Back in Green Valley and birding again

Back in Green Valley and birding again
                        

We left Indiana on Jan. 5 and stopped to visit relatives in Kansas, followed by a two-day winter visit to the Grand Canyon.

There were very few birds at the Grand Canyon, but the views were spectacular. The first morning we were the only two persons at the first three viewpoints, a far cry from summer visits. Next came three days in Phoenix, visiting with my brother and sister and some of their families.

Leaving Phoenix, we made our way to Tucson, stopping to hike for an hour or so at Catalina State Park. There we saw most of the common desert birds but nothing unusual.

Finally, we arrived late in the afternoon at the small house in Green Valley that we are renting for six weeks. We immediately liked the place because it has a patio and a yard with cactus and palm trees. Almost as soon as I put up the hummingbird feeder, an Anna’s hummingbird showed up.

Green Valley is a small town about 20 minutes south of Tucson, along the interstate highway going to the border city of Nogales. We have been here often over the last number of years, but always in our small RV, which we sold last summer. This is our first year staying in one place and having a car to do day trips around Southern Arizona.

There have been several rare birds reported in the area including an ovenbird, which is unusual here. There is a weekly bird hike that we may join, to get to know some of the local birders here in Green Valley. However, we might just head out on our own most days to see what we can find.

Our first outing was to Madera Canyon, just a 20-minute drive from here. Last year we were lucky enough to see the super-rare white-throated thrush and an elegant trogon, but this year no rare birds have been reported from the canyon.

We hiked along the beautiful stream, finding several hermit thrushes, lots of bridled titmice, lesser goldfinches, ruby-crowned kinglets and scrub jays. Overhead there were ravens and a red-tailed hawk.

After eating lunch, we stopped at the Santa Rita Lodge, where folks gather every day to view the many birds at the feeders and water feature. Hummingbirds included broad-billed, Rivoli’s and Anna’s. My favorite bird of the day was a male hepatic tanager, although the yellow-eyed juncos and Arizona woodpeckers were fun to watch. At least 25 wild turkeys wandered around the feeders. They have been there every time we have visited. There also were turkeys along the trail, probably part of the same flock.

Over the next three days, we had one day of rain and two days of sunshine. We drove to Arivaca Lake and Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. There were coots, pied-billed grebes and two ruddy ducks on the lake, but there was no water in any of the riverbeds in the area.

Next week we plan to visit several different locations, where we will learn more about the history of this part of Southern Arizona and hopefully find some more birds.

Good birding!

Email Bruce Glick at Bglick2@gmail.com.


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