Arizona Trip ~ September 11, 2020

Once again, we made the long drive back up into Rucker Canyon and hiked up Trail #222 looking for the pair of Eared Quetzals. The numbers of flycatchers and warblers were down from the day before, but Greater Pewee and Black Phoebe became additions to the canyon list. Sharp-shinned Hawk, Arizona Woodpecker, a small flock of Bushtits, and about a dozen Pygmy Nuthatches were the other birds that weren't found there previously.

Pygmy Nuthatch

On the way up, a Steller's Jay and a Lincoln's Sparrow posed for photos.

Steller's Jay

Lincoln's Sparrow

Farther up near the 3-mile mark, a Red-faced Warbler was playing "hide-and-seek" in one of the oaks.

Red-faced Warbler

On the way back down, a Blue-throated Mountain-Gem guarded his patch of flowers along the stream.

Blue-throated Mountain-Gem

We logged another seven miles in the canyon and, again, came up empty on the search. We drove to Willcox this time, grabbed our once-a-day meal, and stayed at the Arizona Sunset Inn.

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