I woke early
this morning and looked out the window to see snow on the flanks of the Santa
Rita Mountains.
I retraced my drive from
yesterday, then took the road toward Florida (pronounced: FLO-Ree’-dah) Canyon. There was about an inch of snow on the road
as I drove up toward the parking lot near the Range and Experiment Station
buildings. It was odd to see snow on the
cactus.
As I got out
of the car, I heard a “Peeww-chip” call at the bridge just down from the
parking area. After a bit, I saw a small
flycatcher in one of the oaks above the stream, but facing away from me, so I
couldn’t get a good identification. It
was pretty light across its back, and I could see a trace of faint
wing-bars. There had been a Northern Beardless-tyrannulet
reported from this spot, and that is probably
what I saw, but I will not “tick” a Life Bird with such a poor and uncertain
look. Failing to get another look at the
bird after it flew across the road downstream of the bridge, I returned to the
trailhead
and started
up the canyon, breaking trail in about ½ to 2½ inches of snow.
 |
| Frigid Ocotillo |
Another
group of local birders arrived, and turned out it was Mary Backus and her Wisconsin-based
friend Sarah Sabatke. They were looking
for a Varied Thrush that had been reported, but we could not find it. My goal was to find the Rufous-capped Warblers,
and Mary gave me very good instructions to “go up the trail, past the water
tank, and look up the slope past the dam”.
I left them looking for the thrush, and walked . . . and walked . . .
for about 1-¾ miles up the snowy canyon.
The trail didn’t seem to conform to the directions I was given, but I continued
up and did see my “Life” Black-chinned Sparrows all along the path
 |
| These guys look a lot like Juncos . . . |
as well as
some other “snow birds”
 |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
 |
| Curve-billed Thrasher leaves the prickly pear |
I found a
small stock tank, but found no sign of a dam.
 |
| . . . Hasn't been used in a Long time |
Continuing
up the hillside for a while, it was apparent that I was going in the wrong
direction, but there was a great view of the Santa Cruz Valley.
I came back
down the trail, and met Mary and her friends, who still hadn’t found the Varied
Thrush, but had just returned from seeing the Warblers (!), and directed me to
the “birders’ trail” that diverged from the main trail to the west, main canyon. I hadn’t seen that track, as it was covered
with snow when began. Sure enough, there
was a large green water tank with
graffiti,
and just
above the tank, a rock dam.
I walked
about 40 yards above the dam, and looked up-slope into the prickly-pear. There were two, maybe three, of the
Rufous-capped Warblers vocalizing and actively feeding. They came past me 10 meters away, giving me
great looks.
 |
| Rufous-capped Warbler |
I lingered
for a while, but did not see the Black-capped Gnatcatchers that the other
birders saw only a short time before.
These would have been “Lifers” for me, but will have to await another
trip to the Southwest.
 |
| There is still lots of snow at the higher elevation this afternoon |
Since I was
close, I went back up to Madera Canyon to see if the Trogon was being seen at
the picnic area Pyracantha bush, but
no one I talked to had seen it. The
Hermit Warblers were still there, chowing-down on the frosted red berries.
 |
| Hermit Thrush in the Pyracantha . . . |
 |
| Eating one berry after the other . . . |
I did get good
views of the Painted Redstart.
 |
| Why don't they call these "Whitestarts"? |
Driving up
to the Santa Rita Lodge, I watched at the feeders for about a half-hour.
 |
| Painted Redstarts apparently like peanut butter . . . |
 |
| Lots of Pine Siskins at the sunflower feeders |
 |
| The Arizona Woodpecker likes his peanut butter, too |
I finally left
the Canyon, with the cattle
on the Santa Rita Range bidding me farewell.
I drove
north to Phoenix, and called Marty’s cousin Claire, who said she’d put
me up for the night, but had a dog event that’d keep her out until late. So, when I arrived in Phoenix, I went over to
the Evelyn Hallman Park and walked around the lake as the sun set.
Florida
Canyon trail uphill eBird Checklist is Here
Florida
Canyon trail downhill eBird Checklist is Here
Florida
Canyon birders’ trail eBird Checklist is Here
Madera
Canyon picnic area eBird Checklist is Here
Santa Rita
Lodge eBird Checklist is Here
Evelyn
Hallman Park eBird Checklist is Here
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