Saturday, June 30, 2007

June 30, 2007: Traveling to Sierra Vista, AZ, San Pedro Hummingbirds (20 PHOTOS, 12 BIRD)

After spending the first part of today in New Mexico, we headed southwest towards Southeast Arizona (previous post). We took Interstate 10 west, and then south on New Mexico/Arizona route 80, through Rodeo, NM to Douglas, AZ. From here it was up to the San Pedro House, near Sierra Vista. There was hummingbird banding by the Southeast Arizona Bird Observatory going on. (This is a worthy organization - click for more info!)

We ended the day checking into Mary Jo Ballator's ASH CANYON B&B. A GREAT place to stay!!!


The state line on NM/AZ Route 80, near Rodeo, New Mexico

Some beautiful scenery on Arizona Route 80, between New Mexico, and Douglas, AZ.
We almost got to the Mexican border at Douglas, but instead headed Northwest towards Bisbee and Sierra Vista.
SABO Hummingbird Banding at San Pedro
examining a Black-Chinned Hummingbird
Giving the thirsty hummer a drink
More hummingbird examination
Male Black-Chinned Hummingbird in hand

Birdfeeder photos from the San Pedro House
Female Blue Grosbeak
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
Abert's Towhee
Common Ground Dove
Blue Grosbeak
White-Winged Dove

June 30, 2007: Bosque del Apache, New Mexico area (26 PHOTOS, 19 BIRD, 2 TURTLE, 1 FROG, 1 DRAGONFLY)

We spent most of the morning at the awesome Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, just south of Soccoro. Although summer is not the best time of year to visit (autumn and winter have lots more birds, including huge flocks of Snow Geese and Sanhill Cranes) (Bosque birding info here), we had some nice sightings. After this, we spent most of the afternoon driving, south on Interstate 25. We stopped briefly at Hatch, the "Chili Pepper Capital of the World", and headed southwest to Interstate 10, and Lordsburg. Eventually on to Portal, NM, Douglas, AZ, and to Sierra Vista, Arizona. In the evening we attended hummingbird banding at the San Pedro House there, and checked into our lodging, the Ash Canyon Bed and Breakfast. The proprietor, Mary Jo Ballator does a GREAT JOB, and we highly reccomend this quiet establishment as a great place to stay, and it also has lots of birdfeeders to view!

This was a baby Western Kingbird at our hotel (EconoLodge) in Socorro
Eurasian Collared Dove - San Antonio, NM

BOSQUE DEL APACHE PHOTOS
Cinamon Teal
Say's Phoebe enjoying a dragonfly
Tree of Egrets
Ring-Necked Pheasant
Black-Crowned Night Heron
Summer Tanager
Black Phoebe
Blue Grosbeak
Great Egret
Chihuahan Raven
Green Heron
Black Phoebe
Killdeer on nest
American Coot
Neotropic Cormorant
Painted Turtle
Big Bend Slider
Familiar Bluet
Barn Swallow
Bullfrog
Killdeer eggs
Greater Roadrunner

Route 1 is a scenic route along the Rio Grande
Heading south on Interstate 25
JUNE 30 ROUTE MAP