A Well Needed Trip to SE AZ (Part 2)

Florida Canyon! The first two things that come to mind when an experienced birder hears that name is Black-capped Gnatcatchers and Rufous-capped Warblers. Both the BCGN and the RCWA are Mexican vagrants that have been known to breed in Florida Canyon in very small numbers. As I said in the last post, the Black-capped Gnatcatcher was my target bird for the trip, so you might ask "Why not the Rufous-capped Warbler?" Well at the time I didn't know where the RCWA was and I hadn't been to Florida Canyon before. But once Mr. John and I pulled into the parking area I was very exited to explore yet another new birdy area. I quickly jumped out of the car and started calling out birds "Gray Hawk, Broad-billed hummingbird, Plumbeous Vireo, Black-headed Grosbeak" before long I was up to thirty species, and I was still around the parking area! But there was one set back, Mr. John was tired by our previous day of hiking around the Museum. So we agreed that he would stay back at the parking lot and bird around the small but active area while I hiked up the canyon a ways. However, I came prepared and brought my walkie-talkies that I use back at home when I go birding by bike. As I literally ran up the canyon I came across a fellow bird-guide Mr. Richard Fray, who kindly gave me directions to where he had seen a few birds like Rufous-capped Wabler, Elegant Trogon, Montezuma Quail, and a possible Golden-crowned Sparrow. So becoming even more pumped (almost to the point where my brain could've exploded!) I started running even faster only in a "Bird Hard" fashion. Before long I started slowing down as the trails started splitting more and more. As I was hiking at a fast pace I had a couple of birds explode into flight from what felt like the tip of my nose, Montezuma Quail (Lifer #3 for the trip)!!! The two birds took flight in two different directions and trying to keep track of either one of them proved very hard. I then spotted a pair of Golden Eagles in the distance as they used the ridge line for transportation, but the birds were way to far for a photo. Soon after, I found myself about a mile up the trail where the habitat along the creek started disappearing so I started working my way back when I spotted a plain gray-faced Zonotrichia fly into the creeks thick brush. All it took was that very brief glimpse to identify the sparrow as a Golden-crowned (Lifer #4 for the trip and 350 for my life)! I then patiently waited and after a bit of pishing the bird came out!

Golden-crowned Sparrow 

Honestly, this has got to be the drabbest bird I've seen in my life!

The sparrow then flew down into the brush again, and as I was waiting for the bird to make another move when I got a call from Mr. John that he was staring at the Black-capped Gnatcatcher with Mr. Richard, and it was sitting on its nest!!! I then told him that I was on my way, but as I started running I spotted a Golden Eagle soaring overhead and a Gray Hawk was attacking it!

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle--And babam, Gray Hawk!

Once the Gray Hawk retreated I then continued running down the canyon for a half mile before I reached the parking area. I then found Mr. John and after scanning the tree branches we found our suspect (Lifer #5 for the trip)!

Black-capped Gnatcatcher--Female

Note the long bill and white undertail that separate this unique gnatcatcher from the others.

We then pointed out the gnatcatcher to some other birders and we continued snapping pictures.

Black-capped Gnatcatcher

After watching the gnatcatcher for a while we decided it was time to hit Madera Canyon, but on our way we stopped by a cow corral to see what we could find. I didn't find the male Black-capped Gnatcatcher that had been staying here but I did, however, hear and get a couple looks of my lifer (#6 for the trip!) Northern Beardless-Tyrranulet. I tried hard to get more looks and possibly a photo but that bird was just so darn small! We then continued towards Madera Canyon where we made our first stop by the Super Trail near the top of the canyon. I hiked about three quarters of a mile before I decided I probably wasn't going to crush any trogons on the trip. We then made our last stop of the day at the Santa Rita Lodge where we saw some cool birds.

Mexican Jay

Wild Turkey

I ended the two day trip with an awesome 6 lifers to talk about and 25 year birds bringing my year list to 250! I am looking forward to my next trip to SE AZ and who knows what lifers I might get on that trip. Thanks Mr. John, Mrs. Janet, Mrs. Jennifer, and last but not least Ren for an awesome trip!

Birding the beautiful Lockett Meadow

On September 25th I took yet another birding trip, a birdwalk lead by the Sonoran Audubon Society (SAS) to Lockett Meadow located in the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, Mr. Paul Doucett had invited me to come. My target bird was the Clark's Nutcracker, a bird I have had seen to many people crush! After about two and a half hours of driving we finally spied the mountains.

                                   The San Francisco Peaks hold the highest point in Arizona
Once we reached Flagstaff we stopped at a Mc Donald's and packed the seven of us into one van. After a bit more driving we turned onto a dirt road and after about three miles I saw a gray bird, with black wings with a white square and I knew right away that it was my lifer Clark's Nutcracker! But even with all of my exitement the car did not stop. Before we knew it we were at the beautiful Lockett Meadow with its tall pines, Douglas Firs, and Aspens covering the mountain, here is a photo.

  When we parked the car we started the walk. Our first stop was at a small pond where we were treated with both Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks.

 While watching the Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks we also had this Red-tailed Hawk.

This day seemed to be good for raptors, by now we had about 3 Red-tails, 4 Sharpies and 5 Cooper's. While we were watching the raptors I saw a a small songbird flying that looked like a thrush or cowbird but it looked like it had a bit too much baring, but as I saw the bird fly deep into the forest I had a weird feeling that I had to look back and when I did I saw a Golden Eagle!!! We were all amazed at how majestic the eagle was, here are a few photos.

 Once the bird flew past the ridge our group all shared their stories on when they last saw a GOEA. While the group was talking I saw that small thrush sized bird fly high up into a tall pine, this is what the bird looked like through by binocs. Can you find it?

After looking at the bird for about 2 minutes I was finally able to identify it as a Northern Pygmy-Owl!!! I then quietly yelled that it was a NPOW but right when I said that and put my bins back up to where the bird was I didn't see it! This was terrible no one was going to believe me, so I started scanning the whole tree and I saw the bird come out of a bunch of pine needles and after 5 minutes of pointing out where the bird was everyone saw it! Here is a better photo of the bird.

I was totally satisfied with the day and we weren't even at noon yet! I then ran non-stop to the van to get my scope so we could get amazing looks at the distant bird but after a 1/6 of a mile of running in 9,000 foot elevation I opened the van and remembered that I left the scope back at the other car I came in at Flagstaff!!! I then had to run back to the group and explain what happened! After watching the bird for about an hour everyone started getting a bit hungry, so we headed back to the van and ate. But before we move on here is one more photo of the truely amazing NPOW.

After we ate our lunches we started birding up the mountain. The birds were not very active at all but we were able to find a few Red-breasted Nuthatches and a Clark's Nutcracker right in the sun!
                                                               Red-breasted Nuthatch

                                                                Clark's Nutcracker

The CLNU's didn't want me to photograph them (at least today) but I WILL be back for them and hopefully soon!!! I must thank the SAS and Mr. Paul for the awesome trip with two lifers!!!