 Canon R5 Mk II, RF100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/8.0, ISO 1000,+1.67 EV. This is my second post on Agua Caliente, the first was on April 5, 2025, on two birds in the air over Pond 1, the Violet-green Swallow and the Neotropic Cormorant. In this post, I will cover some of the songbirds at the park - some seasonal regulars, others migrants. Let's start with a winter favorite of the desert southwest, the Phainopepla. Phainopepla Canon R5 Mk II, RF100-500mm at 500mm, 1/800 sec., f/8.0, ISO 640,+1.33 EV.
The male is silky black with a flash of white on the wing, which can only be seen in flight, as shown below. The female is grey to brown with the same brilliant red eye.  Canon R5 Mk II, RF100-500mm at 254mm, 1/3200 sec., f/5.0, ISO 320,+0.67 EV. Below, likely an immature male in flight, with a black head, gray/black back and a hint of white in the flight feathers.  Canon R5 Mk II, RF100-500mm at 238 mm, 1/3200 sec., f/5.0, ISO 500,+0.67 EV. Below an immature male captured at Sabino Canyon in December of 2022. Note that immatures have a hint of yellow on the bill, in addition to the incomplete body coloring.  Canon R6, RF100-500mm at 500mm, 1/500 sec., f/7.1, ISO 400,+0.67 EV. It is rare in Tucson to see any two Phainopepla together, aside from breeding in the spring, when I have seen breeding pairs together. However, this month has brought a veritable Phainopepla convention to a water feature in our backyard in midtown Tucson. The image below is one of hundreds I have captured recently of groups of as many as three males and 5 females all flocking around the water. This cluster of four are all in the same focal plane and sitting reasonably still! The difference in coloration of the males vs. the females is evident in the photograph. For the photo geeks: These birds move very fast, and although the top of the waterfall is not that deep front to back, it is difficult to get a group in the same focal plane. I got lucky on this shot, they were close enough that at f/7.1 there was enough depth of field. For the bird nerds: When it gets really hot, birds are drawn to running water in preference to feeders. Granted, both are a good idea for your backyard, but when it gets to 100 degrees, this fountain is a bird magnet!  Canon R5 Mk II, RF100-500mm at 324mm, 1/2000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 2500, -0.67 EV. Phainopepla are year round residents of SE Arizona. They have two nesting cycles, the first in the sonoran desert between February and April, and the second beginning in May in oak and sycamore canyons where it is cooler and there is adequate fruit supply. It is uncertain if one pair breeds twice in two separate locations, or if some members nest early and some late, in different habitats. (Ref: Birds of the World). For an example of early breeding, in March of 2019 a breeding pair nested in the far eastern end of Agua Caliente Park, right next to the utility yards. I was able to find one clear viewing lane that put me well away from the nest and out of sight, yet offered a clear path to mom and her nestlings. Below, mom sitting on ther nest.  Canon 7D Mk II, EF100-400mm with 1.4x Mk III Ext. at 560mm, 1/100 sec., f/8.0, ISO 250, +0.67 EV. on a tripod. Below, mom looks down at a hungry chick. I was only able to identify one nestling, although there could have been a second off to the side.  I was set up well away from the action on a tripod. Mom started this feeding run with a clump of insects. Protein first for a growing chick!     Above, mom pauses, then below hacks up a berry she has stored in her crop. Almost certainly a mistletoe berry that is abundant on trees in the park.    Above and below, mom feeds her nestling.   Above, she pauses and below brings up a second berry. Yahoo! Two scoops for dessert!   The images above are from my archive, and were posted in April of 2019, 6 years ago, with the title, Fast Food for a Phainopepla Hatchling: Entree and Dessert (with "two scoops") in 10 seconds. Let's finish up this section with images of an unusual male Phainopepla who by local reports wintered repeatedly in Sabino Canyon around the time of the photographs below, 2016. This male is partially leucistic, a genetic mutation where the bird lacks melanin in certain areas, in this case the top the head and crest, creating a striking appearance. Note that the bird has the usual white wing patches, seen in the second photo, below and right. Partial leucism is in contrast to albinism, where there is a complete lack of melanin. (Ref: Bird Leucism, Avian Report).
Yellow-rumped Warbler Canon R5 Mk II, RF100-500mm at 500mm, 1/2000 sec., f/8.0, ISO 1000,+0 EV.
Yellow-rumped Warblers molt twice a year, once after breeding in the summer and a second time beginning in January on their wintering grounds in preparation for breeding. The western Audubon variant sports a yellow throat, yellow streak on the head, yellow patches on the flanks, and a yellow rump. The yellow-rump accounts for the common nickname, "butter butt." Males and females are similar, although females may be more muted. This time of year the males are strikingly brilliant. Below at a suet feeder in our mid-town backyard this past week, we see three warblers, two Yellow-rumped Warblers on the left, with a Yellow Warbler sitting on the right. My guess is that the Yellow-rumps are probably both males.  Canon R5 Mk II, RF100-500mm at 118mm, 1/4000 sec., f/7.14, ISO 1250,+0 EV. The suet/nuts mixture is popular.* In the images above and below, the upper male Yellow-rumped dives down for his share of the food showing off his breeding plumage including the bright yellow rump. The male below shows off his yellow throat and flanks. * The mixture consists of ground peanuts, rendered suet, soy meal, dried mealworms, raisins, cherries and calcium. It is made by The Wild Bird Store at 3160 E. Ft. Lowell, in the shopping center on the SE corner of E. Ft. Lowell and Country Club, in the Winterhaven area.   The male on the feeder stands his ground, and his competitor eventually gives up his approach.    The male at the feeder appears to get quite vocal! Note that the Yellow Warbler on the far side is oblivious to the ruckus.  Birds are born to do four things: Eat (find food), don't get eaten (avoid predators), make more birds (breed), and molt! In addition to avoiding predators, birds will spend much time and energy fending off competitors, who compete for food, lodging (nesting sites), and mates. The minor kerfuffle seen here appears to be over food, but likely also over dominance during breeding season. For the photo geeks: This series was shot on April 10th at 5:30pm in my backyard with the sun low in the sky. The house was casting a rapidly advancing shadow. The intruder dove into the shadow, while the intrepid suet defender stayed in the sun. There was not much I could do about the lighting! Wilson's Warbler Canon R5 Mk II, RF100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1250 sec., f/8.0, ISO 10000,+0.33 EV.
Wilson's Warblers migrate through all of the lower 48 states, including Arizona, where we see them in the fall on Mt Lemmon, and in the spring in the valley, wherever there is food!  Above and below this male frantically hops from branch to branch for food, grabbing something in his mouth in the process. This sequence of 8 images were shot over a span of 6 seconds.       For a review of warblers, worldwide and local, see my post from November 2020, Mt Lemmon October Wrap-up: Warblers, Woodpeckers, Vireos, and a Brown Creeper comes out of hiding. For the photo geeks: This series was shot early in the morning in deep shadows, accounting for the high ISO. Lucy's Warbler Canon R5 Mk II, RF100-500mm at 500mm, 1/2000 sec., f/8.0, ISO 2500,+0 EV.
  Below, three images of a male Lucy's in my backyard in midtown Tucson in June of 2021. We can see the cinnamon crown patch and rump in this series, shot in the late afternoon against a distant shaded background that fades to black with one stop of underexposure.  Canon R6 Mk II, EF100-400mm at 500mm, 1/500 sec., f/8.0, ISO 800, -1 EV.   And, just in case you were wondering who the other cavity nesting warbler is . . . . The only other warbler that nests in cavities is . . . . |
| In contrast to the Lucy's, the Prothonotary Warbler has a large, heavy body with a big head and bill. The legs and tail are considered shorter than most warblers. They live in wet areas, such as flooded bottomland forests, wooded swamps and forests near lakes and streams, eating a variety of insects, as well as snails and mollusks. They breed in the eastern U.S., wintering to the south in wet coastal areas down into South America. The image above was captured in Panama in the Bocas del Toro region in March of 2024. I have also spotted them on migration in Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in NW Ohio in May of 2022. |  |
This warbler derives its name from the bright yellow robes worn by papal clerks known as prothonotaries. (Ref: All About Birds).
Hooded Oriole
Canon R5 Mk II, RF100-500mm at 500mm, 1/3200 sec., f/7.1, ISO 1000,+0.67 EV.
| Let's finish up with the Hooded Oriole, another denizen of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. The Hooded Oriole winters in coastal Mexico and breeds in southern Texas, Baja California, Arizona and California. Sometime referred to as "palm-leaf orioles," they "sew" their hanging nests to the undersides of palm fronds. (Ref: All About Birds). Their range has extended north as commercial developments plant more palm trees. They eat spiders and insects as well as fruit, nectar from flowering plants and hummingbird feeders. The males are bright yellow with a black throat that extends around the eye. The females are olive-yellow overall with grayer backs. |  |
Both sexes have white wingbars, bolder in the male. This male is sitting high near the palms at Agua Caliente, likely calling to a mate.
That is all for now.
Stay tuned - I have a trip to the Chiricahuas scheduled for next week!
Happy trails!
Stay tuned - I have a trip to the Chiricahuas scheduled for next week!
Happy trails!
2 Comments
Violet-green Swallow over Pond 1, March 22, 2025. Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/5000 sec., f/8.0, ISO 1600, +0.33 EV.
Spring is rolling into Tucson! A great place to follow the progress is Agua Caliente Park in the Tanque Verde Valley off of Roger Road.
This is the first of two posts on spring at Agua Caliente, this one focused on two species that I recently captured in the air over Pond 1.
This is the first of two posts on spring at Agua Caliente, this one focused on two species that I recently captured in the air over Pond 1.
Neotropic Cormorant
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/5000 sec., f/8.0, ISO 1600, +0.67 EV.
Neotropic Cormorants are in the order Suliformes, seabirds found throughout the world's oceans. There are four families in this order: Frigatebirds (Fregatidae) that grab food from other birds, Boobies and Gannets (Sulidae) that plunge into the water for their prey, Anhinga and darters (Anhingidae) that swim and dive for fish, and Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae) that swim and dive for fish in both freshwater and marine environments.
In North America there are six cormorant species, including the Neotropic, Tucson's "home team", a regular on lakes and ponds throughout the year. Neotropics live year round in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and south throughout Mexico, Central and South America. They were active in the air and on Pond 1 on March 22, 2025.
Above, a male or female (they look alike) circling the pond. Below, preparing for a landing.
In North America there are six cormorant species, including the Neotropic, Tucson's "home team", a regular on lakes and ponds throughout the year. Neotropics live year round in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and south throughout Mexico, Central and South America. They were active in the air and on Pond 1 on March 22, 2025.
Above, a male or female (they look alike) circling the pond. Below, preparing for a landing.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/4000 sec., f/8.0, ISO 2500, +0.67 EV.
The Neotropic Cormorant has featherless yellow skin in a distinct pattern on the lower jaw and at the corner of the mouth. Its cousin the Double-crested Cormorant is larger in size, with yellow skin extenting over the eye. More on the Double-crested Cormornant later in this post.
Below, our subject stalls just above the water, tail down, webbed feet out in front.
Below, our subject stalls just above the water, tail down, webbed feet out in front.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/5000 sec., f/8.0, ISO 8000, +0.67 EV.
Below, splash down!
Cormorants have feathers especially adapted to allow the entry of water, decreasing their buoyancy and facilitating underwater swimming for feeding on fish. This lack of buoyancy is clear in the frame below as our subject works to keep his head above water.
Below, a photograph of one section of a large flotilla of Neotropic Cormorants at Reid Park on February 17, 2017. Being less buoyant, cormorants sit lower in the water with only the top of their backs evident. At times the long neck will look like a snake, swimming upright in the water!
Canon 7D Mk II, Sigma 150-600mm C series at 421 mm, 1/1000 sec., f/13, ISO 800, +0 EV.
If a cormorant's total body water gets above 6% of its body weight, it is too heavy to fly, and must climb out of the water and dry its wings. (Ref: What It's Like to be a Bird, David Allen Sibley, Knopf, N.Y. 2020)
Below, a Neotropic Cormorant drys off at Agua Caliente on July 20, 2017.
Below, a Neotropic Cormorant drys off at Agua Caliente on July 20, 2017.
Canon 7D Mk II, Sigma 150-600mm C series at 600 mm, 1/200 sec., f/8, ISO 200, +0 EV.
| As noted earlier, Neotropic Cormorants live year round in Arizona, New Mexico, southern Texas and all the way into South America. The range map at right clearly shows the extensive range to the south of the U.S. border. In the U.S., the biggest breeding populations are in Texas. One of the best spots to see them in action each spring is the Rookery at Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary at High Island, Texas. Below, a single Neotropic Cormorant nests among a crowd of Great Egrets at the rookery. |  |
For more on spring migration on the Texas coast, See Birding Hotspots, Texas Coast.
For more on spring migration on the Texas coast, See Birding Hotspots, Texas Coast.
Canon 7D Mk II, EF 100-400mm with 1.4x Mk III ext. at 280 mm, 1/640 sec., f/7.1, ISO 160, -0.33 EV.
The male neotropic picks the nesting spot, the male and female build it together. The nest and hatchlings are cared for by both the male and female.
Below, a male and female Neotropic Cormorant at their nest at the rookery with their fledglings.
Below, a male and female Neotropic Cormorant at their nest at the rookery with their fledglings.
Canon 7D Mk II, EF 100-400mm, 1.4x III ext. at 560 mm, 1/640 sec., f/8, ISO 250, +0.33 EV.
In the sequence that follows, both parents feed the young by opening up their mouths wide for the offspring to venture down their throats and feed off of fish held in their crop. For birds like the cormorant that harvest fish underwater, this is probably the most efficient way to feed their young.
Next, for completeness, let's look at the Double-crested Cormorant and 4 of his cousins . . . .
 Double-crested Cormorant at Cape May, New Jersey, October 2021. Non-breeding plumage, no white tufts over the eye. |  |
Although we see the Neotropic Cormorant commonly in the Tucson area, the most abundant and widespread cormorant in the U.S. is the Double-crested Cormorant, shown above (Cape May, New Jersey, October 2021) and below (La Jolla Cove, La Jolla, California, January 2018). In Tucson we may see the Double-crested occasionally in migration.
The Double-crested Cormorant gets its name from two distinct tufts of long white feathers, one above each eye, which appear only in breeding season, evident in the image below captured at the La Jolla Cove in January of 2018. In addition to the feather tufts in breeding season, the Double-crested Cormorant's bare yellow skin extends above and around the eye, evident in both photographs.
The Double-crested Cormorant gets its name from two distinct tufts of long white feathers, one above each eye, which appear only in breeding season, evident in the image below captured at the La Jolla Cove in January of 2018. In addition to the feather tufts in breeding season, the Double-crested Cormorant's bare yellow skin extends above and around the eye, evident in both photographs.
Canon 7D Mk II, EF 100-400mm at 400mm, 1/2000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800, +0.67 EV.
All totaled there are 30 species of cormorant world-wide, with 6 species living in North America: The Neo-tropic Cormorant that we see in Arizona, the Double-crested Cormorant, shown above, as well as four coastal species, Great Cormorant, Brandt's Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, and Red-faced Cormorant.
The Great Cormorant lives along the Atlantic coast, the Red-faced on the Alaska coast, with the Pelagic living along the Pacific Coast up into Alaska and west to coastal Asia. Brandt's cormorant lives on the west coast from Baja, Mexico up to the Alaska Coast.
Below, an image of a Brandt's Cormorant sitting on his/her nest at La Jolla Cove in January of 2018. The bird is in breeding plumage with a vivid cobalt-blue throat patch and eyes with wispy feathers on the head. Brandt's Cormorants nest and forage in the California Current and can dive deeper than 200 feet in pursuit of fish and shellfish.
The Great Cormorant lives along the Atlantic coast, the Red-faced on the Alaska coast, with the Pelagic living along the Pacific Coast up into Alaska and west to coastal Asia. Brandt's cormorant lives on the west coast from Baja, Mexico up to the Alaska Coast.
Below, an image of a Brandt's Cormorant sitting on his/her nest at La Jolla Cove in January of 2018. The bird is in breeding plumage with a vivid cobalt-blue throat patch and eyes with wispy feathers on the head. Brandt's Cormorants nest and forage in the California Current and can dive deeper than 200 feet in pursuit of fish and shellfish.
Violet-green Swallow
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/5000 sec., f/8.0, ISO 1250, +0.33 EV.
The second species in the "Spring Agua Caliente Air Show" was the Violet-green Swallow. The morning of March 22nd there were multiple swallows feeding on insects over Pond 1. They were likely migrating north.
Photographing any bird in flight is a challenge, but even more-so for swallows who fly continuously and fast, darting and dodging to catch flying insects in rapid succession. I was fortunate to get these images of the birds hustling over Pond 1.
All swallows have long, narrow wings with a shorted boney arm structure and very long flight feathers to facilitate prolonged flight and rapid changes in direction. For more on wing and feather structure see David Allen Sibley's What it is like to be a bird.
| Violet-green Swallows winter in southern Mexico and Central America, breeding in the U.S. west of the Rocky Mountains all the way north into Alaska. Violet-green Swallows nest in open woodlands, favoring areas with dead trees with woodpecker holes or natural cavities. Violet-green Swallows may nest as high as 11,500 feet, so it is not surprising that a pair was nesting near the Meadow Trail on the top of Mt. Lemmon, (~9000 feet altitude) in early May, 2020. The meadow was perfect for them, with lots of open air for foraging to the south toward Tucson, and lots of nesting holes in dead trees on the Oracle side. Below, likely a female, perched on a snag not far from her nest. |  |
Canon 7D Mk II, EF 100-400mm with 1.4 Mk III Ext. at 560 mm, 1/1000 sec., f/8, ISO 400, EV +0.67.
In this sequence she may be calling to her mate. In these images we can see the long pointed wings that when folded are longer than the tail.
Above the violet rump is evident, with white on the sides. Note that in the images of the swallows captured at Agua Caliente in March, the rump appears red, perhaps because of the angle of the light.
Colors in bird feathers are created by pigments, either carotenoids (red to yellow) or melanins (black to gray to brown to buff), combined with structural colors generated by the reflection of light off of specialized microscopic features of the feather. There is no blue pigment in bird feathers, rather blue is a structural color. Since violet is a combination of red and blue, it is possible that the rump color is a combination of pigments (carotenoids for red) along with structural color (for blue). If the angle of light is right (or wrong) red (pigment) may dominate over blue (structural) creating a red rump. (Ref: Sibley, What it is like to be a bird.)
Colors in bird feathers are created by pigments, either carotenoids (red to yellow) or melanins (black to gray to brown to buff), combined with structural colors generated by the reflection of light off of specialized microscopic features of the feather. There is no blue pigment in bird feathers, rather blue is a structural color. Since violet is a combination of red and blue, it is possible that the rump color is a combination of pigments (carotenoids for red) along with structural color (for blue). If the angle of light is right (or wrong) red (pigment) may dominate over blue (structural) creating a red rump. (Ref: Sibley, What it is like to be a bird.)
Canon R6, EF 100-400mm with 1.4 Mk III Ext. at 560 mm, 1/2000 sec., f/11, ISO 3200, +1 EV.
In this sequence, either mom or dad arrives at the nest with food for the kids!
The specialized wing structure with very long primary flight feathers is evident in the images above.
As April turns to May, keep your eyes open, there will be lots of nesting going on, perhaps including swallows in a few really good dead trees!
That's all for now!
Stay tuned, busy breeding season ahead!
Happy trails!
Stay tuned, busy breeding season ahead!
Happy trails!
Wilson's Warbler, January 21, 2025
Sweetwater Wetlands (SWW) is a combined water recharge facility and wetlands/wildlife habitat near Prince Road, just to the west of Interstate 10, here in Tucson. Click here for more on the facility, and on this link for a list of previous posts on SWW.
SWW is a hotspot for birding, especially during the cooler winter months. To facilitate wetlands management the City of Tucson conducted two controlled burns in late 2024 and since then the ponds have been gradually refilled. The area is beautiful right now with excellent views across the wetlands and a lot of bird activity.
The photograph above is a male Wilson's Warbler feeding in the understory on January 21st. Below a view of the main entry point to the wetlands on January 23rd.
SWW is a hotspot for birding, especially during the cooler winter months. To facilitate wetlands management the City of Tucson conducted two controlled burns in late 2024 and since then the ponds have been gradually refilled. The area is beautiful right now with excellent views across the wetlands and a lot of bird activity.
The photograph above is a male Wilson's Warbler feeding in the understory on January 21st. Below a view of the main entry point to the wetlands on January 23rd.
Let's start with a favorite of the southwestern desert, the Greater Roadrunner.
Greater Roadrunner
Canon 6D, EF 100-400mm at 400 mm, 1/320 sec., f/8.0, ISO 1600,+ 1 EV.
Above, a Greater Roadrunner on the prowl for food in Catalina State Park* in November 2019. Tail up, we can see the markings on the ventral tail feathers.
* This post is about Sweetwater Wetlands, but I have taken the liberty of adding some of my favorite archive photographs from other locations.
Greater Roadrunners are cuckoos (Family: Cuculidae), living year round in the southern U.S. from California to Texas and in northern Mexico. Roadrunners are especially adapted to desert living, eating anything they can catch including small mammals, reptiles, frogs, toads, insects, centipedes, scorpions, and birds. They will catch and eat poisonous prey including rattlesnakes, lizards and scorpions. For more on other members of the cuckoo family, see my recent posts from Panama on the Squirrel Cuckoo [Bocas Del Toro, Panama, March 2024: Part 2, Water] and the Mangrove Cuckoo [Bocas Del Toro, Panama, March 2024: Part 3, Tropical Forest].
Below is a an image of a roadrunner at SWW in November 2018 adjacent to W. Sweetwater Drive. We can see the tail feathers separated. Greater Roadrunners are fast runners at 15 mph and able to outrun people but are slower than their nemesis, the coyote, who clocks at 30 mph. Greater Roadrunners do not fly, rather they use their feathers for some lift when they jump.
* This post is about Sweetwater Wetlands, but I have taken the liberty of adding some of my favorite archive photographs from other locations.
Greater Roadrunners are cuckoos (Family: Cuculidae), living year round in the southern U.S. from California to Texas and in northern Mexico. Roadrunners are especially adapted to desert living, eating anything they can catch including small mammals, reptiles, frogs, toads, insects, centipedes, scorpions, and birds. They will catch and eat poisonous prey including rattlesnakes, lizards and scorpions. For more on other members of the cuckoo family, see my recent posts from Panama on the Squirrel Cuckoo [Bocas Del Toro, Panama, March 2024: Part 2, Water] and the Mangrove Cuckoo [Bocas Del Toro, Panama, March 2024: Part 3, Tropical Forest].
Below is a an image of a roadrunner at SWW in November 2018 adjacent to W. Sweetwater Drive. We can see the tail feathers separated. Greater Roadrunners are fast runners at 15 mph and able to outrun people but are slower than their nemesis, the coyote, who clocks at 30 mph. Greater Roadrunners do not fly, rather they use their feathers for some lift when they jump.
Canon 7Dd Mk II, EF 100-400mm, 1.4x III Ext. at 560 mm, 1/1000 sec., f/8.0, ISO 400,+ 0.67 EV.
Below, a Greater Roadrunner in Sabino Canyon, December 2024, on the run, tail lowered, crest up. Beep-beep!
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext. at 420mm, 1/1000 sec., f/10, ISO 400, 0 EV.
Back to Sweetwater Wetlands! On January 23rd shortly after 10 am I was walking on the south side of the park and spotted (with the help of fellow birders) a Greater Roadrunner in the downed reeds close to the water. The morning sun was to my right and a bit behind me providing good light. This bird was well camouflaged.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 300mm, 1/1000 sec., f/8, ISO 320, 0 EV.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/8, ISO 320, 0 EV.
He moved his back to the sun and lifted the feathers of his rump and back to expose his dark skin.
He is sunbathing to warm up after a cold night. Greater Roadrunners will sunbathe for up to 3 hours a day, gaining passive heat and saving precious calories that would otherwise be used to generate heat metabolically. A great adaption to desert living. (Ref: Birds of the World).
| To the right is a chart from the website weatherspark.com showing the temperatures for January 23rd. At 7 am it was down to 24 degrees! By 10 am it was up to 45 degrees. It is important to warm up after a cold night, and save calories at the same time. |  |
Our subject repeated this sequence multiple times as he walked in and out of the reeds, always alert for predators.
Winter is a Good Time for Sparrows . . .
SE Arizona has a lot of sparrows in the winter, many of them visitors. Here are four, three wintering here, Lincoln's, White-crowned, and Brewer's, and one year round resident, the Black-throated, who made the cut because well, he just looks so sharp, and is not always easy to spot.
Let's start with: Lincoln's Sparrow
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/8, ISO 400, +0.33 EV.
| Lincoln's Sparrows live throughout North America, breed to the north from Alaska to eastern Canada, and winter along the Pacific coast and southern U.S., down into Mexico. Arizona is in their non-breeding winter territory. They sport medium sized, crisp streaks, a small bill, pale eye-ring, and a buffy wash across the breast. Merlin's #1 choice for these images is the Lincoln's Sparrow, with the Song Sparrow being #2. Based on the eye-ring, small bill, fine streaking, buff wash on the breast, and the short tail (image below), I favor the Lincoln's. |  |
Lincoln's Sparrows eat insects, and in winter, small seeds. At SWW in the winter, the small songbirds looking for food seem to come out a little later in the morning, after the sun has had a chance to warm up the insects.
White-crowned Sparrow
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/8, ISO 640, +0.33 EV.
| White-crowned Sparrows breed to the far north and winter throughout the lower U.S. and Mexico. They are seen in Tucson in abundance during the winter. The bird above was captured at SWW on January 23rd, and is most likely an immature with rusty brown stripes on a gray head. Below, an image captured near the Rillito River on January 23, 2019, exactly 6 years earlier! This is a typical mature bird with dark stripes on the head and behind the eye. |  |
Of note is the color of the lores, the region between the bill and the eye. Most of the photographs on the Cornell site, All About Birds, show White-crown Sparrows with dark lores, whereas here we see two birds with light lores. Light-lored White-crowns are classified as "Gambel's", a sub-species that breeds in Alaska and northwestern Canada. It is fun to realize that these birds summer in Alaska and Canada, not unlike many of the winter birders at SWW!
Canon 7D Mk II, EF 100-400mm, o1.4x III Ext. at 560mm, 1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 250, +0.33 EV.
Brewer's Sparrow
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/2000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 1250, -1 EV.
| Brewer's Sparrows also breed as far north as Alaska, but west of the Rocky Mountains. They winter in the SW U.S. and down into central Mexico. To the right see the range map from Cornell's All About Birds. Brewer's are breeding specialists, dependent on the sagebrush ecosystem for breeding, thus they are seen in the arid west and found almost nowhere else. In winter they form mixed flocks with other sparrows. The image above was not from SWW, but its "doppelganger" El Rio Preserve in Marana, January 19, 2025. |  |
Black-throated Sparrow
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm, 1.4x Ext., at 700mm, 1/1000 sec., f/10, ISO 250, 0 EV.
| Here is our fourth sparrow, a local, the Black-throated Sparrow. From the archive, the image above was captured in Sabino Canyon, December 2, 2024, and the image below at the base of Madera Canyon, near the Proctor parking lot, on August 4, 2024. Black-throated Sparrows are sharp dressers, with gray faces set off by bold white stripes and a black triangular patch on the throat. |  |
They are shrub nesters, with a wider tolerance for nesting sites than breeding specialists such as the Brewer's Sparrow. In general, birds with the widest range of food choices and a greater tolerance for breeding sites will enjoy the widest range, and in turn, the greatest chance of survival as a species. Black-throated Sparrows eat insects during the breeding season and seeds during the winter, another survival advantage.
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm, 1.4xExt., at 700mm, 1/2000 sec., f/10, ISO 6400, +0.67 EV.
Wilson's Warbler
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 343mm, 1/2000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 500, 0 EV.
| On January 21st, I spotted this male Wilson's Warbler, bright yellow with a black cap, hopping about in the understory at SWW. He stopped long enough for me to capture these images. Wilson's breed in Alaska and Canada, as well as the Pacific Northwest and coastal California, wintering on the Texas coast and Mexico. Like two-thirds of warblers, Wilson's eats insects, migrating south to "follow the food." So, what is he doing in Tucson in January? It seems unlikely that this male is wintering here, and it is late to be migrating south. |  |
This could be a male heading north for breeding on the California coast where the earliest first egg dates are in April (Ref: Birds of the World). Or, he could be a stray who decided to tour the SW on his way north. In any event, he looks healthy and very active, and getting enough food.
| For more on migrating warblers, see these posts from last fall, Warblers on the Mountain, Fall 2024, Part I and [Both images are clickable links.] Warblers on the Mountain, Fall 2024, Part II. |  Painted Redstart  Hermit Warbler |
The male Wilson's Warbler is quite striking in bright sunlight.
Great Egret
Great Egret in the morning sun, Agua Caliente, December 8, 2024.
| Finally! A water bird! Yes, there are egrets and herons at Sweetwater Wetlands! For more on the Herons and Egrets, Family Ardeidae, Order Pelecaniformes, see my post from March of 2021, Winter in SE Arizona, It's for the Birds . . . . or click on the image of the Black-crowned Night-Heron to the right. |  |
Let's start with the Great Egret. Great Egrets have yellow bills because, well they are GREAT! "Look at me, I am GREAT! I have a YELLOW BILL!" Oh, and yes, black feet. Like their cousins, the Snowy Egret, they eat fish which they grab with their long and sturdy bill.
Below, from Agua Caliente, the same bird striking a pose while preening, standing on one leg.
Below, from Agua Caliente, the same bird striking a pose while preening, standing on one leg.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm, 1/4x Ext., at 454 mm, 1/2000 sec., f/8, ISO 250, -1.67 EV.
Back to SWW on New Year's Day, January 1, 2025. Below we see a Great Egret on the right with a Snowy Egret to the left. The Snowy Egret is smaller, with a dark bill and yellow feet. (If you are snowy, who needs a yellow bill? Besides, yellow sneakers are more fun!)
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm, 1.4x Ext., at 454 mm, 1/2000 sec., f/8, ISO 1250, -1.33 EV.
Snowy Egret
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/8, ISO 200, -0.33 EV.
On January 23rd. a Snowy Egret was hunting for food among the reeds at the far SE corner of the wetlands with the morning sun over my right shoulder and a bit behind me. The bird was up close, and the lighting was excellent.
The Snowy Egret is a bit smaller than the Great Egret, with wispy "snowy" feathers most prominent in breeding season. We can see some of these feathers on the back and neck in this series of photos. As already noted, the bills are dark, the feet yellow, with some yellow on the legs of immature birds.
Both Great and Snowy Egrets will use their feet to stir up the water to better spot aquatic critters which they then spear with their bill. This bird is walking slowly, seeing what he can find.
Below, one last image from the archive, SWW, Feb 20, 2021. This image was shot from the bridge over the stream at the entrance, looking down at the flowing water. Snowy Egrets were wading in the water using their large yellow feet to stir up some lunch. For more, click on the image below.
Canon R6 Mk II, EF 100-400mm, 1.4x III Ext., at 140mm, 1/6400 sec., f/8, ISO 2000, -0.67 EV.
Green Heron
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 472mm, 1/1000 sec., f/8, ISO 1000, +0.33 EV.
Above, a Green Heron, also on the prowl for food, at the same place, same time as the Snowy Egret. They were both right in front of me, very close to each other. In the frame above the heron has his neck stretched out, showing the full length. Below, he pulls it back in and goes into his prowling mode.
For the photo geeks: All these images were captured in natural light. The heron was close, and the morning sun was pouring in over my right shoulder.
| On this day, I did not see the Green Heron find his lunch, however, I did on September 2017. Click on the link below, or the image to the right to see how quickly a Green Heron can swallow a whole frog! "I can't believe he ate the whole thing", Part II |  |
Northern Harrier
(Wait - did you say Northern Harrier?)
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm, 1.4x Ext. at 700mm, 1/2000 sec., f/10, ISO 1000, +0.33 EV.
Let's end with one of my favorite raptors, the Northern Harrier. Northern Harriers live throughout North America and into Central and South America, breeding in the northern U.S. and Canada. Arizona is in their wintering territory. They are common over agricultural fields in SE Arizona, and I recently posted on the Northern Harrier and its hunting skills over the wetlands at White Water Draw, see White Water Draw: November 2015 to 2024, or click on the image above. So, I was surprised on New Year's Day to see this harrier cruising from east to west over SWW. He did not stop, rather he was heading west toward open fields, or, maybe the Desert Museum!
That's all for now! Spring is coming, stay tuned!
Happy trails!
Happy trails!
This post is a Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year post all wrapped up into one! In celebration of the holidays, I will look at Western Bluebirds, and delve into how the various species of blue birds throughout our world have come to be associated with the spirit of peace, hope, and happiness over thousands of years. But first, a callout to the park where I shot most of these photos in recent days.
Agua Caliente Park is a Pima County park on the far east side of Tucson in the Tanque Verde Valley. For more on the park and prior posts see Mt Lemmon AZ Images Search: Agua Caliente.
The park has recently benefited from a series of restorations: First the ponds, then areas of fire damage from a lightening strike in 2022. Below on the left, a view of the new bridge to a small island on the restored Pond 1, nearest the ranch house and parking lot. Below to the right, Pond 1 looking southwest from the island. A great place for egrets and herons, with occasional Harris's Hawks flying through looking for lunch!
Agua Caliente Park is a Pima County park on the far east side of Tucson in the Tanque Verde Valley. For more on the park and prior posts see Mt Lemmon AZ Images Search: Agua Caliente.
The park has recently benefited from a series of restorations: First the ponds, then areas of fire damage from a lightening strike in 2022. Below on the left, a view of the new bridge to a small island on the restored Pond 1, nearest the ranch house and parking lot. Below to the right, Pond 1 looking southwest from the island. A great place for egrets and herons, with occasional Harris's Hawks flying through looking for lunch!
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Below are images of Pond 2, a short walk west from Pond 1. The photograph on the left is a view toward the Catalina Mountains, and to the right a view looking west. Pond 2 has a lot of Mesquite Trees around it that fortunately (for the birds) are parasitized by Mistletoe, a great source of berries in the winter. It is here that I recently found dozens of Western Bluebirds feeding on berries.
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And now, Western Bluebirds!
A male Western Bluebird with characteristic solid blue head and throat, with rusty red breast, gray belly, and bright blue wings. December 7, 2024.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext. at 700mm, 1/1200 sec.,/10, ISO 800, +0.33 EV.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext. at 700mm, 1/1200 sec.,/10, ISO 800, +0.33 EV.
| Western Bluebirds (WEBL's) are small thrushes that live in the western United States and central Mexico. They are medium distance migrants, often living in one area year round. In SE Arizona Western Bluebirds breed on the sky islands, including Mt. Lemmon, and winter at lower elevations, including Tucson. In the summer they eat insects, but during the winter switch to fruit and seeds. This dietary flexibility allows the bird to stay in one locale throught the year, in contrast to most warblers whose unwavering insect diet requires them to "follow the food" south into Mexico each fall. |  |
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 428mm, 1/2000 sec., f/6.3, ISO 1000, +0.33 EV.
The Western Bluebird above and below is likely an immature male, with blue on the throat and head mixed with some paler feathers. In December we may see a lot of immature birds, less than a year old, with indeterminate plumage, as well as typical males and females.
The bird below is likely a juvenile female with some blue on the head but a gray throat.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/2000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 1000, +0.33 EV.
Below, a more typical mature female with a gray head.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4 Ext. at 599mm, 1/1250 sec., f/10, ISO 1250, +0 EV.
In the flight sequence that follows we can see the gray head and undersurface of the wings. The gray will look slightly blue in some light.
In the images above and below, there is some some hint of blue on the dorsal wing feathers, with a flash of blue on the tail.
During my limited time observing WEBL's at Agua Caliente over 3 days, I noticed that they would take flight to move to new sections of a tree, rather than the progressive hopping common among warblers. The bird in this sequence has relocated to a higher part of this mesquite.
During my limited time observing WEBL's at Agua Caliente over 3 days, I noticed that they would take flight to move to new sections of a tree, rather than the progressive hopping common among warblers. The bird in this sequence has relocated to a higher part of this mesquite.
For reference, below are a male and a female Western Bluebird photographed in central Tucson on December 6, 2022. This side to side comparison clearly shows the differences in coloration of the mature male vs. the female.
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm at 500mm w/ 1.4 Ext., at 700mm, 1/2000 sec., f/10, ISO 10000, +1.67 EV.
In bright light, a male WEBL is a startling blue! Below, a male on Mt. Lemmon staking out his claim, April 28, 2024. April is the peak of their breeding season and he may have a nest nearby.
Birds do not have blue pigment in their feathers. Instead, structural properties of the feathers make them blue. The Western Bluebird's blue feathers have a spongy matrix of microscopic air pockets. These pockets or channels are at a fixed standard distance to each other so that light waves reflected off of the pockets will reinforce for the blue spectrum, and cancel out other wavelengths. The feather will look blue from any angle of reflected light, but if held up to transmitted light it will look gray. (Ref: David Allen Sibley, What It's Like to be a Bird, Knopf, N.Y., 2020, p.133)
Birds do not have blue pigment in their feathers. Instead, structural properties of the feathers make them blue. The Western Bluebird's blue feathers have a spongy matrix of microscopic air pockets. These pockets or channels are at a fixed standard distance to each other so that light waves reflected off of the pockets will reinforce for the blue spectrum, and cancel out other wavelengths. The feather will look blue from any angle of reflected light, but if held up to transmitted light it will look gray. (Ref: David Allen Sibley, What It's Like to be a Bird, Knopf, N.Y., 2020, p.133)
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm w/ 1.4 Ext., at 700mm, 1/1250 sec., f/10, ISO 2500, +0 EV.
The image below is of a mature female at Rose Canyon Lake, May 14, 2020. She likely has a nest near by.
Canon 7D Mk II, EF 100-400mm w/ 1.4x Ext. at 560mm, 1/800, ISO 1600, +0.67 EV.
Below, a female Western Bluebird close to Loma Linda Extension Road in Summerhaven, June 19, 2022. She may be wet from a morning bath in the creek!
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1600 sec., f/8, ISO 5000, +0.33 EV.
Below, on the same day and location, a female feeding her hatchlings. We can see blue on her flight and tail feathers.
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1600 sec., f/8.0, ISO 10000, +0.33 EV.
Western Bluebirds are cavity nesters, favoring pre-existing holes in pine, oak, aspen, willow, cottonwood, and sycamore. Natural tree holes or previous-years' woodpecker holes are often used. They readily take to nest boxes, as we see above, which are helpful in locations where tree holes are in short supply. Residents in Summerhaven often put out tree boxes, which help to extend nesting options and help species numbers. (Ref: All About Birds).
The photograph below is a juvenile with spotting on the back and streaking on the breast, captured on Incinerator Ridge, on Mt Lemmon, July 10, 2016. In Arizona nest building is in April, fledging is in late May to mid-June. This is likely a recent fledgling. (Ref: Birds of the World).
Canon 7D Mk II, Sigma 150-600mm at 600mm, 1/1600 sec., f/7.1, ISO 1250, +0 EV.
In the summer Western Bluebirds eat mostly insects, but in the winter switch to fruit and seeds. One of their winter staples are the berries of mistletoe, an evergreen shrub that grows in clumps and balls on trees which the mistletoe parasitize for water and nutrients. Because mistletoe is considered a pest, many homeowners will remove the plant from trees, decreasing food availability for birds, including Western Bluebirds and Phainopepla. However, at Agua Caliente the mistletoe persists and makes a great December buffet!
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1600 sec., f/7.1, ISO 2000, +0.67 EV.
Above, two Western Bluebirds literally "hang-out" on mistletoe at eye-level adjacent to one of the paved paths next to Pond 2. The bird on the right is clearly a mature male, the one on the left probably a juvenile male or female.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/2000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 3200, +0.67 EV.
In the images above and below, a male Western Bluebird grabs a mistletoe berry and scarfs it down!
In the series below a Western Bluebird puts on a show while grabbing a berry. In the last two frames the variation in color on the flight feathers may be due to the difference between reflected and transmitted light. Where the feathers overlap there is less transmission and more reflection, creating a deeper blue.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/2000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 1250, +0.33 EV.
Next, "the Blue Bird of Happiness . . . . ."
Blue birds have been associated with hope and happiness in myth and folklore dating back to the Shang dynasty, 1766-1122 BC, in pre-modern China (Ref: Wikipedia, Blue Bird of happiness). In Native American Folklore, the blue bird is considered a spirit in animal form, associated with the rising sun. In Russian fairy tales the blue bird is a symbol of hope. The "blue bird of happiness" features in Lorraine (a region of NE France) folklore, inspiring stories, plays, novels, and at least seven films between 1910 and 2002.
The list of references to bluebirds in modern popular culture includes the Wizard of Oz ("Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly"), the Beatles Yellow Submarine (the chief blue meanie claims his "cousin is the bluebird of happiness"), the Allman Brother Band's song Blue Sky, ("Don't fly, mister blue bird, I'm just walking down the road"), and in a cartoon from Gary Larson, (the [absent] bluebird of happiness is mentioned as counterpart of the "chicken of depression.") For much, much more, see Wikipedia, Bluebird of happiness.
So, may the Western Bluebird, and in fact all blue birds, be your companions in 2025, bringing you peace and well being throughout the year!
Special thanks to Jeff Babson for his help in identifying the sexes of this mix of winter birds! Greatly appreciated!
The list of references to bluebirds in modern popular culture includes the Wizard of Oz ("Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly"), the Beatles Yellow Submarine (the chief blue meanie claims his "cousin is the bluebird of happiness"), the Allman Brother Band's song Blue Sky, ("Don't fly, mister blue bird, I'm just walking down the road"), and in a cartoon from Gary Larson, (the [absent] bluebird of happiness is mentioned as counterpart of the "chicken of depression.") For much, much more, see Wikipedia, Bluebird of happiness.
So, may the Western Bluebird, and in fact all blue birds, be your companions in 2025, bringing you peace and well being throughout the year!
Special thanks to Jeff Babson for his help in identifying the sexes of this mix of winter birds! Greatly appreciated!
That's all for now!
Stay safe and stay well.
More soon!
Stay safe and stay well.
More soon!
Northern Harrier looking for lunch, White Water Draw, November 3, 2015. Canon 6D, Sigma 150-600mm at 600mmm 1/2000 sec., f/9.0, ISO 800, +0 EV.
Last month was the 9th anniversary of this blog. OMG! I wrote the first post on November 8, 2015, just a few lines to test the posting process. The first real post was on November 10th on White Water Draw (WWD). On that trip I was fortunate to see a Northern Harrier cruising for critters over the fields right in front of me, photograph above. I got a good view of the harrier's bill, eye markings, and facial disk, an anatomic feature similar to the owl's, which focuses remote sounds into the bird's ears.
I have been back to WWD numerous times since, my last visit was on a trek with Club Camera Tucson* on November 21st. Below and to the right is a map of WWD from Adobe Lightroom showing the spots where I shot most of the images (orange and yellow squares).
*For the photo/camera geeks: this is a great club, nice people, fun stuff to share and do. Check out the website.
I have been back to WWD numerous times since, my last visit was on a trek with Club Camera Tucson* on November 21st. Below and to the right is a map of WWD from Adobe Lightroom showing the spots where I shot most of the images (orange and yellow squares).
*For the photo/camera geeks: this is a great club, nice people, fun stuff to share and do. Check out the website.
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The photograph at the top left and the one below it were shot from the "32 Orange Square" on the map, looking to the west. North is at the top of the map. As of November 21st there was no water in any of the areas inside the built walkway boundry. In past years these ponds have been full, providing habitat for water birds and a better environment for songbirds in the area. There is water to the north of walkway, "594 Orange Square," photograph lower right. The Sandhill Cranes are roosting in this northern pond to the far east, and far west. Flycatchers were working their routes over the water. There were a few ducks.
Northern Harrier: November 2024
Canon R5 Mk II RF 100-500mm with RF1.4 Ext. at 700mm, 1/4000 sec., f/10, ISO 2500, +0.67 EV.
The big show on the 21st was a female Northern Harrier cruising over the fields to the north and east, then zooming right in front of the viewing deck on the north side, to cruise some more to the north and west, then work her way south and back east. The sun was in the east and south early on, then worked its way west, but stayed to the south, creating better photographic opportunities during her flight on the northern side of the trail.
In the image above she is flying to the east of the eastern trail, facing the sun, and looking for prey in the fields below. Here facial disk is evident.
She cruised over the eastern fields for about 20-30 minutes, then decided to fly west, making a close pass in front of the observation deck where I was standing. I was shooting at 700mm and literally had less than 2 seconds to try to track her as she came in very close flying right to left.
In the image above she is flying to the east of the eastern trail, facing the sun, and looking for prey in the fields below. Here facial disk is evident.
She cruised over the eastern fields for about 20-30 minutes, then decided to fly west, making a close pass in front of the observation deck where I was standing. I was shooting at 700mm and literally had less than 2 seconds to try to track her as she came in very close flying right to left.
Canon R5 Mk II RF 100-500mm with RF1.4 Ext. at 700mm, 1/3200 sec., f/13, ISO 2000, +0 EV.
The frame above is one of the better ones, showing her hooked bill, white markings above and below the eye, and a hint of the facial disk characteristic of the Northern Harriers. If you look closely at the edge of her mouth I think you will see a small white feather, likely a remnant of her last meal.
Northern Harriers are in the family Accipitridae: hawks, eagles and kites. Harriers are most similar to Rough-legged Hawks, Cooper's Hawks and American Goshawks but are unique in their family for the predilection to hover low over their prey.
Northern Harriers are in the family Accipitridae: hawks, eagles and kites. Harriers are most similar to Rough-legged Hawks, Cooper's Hawks and American Goshawks but are unique in their family for the predilection to hover low over their prey.
Canon R5 Mk II RF 100-500mm with RF1.4 Ext. at 420mm, 1/3200 sec., f/13, ISO 2000, +0 EV.
In the image above she is cruising over the fields to the west with the mountains in the background. The sun is to the left of the frame, lighting up her face.
Below, she has come around flying toward me. She has two white eyebrows clearly visible as she looks down at 90 degrees looking and listening for ground mammals, as well as other birds including meadowlarks, Northern Cardinals and sparrows, all part of her winter diet.
Below, she has come around flying toward me. She has two white eyebrows clearly visible as she looks down at 90 degrees looking and listening for ground mammals, as well as other birds including meadowlarks, Northern Cardinals and sparrows, all part of her winter diet.
Canon R5 Mk II RF 100-500mm with RF1.4 Ext. at 420mm, 1/4000 sec., f/8, ISO 1250, +0 EV.
Below, it looks like she has spotted or heard something (someone?) and begins a hover.
Canon R5 Mk II RF 100-500mm with RF1.4 Ext. at 700mm, 1/2000 sec., f/13, ISO 1600, +0 EV.
Harriers don't soar and dive, nor do they take prey on the wing, rather they hover over the fields looking and listening. Above, the image shows her feather pattern and white rump. Below, she is hovering, looking straight down.
Canon R5 Mk II RF 100-500mm with RF1.4 Ext. at 420mm, 1/4000 sec., f/8, ISO 1000, +0.33 EV.
Above and below, she has heard/spotted something, and stays focused.
Canon R5 Mk II RF 100-500mm with RF1.4 Ext. at 420mm, 1/4000 sec., f/8, ISO 800, +0.33 EV.
She bends her neck way down, and slowly descends, maintaining the hover. One can see the horizon getting lower from frame to frame.
Canon R5 Mk II RF 100-500mm with RF1.4 Ext. at 420mm, 1/4000 sec., f/8, ISO 1000, +0.33 EV
Lower, lower . . . .
In the image below one can see her alula clearly on the left wing. The alula, also known as the "bastard thumb," is a small group of feathers that grow from the bird's equivalent of our thumb, at the junction of the fused hand bones and the ulna/radius. It can be deployed like slats on an airplane, to break up the airflow and improve lift at slow speeds. It is common to see the alula deployed as large birds land.
In the image below one can see her alula clearly on the left wing. The alula, also known as the "bastard thumb," is a small group of feathers that grow from the bird's equivalent of our thumb, at the junction of the fused hand bones and the ulna/radius. It can be deployed like slats on an airplane, to break up the airflow and improve lift at slow speeds. It is common to see the alula deployed as large birds land.
Her tail is fanned and she is working her large wings to maintain the hover as she gets lower . . .
And finally lands in the grass!
| Northern Harriers live throughout North America, nesting in the northern U.S., Canada and Alaska, wintering in the southern U.S. including SE Arizona as well as Mexico and portions of Central and South America. On their wintering grounds, they are hard to spot up close, usually hunting on distant stretches of fields. However at WWD, the viewing area near water surrounded by fields improves the odds of getting closer to a hovering harrier. It is always a privilege and a pleasure to see them on a hunt. |  |
Sandhill Cranes . . . .
Canon R5 Mk II RF 100-500mm with RF1.4 Ext. at 700mm, 1/4000 sec., f/10, ISO 1600, +0.67 EV
No post on White Water Draw would be complete without at least one picture of Sandhill Cranes! Yes, the cranes are back at WWD, foraging out in the fields each morning, coming back around noon, making a noisy ruckus and landing. Above from November 21st, likely a family of four coming in for a landing. My guess is that mom and dad are leading, with two juveniles from this past summer's breeding right behind them. Sandhill Cranes mate for life, and families stay together for some time, migrating, feeding and roosting together.
| For more on White Water Draw, background information, maps, and prior posts, see Birding Hotspots on the tabs at the top of this page, or click on the picture to the right. |  |
That's all for now! More soon.
Happy trails!
Happy trails!
Green Heron, September 26, 2024.
| As SE Arizona moves from summer into fall, our "birds of winter" start returning. One of our birding hotspots right now is El Rio Preserve in Marana, just a short trip north on I-10 from Tucson. See the map to the right. Take the W. Twin Peaks Road exit off of I-10, head west to Coachline Blvd, turn right and follow the road to El Rio Preserve. |  |
The view north from the parking area showing the wetlands with mountains in the distance.
The preserve, adjacent to the Santa Cruz River, was originally farmland as well as a source of gravel for the nearby I-10 construction. The area is now beautifully maintained by the town of Marana as a wildlife area, with the help of an agricultural water allocation.
Looking east to the Catalinas from the main preserve observation deck, the desert is in in fall color.
Many thanks to the town of Marana and their dedicated staff, shown above, tending this beautiful wetland sanctuary.
Lazuli Bunting
Male Lazuli Bunting in non-breeding plumage, El Rio Preserve, September 2024. Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext at 700mm, 1/1000 sec., f/10, ISO 640, +0.67 EV.
| On September 26th I was surprised to find a male Lazuli Bunting in non-breeding (winter) plumage basking in the sun, image above. For comparison, to the right is a male in full breeding plumage with a bright lazuli-blue head, captured in Portal, AZ, in May of 2016. Winter plumage is more subtle, but to my eye more elegant with the varied colors woven together on the chest and back. Lazuli Buntings are in the Cardinal family, breeding in the northwest U.S. and wintering in Mexico. They begin their fall molt like most birds, on their breeding grounds, then move to the southwest U.S. to feed on abundant monsoon insects and finish the molt in these "molting hotspots" before moving further south for the winter. The bird I saw at El Rio in September is likely a traveler, maybe on his molting grounds, getting ready to head further south for the winter. Lazuli Buntings eat insects, fruit and seeds, and will come to feeders, especially those filled with white proso millet. (Ref: All About Birds) |   |
Verdin
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext at 700mm, 1/1600 sec., f/10, ISO 1250, +0 EV.
| The Verdin is an active songbird of the southwest U.S. and Mexico, living year round on their territories. They are prodigious nest builders, building spherical nests for breeding, and flat roosting nests for the winter months. For more on the Verdin and their nesting habits, click on the image below.  |  |
Verdins sport a rusty red shoulder patch, often difficult to see, but just evident in the Verdin below, foraging for insects on a mesquite branch at the preserve. He/she (the sexes look alike) drops off one branch to likely land on another one below. Birds will forage efficiently, using gravity when at all possible!
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext at 420mm, 1/2000 sec., f/10, ISO 1600, +0.33 EV.
As our subject falls, he puts out his wings heading toward the next meal. Just when he gets his wings open for a great shot, he has the audacity to fly off of the frame! Imagine!
For the photo geeks: This series was captured with a Canon R5 Mark II, RF 100-500mm lens with 1.4x Extender at 420mm, f/10, 1/2000 sec., ISO 1600, +0.33 EV , with electronic shutter in pre-capture mode.
American Kestrel
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext at 700mm, 1/2000 sec., f/10, ISO 640, +0 EV.
| The American Kestrel is North America's smallest falcon, roughly the size and shape of a Mourning Dove. They are birds of prey, often seen perching on wires or posts over open areas looking for small rodents and other birds, as well as insects and other invertebrates. (Ref: All About Birds). They live year round in North and South America, with Northern populations migrating into Canada and Alaska to breed. The male has slate blue wings and head, the female has reddish brown wings. Both sexes sport a vertical slash on a pale face. |  |
The male seen here was perched above the pond for some time, often accomanied by other kestrels, perhaps fledglings from this past summer breeding.
The kestrel below is likely a female or immature, perched not far from the male.
| American Kestrels are fun to watch in flight. On New Year's day, 2018, I spotted a female kestrel sitting on a high fence post at Ft. Lowell Park. She dove for the ground, and I caught her just as she approached a "mole hole." Alas, she came up empty. To see/read the full blog post, click on the image to the right! |  |
| The kestrel to the right, also caught at Ft, Lowell Park, November 21, 2020, was more fortunate, and did capture a bird, species unclear, for breakfast. For the full post, click on the image to the right. Warning: she did "eat the whole thing!" |  |
Belted Kingfisher
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext at 700mm, 1/4000 sec., f/10, ISO 2000, +0 EV.
| Belted Kingfishers eat mostly fish, diving into rivers and ponds and grabbing their prey with their long stocky bills. They breed to the north, and winter in the SW U.S. and Mexico/Central America. See the range map to the right. The Kingfisher shown above and below is a female, similar to the male but with the addition of a rusty band on the white chest/abdomen. She is perched above the pond, looking for something to eat. |  |
The Kingfisher pauses her search of the pond to look almost straight up, rotating her head, searching for something.
Kingfishers will eat insects and young birds in addition to fish, so the question is whether our hunter is looking for other offerings, or being a prudent bird is looking for predators! Remember, birds are born to do four things: Eat, Don't get eaten, Breed, and Molt! This area is territory for American Kestrels, and although the Kingfisher is a bit big for a kestrel, is is wise to be vigilant.
Having found nothing to be excited about, she returns to scanning the pond, and finds something worth diving for!
This series was shot with a Canon R5 Mark II in pre-capture mode. Rather than dropping off of the branch, our subject spent some time stretching her wings and warming up. I got a lot of wing flapping shots which could have occupied most of this post, however, I have edited with vigor, keeping these images that show the extent of her wings and tail and the feathers/wing markings that could otherwise only be observed in a museum specimen.
Looks like an Olympic swan dive, except she can fly, and of course, she is a Kingfisher, not a Swan!
Looks like an Olympic swan dive, except she can fly, and of course, she is a Kingfisher, not a Swan!
When kingfishers hit the water they pull back their wings to maximize their speed in the water and the dive depth. The water surface was well below my line of sight.
Vermilion Flycatcher
| Vermilion Flycatchers are members of the Family Tyrannidae, or the "Tyrant Flycatchers." They are year round residents of SE Arizona, Mexico and Central America, see the range map to the right. For new birders from almost anywhere in the U.S., these are "life birds," seen for the first time here. Those of us who live in Southern Arizona are lucky to have them with us year round, anywhere there are insects! |  |
The Vermilion shown in this series is likely an immature male, with bright red coming in mottled with white. Adult males are brilliant red with black around the eye and on the back/wings. Females are brownish above with a white breast and reddish belly.
In the photos above and below, a Vermilion Flycatcher perches on sign looking for insects.
Reminder: Don't release pets, squirrels, or pack-rats in any park, or dump fish/wildlife aquariums in any pond. Invasive species upset the natural balance, and can quickly overtake an environment.
In the photos above and below, a Vermilion Flycatcher perches on sign looking for insects.
Reminder: Don't release pets, squirrels, or pack-rats in any park, or dump fish/wildlife aquariums in any pond. Invasive species upset the natural balance, and can quickly overtake an environment.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext at 420mm, 1/4000 sec., f/10, ISO 5000, +0 EV.
Having spotted a bug, our subject gets into a crouch. Looks like he is waiting for the starting gun . . . .
Bang! He is off. He drops down a bit to gain speed.
In the air and off for his target. We can see his wing markings and how he holds his tail in this series.
Flycatchers often run a "route" from perch to perch when they find a good spot for insects. For viewing or photographing them, be patient and wait, and the flycatcher may come back to the same perch again. In this case, the "Fragile Ecosystem" sign was part of his route, and I photographed him launching from the site repeatedly. I suspect the angle of the sun in relation to the perch made bugs more visible.
Flycatchers often run a "route" from perch to perch when they find a good spot for insects. For viewing or photographing them, be patient and wait, and the flycatcher may come back to the same perch again. In this case, the "Fragile Ecosystem" sign was part of his route, and I photographed him launching from the site repeatedly. I suspect the angle of the sun in relation to the perch made bugs more visible.
For the photo geeks: Shot with a Canon R5 Mark II in pre-capture mode.
Green Heron
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext at 700mm, 1/1000 sec., f/10, ISO 1250, +0.67 EV.
| Green Herons winter in SE Arizona and central Mexico/South America, breeding in the U.S. east of the Rockies, with year round populations along the southern Pacific and Atlantic coasts. See the range map to the right. Green Herons are short and stocky with a deep green back and chestnut neck and breast. The crown can be raised into a short crest, which we see in the series below. |  |
Green Herons eat small fish, spearing them with their sharp bills often from a wading position in ponds. They also feed on insects, snails, amphibians, reptiles and rodents. They are one of the few tool using birds, creating fishing lures with insects and feathers, dropping them on the water surface to attract small fish. (Ref: All About Birds).
In the series that follows, we see a Green Heron in flight, with the crest raised. Whereas in a sitting position they look very formal and composed (see lead photo), in the air they are more disheveled, looking a bit like a mad scientist trying a pair of wings for the first time!
In the series that follows, we see a Green Heron in flight, with the crest raised. Whereas in a sitting position they look very formal and composed (see lead photo), in the air they are more disheveled, looking a bit like a mad scientist trying a pair of wings for the first time!
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext at 700mm, 1/1000 sec., f/10, ISO 2500, +0.67 EV.
Their large wings allow for a controlled stall and a gentle landing.
| Green Herons can and will eat prey as large as a frog, as we can see in the image to the right, captured at Sweetwater Wetlands in September, 2017. This image is one of a series featured in the post "I can't believe he at the whole thing, Part II." To go to the post, click on the image to the right. |  |
Spotted Sandpiper
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext at 700mm, 1/2000 sec., f/10, ISO 1600, +0 EV.
Spotted Sandpipers live throughout the U.S. with breeding populations all the way up into Canada and Alaska, and wintering populations as far south as South America. Tucson is in their wintering territory, although I have seen sandpipers in breeding plumage at Agua Caliente in April. See the range map below and to the right. Non-breeding adults are brownish above with a white abdomen and orange legs, as seen in the sandpiper captured above at El Rio.
 Breeding adults have a spotted abdomen with an orange bill, as seen in the image above from NW Ohio during migration in May of 2022. |  |
Above and below a Spotted Sandpiper in non-breeding (winter) plumage hopping from branch to branch at El Rio Preserve on September 26, 2024.
In spring the female Spotted Sandpiper is the first on the breeding grounds, staking out and defending her territory ahead of the arrival of the males. One female may mate with up to four males, and lay multiple clutches in multiple nests, all incubated and tended by the male, including raising the nestlings.
Rock Wren
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext at 700mm, 1/4000 sec., f/10, ISO 3200, -0.33 EV.
| Let's end with a nondescript bird that lives throughout the desert southwest, on and in rocks, not the places we usually go looking for birds! Rock Wrens constantly hop around rocky areas investigating nooks and crannies for insects and spiders, surviving in relatively bleak desert settings. The bird above was perched on a sign at El Rio, and I got the ID with the help of Merlin. The image below, a better view in better lighting, was captured close to the Meadow Trail on Mt Lemmon in July of 2023, sitting on, yes, rocks! |  |
Canon R7, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/640 sec., f/7.1, ISO 200, +0.67 EV.
Rock Wrens nest in cavities or crevices in rocks, often on a rock floor. They will build a pavement or walkway of small, flat stones or pebbles that leads to the nest cavity. They eat mostly ground dwelling insects. Their desert survival is aided by not drinking water, but instead getting all the water they need from their food. (Ref: All About Birds).
That's all for now.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy trails!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy trails!
Every fall Mt Lemmon's full time residents get ready for winter. For you and me this means filling the propane tank, splitting wood for the fire, and stocking up on canned goods. Although avian residents don't need to worry about a propane delivery, they do need to stock up on food. For the Acorn Woodpecker this means putting away acorns in safe spots where they can be easily accessed during cold months, while also eating as much as possible.
Fall comes every year and this blog is now 9 years old. 9 falls. 9 falls which are really very, very similar from an avian perspective. So this post is really a review, a fall revival if you will, with some new images, and hopefully a new perspective, but with links to three prior fall posts, which should provide more depth and a slightly different perspective.
Birds in the fall have breeding and molting behind them, and now need to work on finding food. Predators are always a risk, but in the scramble to gather calories, the other threat, competitors, looms large. Enter the Steller's Jay . . . . .
But first, Acorn Woodpeckers.
Fall comes every year and this blog is now 9 years old. 9 falls. 9 falls which are really very, very similar from an avian perspective. So this post is really a review, a fall revival if you will, with some new images, and hopefully a new perspective, but with links to three prior fall posts, which should provide more depth and a slightly different perspective.
Birds in the fall have breeding and molting behind them, and now need to work on finding food. Predators are always a risk, but in the scramble to gather calories, the other threat, competitors, looms large. Enter the Steller's Jay . . . . .
But first, Acorn Woodpeckers.
Acorn Woodpeckers store up for the coming winter.
| Acorn Woodpeckers live year round in the Pacific Northwest and all the way south to Columbia, South America. The only migratory population is a small one in the Huachuca Mountains here is SE Arizona where there are not enough acorns to store for the winter, necessitating migration into the Sierra Madre in Mexico. Acorn Woodpeckers live in large communities, sharing many functions, including rearing the young and gathering and storing food. |  |
In the images above and below, we see a granary tree, a dead tree that the Acorn Woodpeckers use for storing acorns. The birds excavate holes just the right size for acorns spaced out very systematically in the tree. Once placed, the acorns dry out over time, shrinking and loosening in their holes. So, Acorn Woodpeckers not only gather and store the nuts, but must periodically check their stock, moving acorns from one hole to another to make sure they don't fall out or become easy pickings for squirrels. The woodpecker here seems to be working the stock to keep it secure. This tree is just west of Middle Sabino Road in Summerhaven.
| For more on Acorn Woodpeckers putting up supplies for the winter and rotating their stock, see this post: October 2019 on Mt Lemmon. The photo to the right is from the post, and is a live link, click on the title above or on the photo to go to the link. |  |
Fast forward five years to 2024, and below we see an Acorn Woodpecker gathering up another favorite, peanuts in the shell, this time provided by the author/photographer. Note that all the peanuts are processed for birds and obtained at Wild Birds Unlimited in Tucson.
The woodpecker below has grabbed a peanut, and is ready to take off.
For the photo geeks: All the images from 2024 were shot with a Canon R5 Mark II with the electronic shutter at ~30 frames/second, in the Pre-capture mode. This feature constantly records 1/2 second of images prior to the shutter being fully depressed. For birds, 1/2 second is just about right, allowing for the photographer's reaction time. The full sequence of shots shown here was 22 images over 1 second or less. I edited them down to these three.
The woodpecker below has grabbed a peanut, and is ready to take off.
For the photo geeks: All the images from 2024 were shot with a Canon R5 Mark II with the electronic shutter at ~30 frames/second, in the Pre-capture mode. This feature constantly records 1/2 second of images prior to the shutter being fully depressed. For birds, 1/2 second is just about right, allowing for the photographer's reaction time. The full sequence of shots shown here was 22 images over 1 second or less. I edited them down to these three.
Below, peanut in his bill, we see a flash of white on the flight feathers and the white rump and black tail. Without the pre-capture mode it is almost impossible to photograph these birds in flight. They are very fast, and move quickly without much warning.
Below, our male pumps his wings to get some lift, depressing the tail. Birds fly as efficiently as possible, and when taking off, if possible they drop off their perch to use gravity to gain speed and lift.
We know this is a male because the bright white forehead meets the red cap in a straight line. The female has a black band between the forehead and the cap.
We know this is a male because the bright white forehead meets the red cap in a straight line. The female has a black band between the forehead and the cap.
Acorn Woodpeckers often gather food in teams, one of their many community projects. When I first put the peanuts out, it did not take long for a female to find the goodies. However, she did not dive in and grab a peanut, rather she sat on a high pine tree branch and called, "wacka-wacka-wacka" to her mates and waited until another two to three arrived. The team then began to set up a conveyor line, grabbing the peanuts one at a time and either flying off into the distance, or back to the branch to peck it open.
Below, a female has a peanut on one of her favorite perches above the feeder, and gets ready for work!
Below, a female has a peanut on one of her favorite perches above the feeder, and gets ready for work!
Above, she pulls her head back, feet firmly attached to the branch and braced with her strong tail, and below, drives her bill into the peanut shell.
Above and below, the action is repeated, this time putting shell fragments into the air.
And below, coming up with a peanut.
Although collecting and storing food is a key activity in October, it takes energy, and eating enough is essential. So raiding the harvest is acceptable. Birds need to be at top weight and strength going into the winter.
Although collecting and storing food is a key activity in October, it takes energy, and eating enough is essential. So raiding the harvest is acceptable. Birds need to be at top weight and strength going into the winter.
Steller's Jays like peanuts too . . . . .
| Steller's Jays are year round residents of the mountainous west, from the islands off of Alaska down to Central America. Range map is to the right. They were first described by Georg Steller, a German naturalist traveling on a Russian explorer's ship in 1741. Steller's Jays are opportunistic foragers, eating almost anything they can find, including seeds, nuts, and other bird's eggs and nestlings. They are a dominant predator of the Western/Cordilleran Flycatchers who breed on Mt. Lemmon. |  |
| In August of 2018 I put out some peanuts in the shell to see who would come in to feed. I caught a Steller's Jay grabbing a peanut and very carefully burying it beneath a layer of pine needles on the ground, then marking the site by placement of a rock! For more on this adventure see the post from August 2018: A Steller's Jay and a Peanut: Saving for the future in Summerhaven. |  |
Fast forward to October 2024, six years later, and SURPRISE! Jays still like peanuts!
Although Steller's Jays are aggressive predators, they will not confront an Acorn Woodpecker. When facing off "mano-a-mano" the Acorn dominates and the Steller's retreats to the sidelines.
So during the peanut buffet on October 11th, while the Acorns converted our mountain backyard to a cafeteria line, one Steller's Jay sat off to the side, waiting for his chance. Although Steller's Jays will forage slowly and methodically, in this case our jay decided to take the "plunge and grab" approach, sitting on the feeder pole until the time was right, and then diving for the peanut. He did this repeatedly.
Above our jay is perched, below he dives for the goodies.
For the photo geeks: This series was captured with a Canon R5 Mark II, electronic shutter on Pre-capture mode. The whole sequence took 2 seconds or less.
So during the peanut buffet on October 11th, while the Acorns converted our mountain backyard to a cafeteria line, one Steller's Jay sat off to the side, waiting for his chance. Although Steller's Jays will forage slowly and methodically, in this case our jay decided to take the "plunge and grab" approach, sitting on the feeder pole until the time was right, and then diving for the peanut. He did this repeatedly.
Above our jay is perched, below he dives for the goodies.
For the photo geeks: This series was captured with a Canon R5 Mark II, electronic shutter on Pre-capture mode. The whole sequence took 2 seconds or less.
This dive allows us to see the pattern and coloration of the wings and tail.
A quick grab in the frame above and a rapid spring back into the air, below.
Our jay repeated this sequence and each time disappeared into the distance with a peanut. He wanted the peanuts, but did not want to mess with the Acorn Woodpeckers.
Acorns can be very aggressive with potential predators. In April of 2021 we were in Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains getting photos of birds at the Sunny Flat Campground (The Chiricahua Mountains and Cave Creek Canyon April 2021: Part III, Sunny Flat). We captured a Cooper's Hawk on the prowl in the low understory when suddenly two to five Acorn Woodpeckers mobbed the Cooper's and drove him north out of the canyon. They pursued him for some distance. Unfortunately I was not able to get photos of the pursuit.
Acorns can be very aggressive with potential predators. In April of 2021 we were in Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains getting photos of birds at the Sunny Flat Campground (The Chiricahua Mountains and Cave Creek Canyon April 2021: Part III, Sunny Flat). We captured a Cooper's Hawk on the prowl in the low understory when suddenly two to five Acorn Woodpeckers mobbed the Cooper's and drove him north out of the canyon. They pursued him for some distance. Unfortunately I was not able to get photos of the pursuit.
| For more on an Acorn-Steller face off over peanuts see the post from September 2022, September: The Acorn Woodpecker and the Steller's Jay Getting Ready for Winter . . . . . |  |
That's all for now ! More coming soon.
Happy Trails!
Happy Trails!
Blue Grosbeak singing in the Rain, July 31, 2024, California Gulch, Arizona.
Heat, humidity, and rain, a great time to go birding in Arizona? Well, yes it is!
During our summer rainy season, the monsoon, local birds are breeding as are residents of Mexico and Central America who just barely make it north over the border to nest in the U.S. becoming RARE BIRDS. So, Southwest Wings runs a festival in late July and early August, followed by Tucson Audubon a week later.
From July 31st to August 2nd we ventured out with SW Wings and Richard Fray for a three day, two night trek to find some of our summer visitors amid a bit of rain and some muddy roads! We had a great time with great people.
Of all the species we saw, here are the highlights. Let's start with one of the stars of the show, the Five-striped Sparrow.
To keep you oriented, below is a map of our tour generated by Adobe's Lightroom with my annotations showing the location of all of the images in this post.
During our summer rainy season, the monsoon, local birds are breeding as are residents of Mexico and Central America who just barely make it north over the border to nest in the U.S. becoming RARE BIRDS. So, Southwest Wings runs a festival in late July and early August, followed by Tucson Audubon a week later.
From July 31st to August 2nd we ventured out with SW Wings and Richard Fray for a three day, two night trek to find some of our summer visitors amid a bit of rain and some muddy roads! We had a great time with great people.
Of all the species we saw, here are the highlights. Let's start with one of the stars of the show, the Five-striped Sparrow.
To keep you oriented, below is a map of our tour generated by Adobe's Lightroom with my annotations showing the location of all of the images in this post.
| Note that this was a three day van trip, starting and ending in Sierra Vista. We did our two overnights at the Rancho Santa Cruz*, on the Santa Cruz River, just south of Tumacacori. Photo (in the rain!) to the right. * Highly recommended! Many thanks to our hosts Susan and Peter! |  |
Five-striped Sparrow
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/250 sec., f/7.1, ISO 3200, +0.33 EV
| This large sparrow actually has seven stripes, a white one over each eye, and five alternating black and white stripes below a thick bill, with a thin white crescent below each eye. Underparts are mostly gray and white, with a black central breast spot. In the U.S. the species favors dense, thorny vegetation on dry hillsides. This year Five-stripped Sparrows were spotted in California Gulch, very remote and very close to the border, as well as Box Canyon, on the road from Madera Canyon east to Sonoita. The breeding population in the U.S. is considered among the smallest of any bird in the country (Ref: All About Birds). Five-striped Sparrows feed on insects, mostly moths and caterpillars, with some nuts and berries. They nest in a shrub or on the ground. |  Above, a range map from All About Birds, Cornell Lab. These sparrows are year round residents of Mexico, with a small population in Arizona. |
The images here were captured in California Gulch at 6 pm on July 31st, in the rain. California Gulch is just south of Ruby, Arizona, and very close to the border. There are two roads in and out, one very muddy this day, and one very rocky. The muddy route was okay coming in, but not going out! Fortunately the rocky route was a welcome alternate at 9 pm, providing us a welcome path back to comfy beds at Rancho Santa Cruz.
This series of images shows the markings of the bird as he slowly turns and begins to sing. Nest building coincides with the first significant summer rainstorms, with the first eggs of the season from early June to late August (Ref: Birds of the World).
Males sing during all daylight hours, especially in the early morning and late evening. This is likely a male, and the calls/singing may be to keep contact with his mate during foraging. He likely has a nest nearby. (Ref: Birds of the World).
| The third day of the trip, August 2nd, we spotted Five-striped Sparrows in Box Canyon, east of Madera Canyon in open grassland on the road east to Sonoita. To the right, a view looking west down Box Canyon. Below, a Five-Stripped Sparrow posing for a portrait. This is likely a male. |  |
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext., at 700mm, 1/2000 sec., f/10, ISO 4000, +0 EV
We had a clear day, with this bird perching up close, a bit backlit.
And below, calling, "Hey, I am up here, with the birders!"
And below, calling, "Hey, I am up here, with the birders!"
In the image below, our subject pulls his tail forward showing the length and markings.
Blue Grosbeak
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/400 sec., f/7.1, ISO 4000, +0 EV
Back in California gulch, about 20 minutes before we found the Five-striped Sparrow, we encountered this Blue Grosbeak. I was fortunate to be sitting in the front seat of the van, and as Richard paused, I was able to get these shots out the rolled-down right front window.
| Blue Grosbeaks are vibrantly blue buntings with a large silver bill and chestnut wingbars. The males are blue, the females cinnamon with brown wingbars. Blue Grosbeaks are considered long-distance migrants, wintering in southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, breeding across the lower U.S., including Arizona. Birds breeding in the eastern U.S. probably migrate across the Gulf of Mexico. They feed on insects, especially grasshoppers and crickets, but will eat snails and seeds of wild and cultivated grains. |  |
They nest in small trees, shrubs, and tangles of vines and briars, often near open areas or roads (Ref: All About Birds). The low shrubs and understory of California Gulch seems to suit them.
Like the Five-striped Sparrow, the Blue Grosbeak breeds with the monsoon rains. Only males sing, and this male is likely defending his territory. (Ref: Birds of the World).
Rose-throated Becard
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext., at 700mm, 1/400 sec., f/10, ISO 800,
+0 EV.
+0 EV.
| Above, a female Rose-throated Becard near its nest just east of Patagonia along Harshaw Road (see tour map at the top of this post). The male is likely nearby, but was not spotted this day. Rose-throated Becards are in the tropical and subtropical family Tityridae. They are the only members of this family that enter the United States as non-vagrants where they breed on an irregular basis along the southern borders of Arizona and Texas. The species favors wooded riparian habitats dominated by cottonwoods, where they nest in bulky, messy, domed nests that are suspended from the drooping ends of small branches, with an entrance near the bottom. |  |
Above, a becard nest just south of Harshaw Road. Below, the same nest with mama sitting on top. The entrance to the nest is likely on one side and toward the bottom.
Females are gray to brown with a black, gray , or rusty brown crown. Males sport a bright pink throat. They eat insects, and occasionally fruit if available.
Below, mama takes a break from her nest duties to preen in the sun, including an occasional scratch.
Below, mama takes a break from her nest duties to preen in the sun, including an occasional scratch.
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext., at 700mm, 1/100 sec., f/10, ISO 400, 0 EV.
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext., at 508mm, 1/3200 sec., f/8, ISO 20000, 0 EV.
| On the morning of July 31st, before venturing west to California Gulch, we stopped in Patagonia where the Rose-throated Becard was spotted along Harshaw Road. We then stopped at the Tucson Audubon's Paton Center for Hummingbirds where we spotted this Violet-crowned Hummingbird. Like the Five-striped Sparrow and Rose-throated Becard, the Violet-crowned Hummingbird lives most of the year in Mexico, with a breeding range that just crosses into the U.S. in southern Arizona and New Mexico. With no gorget, the Violet-crowned Hummingbird is white on the underside, with a brilliant violet crown and neck. The bill is red with a black tip. |  |
Violet-crowned Hummingbirds drink nectar from flowers and forage for insects off of plants or in mid-air. Of course, they also come to nectar feeders! They nest in small cups at the end of branches often in sycamore trees up to 40 feet off of the ground (Ref: All About Birds).
Above, a Violet-crowned Hummingbird comes in for a landing at a feeder at the Paton Center, and below, appears to be fending off competitors. We get a good view of the details on the crown.
Below a low light shot of a Violet-crowned on August 3, 2023 during a daylong SWW tour on hummingbirds led by Kristy Gallo. We see good detail of the wings and underparts. For more on that tour see my post: Southwest Wings: The Hummers of Summer!
Canon R7, RF 100-500mm at 300mm, 1/2000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 10000, +1 EV.
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm at 270mm, 1/3200 sec., f/5.6, ISO 8000, -0.33 EV.
| The Broad-billed Hummingbird is another species that lives most of the year toward the south, venturing over the border in the summer to breed. They are common in Tucson and Mt. Lemmon, as well as Patagonia and Madera Canyon. The bill is broad when seen up close and at the correct angle, but what is striking is the red bill with the black tip. The image above is a male with a blue throat, greenish/blue belly (just hitting the light correctly) and a notched tail. This image was captured at the Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon on August 1st. The images below were shot at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia on July 31st. |  |
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.3x Ext., at 420mm, 1/4000 sec., f/8.0, ISO 5000, 0 EV.
The color of the feathers, especially the gorget, varies by the feather's angle to the sun. The feather's internal nanostructural geometry generates refraction and interference that separates and reinforces only a subset of the wavelengths of light. (Ref: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology, 3rd Edition, page 141). This effect can be seen in feathers of many species, but is especially prominent in hummingbirds. The Broad-bill's gorget can go from bright blue to black with a turn of the head. In this series of photographs we can see color variation as the bird turns his head and neck.
There were many Broad-tailed Hummingbirds at the feeders this day, so it is impossible to tell if the bird shown above is the same as the bird shown below. In any case, the bird shown below is definitely molting, the process of replacing all the feathers on the body that in most species occurs once a year after breeding.
Some species can lay back and "chill" while molting, a process that requires a lot of energy. For example, Canada Geese are vegetarians eating a wide variety of grasses, as well as some seeds and fruits in the fall. They can eat and molt without doing much else. However, other birds, including the hummingbird, need to fly to eat, and the molting process literally occurs "on the wing" in a sequential fashion that allows flight to continue. A bit like changing tires on an 18-wheeler without pulling over to the side of the road!
Below we see that one of the flight feathers on the left wing, likely a secondary, has been lost with a new feather coming in. The variation in color of the contour feathers that cover the body may be a consequence of molting, or the bird's angle to the sun, or a combination of both.
For more on molting see these posts: Cardinals Molting in August: a Pre-Halloween Tragicomedy and Birds are Born to Do 4 things; Eat, Don't Get Eaten, Make More Birds, and MOLT!
Some species can lay back and "chill" while molting, a process that requires a lot of energy. For example, Canada Geese are vegetarians eating a wide variety of grasses, as well as some seeds and fruits in the fall. They can eat and molt without doing much else. However, other birds, including the hummingbird, need to fly to eat, and the molting process literally occurs "on the wing" in a sequential fashion that allows flight to continue. A bit like changing tires on an 18-wheeler without pulling over to the side of the road!
Below we see that one of the flight feathers on the left wing, likely a secondary, has been lost with a new feather coming in. The variation in color of the contour feathers that cover the body may be a consequence of molting, or the bird's angle to the sun, or a combination of both.
For more on molting see these posts: Cardinals Molting in August: a Pre-Halloween Tragicomedy and Birds are Born to Do 4 things; Eat, Don't Get Eaten, Make More Birds, and MOLT!
Black-throated Sparrow
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.3x Ext., at 700mm, 1/2000 sec., f/10, ISO 8000, 0.67 EV.
| Black-throated Sparrows are one of the sharpest dressers around, sporting a gray face offset by bold white stripes and a black triangular patch on the throat. They live year round in portions of the southern U.S. and northern Mexico, with some populations going north into the western U.S. to breed. They favor open shrubby deserts. The bird above was spotted at Madera Canyon near the Proctor Trailhead in the low understory. Black-throated Sparrows eat insects and seeds, foraging off of the ground, near or under shrubs or cacti. They nest in low shrubs, often on the north or east side to maximize morning sun and afternoon shade. (Ref: All About Birds) |  |
Rufous-winged Sparrow
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.3x Ext., at 700mm, 1/2000 sec., f/10, ISO 10000, 0 EV.
| Rounding out our sparrow collection, we have the Rufous-winged Sparrow, another bird whose range is primarily Mexico with a bump just over the border into Arizona. This bird was spotted in East Sahuarita, just north of Green Valley, on August 1st. Like other species, the Rufous-winged Sparrow starts breeding with the arrival of the monsoon. Their love of rain is such that a heavy winter rain may prompt a second breeding cycle in the spring. Pairs bond for life, and will remain on territory year round. They are ground foragers eating mostly seeds, insects, and spiders but will also forage in the understory and catch insects in flight. |  |
Prairie Dog Colony at Empire Ranch
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.3x Ext., at 700mm, 1/500 sec., f/25, ISO 1600, 0 EV.
On the last day of our tour, as we were making our way back to Sierra Vista, we stopped at Empire Ranch, part of Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, managed by the BLM. This conservation area covers more than 45,000 acres of rolling grasslands and woodlands north and east of Sonita. Part of the area includes a Prairie Dog Colony, intended to preserve a population of these frisky and entertaining herbivorous ground squirrels in their native habitat. I was able to get my long lens over the fence and catch some of their activities.
Prairie Dogs build extensive underground colonies housing multiple family groups. They are considered a keystone species, with their mounds often being used by other species. In addition, mound building encourages grass development and renewal of topsoil. Their underground tunnels bring rain to the undersoil, reducing runoff. For more on this important species, and the value it brings to the prairie, see this entry in Wikipedia: Prairie Dog.
Prairie Dogs build extensive underground colonies housing multiple family groups. They are considered a keystone species, with their mounds often being used by other species. In addition, mound building encourages grass development and renewal of topsoil. Their underground tunnels bring rain to the undersoil, reducing runoff. For more on this important species, and the value it brings to the prairie, see this entry in Wikipedia: Prairie Dog.
Prairie Dogs have a complex system of communication capable of alerting the colony not only to the presence of predators, but to the type of predator, the size, and approach. (Ref: Wikipedia: Prairie Dog). Here we see a series of images showing calling behavior, perhaps an alert that a photographer is near!
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.3x Ext., at 700mm, 1/2000 sec., f/10, ISO 1000, 0 EV.
In the series below, a Prairie Dog moves from one tunnel to another, diving for cover. Possibly the response to the pesky photographer nearby?
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.3x Ext., at 700mm, 1/2000 sec., f/10, ISO 1000, 0 EV.
Whew! Made it!
Swainson's Hawk
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.3x Ext., at 420mm, 1/2000 sec., f/8.0, ISO 1000, +1 EV.
| We were almost back to Sierra Vista when we spotted a Swainson's Hawk overhead. Swainson's Hawks winter in Argentina, then migrate thousands of miles north to breed throughout the western U.S., Canada, and Alaska. Some populations may travel over 12,000 miles per year! During breeding season they will feed their young the "three r's" of the buteo diet: rodents, rabbits, and reptiles. However in the "off season" they will switch to a diet of insects, especially grasshoppers and dragonflies. (Ref: All About Birds). |  |
Before I go, let's have a round of applause for our intrepid guide Richard Fray, pictured below as we unloaded the van in Sierra Vista! And, thanks to all my fellow travelers from near and far on this three day trek. Great trip!
That's all for now!
Stay tuned.
Happy Trails!
Stay tuned.
Happy Trails!
Grace's Warbler, Summerhaven, August 25, 2024.
In Part I of this series, I looked at two warblers who winter in Mexico, and nest on Mt Lemmon, the Painted Redstart and the Red-faced Warbler. As of early September they are still around, but will be heading south soon as the days get shorter and the food (insects) move south.
As our summer residents leave, we are greeted by warblers who breed to the north but may stop over in the village for food and water on their way south for the winter.
Let's start with three species who summer in the same northern regions and often migrate together, the Black-throated Gray Warbler, the Hermit Warbler, and the Townsend's Warbler.
As our summer residents leave, we are greeted by warblers who breed to the north but may stop over in the village for food and water on their way south for the winter.
Let's start with three species who summer in the same northern regions and often migrate together, the Black-throated Gray Warbler, the Hermit Warbler, and the Townsend's Warbler.
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, f/7.1, 1/500 sec., ISO 2000, +1 EV.
| Black-throated Gray warblers have gray backs, a black throat, and a small spot of yellow above and in front of the eye. The yellow spot is a key field mark that identifies the birds as they forage for insects on trees and shrubs in the mid to lower levels of the forest. The range map to the right shows that they winter in Mexico (blue), breed in the western U.S. (orange), and migrate between the two (yellow). Although they might be nesting in the Catalinas, I have not spotted them earlier in the season. Nesting pairs will likely be on horizontal branches of firs, oaks, or pinyon pines, 3 to 35 feet off of the ground. Skilled breeders make their nests hard to find! |  |
Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 3200, +0.67 EV.
Black-throated Gray Warblers eat insects from the understory, moving with deliberate hops from branch to branch. They are good subjects for photography, being less frenetic than the Painted Redstart or Red-faced Warbler.
Above, and in the images that follow, a Black-throated Gray finds an insect under the leaf at eye level and plucks it off.
Hermit Warbler
Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 451mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 5000, +0.33 EV.
| Hermit Warblers have a more restricted breeding area, concentrated in the Pacific Northwest. Their migration is longer. Hermit Warblers are close relatives of the Townsend's, and the two species hybridize where they share ranges in Washington and Oregon. They eat insects, and nest in trees, usually high in the canopy. Males have bright yellow faces with a black eye, females have a paler yellow face and a yellow chin. The individual photographed here is most likely a female. |  |
Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext. at 700mm, 1/1000 sec., f/10, ISO 16000, +1 EV.
Although the Hermit Warbler likes the canopy of the highest trees in summer in the Pacific Northwest and in the winter in Mexico*, on migration they join other warblers in mixed flocks, feeding in riparian oak woodlands like Summerhaven.
*Cornell's All About Birds attributes the bird's name, Hermit, to their preference for the high canopy summer and winter, although they are gregarious and in full evidence to us on migration.
*Cornell's All About Birds attributes the bird's name, Hermit, to their preference for the high canopy summer and winter, although they are gregarious and in full evidence to us on migration.
Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 6400, +0.67 EV.
As this series of photographs shows how the Hermit Warbler hops from branch to branch in search of insects.
Townsend's Warbler
Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 428mm, 1/1250 sec., f/7.1, ISO 10000, +0.67 EV.
| Our third traveler on the avian highway is the Townsend's Warbler, named after the naturalist John Kirk Townsend who collected a male bird near the mouth of the Columbia River in April of 1835, thirty years after the Louis and Clark Expedition. Townsend's Warblers are long range migrants, breeding in the Pacific Northwest, NW Canada and parts of Alaska, and wintering in Mexico and Central America. For breeding they prefer old-growth forests with extensive understory, nesting in conifers. On migration they feed in various woodlands and thickets, including suburban parks. |  |
They will winter in a variety of habitats similar to their migration hang-outs, from coastal California to Central America. The riparian environment of Summerhaven is an ideal spot to stop for food on the way south.
Like most warblers, Townsend's feed on insects and insect larvae, gleaned from conifer needles. They will occasionally hawk, catching flying insects in midair. On migration they will feed on nectar from flowers. At backyard feeders they will take mealworms, peanut butter and suet.
The image above was captured on August 25, 2024, in Summerhaven near Sabino Creek. The image below was captured a year ago, October 29, 2023, toward the end of the fall in Summerhaven.
The image above was captured on August 25, 2024, in Summerhaven near Sabino Creek. The image below was captured a year ago, October 29, 2023, toward the end of the fall in Summerhaven.
Canon 7D Mk II with EF 100-400mm at 400mm, 1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 2500, +1 EV.
Above and below, a Townsend's Warbler searching for food in the understory, September 20, 2020.
Below, catching a ray of sunshine during breakfast, October 2, 2020.
Canon 7D Mk II with RF 100-400mm at 400mm, 1/500 sec., f/5.6, ISO 2000, +0 EV.
Grace's Warbler
Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 2000, +0.67 EV.
| Grace's Warblers are inhabitants of mature pine and pine-oak forests in mountainous regions, winter and summer. They migrate north in the spring for the forests of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah, wintering in Mexico and Central America. This bird is likely migrating south for the winter. They eat insects (beetles, flies, dragonflies, caterpillars) and spiders which they gather in the upper branches of mature pine trees, and to a lesser extent in oak trees. |  |
Grace's Warblers have gray backs, a white breast with a yellow throat and eyebrow. Males and females are similar, with the female being less boldly patterned.
The population of Grace's Warbler is falling most likely due to loss of their habitat - mature forests. For more on the challanges habitat specialists face, see Northwest Ohio, Spring Migration 2022, Part 1, Warblers.
Nashville Warbler
Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 2000, +0.67 EV.
| The Nashville Warbler is yellow with a gray back and hood and striking bold white eye-rings. In contrast to Grace's Warbler, they favor shrubby tangles and regrowing forests, giving them lots of living options in a changing world. They winter coast to coast in Mexico, breed to the north in New England, Canada and in the Pacific Northwest. In spite of their name, they are only in Nashville on migration, where they were first spotted and by Alexander Wilson in 1811. It is great to see them on Mt. Lemmon. |  |
Occasionally one can spot a chesnut crown, not visible in these images. The female is paler than the male. They eat insects including spruce budworm on their northern territory as well as other arthropods in all seasons. They nest on or near the ground hidden among bushes or the base of trees.
Mountain Chickadee
Above, a Mountain Chickadee at a feeder in Summerhaven, September 3, 2023. Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/2000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 2000, +0.33 EV.
| Let's end with a non-warbler who lives year round from northern Canada to the desert Southwest, the Mountain Chickadee. Mountain Chickadees live in evergreen forests of Western Mountains, with a preference for conifers. The one exception is nesting season, when these cavity nesters look for the soft wood of Aspens for excavation or existing holes made by other birds, or nest boxes. Mountain Chickadees eat insects and spiders during warm months, but can shift to seeds and nuts when insects are not available. This flexibility in diet accounts for their year round residence in some of our colder climes. |  |
They do come to feeders year round, with a preference for sunflower seeds, and during the winter, suet and peanut butter.
Canon R6 with RF 100-500mm at 428mm, 1/2000 sec., f/6.3, ISO 4000, +0 EV.
Mountain Chickadees are small birds with a definite "cute factor." Their head is large in relation to the body, with a small bill, a narrow tail and round belly. They are gray overall with white cheeks, a black cap and throat, offset by a white eyebrow.
Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 400mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 1600, +0.33 EV.
Above and below, a Mountain Chickadee grabbing an insect from under a leaf near Sabino Creek in Summerhaven, August 25, 2024.
As of Saturday September 14th there continues to be a lot of birds, including the Nashville Warbler, along Sabino Creek across from the Cookie Cabin.
That's all for now. More coming soon.
Happy trails!
That's all for now. More coming soon.
Happy trails!
Painted Redstart, "startling" insects, Mt. Bigelow, August 4, 2024.
During the course of any summer, two warblers are regular ground nesters on Mt. Lemmon, with a preference for the riparian woodlands of Summerhaven and Marshall Gulch. In this post I will take a close look at the Painted Redstart and the Red-faced Warbler, both popular summer residents who are getting ready for their fall migration.
Painted Redstarts Get Ready to Head South for the Winter.
Canon R5 MkII, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, ISO 4000, +0.67 EV.
| Painted Redstarts are warblers who live year round in oak-pine forests and woodlands of Mexico, with some members migrating a short way north into Arizona and New Mexico to breed. They eat primarily insects either gleaned from tree leaves, or caught on the fly, and nest in the ground, often in cavities on slopes. The Painted Redstart shown above and below was spotted looking for food on August 25th in the dense understory over the creek in Summerhaven, directly across from the Cookie Cabin. |  |
On August 4th on Mt. Bigelow, I caught the Painted Redstart below hopping from branch to branch looking for insects. This bird was moving very fast!
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext., at 420mm, 1/1000 sec, f/8, ISO 16000, +0.33 EV.
Painted Redstarts "startle" their prey by rapidly spreading the tail, showing a flash of white and black, flicking it up, as well as spreading the wings, as they hop from branch to branch. I was able to capture the rapid tail and wing flick in the image below.
Our hungry hunter jumps to the next branch searching for lunch.
Above and below, pausing long enough to pose while looking for food before charging forward again!
In the sequence that follows, two Painted Redstarts have a lively debate over who owns a particular branch.
The Cornell Lab's Birds of the World reports that juvenile Painted Redstarts have black and white wings with gray breasts. However, my guess is that the two birds below are juveniles with red feathers just beginning to come into the breasts.
The Cornell Lab's Birds of the World reports that juvenile Painted Redstarts have black and white wings with gray breasts. However, my guess is that the two birds below are juveniles with red feathers just beginning to come into the breasts.
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/400 sec, f/7.1, ISO 2000, +0.33 EV.
Above, a single bird is perched on a branch, taking a break between forays for insects. Below, another Painted Redstart joins him/her. My guess is that these were nest mates last spring now learning the ropes and gaining weight, getting ready for the migration south.
Above, the bird on the left vocalizes. It looks like a loud squawk! At my distance, I could not hear anything specific.
The bird on the right repeats the call. Maybe a dispute over who the branch belongs to.
After a pause in the action for a few seconds, the bird on the left decides he has had enough, and makes a move for his neighbor, who takes off for another branch, and more food.
Painted Redstarts glean insects from leaves, needles, twigs and the surface of tree bark, but also from hawking - catching insects on the wing. The next sequence shows how this is done!
For the photo geeks: The sequence below was shot with a newly released Canon R5 Mark II set in Pre-Capture mode. With this setting the camera shifted to electronic shutter at ~30 frames/second and recorded each frame to a 1/2 second continuously rotating buffer as long as I kept the shutter partially depressed. Once the action started, I pressed the shutter down completely and the ~15 frames shot over the previous 1/2 second were recorded to the memory card as shooting continued at ~30 frames per second as long as I kept the shutter depressed. This allowed me to wait until the bird took off to press the shutter, knowing that I would get the gap in the action created by my response time. I recorded multiple flight sequences with the lens zoomed back a bit to allow "room" for the bird in flight, and got lucky with the sequence below. The whole sequence took place within one second and the bird stayed in the frame. The camera's autofocus did a good job of sticking to the bird.
For the photo geeks: The sequence below was shot with a newly released Canon R5 Mark II set in Pre-Capture mode. With this setting the camera shifted to electronic shutter at ~30 frames/second and recorded each frame to a 1/2 second continuously rotating buffer as long as I kept the shutter partially depressed. Once the action started, I pressed the shutter down completely and the ~15 frames shot over the previous 1/2 second were recorded to the memory card as shooting continued at ~30 frames per second as long as I kept the shutter depressed. This allowed me to wait until the bird took off to press the shutter, knowing that I would get the gap in the action created by my response time. I recorded multiple flight sequences with the lens zoomed back a bit to allow "room" for the bird in flight, and got lucky with the sequence below. The whole sequence took place within one second and the bird stayed in the frame. The camera's autofocus did a good job of sticking to the bird.
Canon R5 MkII, RF 100-500mm at 300mm, 1/2000 sec, f/6.3, ISO 8000, +0.33 EV. Electronic shutter, pre-capture mode.
A Painted Redstart was hawking for insects in the backyard in Summerhaven, often perching on a tree stump, looking for prey, then launching himself upward. Above, he has spotted a bug, a bright white dot in the upper right corner of the frame, and lifted his left foot.
Below, he is into the air, the bug now looks like a smudge in the upper right.
Below, he is into the air, the bug now looks like a smudge in the upper right.
The insect has again caught the light, and our Painted Restart is on the wing.
Above, the insect is straight above our hunter, as he alters his flight to make the interception.
Below, he gets closer.
For the photo geeks: In the frame below we can see that the camera's autofocus is following the bird, with the head and eye in focus, but the stump in the background where the bird started now out of focus.
Below, he gets closer.
For the photo geeks: In the frame below we can see that the camera's autofocus is following the bird, with the head and eye in focus, but the stump in the background where the bird started now out of focus.
Above and below, the insect is pretty sharp, and our predator is closing in.
Above and below, the mouth is open, and lunch is within reach! Note the somewhat mottled breast, which could be new feathers on a juvenile, or an adult molting.
For the photo geeks: On electronic shutter at 1/2000 second, there is no appreciable rolling shutter.
For the photo geeks: On electronic shutter at 1/2000 second, there is no appreciable rolling shutter.
Above and below, GULP! Down it goes.
Painted Redstarts eat primarily insects, and as the insect counts on Mt Lemmon begin to fall in September, the redstarts will start to migrate south to Mexico, following the food.
Chances are these birds will return in the spring to nest.
Chances are these birds will return in the spring to nest.
Redfaced Warblers Also Getting Ready to Leave . . . .
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm w 1.4x Ext. at 700 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/10, ISO 4000, +1 EV.
| Redfaced Warblers winter in southern Mexico migrating north into northern Mexico, southern Arizona and New Mexico to breed. Like the Painted Redstarts, they are insect eaters and ground nesters who prefer the type of riparian habitat we enjoy in Summerhaven and Marshall Gulch. Males and females look alike with the distinctive bright red neck and face with distinctive black markings on the head and cheeks. Above and below, adults looking for food in May 2024 amidst breeding and nesting activities. |  |
Canon R6, RF 100-500mm w 1.4x Ext. at 700 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/10, ISO 16000, +0.33 EV.
Above, a male is gathering grasses for a nest in May near the road in Marshall Gulch. By August nesting is over, and both adults and offspring are looking for food to support their ongoing molting activities and to get ready for migration, following the food.
Below, two images of a Red-faced Warbler foraging for insects in the low understory across from the Cookie Cabin on August 25, 2024.
Below, two images of a Red-faced Warbler foraging for insects in the low understory across from the Cookie Cabin on August 25, 2024.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/7.1, ISO 5000, +2 EV.
Canon R5 Mk II, RF 100-500mm at 500 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/7.1, ISO 8000, +1 EV.
Just like the Painted Redstarts, the Red-faced Warblers will soon be heading south to Mexico, following the food!
That is all for now! Part 2 is coming soon, more warblers on the mountain, this time in transit, stopping off for a bite on their way down south.
Happy Trails!
Happy Trails!
Author
Henry Johnson, photographer and author of this site. For more detail, see About
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