Southeast Arizona - II

We had a great time hiking through Madera Canyon and California Gulch, but we also spent some leisure time relaxing in the shade by some hummingbird feeders in Patagonia.  Sometimes, you just gotta let the birds come to you, you know?  But the biggest surprise was a bird that would not come to me...It took me two full afternoons to find him, but in the end, I finally tracked him down: my first Plain-capped Starthroat!  Here are some photos from my next few days in southeast Arizona.

Canyon Wren, free-climing

Another Canyon Wren, on the rocks

Cordilleran Flycatcher

Crazy eye-ring!

It might not be obvious what these are at first...

But their mother was nearby, a Gambel's Quail!

A close-up of the female Gambel's Quail

And there's the male!

Female Broad-billed Hummingbird

Male Broad-billed Hummingbird

Back at Madera Canyon, I ran into this Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

And trumped it with this male Elegant Trogon!

I discovered some interesting non-bird species, too...

Like this bizarre-looking Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar!

One touch can cause a terrible rash.

And this is a Clark's Spiny Lizard.

The black rings around his front wrist identify him. 

Band-tailed Pigeon

More refined than his city cousins?

 

Yellow-eyed Junco

Where do they come up with these names?

Buff-breasted Flycatcher

 

Barn Swallow

He was hanging out by a convenience store.

Friendly little guy

 

A Great Horned Owl had commandeered this old windmill platform to raise her chicks!

At last, the Plain-capped Starthroat!

He looks plain from here, but he's a rare visitor from Mexico, so exciting nonetheless!

Tough to see that red throat, but check out that honking bill!