We hiked Rucker Canyon Trail #222 looking for the Eared Quetzal pair that had been there for several weeks. In the first mile of the trail, we watched a Calliope Hummingbird bathing in the stream and a dark Red-tailed Hawk that was perched nearby.
Other hummingbird species found along the trail included a few Rufous and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds and a Blue-throated Mountain-Gem. A Northern Pygmy-Owl was heard 'tooting' from the hillside.
A good number of flycatchers were present. There were well over 20 Hammond's Flycatchers and several Cordillerans along the streambed with what seemed to be at least one 'Empid' in view at all times. Western Wood-Pewees were periodically seen in addition to one Dusky Flycatcher.
Mexican Jays and Steller's Jays were very noticeable. Two Hairy Woodpeckers and several Northern Flickers showed themselves among the omnipresent Acorn Woodpeckers.
The canyon also produced 11 species of warblers. Among the fair numbers of Wilson's, Hermit, and Black-throated Gray Warblers were 5 Painted Redstarts, a few Townsend's, a couple MacGillivray's and Orange-crowneds, and a Grace's, a Nashville, and a Yellow-rumped. Past the 2-mile mark, Jason spotted a Townsend's x Hermit hybrid that gave us good looks. I was able to get a few decent photos of it showing the bright yellow face, representative of the Hermit, and most of the Townsend's characteristics----the yellowish wash on the breast under the black bib, the dark streaking on the flanks, and the streaking on the greenish back.
We eventually reached the switchbacks past the 3-mile mark where we turned around and worked our way back down. Two Band-tailed Pigeons were briefly seen near the top of one of the pines, and a Zone-tailed Hawk soared overhead.
A flock of agitated birds directed us to a Northern Pygmy-Owl that flew off just before I could get a photo, but the Painted Redstarts put on a nice show.
Additional birds discovered in the canyon included Vaux's Swift, Hutton's, Cassin's, and Plumbeous Vireo, Common Raven, Mexican Chickadee, Bridled Titmouse, Violet-green Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Canyon, House, and Bewick's Wren, Swainson's and Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Lesser Goldfinch, Rufous-crowned and Lincoln's Sparrow, Green-tailed and Spotted Towhee, Hepatic Tanager, and Black-headed Grosbeak. Unfortunately, our 9-mile trek twice up and down the canyon did not turn up the quetzals.
One nice surprise was a young Common Black Hawk that was perched over the stream just below the campground as we began our 45-minute descent down the canyon road.
We headed back to Sierra Vista for our motel and, finally, something to eat.
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