Bell's Vireo at Sweetwater

Seem's like I am finding Bell's Vireos everywhere these days. Here's a nice photo from Sweetwater Wetlands:

Bell's Vireo

Bee Swarm at Sweetwater Wetlands

Bee swarms are one of nature's interesting phenomenons. We get them occasionally here at The Azure Gate (see post from January 13, 2015). While birding at Sweetwater Wetlands last week I came across another:

The Azure Gate's Lucy's Warbler

Sometimes something you might like is right under your nose. Most often when I go "birding" I get in the car and drive somewhere. However, our birding guests seem to find birds right here on our five acres. Guests a year or so ago said they saw a Black-throated Grey Warbler in one of our Mesquite trees. Yesterday one of our guests said they have been seeing a Lucy's Warbler behind their guest house for the last couple of days.

Although I have seen and photographed them both, I had never seen one here at The Azure Gate. So today I went looking where our guests said they saw the Lucy's. And, sure enough there one was. Here are a few of my "new" Azure Gate Lucy's Warbler photos:

Anna's Hummingbirds Nesting: The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast

We have two (that we know of) Anna's Hummingbirds nests close to our main house. In one case, it is just outside the courtyard of one of our guest rooms (in a Palo Verde Tree). Our guests are birders so have been watching each day to see what's going on. The second is also in a Palo Verde Tree but near our carport. There are stairs up to Christine's studio so we can get a very good look at what is happening in the nest from that point. Here is a photo I took just minutes ago:

I am convinced that hummingbirds have a Ph.D. in Nest Engineering (as opposed to Doves that seem to have flunked 3rd grade). The hummingbird nests are very tightly woven and swing perpendicular to the ground no matter how strong the wind. It is as if the nest is part of the tree. You can see the threads holding the nest onto the branch in the photo.

Black and White Warbler: Sweetwater Wetlands

The Black and White Warbler is an uncommon visitor to Southern Arizona. Rarely found west of East Texas, it's feeding behavior is more like a creeper than typical warblers. If in the area it is relatively easy to find and photograph because it feeds essentially from the trunks and larger limbs of older trees.

Such was the case on Sunday at Sweetwater Wetlands here in Tucson. Here are a few photos:

Best of Cooper's Hawk Photos: 10

Here a Juvenile Cooper's Hawk cooling off in one of our birds baths by the office:

Cooper's Hawk

Best of Cooper's Hawk Photos: 9

Here two siblings from a pair of adults that nested in McDonald Park just two miles from us:

Cooper's Hawk