Chiricahaus Aug 21-22, 2010

I still have goosebumps thinking about the awesome ride... and flashes of the mountain road are exploding in front of me... as I constantly daydream about this fantastic adventure! We started our journey out, from Wickenburg through NM to reach our destination in a small town of Portal... What a charming place with such an old time town feeling... After some serious powerbirding on our way in we reached our destination at the Southwest Research Station for our overnight stay followed by Hummingbird Banding in the morning. That afternoon we went out exploring on FR42... birding was quiet but there were plenty of other critters to look at... armies of bugs, layers of fungus, and even a pleasing appearance of a couti!

Sydney and I were lucky to share are journey with our friend Katie... the three girls that took on the Chiricahau... so much diversity and wildlife to take in on this terrestrial island!

We want to go back!

Glendale Recharge Ponds

Made a visit to the Glendale Recharge Ponds the third week in July... the biggest highlight was the Black Gull

A birding journey south... to Sierra Vista AZ

A maiden voyage for my jeep... could not even wait a day to take it our. A fun 4x4 time getting through Carr Canyon and the next morning to Miller Canyon and wrapped it up at St David. There was so much to see. A total of 72 species of birds for our list in these areas.
The highlights were the Spotted Owls followed by a sound that could not be second guessed... the Eared Queztal... he was there but dared not show himself... grrr... and we did try.

To name a few... until I have time to type in the entire list...

At night up in Carr Canyon we had...
Whiskered Screech Owl
Whip-poor-will
and a Great Horned Owl
Mourning Dove

Over in Miller...
Spotted Owl
Eared Queztal
Arizona Woodpecker
Painted Redstart
Nashville Warbler
Lucy's Warbler
Hepatic Tanager
Townsend Warbler
Black Throated Gray Warbler
Chat
Spotted Towhee
Cordilleran Flycatcher
Black Phoebe
Turkey
Pyrrhuloxia (on the way at gates at Ft Hauchuca)
Lazuli Bunting
White-eared Hummingbird
Blue-throat Hummingbird
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Gila Woodpecker
Sulfur-bellied Flycatcher
Olive Warbler
Red Faced Warbler
Grace's Warbler
Western Wood Pewee
Canyon Wren
Bridled Titmouse
Swallow
Verdin
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Huttons Vireo
Cactus Wren
Painted Redstart
Ash Throated Flycatcher
Black Hawk
Turkey Vultures
Golden Eagle
and more... can't find the list!!!

Hart Prairie 2010