Arizona Trip ~ June 9, 2016

As soon as the Ramsey Canyon's Preserve gate opened at 8:00 AM, we parked and started the two mile hike up Ramsey Canyon to find the pair of Tufted Flycatchers. It didn't take long until I spotted one of the birds perched low in the understory. Like the Pine Flycatcher, the bird was uninterested in our presence.

On the way back down the trail, a pair of Painted Redstarts were taking food to their young in the nest.

A little farther along, a Grace's Warbler was trying to distract us away from her nest.

Other species seen during the hike included Band-tailed Pigeon, White-throated Swift, Greater Pewee, Western Wood-Pewee, Sulphur-bellied, Dusky-capped, and Cordilleran Flycatcher, Steller's Jay, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch, Canyon Wren, Hermit Thrush, Plumbeous and Hutton's Vireo, Black-throated Gray and Red-faced Warbler, Hepatic and Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Spotted Towhee.

A view from "The Overlook" at 6200 feet. The Tufted Flycatcher site is beyond the notch near the center of the photo.

We left the preserve and drove up to Tucson where we booked a motel before heading down to Madera Canyon. Along Madera Canyon Road, I got some photos of a Rufous-winged Sparrow.

Just up the road, Black-throated Sparrows were on the other side.

When we stopped at the feeders at the Santa Rita Lodge, we heard an unverified, second-hand report of a Plain-capped Starthroat at one of the feeders. We spent the rest of the day there and, if there really was a Starthroat there, it never returned. While there, we saw White-winged Dove, Arizona Woodpecker, Mexican Jay, Black-headed Grosbeak, Scott's Oriole, and Lesser Goldfinch. Among the hummingbirds was this Magnificent Hummingbird.

A perched Zone-tailed Hawk was barely visible through the foliage.

At dusk, we watched an Elf Owl bring food to the female at a hole in a telephone pole. A Whiskered Screech-Owl was also seen in one of the trees by the feeders. A Northern Pygmy-Owl 'tooted' nearby. Just downhill, a Western Screech-Owl flew across the road. Mexican Whip-poor-will and Common Poorwill were also heard. We spent the night in Tucson.

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