Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona - Part I

Two trips to Madera Canyon last week yielded a wonderful surprise, a Northern Pygmy Owl.

A pair of Northern Pygmy Owls nested in a large Sycamore Tree. A beautiful little owl only 6-7 inches tall. The Northern Pygmy Owl preferred habitat is forests of oaks and conifers -- and obviously Sycamores. Madera Canyon has a very high population of Acorn Woodpeckers (and Arizona Woodpeckers, Gila Woodpeckers, Red-naped Sapsuckers, and the occasional Red-breasted Sapsucker). With the abundance of woodpeckers comes an abundance of ready-made nests. So it is not surprising that Madera Canyon has a high population of Owls (Northern Pygmy Owl, Elf Owl, Western Screech and Whiskered Screech Owls.

The Northern Pygmy Owl's range is Mexico and north through Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. 

It does hunt during the day, so seeing one is just a matter of patience when you know where it is nesting. 

Northern Pygmy Owl in Nest

Northern Pygmy Owl with Lizard

Box Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona

Although we have the Coronavirus Pandemic around the world, people are still visiting our site. This week we have had visitors from: Romania, Germany, Hong Kong, Canada, France, Czechia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey, and Moldova as well as the United States.

Today, I'll show some photos from Box Canyon which is a dirt road up into the Santa Rita Mountains from Arizona Highwy 83 just north of Sonoita to Florida and Madera Canyon. There are some great views, but also great birding.

Here are some photos I've taken there these past two weeks:

Blue Grosbeak

Northern Mockingbird

Blue Grosbeak on Ocotillo

Canyon Wren

Rock Wren

Cassin's Kingbird Singing

Cassin's Kingbird "Hiding"

Bullock's Oriole on Ocotillo

Not very good photo of a Scott's Oriole

Lesser Goldfinch

Lucifer Hummingbird female Drinking from a Western Coral Bean Plant

Arivaca Cienegas, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge - Part V

Arivaca Cienegas can be very birdie first thing in the morning. However, it can get hot by 10:00 am this time of year so birds are less vocal and not as often seen. 

Either that or they are practicing "Social Distancing" as you will see in the following photos:

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Bewick's Wren

Lucy's Warbler

Phainopepla

Summer Tanager

Vermillion Flycatcher

Yellow-breasted Chat

Arivaca Cienegas, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge - Part IV

Continuing with recent photos from Arivaca Cienegas, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Arivaca Cienegas, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge - Part III

More from Arivaca Cienegas, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge:

Northern Cardinal

Blue Grosbeak Singing

Bullock's Oriole

Arivaca Cienegas, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge: Part II

Another rare bird to the United States is the Thick-billed Kingbird. It is more typically found from Mexico to Guatemala. It is the smallest of the North American Kingbirds but with a comparatively larger bill (as its name implies).

Pandemic, Closing, Reopening, Birds, and Blogs

NOTES:

The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast temporarily closed in mid-March due to the Coronavirus and worldwide travel restrictions.

We have not posted to our blog out of respect for those who have become afflicted, those who died, those who lost loved ones, and those who have lost jobs.  

It has been a very difficult time for everyone. We ended up with 42 cancellations and no new reservations.

Now, after nearly three months of being closed we are reopening -- with some restrictions. 

As the pandemic has begun to slow, we have started to get requests again so have decided to "re-open" with certain restrictions. We are only taking reservations for our two guest houses and we are not doing breakfast -- at least until July 1st. We will reassess at that time. We thank all of you who sent best wishes over these difficult months. And we appreciate those who have rebooked for later dates.

For the most part we have "stayed at home" at the order of our state government. We have been working on the property, and talking walks in the park, and hikes in wilderness areas.

The result is many new photos -- including some rare birds.

I'll start today with Arivaca Cienegas which is part of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge along the US/Mexico border.

Clay-colored Thrush:

This is the first reported Clay-colored Thrush in Arizona, so it was a prize find. It was first seen on May 15, 2020 and everyday since until May 28th. There was a Clay-colored Thrush suggested in Portal in 2015 though not confirmed by ABA.

It has been reported occasionally in the extreme southern tip of Texas. It's normal range is along the Gulf Coast from Mexico to northern Columbia. It is the national bird of Costa Rica.

It has a very loud and distinct call which immediately let you know it was in the area.