So, I feel like I ought to say a little bit about each weekend for posterity. Perhaps I ought to journal somewhere else, too, but this is as convenient a place as any to write about our trips, and it might be that a few other people will be interested in hearing about what we're up to. I imagine it's just a few other people, though!
Libby picked up at work that Friday afternoon and we started driving east immediately. Despite traffic, we made it to Green Valley by 12:30.
The next morning we were up early and began working our way up Madera Canyon. Our first stop was at Proctor Road, where we were surprised to find a Yellow-billed Cuckoo in the mesquite bosque. This was probably a late spring migrant. As we hiked up the canyon to the first picnic area, we enjoyed Ash-throated and Brown-crested Flycatchers, Mexican Jays, Bridled Titmice, a Lucy's Warbler and many singing Bell's Vireos. We settled down at the waterfall down below the parking lot to watch birds come in to drink. This netted us fantastic views of House Finches, Blue Grosbeaks and Varied Buntings. The Varied Buntings were especially cooperative, occasionally flying within a few feet of us as they foraged near the ground. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get any pictures.
We then drove all the way up the canyon because we were really hoping to see a Trogon. We meandered our way up the trail there, watching numerous Western Wood-Pewees and White-breasted Nuthatches foraging along the way. We also had our first Painted Redstarts of the day, lots of House Wrens, and, finally, an Elegant Trogon. We heard it at the same time we heard our first Sulfur-bellied Flycatchers of the day, and had to make a decision about which to pursue. The flycatchers were being uncharacteristically unobtrusive, but a trogon is the more wonderful bird, so we made the right choice and started following its strange call. Eventually, we both found it sitting in a tree across the canyon from us. It was distant, but we were able to see it well as it punctuated its sedentary habits with lethargic forays for flying insects. Fun!
As the day warmed, we worked our way down the canyon and watched the feeders. Bronzed Cowbirds, Hepatic Tanagers, and Broad-billed Hummingbirds were among the attractions at the feeders. We even found a Hepatic Tanager feeding a scraggly featherless baby near one of the feeder stations. We met some very nice birders from West Virginia who were looking for the Flame-colored Tanager. Unfortunately, it hasn't been visiting the feeders lately, and so we didn't get to see it.
In the afternoon, we set up camp at Bog Springs Campground, and sweated our socks off trying to take an afternoon nap in the 100 degree heat. In the afternoon, we made another tour of the feeders, especially waiting at Madera Kubo to see if the Berylline Hummingbird or Flame-colored Tanager would come in. The Berylline did, as well as a female Blue-throated, eventually, but the Flame-colored Tanager didn't. That's ok. We spent the rest of the daylight waiting for the famous Elf Owl to come out of his hole at the Santa Rita Lodge. Alas, we were disappointed, as he never showed, but we did hear Whip-poor-wills and Whiskered Screech Owls calling in the distance as the dusk gathered thickly around us.
Our neighbors at the campground were birders from Oregon who had seen and heard Whiskered Screech-Owls at their campsite the night before. So, when we got back, they whistled one in for us. It was incredible to see this feisty little bird and his staring yellow eyes glaring at us. They called for a long time that evening, and the campground appeared to be chock full of them. My favorite moment with one came while I was brushing my teeth. I heard a noise behind me, turned around, and found one staring at me from eye level a few feet away. It then proceeded to begin dismantling what it appeared to be a very large insect that it had caught.
We did, also, hear some Elf Owls calling from down the hill during the night. But they were some distance away and we didn't find them. Also, in the very early morning hours, Common Poorwills were very vocal from the surrounding hillsides.
The next morning we were up at dawn to go for a hike to Bog and Kent Springs. Last year we hiked up to Josephine Saddle and into the pine zone, but this year we took this more modest hike into upper riparian forests, mixed oak and pine woodland, and chaparral. Bog Springs was incredibly birdy. By tooting like a Pygmy-Owl, we attracted a huge crowd of angry birds. There were lots of Plumbeous Vireos, Western Tanagers, Hepatic Tanagers, Sulfur-bellied Flycatchers, and Western Wood-Pewees.
At Kent Springs, we found a cooperative Red-faced Warbler, a frighteningly familiar Magnificent Hummingbird that made some close passes at Libby's red hat, and lots more Painted Redstarts.
We arrived back at camp before 11:00 in the morning, packed up, and headed home content with a great weekend. There are some more pictures - of Libby, me, springs, trees, mountains, flowers, butterflies, and birds at our Flickr page.
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