Patagonia

After a frantic but unsuccessful search for the Elegant Trogon that has been seen at Patagonia Lake State Park lately I birded around the lake until dark, finding a brilliant male Vermillion Flycatcher, a few Gray Flycatchers, and a variety of duck-like creatures.

The next day I hit up the Paton's yard early morning, a spot notorious for bringing in great birds to the feeders that are stocked year round.  I saw the usual suspects, but was happy to find four or five Lazuli Buntings tentatively eating seed.

Yellow-rumped Warbler taking a break from the suet.


Bridled Titmouse


I then spend the rest of the morning exploring Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, where I was greeted by a large flock of Lark Sparrows, a species I'd really only seen a handful of before.

Lark Sparrow


Northern Cardinal


Though not extremely birdy, the two miles of trail I walked were great, showing lots of Abert's and Canyon Towhees, my first Phainopepla*, my first Hepatic Tanager in the US, and more Gila Woodpeckers than I needed.

Hepatic Tanager


Canyon Towhee


One of the fun discoveries here was a small section of stream where I found a Say's, Black, and Eastern Phoebe all feeding within 20 feet of each other.  Though the former two are quite common in the area, the Eastern is somewhat of a rarity and was great to have next to the other two.

Eastern Phoebe


A Cooper's Hawk that was undoubtedly snacking on a Lark Sparrow only moments ago.


My final excitement for the reserve were the two Rufous-winged Sparrows I spotted in the parking lot on my way to my car.  This was a bird I was hoping to see, but was told I'd be lucky to find, but I think they're fairly common at this location and was just lucky to have not passed them off as something else.


Ah yes, and this dummy, an Inca Dove

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