Chiricahua Mountains - II

Today, some of the Hummingbirds:

Broad Billed Hummingbird

Broad Tailed Hummingbird

Blue Throat Hummingbird

Chiricahua Mountains of Southeast Arizona

I spent two days in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeast Arizona. Today, I thought I would share with you the woodpeckers I was able to find and photograph:

Acorn Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Arizona Woodpecker

Gilded Flicker

Ladderback Woodpecker

Other Photos from Mount Lemmon

In additional to the Grace's Warbler, I found Black Throated Gray Warblers, Painted Redstarts, Red Faced Warblers, Hermit and Swainson's Thrushes, Pygmy and White Breasted Nuthatches, House and Rock Wrens, more Yellow Eyed Junco's than you could count, Dusky Flycatcher, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Greater and Western Wood Pewee's, Raven's, Turkey Vulture, Red Tailed Hawks, oh ......... and a little family of Wild Turkeys. Here are some of the photos:

Wild Turkey Chick

Hermit Thrush

House Wren

Red Faced Warbler

Raven

Greater Pewee

Rock Wren

Black Throated Gray Warbler

Painted Redstart

Still Another Trip Up Mount Lemmon

As I mentioned I am focusing on Mount Lemmon this summer trying to find as many different Warblers as I can. I had been hoping for a Grace's but it had eluded me until last Friday. I was able to get several photos although none were "sellable." Finding the Grace's once should help me find more in the future. I know what to look for now. They seem to prefer tree-tops. Mostly the ponderosa pines with an occasional foray into the oaks. But all 30 to 40 feet off the ground. So, when I go next time I'll try to get up on the side of the mountain so that I am at a better angle. Here then, is the best I got:

Grace's Warbler

McDonald Park, Tucson, Arizona

I have to keep reminding myself that municipal parks can offer very good birding opportunities. One such park, McDonald Park, is about one mile from our B&B. I made a quick stop and in less than 15 minutes found an adult Cooper's Hawk with three fledglings, a couple of Ash Throated Flycatchers, and several Blue Gray Gnatcatchers.

Ash Throated Flycatcher

Cooper's Hawk Fledgling

Cooper's Hawk Fledgling

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Virginia Rail

The Virginia Rail is found throughout the United States and Mexico, yet, it always seems exciting to find one. They aren't abundant; and they usually spend most of their time in weed beds -- only occasionally coming out into the open (though still not far from the cover of those weed beds). This photo was taken at Whitewater Draw in Southeast Arizona.

Virginia Rail

Violet Crowned Hummingbird

We're getting close to the end of my alphabetical series of my "5" Star Photos. Up now, the Violet Crowned Hummingbird, a gorgeous hummer from central Mexico that comes as far north as the southern Madrean Sky Islands. It is a regular visitor to Paton House in Patagonia and occasional visitor to Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains and to the Huachuca Mountains. Its bright red bill, white breast and throat make it very easy to identify:

Violet Crowned Hummingbird