Ramsey

Though I was semi-prepared for a cold night at the San Pedro NRCA, a frozen water bottle in the morning explained a lot about how well I slept.  After packing up camp and walking around the reserve for a bit I headed toward the hills, with White-winged Dove as my only new species of the trip that morning.

White-winged Dove


Gila Woodpecker from San Pedro House


Hikes up and down Ramsey and Miller Canyons were snowy and beautiful but fairly quiet.  Brown Creepers and Golden Eagles were seen, as well as my first Bushtit of the year.

Say's Phoebe along the side of the road near Ramsey

My last stop before heading to Patagonia for the night was a B&B in Ash Canyon, where there was a great array of feeders, though nothing new was seen.

Acorn Woodpecker


Pyrrhuloxia

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