Madera Canyon, Arizona

Thursday, May 21, 2015. Dad, Mom, Ted, Rock and I arrive at Madera Canyon near the Arizona and Mexico border.  This will not be about hiking but is still worthy of this blog.  Madera Canyon is in the Santa Rita Mountains and is a Sky Island that is in the Sonoran desert yet is a lush green forest with streams and lots of wildlife. It is considered the third best premier birding site in the USA which is what brought us here for the third time.  There are many birds from Mexico and Central and South America that come to this area and nowhere else in the US for the summer.  We have rented a cabin and will spend the next 4 days bird watching and relaxing.  A small stream flows by about 15 feet from the back porch where we spend most of our time.

Right off the front porch this Plumbeous Vireo is climbing into it's nest.

We had never seen a Yellow-eyed Junco before and this one built it's nest nearby.

There are many different species of Hummingbirds in Madera Canyon. This Magnificent Hummingbird seems to be posing for the camera.

This Broad-billed Hummingbird was constantly fighting for a drink and seems to have an angry look on it's face.

This wild Turkey is known to have a fondness for Dad.

This pair of Acorn Woodpeckers built their nest in a hole in a Sycamore tree.

This Greater Pewee made for a striking picture.

I'm not positive but I think this is a Western Wood-Pewee.

The Birders.

All in all we saw 32 or 33 different species of birds and 7 or 8 were first timers. My favorites were the Elegant Trogon (very rare) and the Sulfur-bellied Flycatcher. We also saw a Plumbeous Vireo, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Blue Grossbeak, Bronzed Cowbird, Arizona Woodpecker, Greater Pewee, Lesser Goldfinch, Black-headed Grossbeak, White-winged Dove, Morning Dove, Flicker, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Turkey Vulture, Wild Turkey, Gray-breasted Jay, Cowbird, Robin, House Finch, House Wren, Pine Sisken, Painted Redstart, White-breasted Nuthatch, Bridled Titmouse, Yellow-eyed Junco, Acorn Woodpecker, Hepatic Tanager, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Magnificent Hummingbird and a Broad-billed Hummingbird.