We headed back up to the Pinery Canyon Campground where there had been a fairly recent report of the bird heard calling nearby. A group of Mexican Chickadees and Red-faced Warblers flitted along the road.
A Buff-breasted Flycatcher was spending most of its time near the tops of the tall pines, making it tough to get photos of. I was lucky to get this image of it.
Since none of us had recently been up to Rustler Park, we drove there and checked out the area. It was nothing like I remembered. The bad fire from several years ago had wiped out a lot of the pine forest. Instead of thick forest with Olive Warblers, we were seeing open hillsides with Cassin's Kingbirds doing their flycatching.
One of the sections of pines that survived the fire produced Hutton's and Plumbeous Vireo, Steller's Jay, Western and Hepatic Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Bluebird, and Hairy Woodpecker.
Since I have enough trouble trying to identify the birds I see, I am assuming after doing some research that this nicely-marked specimen is a Cliff Chipmunk.
Along the road back out to Onion Saddle while unsuccessfully looking for Virginia's Warbler, we did find Black-throated Gray Warbler, Painted Redstart, a flock of about 40 Bushtits, and a pair of Greater Pewees taking food to their young at the nest.
Back down at Pinery Canyon Campground, I watched a Broad-tailed Hummingbird feeding its nestlings. It amazed me how she put her entire bill down their throats without piercing their insides, reminding me of the people that do sword-swallowing.
I couldn't resist taking a few more photos of the Spotted Owls that happened to be within sight of the hummingbird nest. They were pretty much unconcerned about the birders' presence.
As the day waned, we drove the hour to Willcox to get some food and a motel.
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