Wildlife of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast - Part III

The Javalina's having been coming around fairly frequently of late. Here are a few photos:

Wildlife of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast - Part II

Part II of Wildlife Photos taken here at the Azure Gate B&B since the pandemic started:

Flyby Double-crested Cormorant

Gambel's Quail

Gila Woodpecker

Great Horned Owl with Owlet

House Finch Female

House Finch Male

House Sparrow

Wildlife of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast

NOTE:  Today we have a new visitor to our Blog. Uzbekistan has joined 141 other countries in visiting The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast blog. Today's visitors included: United States, Hong Kong, Germany, Bahrain, France, Japan, Uruguay, Turkmenistan, Russia, Ireland, Portugal, Chile, and Uzbekistan.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected people around the world, it is nice to know that there is still a common love of wildlife.

Over the timeframe of the pandemic, Christine and I take time each day to wander around our property. Here are some of the photos from those walks:

Broad Billed Hummingbird

Cactus Wren

Cactus Wren

Curve-billed Thrasher

Curve-billed Thrasher

Curve-billed Thrasher

Galiuro Mountains, Southern Arizona

One of my favorite spots in Arizona is the Galiuro Mountains, the northern most of the Madrean Sky Islands of Southern Arizona. It is north of Willcox and extends almost to Phoenix.

It's a good place to go looking for Coatimundi,  Hooded Skunks, and Striped Skunks. I've also seen and photographed Bobcats, Javelinas, Coyotes, Pronghorn, Mule and White-tailed Deer, Antelope Jackrabbits, Mountain Cottontails, Gila Monsters, Gopher Snakes and Rattlesnakes, There is a fair population of Mountain Lions, Desert Bighorn Sheep, and Bears though I've not found them.

Birding can also be productive. Over the years I've photographed Long Eared Owl, American Kestrel,  Merlin, Grey Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Swainson's Hawks, Zone-tailed Hawk, Turkey and Black Vultures, Black-throated and other Sparrows, Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Tanagers, Phainopeplas, Meadowlarks, Shrikes, Flycatchers,  and Wild Turkeys.

My trip a couple of weeks ago gave me some nice photos:

Singing Black-throated Sparrow

Gray Hawk

Gray Hawk

Swainson's Hawk

Vermillion Flycatcher

Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey

Birding Mount Lemmon

Mount Lemmon provides some great birding opportunities. Though rarely rare birds, it provides first time birders to Arizona opportunities for "Lifers." Arizona birds like Oliver Warblers, Red-faced Warblers, Painted Redstarts are relatively easy to find. Western birds like Acorn Woodpeckers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Mountain Chickadees, Spotted Towhees, and Western Tanagers are also relatively easy to find. 

Acorn Woodpecker

Black-headed Grosbeak

Hermit Thrush

Mountain Chickadee

Olive Warbler

Painted Redstart

Red-faced Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Western Tanager

Wild Turkey

Abert's Squirrel

Morse Canyon, Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

Morse Canyon is on the less frequented east side of the Chiricahua Mountains. The "Prize" for the past month has been three Crescent-chested Warblers. For the first week or two they were providing good looks near the end of the Turkey Creek Road where the trailhead starts.  The last couple of weeks they have been seen more often about a half mile up the trail. It appeared from my perspective that they had built a nest high up in a Ponderosa Pine tree -- maybe 60 feet off the ground. The trail gets steep and the tree is in the canyon floor so you could get a better view further up the switchback -- though a bit further away. Occasionally, they would fly down to the trail just to tease birders/photographers. But while I was there they didn't stay close long enough to get a clear and in-focus photo.

There were always people around looking at or looking for this rare bird. And jockeying around on a  steep uphill trail -- especially for someone with balance issues was a bit challenging. 

The Crescent-chested Warbler has been reported in Arizona less than 10 times. So it is quite special in that regard. But like many warblers, they very attractive.

Although you might be at the right place, at the right time (Morse Canyon early morning) --- it might not be exactly the right place or exactly the right time. Early on in my "birding career" I noticed something. Maybe a brilliant grasp of the obvious, but Birds Have Wings. Yes they do. And, they often use them. Of course, this has all been during the Pandemic, so the birds may have simply been practicing "social distancing."

Anyway, while looking for the C-C Warbler, there were a few other birds around:

Crescent-chested Warbler

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Gilded Flicker

Montezuma Quail

Red-faced Warbler

Western Tanager

Cordilleran Flycatcher

White-tailed Fawn

Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona - Part II

Continuing with Madera Canyon

Arizona Woodpecker

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

When in Madera Canyon it is always worth checking out the Feeding Station at the Santa Rita Lodge -- and Kubo Cabins. In this case, a continuing rarity, the Berylline Hummingbird. The Berylline is not  seen -- or at least reported every year. It comes from Mexico and only visits the extreme Southeastern Mountains of Arizona (Santa Ritas, Huachucas, and Chiricahuas).

Berylline Hummingbird

Magnificent (Rivoli's) Hummingbird Female

Magnificent (Rivoli's) Hummingbird Male