Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Arizona - California Trip ~ February 27, 2018

Since Mike had never seen Montezuma Quail, we headed to Madera Canyon to search the area along Madera Creek between the Mount Wrightson trailhead and Proctor Road and also along the Bog Springs trail. While back at the Bog Springs trailhead parking area, Mike walked over to the Madera Canyon picnic area and met some birders who told him that the Elegant Trogon was being seen just downstream from the Whitehouse picnic area. We headed down there and found several birders watching the extremely cooperative trogon feeding along the trail.




Here, you can see why this bird was formerly called the Coppery-tailed Trogon.


At one point, it flew within ten feet of us. I had to back up to keep the bird in the frame.



We decided to check out the feeders at the Santa Rita Lodge. As usual, it was loaded with birds. In winter, this is a good spot to see the different subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco. "Pink-sided", "Gray-headed", and "Oregon" Juncos were all present.


Dark-eyed "Pink-sided" Junco


Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco



Dark-eyed "Oregon" Junco


A Yellow-eyed Junco was also in and out of one of the brush piles.



One of the two Rufous-winged Sparrows there posed as it fed among the Juncos.



A pair of Hepatic Tanagers flew in a couple times. The male put on a nice show.



Both male and female Arizona Woodpeckers put in appearances, too.




While watching the feeders, a White-nosed Coatimundi slowly walked into the feeding area.



The next stop was Florida Canyon, hoping for Rufous-capped Warbler. Along the way up the trail, White-throated Swifts zoomed overhead.



Several Violet-green Swallows were also zipping around.


Otherwise, it was very quiet birdwise, probably because it was late in the day.

From there, we spent the last hour of the day driving Box Canyon Road all the way to Route 83, hoping to see Montezuma Quail. We struck out on the quail but did find a pair of Golden Eagles, Say's Phoebe, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bridled Titmouse, Cactus Wren, Hermit Thrush, Phainopepla, Loggerhead Shrike, and Chipping, Vesper, and Rufous-winged Sparrow.

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