Anna's Hummingbird
Our first stop after leaving Patagonia State Park was at the Paton Center in Patagonia, now run by the Tucson Audubon Society. Multiple bird feeders are maintained there, and it is a popular stop for birders in the area. A Violet-crowned Hummingbird had been visiting the Center, but we did not see it there. There were lots of other species at the Paton Center.
Anna's Hummingbird
Inca Dove
White-winged Dove
Lesser Goldfinches
Finches
Bridled Titmouse
Female Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Male Ladder-backed Woodpecker
It always amazes me how the gorget of a hummingbird can look so different depending on how the light strikes the feathers on the same bird.
Anna's Hummingbird
Anna's Hummingbird
Anna's Hummingbird
From there, we headed over to the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. As we entered, we saw a small herd of Pronghorn Antelopes. The winds were so strong there, that when I opened the car door to take a photo, the wind almost took the car door off of its hinges, which would have made for a very bad day. Most of the birds we saw there were Vesper Sparrows.
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Pronghorn Antelopes
Vesper Sparrow
We got a close-up view of an Eastern (Lillian's) Meadowlark, and saw a female Northern Harrier.
Eastern (Lillian's) Meadowlark
And then we got lucky. A male, "Gray Ghost," Northern Harrier made a low approach close to where we were standing.
Northern Harrier
Northern Harrier
Northern Harrier
Northern Harrier
Northern Harrier
We headed back to the Green Valley Area via Box Canyon, where we saw more American Kestrels, our second Prairie Falcon of this trip, Mountain and Eastern Bluebirds, and a few Mexican Jays (my life bird # 630).
American Kestrel
Mountain Bluebird
We had more sunlight going up Madera Canyon than the day before, and I was able to get a few better photos of the Magnificent Hummingbird.
Magnificent Hummingbird
Magnificent Hummingbird
Magnificent Hummingbird
