Paradise

From Portal I drove the six miles up the mountain to the tiny town of Paradise, where I visited the George Walker House, which was suggested as another feeder spot to investigate.  Though most of the birds overlapped with what I'd seen earlier in the day, I found my first Yellow-eyed Juncos*, and got much closer looks at the titmice.

Yellow-eyed Junco


Juniper Titmouse


Bridled Titmouse


After unsuccessful attempts at finding Black-chinned Sparrows on the way down from Paradise, I drove two hours to the San Pedro House, located on the San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area.  There I found my first Gila Woodpeckers* and Abert's Towhees*, along with dozens of Lesser Goldfinches, White-crowned Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds.  That night I hiked in a mile from the San Pedro House, camping along the edge of Green Kingfisher Pond, which unfortunately never produced its namesake.

Pyrrhuloxia


Lesser Goldfinch


Abert's Towhee

Portal and Cave Creek Canyon

After Satellite Road I made a quick stop at Quailway Cottage, where there were feeders up and I got my first looks at Ladder-backed Woopeckers* and Pyrrhuloxias*.

Ladder-backed Woodpecker


Pyrrhuloxia


Singing Curve-billed Thrasher


Next I made my way to the tiny town of Portal, where I birded the main quarter mile strip, and made my way up and down Cave Creek Canyon.  Around the canyon I found lots of Mexican Jays*, a few Juniper Titmice*, my only Red-naped Sapsucker*, and my first of many Bridled Titmice*.

Banded Mexican Jay
 

Feeders were obviously the most productive spots to find hoards of birds, so Cave Creek Ranch's extensive feeder setup did not disappoint.

Curve-billed Thrasher


Everyone loved the Peanut Butter

Ladder-backed Woodpecker


Arizona Woodpecker*


Acorn Woodpecker


Ruby-crowned Kinglet




My only Blue-throated Hummingbird* of the trip


My second and final Cactus Wren sighting of the trip

Satellite Road

With generally great success, my trip from Mass, to South Carolina, through THE South, around SE Arizona and up to the Bay Area has come to an end. 

Though this may be the worst time of year to bird the renown Southeast Arizona, it was an amazing trip for me, as it was my first time in the area, giving me a couple dozen new birds (*=life bird) for my viewing pleasure.

My first stop was along Satellite Road, which is the border of New Mexico and Arizona, where my first sighting was a Loggerhead Shrike repeatedly stalking and flushing a large flock of Lark Buntings*. 

Loggerhead Shrike


Lark Buntings







The road was teeming with White-crowned, Brewer's, Vesper, and Black-throated Sparrows, and I found my first Cactus Wrens*, Canyon Towhees*, and Curve-billed Thrashers* there as well.

Black-throated Sparrow


Cactus Wren


Western Meadowlark

Chestnut Hill Sparrows

Two days ago I found a pair of sparrows along the Chestnut Hill Reservoir feeding in the few grassy spots exposed post Nemo.  Without binoculars I decided they were a Savannah and American Tree Sparrow, but after rushing home and back again for a camera and bins I was surprised to find it was in fact a Field Sparrow in place of the usual tree sparrow.

Le Conte's Sparrow

Yesterday this bird was reported in Concord and was still being seen as the sun set, so I decided to head over early and try my luck at such a rarity.  Breeding in the Midwest and up into much of Canada and typically wintering across the South, this bird is quite out of place here, and was obviously a lifer.






Ridiculous orange face aside, what really gets me about this bird is the back pattern.

AZ bound soon

I'm heading across the country in a little over a week and will be hitting Southeast AZ along the way for a a few days.  I've already gotten some suggestions, but if anyone out there has ideas for MUST SEE winter birding spots in the area, I'm all ears.

Rufous-capped Warbler in Mexico in 2010.

King E

I saw my first King Eider today up in the Rockport, MA area.  Too far off for any pictures, but a beautiful adult male. 

Here's a Cooper's Hawk from Halibut Point State Park today.