Ash Canyon B&B

It's always fun to stop at Mary Jo's Ash Canyon B&B whenever I am in the Huachucas. The other day was no different. Here are a few of those photos from Ash Canyon:

Acorn Woodpecker

Bewick's Wren

Black Headed Grosbeak

Cassin's Kingbird

Pine Siskins everywhere

Western Tanager

White Breasted Nuthatch

More Birds from Mount Lemmon

In addition to the warblers in the last post, here are some non-warbler birds taken on Mount Lemmon this past week:

American Robin

Hermit Thrush

Yellow Eyed Junco

House Wren

Red Tailed Hawk

Spotted Towhee

Western Bluebird

White Breasted Nuthatch

Wild Turkey

Bug Eating Birds: White Breasted Nuthatch

White Breasted Nuthatch

Madera Canyon: In Short Meditative

Another trip -- this time with Christine -- and this time to Madera Canyon provide very relaxing and even spiritual. We stayed along the creek which had plenty of water and thus plenty of wildlife. 

Here are some of the photos:

Female Hepatic Tanager

Male Hepatic Tanager

The Omni-Present Acorn Woodpecker

Hermit Thrush

Dusky Flycatcher

Canyon Wren

Painted Redstart

White Breasted Nuthatch

Wild Turkey

Rufous Winged Sparrow

Rufous Hummingbird

White Breasted Nuthatch

Continuing we have a White Breasted Nuthatch which lives year round in much of the US. This photo taken in Madera Canyon, Arizona:

White Breasted Nuthatch

More from Huachuca Canyon. Here are some decent photos I did get:

Bewicks Wren

Dusky Flycatcher

Broad Billed Hummingbird

House Finch

Bridled Titmouse

White Breasted Nuthatch

Vermillion Flycatcher - Female

Black Phoebe

Hammond's Flycatcher

Chipping Sparrow

Dark Eyed Junco

American Robin

Lesser Goldfinch

All in all, 39 species seen or photographed. It was a Good Day Birding.

Ash Canyon Part VII

Continuing with photos from my trip to Ash Canyon and the Ash Canyon Bed and Breakfast. Here are a couple of photos of the White Breasted Nuthatch which breeds in old growth forests across most of the US. It is the largest of the nuthatches preferring oak trees where it can forage for insects. It has a short tail, powerful bill, and strong legs. It moves in any direction on the tree trunk - up, down, and sideways. It is a little easier to photograph since it spends most of its time on the tree trunk and large branches.  It nests in holes in trees.  

White Breasted Nuthatch

White Breasted Nuthatch

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

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.