SATURDAY

Brian and Lise Young were on a quest to photograph and video a long list of targets on a three week tour through Arizona and California, and I was their guide for the first half of the trip. Our first stop of the trip was at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to search for Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. We heard it well from several points in the wash, but we never could glimpse it. Fortunately, we did get some nice shots of woodpeckers and doves in this most scenic Sonoran desert park.

Brian Young

Crested Caracara

The next two stops were north of Nogales, at the Rio Rico Ponds and at Kino Springs, where we had good luck with both Tropical Kingbird and Gray Hawk.

On the way west through the Tohono O'Odham Tribal Reservation we added to our growing list with two Crested Caracaras and several Harris's Hawks.

Gray Hawk

Five-Striped Sparrow

Other beauties were Varied Buntings, Warbling Vireos, tanagers, Lucy's Warblers, as well as some fine lizard specimens! Along the canyon walls were beautiful cacti and a host of early summer wildflowers.

The next morning we headed out early and drove to California Gulch. The primary target was Five-striped Sparrow, which obliged us with lots of singing and close-up views.

Clark's Spiny Lizard

After lunch we headed up to Madera Canyon and the Santa Rita Lodge. Acorn Woodpeckers abounded, and we saw other regulars like Broad-billed Hummingbird, Hooded Oriole, and White-breasted Nuthatches.

Acorn Woodpecker

Coral Bean in front of Montana Peak

That evening we did our first night-time owling; we had beautiful views of Mexican Whip-poor-will and Elf Owl, and heard Poorwill and Whiskered Screech-Owl.

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Despite the unrelenting heat, we drove over to Montosa Canyon after lunch and gave the Plain-capped Starthroat a whirl. Fortunately a young fellow had just seen it up the wash, so we clambered through the huge culvert and hiked up canyon for some great views and photos. After dinner we did more owling--this time along Proctor Road, where we captured a pair of accommodating Western Screech-Owls on "film".

Plain-capped Starthroat

White-eared Hummingbird

Blue-throated Hummingbird

Down at Mary Jo's the heat and time of day made for slow birding. We did photograph some cooperative Ladder-backed Woodpeckers and Mexican Jays, but missed the Lucifer Hummingbird.

Olive Warbler

Mississippi Kite at St. David

Then it was off to Mt. Lemmon, where we spent the afternoon and evening. Here we tracked down specialties like the Olive Warbler and Buff-breasted Flycatcher. A night-time owling trip up the mountainside turned up brief looks at a Whiskered Screech-Owl at Middle Bear; higher up in Rose Canyon we heard, but could not spot, the elusive Flammulated Owl.

Common Black-Hawk

Farther north still, we drove up to the Tonto Fish Hatchery. A handsome male Red-naped Sapsucker posed for a few photos before hitching itself high up into the tree. Patience paid off with one of the many singing Virginia's Warblers, and we eventually got good photos of the bird.

Red-naped Sapsucker

Virginia's Warbler

Williamson's Sapsucker

The cooler days were enjoyable, and we managed several new target birds: Pinyon Jay, Williamson's Sapsucker, and the Red-backed subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco.

Mountain Bluebird

The next morning we drove east to Eagar, where we spent two days exploring the White Mountains.

Lewis Woodpecker

We also saw lots of other fine birds missing from the lowlands, such as Olive-sided Flycatcher, Mountain Bluebird, Vesper Sparrow, and Lewis's Woodpecker. Other critters crossing our path were chipmunks, deer, and a few Pronghorn Antelope.

Dark-eyed "Red-backed" Junco (juvenile)

Our last full day together was a long drive from the White Mountains to Yuma. We stopped for lunch at Encanto Park in Phoenix, where we snapped photos of the lovely Peach-faced Lovebirds which have taken up residence there.

Peach-faced Lovebird

Early on Monday morning we headed out to West Pond and Mittry Lake to try for Black Rail. We heard three of the secretive Black Rails, a couple of Clapper Rails, lots of Virginia Rails, and the biggest surprise of the morning--an American Bittern doing its water pump call. Once Brian and Lise dropped me back off at home, they headed on to California--while I headed back to the office. It had been a great week of birding and photography on the road!