http://www.funbirdingtours.com Have FUN with wildlife in one of the world's truly great birding destinations Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:12:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/12/02/piggies/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/12/02/piggies/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:40:44 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4853 As I blearily wandered outside to change the hummingbird feeder this morning I was greeted by a familiar grunt, but one I normally hear at night. A large male Javelina was stood right in front of me, and then another grunt around the corner revealed a second large adult. As she scuttled away she was followed by the two smallest and cutest baby piggies I've ever seen. Awww, bless 'em! :D [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/12/02/piggies/feed/ 1 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/25/sweetwater-santa-cruz-flats-pinal-air-park/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/25/sweetwater-santa-cruz-flats-pinal-air-park/#comments Sat, 26 Nov 2011 05:35:35 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4813 Highlights were a dark phase FERRUGINOUS HAWK, a splendid pair of WHITE-TAILED KITES, a couple of BENDIRE’S THRASHER, a PRAIRIE FALCON and a couple of CRESTED CARACARAS. A sprinkling of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS were found in most suitable fields. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/25/sweetwater-santa-cruz-flats-pinal-air-park/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/24/sweetwater-wetlands-santa-cruz-flats-2/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/24/sweetwater-wetlands-santa-cruz-flats-2/#comments Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:37:04 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4832 The highlight was finding 39 MOUNTAIN PLOVERS in the Santa Cruz Flats. I think this is the first report in SE Arizona this fall, so it was nice to spread the news of their return. We also saw dark phase FERRUGINOUS HAWK and watched a thrilling chase between a PEREGRINE FALCON and MOURNING DOVE, which lasted for a couple of minutes before the dove finally escaped. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/24/sweetwater-wetlands-santa-cruz-flats-2/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/23/fun-belize-birding-tour/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/23/fun-belize-birding-tour/#comments Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:30:00 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4794 I'm delighted to announce the dates and prices for the February 2012 Fun Belize Birding Tour! I’m really excited about this trip. The birding will be excellent but there will be a lot more besides. We’ll visit all my favorite places in Belize, including five ancient Mayan cities, so I can’t wait! I hope you can join us for what promises to be a Belize trip of a lifetime... » Full Details [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/23/fun-belize-birding-tour/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/03/pena-blanca-lake-patons-amado-pond/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/03/pena-blanca-lake-patons-amado-pond/#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:00:54 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4628 We watched this area of brush piles and shoreline for a long time, with different birds coming in throughout. It was a veritable sparrow fest! As well as the GOLDEN-CROWNED we had brief views of a smart BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW, as well as LARK, LINCOLN’S, SAVANNAH, VESPER, BREWER’S, RUFOUS-CROWNED, WHITE-CROWNED and CHIPPING SPARROWS, making it ten species in one spot. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/11/03/pena-blanca-lake-patons-amado-pond/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/29/golden-crowned-sparrow/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/29/golden-crowned-sparrow/#comments Sun, 30 Oct 2011 02:32:59 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4584 Whilst birding at Pena Blanca Lake with Jean and Sterling Weaver and Sue and Dave Schwardt of New York, I was pleased to pick out a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW among White-crowned Sparrows and other birds coming in to drink and bathe. I managed to get some distant record shots of this rare visitor from the West Coast. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/29/golden-crowned-sparrow/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/29/pena-blanca-lake-patons/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/29/pena-blanca-lake-patons/#comments Sun, 30 Oct 2011 01:48:12 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4604 At Pena Blanca Lake, at least ten LEAST GREBES, drake WOOD DUCK, pair of REDHEADS, LESSER SCAUP, GREEN HERON, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, juvenile BLUE GROSBEAK, couple of LAZULI BUNTINGS, three each of INCA and COMMON GROUND-DOVE, lots of RED-NAPED SAPSUCKERS and hundreds of sparrows. Quality birding! [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/29/pena-blanca-lake-patons/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/23/rufous-backed-robin/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/23/rufous-backed-robin/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:37:11 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4543 Whilst birding with Peter and Marianne Hosford in the Santa Cruz Flats south of Eloy, Arizona, I was lucky enough to find a RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN, a rare visitor to the U.S.A. from Mexico. They are usually found at fruiting trees in riparian or other lush areas, but surprisingly this one was feeding on the ground in a small pecan grove in an area of cotton fields, sod farms and hostile, sparse desert. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/23/rufous-backed-robin/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/22/sweetwater-pinal-air-park-santa-cruz-flats/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/22/sweetwater-pinal-air-park-santa-cruz-flats/#comments Sun, 23 Oct 2011 06:23:05 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4550 Considering the early date, the Santa Cruz Flats were awesome! We found a handsome FERRUGINOUS HAWK along Picacho Highway, and as we watched it disappear over the fields a WHITE-TAILED KITE crossed our line of sight. Two CRESTED CARACARAS were perched up distantly in a hedgerow. Elsewhere we found a PRAIRIE FALCON and a couple of BENDIRE’S THRASHERS. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/10/22/sweetwater-pinal-air-park-santa-cruz-flats/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/09/03/target-birding-in-se-arizona/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/09/03/target-birding-in-se-arizona/#comments Sun, 04 Sep 2011 06:36:28 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4139 We made a brief stop at Montosa Canyon where we saw FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW, soon followed by the family party of BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS (we counted at least six) and a showy VARIED BUNTING. What a great birding site this is. Three major targets, all found and photographed in 20 minutes! [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/09/03/target-birding-in-se-arizona/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/25/santa-rita-loop-2/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/25/santa-rita-loop-2/#comments Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:41:21 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4058 We had good views of two THICK-BILLED KINGBIRDS at Patagonia Roadside Rest. Along Blue Haven Road we found three ZONE-TAILED HAWKS, LAZULI BUNTINGS and an INCA DOVE. Paton’s was great, with lots of hummingbirds including VIOLET-CROWNED, plus calling GRAY HAWK, a pair of COMMON GROUND-DOVES, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER and plenty more. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/25/santa-rita-loop-2/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/14/elegant-trogon/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/14/elegant-trogon/#comments Mon, 15 Aug 2011 06:55:50 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4014 We encountered a stunning male ELEGANT TROGON. It came in to a fruiting choke cherry tree a couple of times in the hour we staked it out. I'd still like much better trogon photos than this, but they're probably me best yet of this enigmatic and much sought after species. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/14/elegant-trogon/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/29/columbia-silkmoth-glovers-silkmoth/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/29/columbia-silkmoth-glovers-silkmoth/#comments Sat, 30 Jul 2011 06:22:56 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3993 As Kristen and I drove into Summerhaven, I noticed something in the road. I drove around this interesting looking object, parked, and we went back to take a look. To my absolute delight, it turned out to be this stunning moth, a Columbia Silkmoth of the Glover's Silkmoth subspecies. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/29/columbia-silkmoth-glovers-silkmoth/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/27/black-tailed-rattlesnake/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/27/black-tailed-rattlesnake/#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:59:01 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3975 Whilst exploring Madera Canyon with Kristen Heimerl from Ohio, we were shown two beautiful BLACK-TAILED RATTLESNAKES right at the side of the road, just uphill from Chuparosa Inn. Two birders had found them moments before, one of them by almost standing on the snakes. The shocked birder was still trembling! [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/27/black-tailed-rattlesnake/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/27/continental-madera-canyon-3/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/27/continental-madera-canyon-3/#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:30:17 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3903 Madera Kubo had a nice selection of birds, including BERYLLINE and VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRDS, SUMMER and HEPATIC TANAGERS, BRONZED COWBIRD, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS and PLUMBEOUS VIREO. A bit like buses, after waiting for nine years to see one, I saw my second BLACK BEAR of the month. It ambled across the road right in front of us. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/27/continental-madera-canyon-3/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/25/agua-caliente-park-mt-lemmon/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/25/agua-caliente-park-mt-lemmon/#comments Tue, 26 Jul 2011 06:31:22 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3907 Summerhaven was very birdy, with BAND-TAILED PIGEON, lots of YELLOW-EYED JUNCOS, WESTERN TANAGER, MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD, several family parties of CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER, a few VIRGINIA’S WARBLERS, ROCK and HOUSE WRENS feeding young, HERMIT THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN and SPOTTED TOWHEE. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/25/agua-caliente-park-mt-lemmon/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/16/ramsey-canyon-black-bear/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/16/ramsey-canyon-black-bear/#comments Sun, 17 Jul 2011 06:55:07 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3880 Moments after leaving the visitor center, Jenise spotted a BLACK BEAR up ahead, the cinnamon cub. I was thrilled! I'd never seen a bear in the wild in Arizona before. This amiable character allowed a close approach and spent the next 90 minutes foraging around the base of an oak tree before climbing the tree in seconds and feeding on early acorns. It was a fantastic experience! [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/16/ramsey-canyon-black-bear/feed/ 4 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/06/continental-to-patagonia/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/06/continental-to-patagonia/#comments Thu, 07 Jul 2011 06:43:40 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3818 Next up was Patagonia Roadside Rest, which produced THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD and a gorgeous VARIED BUNTING. Four COMMON GROUND-DOVES were at Paton’s in Patagonia, along with INCA, MOURNING, WHITE-WINGED and EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE for a five-dove moment. VIOLET-CROWNED, BROAD-BILLED, BLACK-CHINNED and a female MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD added to the fun, along with HOODED ORIOLE, GRAY HAWK and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/06/continental-to-patagonia/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/05/huachuca-mountains-2/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/05/huachuca-mountains-2/#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 06:25:26 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3802 We first went to Ash Canyon B&B. The birding was exceptional as usual. Highlights included LUCIFER, RUFOUS, MAGNIFICENT and BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS, SPOTTED TOWHEE, BULLOCK’S ORIOLE, loads of BUSHTITS and BLUE GROSBEAKS plus much more. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/05/huachuca-mountains-2/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/27/madera-canyon-rio-rico-patagonia/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/27/madera-canyon-rio-rico-patagonia/#comments Sat, 28 May 2011 06:11:37 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3627 At the Paton’s house, we were entertained by a couple of COMMON GROUND-DOVES, several GRAY HAWKS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, LARK SPARROW, BLUE GROSBEAK and BROAD-TAILED, BROAD-BILLED, BLACK-CHINNED and VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRDS. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/27/madera-canyon-rio-rico-patagonia/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/25/mt-lemmon-sweetwater-wetlands/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/25/mt-lemmon-sweetwater-wetlands/#comments Thu, 26 May 2011 06:19:23 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3625 Rose Canyon Lake was very birdy, especially around the amphitheater just below the parking lot nearest the lake. Several GREATER PEWEES were in song, a stunning pair of OLIVE WARBLERS were the biggest hit of the day, whilst others included GRACE’S WARBLER, YELLOW-EYED JUNCO, PINE SISKIN and CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/25/mt-lemmon-sweetwater-wetlands/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/23/fan-tailed-warbler-at-madera-canyon/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/23/fan-tailed-warbler-at-madera-canyon/#comments Tue, 24 May 2011 04:38:47 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3609 FAN-TAILED WARBLERS are famous for being one-day birds - even one-hour birds - so I was pleasantly surprised on my arrival to find a group of birders watching it at close range near the amphitheater. Easy! And... wow! What a fantastic bird. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/05/23/fan-tailed-warbler-at-madera-canyon/feed/ 4 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/30/birds-of-fray-birdathon-2011/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/30/birds-of-fray-birdathon-2011/#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 06:39:54 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3462 I ended on a total of 144 species. At Willcox, six CASPIAN TERNS, 18 RING-BILLED GULLS and three FRANKLIN’S GULLS were the obvious stars. On the shorebird front, single SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and WILLET were among hundreds of peeps. PRAIRIE FALCON and SWAINSON’S HAWK were overhead. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/30/birds-of-fray-birdathon-2011/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/05/continental-florida-madera-canyon/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/05/continental-florida-madera-canyon/#comments Wed, 06 Apr 2011 03:45:36 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3313 It’s definitely eye candy time at Madera Kubo. We watched in delight as at least nine SCOTT’S, two male BULLOCK’S and a male HOODED ORIOLE took turns on the oranges. HEPATIC TANAGER, BROAD-BILLED, BROAD-TAILED and BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS and ARIZONA WOODPECKER livened up proceedings further. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/04/05/continental-florida-madera-canyon/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/24/tubac-sweetwater-wetlands/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/24/tubac-sweetwater-wetlands/#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 06:13:20 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3240 We headed down to Tubac and enjoyed a much improved raptor spectacle. A COMMON BLACK HAWK came by, along with four ZONE-TAILED HAWKS. We transferred to nearby Ron Morriss Park and watched three GRAY HAWKS battle it out over the cottonwoods, while a very smart adult PEREGRINE FALCON gave us a close flyby. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/24/tubac-sweetwater-wetlands/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/10/santa-cruz-flats-sweetwater-wetlands/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/10/santa-cruz-flats-sweetwater-wetlands/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 06:22:27 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3122 Our first birds were a complete surprise - 18 MOUNTAIN PLOVERS in the stark, sandy desert along Sunshine Boulevard. I’ve stopped in this area many times this winter but haven’t seen Mountain Plovers here, nor can I remember anyone else doing so. A pair of BURROWING OWLS were also along Sunshine Boulevard. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/03/10/santa-cruz-flats-sweetwater-wetlands/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/24/buckeye-thrasher-spot-santa-cruz-flats/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/24/buckeye-thrasher-spot-santa-cruz-flats/#comments Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:58:31 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3071 We couldn’t rustle up a Le Conte’s Thrasher but we did find four BENDIRE’S and a single SAGE THRASHER as well as 20+ SAGE SPARROWS, an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHERS, a SANDHILL CRANE and flyover TREE, BARN and an early CLIFF SWALLOW. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/24/buckeye-thrasher-spot-santa-cruz-flats/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/06/february-workshop-sandhill-crane-special/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/06/february-workshop-sandhill-crane-special/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:20:49 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3000 Many thanks to Andrew Core for emailing the news of the drake EURASIAN WIGEON at Benson WTP this morning. I can’t really add to what he said, other than to confirm that it didn’t exhibit any obvious signs of hybridization at long range and looked good for a ‘real’ one. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/02/06/february-workshop-sandhill-crane-special/feed/ 2 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/01/18/sulphur-springs-valley-2/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/01/18/sulphur-springs-valley-2/#comments Wed, 19 Jan 2011 06:46:19 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=2821 The ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was perched on roadside tumbleweed to the south side of Arzberger Rd. A newly plowed field was particularly productive, with four FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, five RED-TAILS, a MERLIN and 18 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/01/18/sulphur-springs-valley-2/feed/ 2 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/01/16/santa-cruz-flats/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/01/16/santa-cruz-flats/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 04:54:34 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=2791 Laura Stewart and I explored the Santa Cruz Flats today and made several interesting sightings. The most unexpected was a RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN at the house on the corner of Wheeler and Baumgartner. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/01/16/santa-cruz-flats/feed/ 0