Birding in Arizona (Not NJ again?!) – Sinaola Wren, Elegant Trogon and Hummingbirds a plenty…

Violet-crowned Hummingbirds:

Now, I realize this seems to be more about “Birding outside of New Jersey” in recent posts but I can’t help but mention our recent trip to South Eastern Arizona. More New Jersey specific bird blogging upcoming…I promise. 🙂 So Arizona. For all those birders who have experienced this wonderful place it will come as no shock when I say it is truly amazing. I am not stating anything new here, but for a “newer” birder, Arizona brings back that exhilaration of everything being new and a discovery. It’s location and environmental conditions are just right to allow for a wide variety of birds you can see no where else. From year round residents (making discovery a little easier with the ability to keep a “running” track of a particular species in a given area) to Mexican vagrants they are all special in Arizona. It just “feels” like a tropical place. These “zones” exist there that harbor their own specialized species. At one point much of the area was under water with only individual “islands” of mountain or cliff tops visible. This led to select species development with an exaggerated diversity. Some of the birds and birding lead to wonder how all of these differences exist so close together. One second its 50 degrees at over 7000 feet and the next you are surrounded by scalding desert and 105 degrees of “dry” heat.

Jeanette and I were very lucky to have a wonderful guide familiar with all of the differences Arizona has to offer. Rich Hoyer, a WINGS Tour Leader and local birding celebrity (at least it seemed that way with the admiration of all of the local birders :)) gave us two wonderful days of birds, knowledge, and an appreciation for all of Arizona’s extensive wildlife. We birded all of the local “hot spots” and were treated to amazing (there’s that word again) views of birds we had never seen. We got to see (and photograph) a Sinaola Wren, which if accepted, will be the first ever found in the United States. We saw Trogon, and Hummingbirds, and western warblers and flycatchers. We enjoyed orioles and tanagers and communal woodpeckers and Hawks. We basked in birds named “Montezuma”, and “Inca” along side those known as “Tropical” and “Painted”. It was sensory overload and it was one of the greatest times I have ever had. Amazing.

Now some of the birds. This was my holy grail the Elegant Trogon. On my Flickr site this picture got a comment I loved which was “who put that stuffed animal up in that tree???” This guy really, really looks tropical and was worth the entire trip alone.

Elegant Trogon:

Painted Redstart:

A bird I looked very much forward to the Vermillion Flycatcher was as accessible as he was beautiful.

Vermillion Flycatcher:

Broad-billed Hummingbird:

At the famous “Patagonia Road Side Rest” we got to see this “strong” looking Zone-tailed Hawk. He had lunch in hand and on his lips. Who doesn’t sample the goods first?

Zone-tailed Hawk:

Sooo cool these two Spotted Owls were just resting above a stream. One of the favorites of the trip!

Spotted Owls:

This was our “big” one. Rich led us right to this first in US sighting. He knew call and song and gave all in attendance a birding memory they wont soon forget. I tried to throw together a bunch of different angles and shots. The clarity isn’t great (its bad) as the bird was some distance away.

Sinaola Wren: