There is an extensive high country in the Chiricahuas, and there are roads that take you right up into it. Lush forests of Douglas-fir, Chihuahuan Pine, and Apache Pine and occasional Englemann Spruces coat its undulating peaks, and you can actually feel the altitude up above 8,000 feet. Within the forests, Mexican Chickadees are added to other high Madrean species, as well as with more familiar birds of the western mountain forests like Steller's Jays and Pygmy Nuthatches. But the Chickadees are only found here in Arizona, and only in two smaller mountain ranges in New Mexico in the United States. Adding to the mountain ranges appeal is Cave Creek Canyon, a beautiful red-walled crack in the eastern side that hosts large and easily accessible Trogon populations. All in all, the mountains have an irresistible appeal to birders!
First thing in the morning, though, we headed for the San Pedro River. A Green Kingfisher had been seen there on and off for months, and we wanted to try for it and to enjoy the local riparian avifauna. We didn't have any luck with the kingfisher, but we did see lots of Yellow-breasted Chats, heard Gray Hawks, saw Vermilion Flycatchers, and had a grand old time. Best of all, though, was a perplexing Yellow-throated Vireo that was most definitely out of place. Unfortunately, we were unable to photograph it. Still, definitely the rarest bird we found on our trip.
Next stop between Sierra Vista and the Chircahuas was at the Wilcox "lakes", where shorebirds can be found. This is not much but a muddy puddle in the middle of the desert, but it netted us a good number of shorebirds and a few species of ducks. The highlight was a group of our first ever Baird's Sandpipers, which is an expected migrant in the western deserts but rare out here on the coast. We also got to study a big mixed flock of Phalaropes to our heart's content, struggling only with triple digit temperatures and distorting heat waves.
From Wilcox it's a fairly short drive into the mountains. Our first stop was Coronado National Monument for the scenery. It was pretty cool, both literally and figuratively, as we exited our car at the visitor's center in a torrential downpour! It soon eased up, though, and we felt comfortable driving up to an exposed overlook in the as-soon again sunny conditions. Here, strange bulgy spires of rocks have eroded from the hillsides, standing like a silent army among its scrubby forests of oak, pinyon, and juniper.
Chiricahua National Monument
After soaking in the sights, it was back down the mountain and then up to Rustler Park, our campground for the evening. Along the way we were hoping to check out undeveloped Pinery Campground for Mexican Chickadees, as someone we met recommended the spot for that species. Unfortunately, our arrival there neatly coincided with the forest receiving another thorough soaking from the erstwhile monsoon, and when despite our waiting it never eased up into anything lighter than a drizzle, our half-hearted efforts netted nothing more than some distant wet-sounded twitters in the high pines.
So, instead, we headed to our campsite, of which we had our pick, as we were the only people staying there both nights. Kind of eerie to be in a developed campground by yourselves, but we didn't mind the solitude. As we were mulling over which campsite to settle on, an enormous flock of Pygmy Nuthatches moved through in the trees. By thoroughly examining the flock we were able to pick out a couple of Mexican Chickadees. We got poor looks, but we'd see them again, though never low to the ground.
That night we made ourselves a warm dinner, had one of the local little White-tailed Deer come unnervingly close to us (we moved away to keep the picnic table between us and it, just in case), and adjusted to the deliciously cool temperatures of the mountains. Such a relief to have it be in the 40s at night instead of the 70s!
Pictures at Flickr: Arizona 5.
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