We started the day with a little bit of birding, in the Tucson area. First, at the Sweetwater Wetlands, and then Catalina State Park, just north of town. This was our first trip to the latter, and it was a great place to visit again, when the temperature is cooler! We did not stay long because of the extreme heat. Then, it was a long drive ahead of us, due north out of Tucson through Globe, the Salt River Canyon, Show Low, into Springerville, then New Mexico. We spent a little time at El Malpais National Monument, before heading to Albuqerque for the evening. Not much birding after Tucson - mostly driving, but still some nice scenery!
SWEETWATER WETLANDS:
Young Common Moorhen
Blue Dasher
female Mallard Duck
Cinamon Teal
Western Kingbirds
CATALINA STATE PARK:
Vermillion Flycatcher (above and below)
I was just taking a picture of the catcus fruit - I did not notice the Pyrrhuloxia until I got home! 
Rufous-Winged Sparrow (above and below)
Some nice desert scenery from the 'Birding Trail' (too hot today though!):
Curve-Billed Thrasher NestPHOTOS WHILE DRIVING:
Harris' Hawk on Ariz. Route 77 near Oracle
Reaching Globe
Above and below: shots of the Salt River Canyon, off of US 60
The more higher elevation pine woods, and cooler temperatures, were a welcome relief!
Vesper Sparrow young bird near Springerville, Arizona
As we crossed into New Mexico on US 60, the sage desert started to look a bit stormy
La Ventana Arch at El Malpais National Monument
Stormy skies at El Malpais (above and below)
INTERACTIVE LOCATION OF SWEETWATER WETLANDS, CATALINA STATE PARK, and EL MALPAIS NATIONAL MONUMENT
JULY 4, 2007 DRIVING ROUTE
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