Fun Birding Tours in SE Arizona with Birding Guide Richard Fray » madera canyon

Continental, Montosa Canyon

Richard — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 06:57:17 +0000

The highlight was at Montosa Canyon, where I had a brief view of one of two calling BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS, but frustratingly I couldn’t get anyone else on it before it disappeared. When we finally found a visible (and calling) gnatcatcher it was a BLUE-GRAY. [...]

Target birding in SE Arizona

Richard — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 06:36:28 +0000

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! [...]

Santa Rita loop

Richard — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:41:21 +0000

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. [...]

Sky Islands Birding Cup

Richard — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 06:46:10 +0000

It was a great day, with some nice sets including: two vultures, seven hawks, two falcons, four owls, three Myiarchus flycatchers, four kingbirds, three nuthatches, five wrens and twelve warblers. RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS were singing at about five sites, CASSIN’S and BOTTERI’S at two or three. Much of SE Arizona is looking green, lush and beautiful. [...]

Elegant Trogon

Richard — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 06:55:50 +0000

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. [...]

California Gulch, Madera Canyon

Richard — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 06:34:15 +0000

We completed a clean sweep of Arizona’s Aimophila sparrows with a few RUFOUS-CROWNED along Ruby Road. It was the first time I'd been since the Murphy Complex Fire earlier in the year. I was so pleased to see how everything looked, much better than I imagined. It's undoubtedly my favorite place in Arizona, for both the birding and the scenery. It's absolutely gorgeous! [...]

Black-tailed Rattlesnake

Richard — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:59:01 +0000

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! [...]

Continental, Madera Canyon

Richard — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:30:17 +0000

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. [...]

Birding with Richard Crossley

Richard — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 04:30:03 +0000

Several COMMON GROUND-DOVES were around the dam, as was another NORTHERN BEARDLESS TYRANNULET, a nest of GRAY HAWKS, BRONZED COWBIRD, ASH-THROATED and DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHERS and lots more. Richard's screech-owl calls brought in a large and vociferous crowd of birds which were all duly photographed. Another stop further along gave us outstanding views of SUMMER TANAGER, CANYON TOWHEE and BEWICK'S WREN. [...]

Continental, Madera Canyon

Richard — Sun, 29 May 2011 06:46:50 +0000

Our highlight was undoubtedly a COMMON BLACK HAWK soaring over the lower reaches of the Carrie Nation Trail. Could it be one of the birds seen at Patagonia Lake recently? Another raptor, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, pushed the Black Hawk close for bird of the day. This was much higher up the Carrie Nation Trail. [...]

Madera Canyon, Rio Rico, Patagonia

Richard — Sat, 28 May 2011 06:11:37 +0000

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. [...]

Fan-tailed Warbler at Madera Canyon

Richard — Tue, 24 May 2011 04:38:47 +0000

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. [...]

Continental, Madera Canyon

Richard — Mon, 16 May 2011 06:13:43 +0000

Santa Rita Lodge had a male INDIGO BUNTING with the LAZULI BUNTINGS, plus a BRONZED COWBIRD and a gobbling WILD TURKEY. Madera Kubo had the usual eye candy such as BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, HOODED ORIOLE, BRIDLED TITMOUSE, BLACK-CHINNED and BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD. [...]

Richard’s Photothon 2011

Richard — Wed, 04 May 2011 06:26:56 +0000

It was a difficult day with strong winds all morning, making photography of wind-blown warblers and the like somewhat tricky. Despite the weather I continued my year-on-year improvement and got photos of 116 species. I saw/heard another 14 for a total of 130 for the day. Here are some highlights... [...]

Birds of Fray Birdathon 2011

Richard — Sun, 01 May 2011 06:39:54 +0000

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. [...]

AveVentura Birdathon 2011

Richard — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 23:15:41 +0000

The AveVentura team - Robert Merideth, Linda Stitzer, Kathy Jacobs, Susan Randolph, Ed Tobin and I - took part in this year’s Birdathon in aid of Tucson Audubon Society. We ended with the team’s best ever total of 123 species. Here are some highlights... [...]

Madera Canyon

Richard — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 05:23:21 +0000

Santa Rita Lodge was quite birdy, with a female CALLIOPE, male MAGNIFICENT, BLACK-CHINNED, BROAD-TAILED and BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRDS, PAINTED REDSTART, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, LAZULI BUNTINGS, etc. A lonely male WILD TURKEY caused much amusement across the road. [...]

Continental, Florida & Madera Canyon

Richard — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 03:45:36 +0000

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. [...]

Florida & Madera Canyon

Richard — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 06:55:50 +0000

The area from the parking lot back along the road to the concrete wash crossing was exceptionally birdy, with at least ten PAINTED REDSTARTS, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW, HERMIT THRUSH, HOUSE WREN, four or five BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS and dozens of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS. [...]

Kino Springs, Tubac, Florida Canyon

Richard — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 04:33:20 +0000

RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS were at Continental School. Florida Canyon gave us two species of gnatcatcher, a BLUE-GRAY and a BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER. Also in this area were three each of PAINTED REDSTART and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. A distant GOLDEN EAGLE soared over the ridge. [...]

Florida Canyon, Madera Canyon

Richard — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 06:39:57 +0000

In Florida Canyon, we encountered many warblers, including WILSON’S, LUCY’S, at least three BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS and three PAINTED REDSTARTS. A pair of BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS was our major prize. [...]

Madera Canyon

Richard — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 06:07:20 +0000

The highlights were a late CASSIN'S VIREO, a BROWN CREEPER, a male HEPATIC TANAGER, BROAD-BILLED, ANNA'S, MAGNIFICENT and BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS and possibly double figures of PAINTED REDSTART spread out between Proctor Road and Amphitheater with flocks of titmice and kinglets. [...]

Madera Canyon

Richard — Thu, 27 May 2010 06:35:42 +0000

The general birding around Madera Kubo was just amazing: BERYLLINE, BLUE-THROATED, MAGNIFICENT and more HUMMINGBIRDS, BLUE and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, FLAME-COLORED, WESTERN, HEPATIC and SUMMER TANAGERS, BRIDLED TITMOUSE, ARIZONA WOODPECKER, BRONZED COWBIRD, BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, PAINTED REDSTART, HOODED ORIOLE, PLUMBEOUS VIREO and more. [...]

Richard’s Photothon 2010

Richard — Tue, 11 May 2010 10:47:42 +0000

After a decent effort last year where I photographed 105 species, I took my photothon even more seriously this year and aimed for 110. I decided on a new route, spending more time in the car to reach more sites, so even though I would be in the field less I'd be exposed to more birds. And it paid off. I saw/heard a total of 127 species and somehow got photos of 114! :D [...]

AveVentura Birdathon 2010

Richard — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 07:26:39 +0000

After three hours we'd passed 50 species with highlights including a pair of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES in a mulberry in the grounds of Roger Rd Treatment Plant with a male WESTERN TANAGER nearby, a flyover PRAIRIE FALCON and HARRIS'S HAWKS and CEDAR WAXWINGS everywhere. [...]

Madera Canyon

Richard — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:24:58 +0000

A walk from Proctor Road to the Kubo Cabins produced at least three singing Painted Redstarts. I had brief views of my first Rufous and Magnificent Hummingbirds of the year, and the number of Broad-billed Hummingbirds is increasing. As always, a few turkeys were on hand to provide entertainment. [...]

Amado, Florida Canyon, Madera Canyon

Richard — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:13:48 +0000

The gorgeous Rufous-capped Warbler burst into life, feeding excitedly and calling frequently. It ranged slightly upslope, and then came right down to investigate me and my camera. It was difficult through the forest of small branches but I was quite pleased with the results. [...]

Madera Canyon, Reid Park, Woodland Rd

Richard — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:22:04 +0000

The various ponds at Reid Park produced several interesting birds: an early Tree Swallow, a Belted Kingfisher, 16 Canvasbacks, Lesser Scaups on every pond and the highlight, four Hooded Mergansers, two females, an immature male and a fine adult male. [...]

Santa Gertrudis Lane, Madera Canyon

Richard — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:41:56 +0000

A Painted Redstart and Gray Flycatcher were by the river crossing and a Crissal Thrasher, a couple of Green-tailed Towhees and a Plumbeous Vireo along the De Anza trail. A metal water trough at the back of the field attracted a handful of American Robins, 50+ Western Bluebirds and a Townsend's Solitaire [...]

Richard’s Photothon: the story

Richard — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:16:25 +0000

[click here for the full list and all the photos]

Having fed the birds in my new courtyard for a few months I decided to start “Richard’s Photothon 2009″ in my backyard at first light to try to get off to a good start.

It was slow going, though, and by the time I headed [...]