are some wonderful trails in Madera Canyon. One we like is to start at the Proctor Picnic site and trailhead then hike along the creek to White House, the Main Madera Canyon Picnic Site, and finally the Amphitheater (a 3.5 mile hike round trip).

There was still lots of water in the creek. Sycamores, mesquites, oaks, desert broom, and lots of Arizona thistles in bloom throughout.

About half way between Proctor and Whitehouse we heard several Mexican Jays that sounded quite upset. We looked over in that direction and there was a young couple with cameras taking photos. As we approached, they weren't taking photos of the Mexican Jays but of a Bobcat that was in a tree close to a jay's nest. The jays would fly around from branch to branch -- though the Bobcat paid absolutely no attention to them -- never even glanced at them.

As we began chatting with the couple he realized that he had purchased a camera lens from me four or five years ago. I was happy to see them and see that they were still interested in photography -- and evidently become quite good at it.

We didn't hang out there too long. Didn't want to overstay our welcome. The Bobcat probably didn't mind us being there either, but it seemed the most respectful thing to do. 

Here are a few of the photos I took.

Madera Canyon Rare Birds

Since this is the slow season at our B&B, I've been getting out photographing as much as possible -- hence the lack of posts. Yet, because I've been out photographing there is much to post about.

I've made a couple of trips to Madera Canyon the past two weeks. So, before I get back to Yellowstone, here are a couple of rarities I photographed at Madera. Both of these birds are rare to the United States so a nice find. 

Whiskered Screech Owl

Whiskered Screech Owl

Plain Capped Starthroat with Broad Billed and Black Chinned Hummingbirds

Bridled Titmouse

First a welcome to new viewers from: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Ireland, Nigeria, and Puerto Rico. Thank you for visiting our website. 

Just to recap, I am showing my "5" Star Photos, in alphabetical order, and have just finished with bobcats.

So what's next after nine Bobcats? Bridled Titmouse. No, not quite the same excitement as a Bobcat, but nonetheless, warranting a show. Why a "5?" First, very nice detail. Second, the offsetting green from the fir tree on the right to the black "abyss" on the left. I think it makes this little, fairly common, bird stand out.

Bridled Titmouse in Madera Canyon, Arizona

Madera Canyon Picnic & Hike: Part II

Much of the year here in Arizona wildflowers, trees, cactus, agaves, alloes, or yuccas of some kind or another are blooming. Here are a couple of wildflower photos from yesterday that I particularly liked:

Velvetpod Mimosa

I thought that this would be easy to identify: pink and white "bottlebrush" flowers with fern like leaves. Finally, after looking in two wildflower books, and several internet sites, I found it online on the "Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and Plants of the Sonoran Desert" website. 

Soaptree Yucca

Madera Canyon Picnic & Hike

Yesterday, Christine and I went for a picnic and hike in Madera Canyon. We hiked along the canyon's creek that was filled with flowing water. Everything around it was green. Guess they have had several monsoon rains. (Still not much at our place, though). What I like about hiking is that there is almost always something to photograph. Although nothing rare, here are a few of the photos from yesterday:

Wild Turkey

Wild Turkeys have been hanging around in Madera Canyon near the lodge for two years now. They stay close to the stream bed, but occasionally wander up the hill to the lodge.

Turkey Vulture

This is the season for Turkey Vultures. They are found throughout the US during the summer, although year round in the Southeast and Mexico. In my view, they are undeserving of their "less than wonderful reputation," because they are actually quite beautiful when seen up close; and the grace with which they soar and glide through the air is as beautiful as any bird. Even more so.

Mexican Jay

The Mexican Jay is found only in Arizona and Mexico. Like most Jays it is about 11.5 inches long, but with a little longer wingspan (19.5 inches).  A very noisy bird that travels in groups and loves picnic areas. I think as soon as I noisily opened the "potato chip bag" he was there. Of course he was gone after about two minutes when he realized I wasn't going to feed him.

More from Madera Canyon

Continuing with birds of Madera Canyon, we start with the Mexican Jay another bird found only in Southern Arizona and Central Mexico. The Mexican Jay is a noisy bird typically traveling in groups, always in the mountains, and often around campsites or picnic grounds. The second photo is Abert's Towhee, another found only in Arizona along mountain/canyon creeks. The third photo is a flock of Wild Turkeys resting near Madera Creek.  Those of you familiar with the Wild Turkeys of the Eastern US will notice the lack of rufous coloration on the lower back and tail. Madera Canyon also has a pair of Elf Owls that nest outside the Lodge each year. I have yet to be there when the owls are visible, though. Madera Canyon has lots of hiking trails which can take you along the canyon's creek or mountain edges.

On to Madera Canyon

Just west of the Huachuca Mountains are the Santa Rita Mountains and Madera Canyon.  The hour and fifteen minute drive (from The Azure Gate) going the back way through Box Canyon to the West Side of the Santa Rita's is worth the drive just for the views. Once into Madera Canyon, though, the terrain changes. TREES! Yes, Sycamore's, Cottonwoods, Junipers, Pinion Pine, Oak, Cypress, Manzanita, even some Firs. There is always water running through the canyon's creek which means birds and butterflies. There is a lodge there that keeps hummingbird feeders filled so it is an excellent birding spot. The first bird you see is the colorful and playful Acorn Woodpecker (first photo), found only in Arizona, California, and parts of Western Oregon. Other frequently seen birds that love our southern canyons are the Bridled Titmouse (second photo) and White Breasted Nuthatch (third photo). The Bridled Titmouse is only found in the Southern Mountains of Arizona and Central Mexico. The White Breasted Nuthatch has a much wider distribution and can be found in all the lower 48 states. Like the Painted Redstart I have shown you before, the White Breasted Nuthatch is in constant motion, moving around trees in any direction. They also seem to like picnic areas for some reason. I believe I was eating a sandwich at one of the many picnic tables when I took this photo.