A Few Wildlife Photos from The Azure Gate

Occasionally, I have a few minutes to work around our property and stretch my legs. Sometimes I'll take my camera with me just in case.

I did so yesterday and came back with a few photos:

Cardinal

Male Gambel's Quail with chicks

Roadrunner

Rufous Crowned Sparrow

Birding The Azure Gate

After breakfast this morning I though I would walk around our property with my camera just to see what was going on.

First, I wanted to see if there were any signs of baby Cooper's Hawk's in the nest. Mom was there moving around a bit but since the nest is 60 feet off the ground it's hard to tell:

Cooper's Hawk

Next a quick check of the Anna's Hummingbird nest:

Anna's Hummingbird

Then a nice Broad Billed Hummer -- both male and female:

Broad Billed Hummingbird Male

Broad Billed Hummingbird Female

A Lucy's Warbler on one of our Creosote Bushes:

Lucy's Warbler

And, finally a Rufous Winged Sparrow seemed to want his photo taken:

Rufous Winged Sparrow

Of course there were all sorts of other birds to be seen (though I didn't photograph them):

White Winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Gambel's Quail
Lesser Goldfinch
Verdin
House Finch
House Sparrow
Cactus Wren
Curved Billed Thrasher
Gila Woodpecker
Male and Female Cardinal
Male and Female Pyrrhuloxia
Male Phainopepla

Ash Canyon in Early Spring

Still not an abundance of Hummingbirds yet in the Madrean Sky Islands of Southern Arizona. The Ash Canyon B&B is at the foot of Ash Canyon and an excellent spot for birding including the best spot in the US for the Lucifer Hummingbird (which I have shown before). No Lucifer on Tuesday. In fact, not a lot of Hummers. There was a male Magnificent that came around twice; a few Black Chinned; a few Anna's, and a few Broad Billed. But, as usual the day was not lost.  The gorgeous Lazuli Buntings were there along with the playful Lark Sparrow and Scott's Oriole. Here are some of the photos:

Lazuli Bunting

House Finch

Lark Sparrow

Pyrrhuloxia Male

Rufous Crowned Sparrow

Scotts Oriole Female

Broad Billed Hummingbird

Ash Canyon Revisited

A quick trip down to Ash Canyon to see if the migrating hummers had arrived yet. And, while the answer was "no" I was able to get several other nice photos:

Acorn Woodpecker

Bushtit

Ladderback Woodpecker

Rufous Crowned Sparrow

Scott's Oriole

Spotted Towhee

White Crowned Sparrow

More from Patton's in Patagonia

In addition to the hummingbirds and orioles, it was a good day for a few other birds:

Although we have Cardinals here at The Azure Gate, this female seemed to want her photo taken.

Same is true of this House Finch

A brief appearance by a Rufous Crowned Sparrow was a pleasant surprise.

White Breasted Nuthatch

White Crowned Sparrow