April 7, 2008: Birding Williams Residence (Pharr), Edinburg Wetlands, Frontera

After Santa Ana NWR, we had a great lunch at the El Dorado Mexican Restaurant in Alamo, TX. Outstanding! Probably the best shrimp cocktail we have ever tasted.....

Next it was to Williams Wildscapes in Pharr. Allan Williams has a beautifully landscaped backyard (that is what they do for a living - design wild and native plant landscapes), where you can bird for a $10 donation. The birding in his yard was great, and we saw the rare White-Throated Robin. It was a relaxing place to bird, also.

This was most of the rest of the afternoon, though we did also make brief stops at Edinburg Scenic Westlands, Estero Llano Grande State Park (no photos), and Frontera Audubon, where we only got to the front gate, since they were closed. All in all, a great birding day, and the hot weather (mid 90's) felt nice to us Western New Yorkers.

Flower photos from the backyard (not sure what they are):
Bird photos from the Williams Residence:
Plain Chachalaca
Inca Dove
Summer Tanager
The rare White-Throated Robin! He has stains on his throat from mulberries! (more photos below)
Long-Billed Thrasher
Golden-Fronted Woodpecker
Orange-Crowned Warbler
Above and Below: Buff Bellied Hummingbird

Northern Mockingbird
an inquisitive KiskadeeLincoln's Sparrow
lifer Clay-Colored Robin
Great Kiskadeefemale Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Edinburg Scenic Wetlands:

Blue-Winged Teal
Forster's Terns
Pyhrruloxia Domestic Muscovy with young

Estero Llano Grande State Park: Spotted Sandpiper
Great-Tailed Grackle

Frontera Audubon:
This snake was going through the parking lot
This Inca Dove hopped down to where the snake was, maybe to protect a nearby nest??

LOCATIONS MENTIONED (INTERACTIVE MAP)

July 2, 2007: Southeast Arizona Birding (Long Post) (41 BIRDS, 8 SCENERY)

Today was a busy day, so this will be a long post! Here is a summary of what we did today...

MADERA CANYON HUMMINGBIRD BANDING - We left Sierra Vista very early in the morning to make the 1 1/2 hour drive to Madera Canyon for Hummingbird Banding, run by the Hummingbird Monitoring Network. (More info - this is a worthy cause to make a donation to .. they do a lot of great hummingbird research!). The scientist working on the banding that day was George West. He does a lot of hummingbird research, is writing a birding guide to Alaska, and was great to talk to! (More info on George's projects). This was very interesting, and we even got in some Madera Canyon birding afterward (finding the rare Flame Colored Tanager)

KINO SPRINGS BIRDING - We headed south from Madera towards Nogales, and birding at the Kino Springs Golf Course. We got some nice photos here. (More info)

PATAGONIA BIRDING - We had been thinking about the great Mexican restaurant we ate at here in August 2003, and were looking forward to another visit. (Santos Mexican Cafe) But it is closed on Mondays :( We also stopped at the Paton's yard for some birding. (more info)

Sunrise over the Huachuca mountains, just north of Sierra Vista

Santa Rita mountains from near Sonoita

MADERA CANYON: Blue Grosbeak outside Madera Canyon near Proctor Rd Acorn Woodpecker Mexican Jay female Hepatic Tanager Above and below: Broad Billed Hummingbirds in hand Broad-Billed Hummingbird Tail Giving the hungry hummingbird a drink after being measured Broad Billed Hummingbird in hand (with tail showing) Captured female Magnificent Hummingbird Broad-Billed Hummingbird on the nearby feeder Above and below: Female and male Magnificent Hummingbirds The hummingbird has an egg! Lucifer Hummingbird (rare to be banded in Madera) Sulphur-Bellied Flycatcher Painted Redstart We found the rare Flame-Colored Tanager! Above and Below: Hooded Oriole Male Hepatic Tanager Above and Below: Hooded Oriole came to the feeder.... Acorn Woodpecker There was a recent fire outside the canyon Burned sign You can tell where the fire did not cross the road Two burnt cacti More burned signs

KINO SPRINGS: Cassin's Kingbird Vermillion Flycatcher (above, male - below, female) Young Gray Hawk on nest

Above and Below: Gray Hawk Northern Beardless Tyrannulet? Above and Below: Black-Throated Sparrow PATAGONIA: Phainopepla Violet-Crowned Hummingbird Bewick's Wren Broad-Billed Hummingbird Blue Grosbeaks at Paton's feeder Lark Sparrow Violet-Crowned Hummingbird, with a hovering Broad-Billed Hummingbird Violet-Crowned Hummingbird Inca Dove Prairie scene near Sonoita, Arizona

INTERACTIVE MAP SHOWING MENTIONED LOCATIONS