A nice day to be out birding, and some good birds too. We looped around the Santa Rita Mountains and tallied 81 species.
Madera Canyon:
MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD, DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER and PAINTED REDSTART on the patio at the wonderful Chuparosa Inn is a good way to start any day. Thanks Luis!
Florida Canyon:
A BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER continued just down canyon from the parking lot.
Also seen and heard from the parking lot, calling MONTEZUMA QUAIL, GRAY HAWK, COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD, calling NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET, HUTTON’S VIREO, HERMIT THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN, and HOODED ORIOLE.
BLACK-THROATED, RUFOUS-WINGED and BOTTERI’S SPARROWS were singing along FR 481.
Las Cienegas:
A pair of BURROWING OWLS eventually popped up at the northernmost prairie-dog reintroduction site.
Driving in the northern entrance and leaving via Curly Horse Road, we found loads of CASSIN’S and one WESTERN KINGBIRD, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, HORNED LARK, a small flock of LARK BUNTINGS, and a couple of GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS. COMMON GROUND-DOVE and BELTED KINGFISHER were at Cottonwood Pond.
Between Patagonia and Sonoita:
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK drifted overhead.
Patagonia Roadside Rest:
Still hoping to get an early Thick-billed Kingbird, but we couldn’t find them at the usual spot today. Maybe tomorrow… We did hear more GRAY HAWKS, though.
Kino Springs:
I had brief views of a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW between the practice green and the nearest pond to the clubhouse (Stacey Lake), possibly the one I saw in that exact spot on January 25th. Also there (at Stacey Lake and the small sewage ponds down the hill), five LESSER SCAUP, a female RING-NECKED DUCK, GRAY HAWKS, two SORA, a small flock of CLIFF SWALLOWS, and smart male COMMON YELLOWTHROAT.
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