July 4, 2007: Tucson, AZ to El Malpais, New Mexico (24 PHOTOS, 11 BIRD, 1 INSECT)

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 Nest

PHOTOS 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

July 3, 2007: Sierra Vista, AZ Birding, Tucson, AZ (Ariz. Sonora Desert Museum, Birding) (38 BIRD, 4 OTHER ANIMAL, 2 SCENERY)

We started out this morning at Ash Canyon B&B, saying goodbye to Mary Jo, and did a little more birding there. After this, we headed back to Fort Huachuca for a little bit more birding at Garden Canyon

Late morning, we drove to Tucson, and Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, one of our favorite places! Many of the pictures here will be from there. We also made a brief stop at the nearby International Wildlife Museum, which had a large collection of animal mounts. Then, late in the evening, we made a quick stop at the Sweetwater Wetlands area of Tucson... The wetlands were closed that late in the evening, but we explored the area just outside it, by the wastewater treatment plant.

SIERRA VISTA (ASH CANYON B&B):

Arizona Woodpecker
Black-Headed Grosbeak

GARDEN CANYON (FORT HUACHUCA):
Above and Below: Black-Throated Gray Warbler

Acorn Woodpecker

Dusky-Capped Flycatcher

Baby Western Wood Pewees on nest

Hepatic Tanager

ARIZONA SONORA DESERT MUSEUM (GROUNDS):

Cactus Wren

Desert Spiny LizardRed Bird of Paradise

Gila Woodpecker

young Hooded Oriole

Above and Below: Brown Crested Flycatcher (with young)

Above and Below: Adult and baby Black-Capped Gnatcatcher

Black-Capped Gnatcatcher

ARIZONA SONORA DESERT MUSEUM (AVIARIES): Costa's Hummingbird

Gambel's Quail

Northern Flicker

Inca Dove

Great-Tailed Grackle

Blue-Winged Teal

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck

a very hot Black-Headed Grosbeak

Northern Cardinal

Common MoorhenCactus Wren

Yellow Grosbeak

Black-Necked Stilt

ARIZONA SONORA DESERT MUSEUM (OTHER COLLECTIONS):

Bighorn Sheep

Greater Roadrunner, sunning

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE MUSEUM:

Lewis' Woodpecker

European Bee Eater

a collection of ungulates

SAUGARO NATIONAL PARK AREA SCENERY:

JUST OUTSIDE THE SWEETWATER WETLANDS: Harris' Hawk Adult and juvenile Harris' Hawk

Young Harris' Hawk

Another Harris' Hawk yelling!

He eventually flew..

We rescued this Painted Turtle from the road, and put him back inside the wetlands!

INTERACTIVE MAP LOCATIONS OF TUCSON AREA MENTIONED SITES: