ARIZONA 2011 : The Santa Rita Mts

From the Huachaca’s we headed to Patagonia to visit the Paton’s (above) feeders. With the plaintitive cry of a Gray Hawk in the background, we settled in under the awning to keep us dry from a passing storm, and watched hummers buzzing all around the half dozen feeders hanging along the back of the house.

For decades this has been the most reliable spot to see Violet-crowned Hummingbird (above left) and within minutes of our arrival we had the first of many sightings of our twelfth hummer. Larger than any of the Black-chinned, Rufous, Broad-tailed, Anna’s or Costa’s that were there, this beauty has a striking violet crown and red bill along with a very bright white belly. It stands out!

Leaving Patagonia we cut across Box Canyon, heading for Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita mountains, our last stop. The landscape was very different from what we had seen to date. The rains had certainly been good to this part of the state. Everything was green!

Based out of the charming Chuparosa Inn our target was to find our last hummingbird – Berylline. This is a rare late summer visitor from Mexico to the mountain canyons of SE Arizona, and at least one has been a regular vistor to Luis and Nancy’s feeders for the last month.

As those of you that have been to these stunning sky islands know there is far more to these canyons than just the hummingbirds. It was delightful seeing Western and Hepatic Tanager’s, Scott’s Oriole, Elegant Trogon, Arizona Woodpecker, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (above) and Painted Redstarts around us as we watched the endless hummingbird activity. What a paradise!

Luck thirteen! The Berylline (above) showed up first down the canyon at the Kubo House, then the next afternoon at the Chuparosa during a marvelous stretch of feeder watching, which included a male Lucifer’s and Calliope, along with a horde of Magnificents.  It was a fitting end to a wonderful trip.