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/2011/09/06/mt-lemmon-4/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/09/06/mt-lemmon-4/#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:21:53 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4144 We started heading back down the mountain and spent a while along the entrance road to Rose Canyon Lake. Finding a GREATER PEWEE, we stopped to look. At last, we found one of Gruff's targets, when a gorgeous GRACE'S WARBLER appeared at eye level at close range for outstanding views. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/09/06/mt-lemmon-4/feed/ 2 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/27/august-workshop-mixed-flocks/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/27/august-workshop-mixed-flocks/#comments Sat, 27 Aug 2011 08:48:59 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4118 Warblers were a big target and we found an impressive nine species. ORANGE-CROWNED, VIRGINIA'S and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were foraging on sunny banks and in stream side willows, while the pine flocks consisted of PAINTED REDSTART, TOWNSEND'S, HERMIT, GRACE'S, WILSON'S and RED-FACED WARBLERS. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/27/august-workshop-mixed-flocks/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/26/tucson-area/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/26/tucson-area/#comments Sat, 27 Aug 2011 06:01:50 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4064 We encountered two decent-sized mixed flocks. One was based on MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES and PYGMY NUTHATCHES and also contained OLIVE and several HERMIT WARBLERS, BROWN CREEPER and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Another flock was largely BUSHTITS with OLIVE, ORANGE-CROWNED, HERMIT, TOWNSEND’S and RED-FACED WARBLERS. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/26/tucson-area/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/20/mt-lemmon-3/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/20/mt-lemmon-3/#comments Sun, 21 Aug 2011 05:57:57 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4032 At Bear Wallow we found a mixed flock. The birds were coming down to a couple of small puddles. We had amazing views of MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, HERMIT THRUSH, HERMIT WARBLER and RED-FACED WARBLER. When the latter landed at close range, there was the distinctive sound of a mega-bird giving mind-blowing views when everyone, myself included, said “aaaaaahhhhhh, wow!” in perfect harmony. Quite a memorable moment. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/20/mt-lemmon-3/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/17/sky-islands-birding-cup/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/17/sky-islands-birding-cup/#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2011 06:46:10 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=4024 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. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/08/17/sky-islands-birding-cup/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/2011/07/29/mt-lemmon-2/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/29/mt-lemmon-2/#comments Sat, 30 Jul 2011 06:20:57 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3985 We added lots more higher elevation birds such as HAIRY WOODPECKER, BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD, CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER, PLUMBEOUS VIREO, STELLER'S JAY, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, BUSHTIT, three species of NUTHATCH, BROWN CREEPER, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, HERMIT THRUSH and YELLOW-EYED JUNCO. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/29/mt-lemmon-2/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/25/zone-tailed-hawk/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/25/zone-tailed-hawk/#comments Tue, 26 Jul 2011 06:55:20 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=3953 Whilst birding with Allison and Ben Sill on Mt. Lemmon, we encountered this ZONE-TAILED HAWK at the Windy Vista viewpoint. It went on to give us excellent looks for a prolonged period. We all felt very lucky to have seen this majestic birds at such close quarters. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2011/07/25/zone-tailed-hawk/feed/ 2 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/2011/05/25/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/2010/11/21/mount-lemmon/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/11/21/mount-lemmon/#comments Mon, 22 Nov 2010 06:41:47 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=2659 You can't beat a good day out on Mt Lemmon. Mum and dad were keen to get back so we got onto the Catalina Highway and took in the stunning sights. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/11/21/mount-lemmon/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/08/31/mt-lemmon/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/08/31/mt-lemmon/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:47:27 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=2220 Warblers were prevalent, mostly HERMIT and TOWNSEND'S with RED-FACED, OLIVE and a YELLOW-RUMPED mixed in, as well as PAINTED REDSTART, PYGMY and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, HAIRY WOODPECKER, BROWN CREEPER, HOUSE WREN, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE and loads of YELLOW-EYED JUNCOS [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/08/31/mt-lemmon/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/05/01/mt-lemmon-may-workshop/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/05/01/mt-lemmon-may-workshop/#comments Sun, 02 May 2010 06:25:11 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=1788 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/05/01/mt-lemmon-may-workshop/feed/ 0 http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/04/13/sweetwater-wetlands-mt-lemmon/ http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/04/13/sweetwater-wetlands-mt-lemmon/#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 06:12:37 +0000 Richard http://www.funbirdingtours.com/?p=1677 I met with Joe, Becky, Roger and Mary-Louise from South Carolina for the start of a five day tour of some of Arizona's top birding spots. We birded Sweetwater Wetlands to get the list off to a good start. As is always the case at Sweetwater, it was buzzing with wildlife activity. [...]]]> http://www.funbirdingtours.com/2010/04/13/sweetwater-wetlands-mt-lemmon/feed/ 0