Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Birding Dawn ‘till Dusk Day 5 San Pedro House

DSC_0061 Wilson’s Warbler San Pedro River Sierra Vista 4-11-10

Sunday was probably the best day of birding for Kathryn and I.  We drove to Sierra Vista first thing in the morning and made our first stop San Pedro house on the San Pedro River just east of Sierra Vista on Highway 90.

DSC_0016Though it looks like snow falling through the air as Kathryn raises her bins to check out a black-chinned hummingbird, it is really cotton from the towering cottonwood trees that surround San Pedro House.  The house itself is a gift shop with information about the area as well as books and other gifts.

DSC_0022 We find several white-crowned sparrows feeding at the feeders or hiding in the brush…

DSC_0029 …along with female red-winged blackbirds and white-winged doves!

Birds seen at San Pedro House:

Location: San Pedro House
Observation date: 4/11/10
Notes: Birding at the house area with Kathryn
Number of species: 15

White-winged Dove 6
Mourning Dove 14
Black-chinned Hummingbird 14
Rufous Hummingbird 1
Gila Woodpecker 1
European Starling 2
Yellow Warbler 2
Green-tailed Towhee 2
Lark Bunting 4
White-crowned Sparrow 24
Pyrrhuloxia 2
Red-winged Blackbird 40
House Finch 7
Lesser Goldfinch 16
House Sparrow 12

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)


San Pedro River Trail



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We followed this trail out towards the river where the trees appear as a flowing green ribbon in the dry brown grass…DSC_0043 ..and yellow warblers sing from catkins like gold confetti against an azure sky.



DSC_0055  Ruby-crowned kinglets flutter from the treetops…DSC_0064 …while Wilson’s warblers stay low in the willows along the wash…



DSC_0090 ..and this surprise flew over our heads and landed in the tree above us.  We craned our necks trying to figure this beauty out.  I took several photos of it as I was unsure of what I was seeing and I also noticed the bird had a band on its right leg.  After studying the photos and consulting several bird guides I have concluded it is a Fox sparrow but if you think I am wrong, please tell me and tell me why you think it!



DSC_0127 DSC_0132 DSC_0138 The trees were full of vireos and this one is a Cassin’s as it has the spectacles and the yellow wash along its sides. We saw so many birds here and we had a great time.  We left shortly after noontime and headed over to Ramsey canyon which is really a short drive away.  What a Birdy Day!



DSC_0143


Species seen at San Pedro house along the San Pedro River Trail:


Location: San Pedro House
Observation date: 4/11/10

Notes: w/Kathryn - trail from house down to Green Kingfisher Pond then up along the river back to house.
Number of species: 23

Mallard (Mexican) 3
Turkey Vulture 3
White-winged Dove 2
Gila Woodpecker 5
Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Vermilion Flycatcher 12
Cassin's Kingbird 1
Western Kingbird 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Canyon Wren 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Yellow Warbler 7
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 5
Common Yellowthroat 5
Wilson's Warbler 2
Green-tailed Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 2
White-crowned Sparrow 1
House Finch 2
Lesser Goldfinch 8

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)


And that’s…



My World Tuesday!

14 comments:

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Kathie: You capture your area birds so beautifully. I love the variety you see in your world.

bobbie said...

Your bird photos are absolutely fantastic. Thank you for sharing them with us.

Kathie Brown said...

Thanks Fishing guy!

Bobbie, I am so glad to!

Powell River Books said...

What a great way to keep a viewing log. I have a journal where I log first sightings of the year, but my list is way shorter than yours for sure. - Margy

Kathie Brown said...

Powell River Books, it is a fun way to keep track of all the birding adventures I have and even more fun to share it with others!

SandyCarlson said...

Your world is really gorgeous. Those birds made my afternoon. Thanks, Kathy.

Anonymous said...

Wow. What a busy day you guys had. And some beautiful photos too. I had a surprise visitor today. I turned around and looked and said, "Well, look at you."

Anonymous said...

Lots of beautiful birds in this post Kathie,
including the one with the Pony tail. {:)

Warren and Lisa Strobel said...

Kathie- so sorry we failed to hook up with you last week. Looks like we may have missed you by a couple of days at this gorgeous place. We were bird crazy and forgot to even phone home (when we got cell service)... Looks like you are doing the same sort of dawn to dusk days in the past week.
SE Arizona is the bomb!
L&W
PS- you should come East for the start of our migration!

Rambling Woods said...

Wow...you really have some great birding. I often wonder that if I was physically able to go on a birding hike if I would be able to find things with my bins. I am so awful at here just in the yard and woods..maybe with practice..Michelle

Birding is Fun! said...

Great photos! No Green Kingfisher at San Pedro?!

Kathryn said...

Kathie, thanks for posting our birding days from my recent visit! We did have a great time, didn't we? I am ready to go back to AZ. Fantastic pictures! Fantastic friend! Love ya lots!

@Roy, you made me smile!!

Anonymous said...

You and Kathryn are power birders! What an energetic week you've had - great birds, and great photos.

Dawn Fine said...

Wow! you two birded like Jeff and I do..nonstop..gets a bit tiring after a few days..but fun while your doing it!
Great birdies!