BIRDERS VISTA BED AND BREAKFAST

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We now have a pass to the Ramsey Canyon and the Patagonia Nature Conservancy Preserves for you to use at any time during your stay.

June 27  - Gamble Quail with the chicks  in our backyard.  Once the monsoon starts the quails begin laying their eggs for this year's brood.  It is wonderful to watch the families of quails as the chicks grow up.

June 25 - The  immature Bullock's Orioles and other birds love the oranges.  Quite a crowd for the feeder.  The monsoon has arrived with lovely skies and clouds.  Temperatures are now in the mid 80s in the afternoons.  The cooler weather will be here for the next two months or more.

June 9 - Numerous Blue Grosbeaks, we counted at least 6, are here for summer.  Immature male beside the females and males.  Summer birds - nesting Western Kingbirds,  Cactus Wren, Pyrrhuloxia,  Lesser Goldfinch, Black-throated Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Curved-bill Thrasher, Scaled Quail, Gambel's Quail, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Gila and Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Bewick's Wren,  Great Horned Owl, Kestrels, Northern Harrier, and (Greater) Roadrunner.  The hummingbirds that are here are the Black-chinned which are nesting and will be here until December. Birds in the area are: a Berylline Hummingbird at the Ramsey Canyon Preserve, White-Eared Hummingbird in Miller Canyon, Lucifer Hummingbirds at Ash Canyon B & B where you can see them all this summer. Always many good birds to see in this area anytime of the year.

May 18 - Ramsey Canyon.  The Golden Eagles have a nest visible from the parking lot of the Nature Conversancy.  A chick has been seen in the nest with the parent about 15 feet up on the rock ledge keeping watch. Many great birds to see in the canyon which is surrounded by beautiful mountains, many types of trees and a creek in the middle of this paradise.  The Sulphur-bellied flycatchers have returned for the summer.

May 10 - Our guests who are birders have seen the Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Lucy's Warbler and Bell's Vireo this week besides the many other species of birds in our yard. We have two male Blue Grosbeaks who have arrived for the summer and probably the females also. New birds every day!  Several male and female Lazuli Buntings at our feeders.

May 6 - Garden and Scheelite Canyon.  We found the Mexican Spotted Owl very high up in Scheelite Canyon.  What a beautiful bird! We counted 20 birds in one small area in Garden Canyon.: Western Tanager, Hepatic Tanager, Summer Tanager, Bridled Titmouse, Magnificent Hummingbird on a Columbine in Garden Canyon Creek, Greater Pewee,  Spotted Towhee, Back-headed Grosbeak, Bushtits, Scott's Oriole, and many more that were uncooperative by hiding in the leaves of the trees.. Garden Canyon above the third picnic ground was teaming with great birds!  The Elegant Trogon was heard several times in Scheelite Canyon.

May 2: New birds at our B&B: Bell's Vireo, Lucy's Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Black Headed Grosbeak, and an Osprey which was seen at the San Pedro early this week. New species everyday. We still have the male and female Vermilion Flycatcher in our orchard.

April 30: We went for a quick walk in Ramsey Canyon:  2 Golden Eagles, Painted Redstarts, Hammons's Flycatcher, Bridled Titmouse, Acorn and Ladder Woodpeckers, Brown Creeper, Mexican Jay, Bush Tit, and a Flammulated Owl.

April 19th - Plenty of new birds arriving at our place in the last week during the spring migration:  Bullock Orioles, over 20 Lark Sparrows, Abert's  and Green-tailed Towhees, Lazuli Buntings. Other birds at our B&B: Western Kingbird, Vermillion Flycatchers, Cactus Wren, Pyrrhuloxia,  Lesser Goldfinch, Black-throated Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Curved-bill Thrasher, Scaled Quail, Gambel's Quail, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Gila and Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Bewick's Wren,  White-crowned Sparrow, House Sparrow, Great Horned Owl, Kestrels, Northern Harrier, and (Greater) Roadrunner.  The hummingbirds that are here are:  Anna's, Rufus and Black-Chinned.  They are numerous in the backyard at the feeders and the plants in the late afternoon and evening.

April 11th  - We took a trip to Patagonia  to the  Nature Conversancy where we saw  the following birds: Vermillion Flycatchers, 100s of Chipping Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, White-breasted Nuthatch, Green-tailed Towhees, Broad-billed and Violet-crowned Hummingbirds, Great Blue Herons, Bridled Titmouses, Less Goldfinches, Western Kingbird, Ash-throated Flycatchers, Gila and Acorn Woodpeckers.  The Gray Hawks should be nesting in the cottonwoods which can be viewed from the main building.  Beautiful steam with huge cottonwoods and lots of vegetation for the birds. A great birding place! 

April 9th - More new birds in the last several days.  A male and female Common Yellowthroat, Abert's Towhee, the first Western Kingbird of the season.  Many more Anna's, Black-chinned, and Rufus Hummingbirds are at our feeders.  The immature male Vermillion Flycatcher was sitting on the fence in our backyard today.  Here he is below sitting in our cherry tree in the orchard.

April 4 - We discovered two baby Anna's Hummingbirds in the nest today in our pine trees!  We saw the mother feed them. It was great.

April 1 - More species of birds are appearing daily in the San Pedro River valley.  We now have Black-chinned, Anna's, and Rufus Hummingbirds.  The male Vermillion Flycatcher is being seem in the orchard on our property and the Great Horn Owl is making an appearance in the evening in our large pines.  Great weather in the upper 70s in the day and mid 40s at night with plenty of sunshine. 

March  22- Spring birds at Birders Vista B&B - the members of our 'backyard rush hour' - Cactus Wren, Pyrrhuloxia, Verdin, Lesser Goldfinch, Black-throated Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Lark Sparrows, Curved-bill Thrasher, Scaled Quail, Gambel's Quail, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-crowned Sparrow, House Sparrow, Great Horned Owl, Anna's Hummingbird, Verdin, Kestrels, Northern Harrier, and (Greater) Roadrunner. Birds are starting to migrate so you never know what you might see.  We had a male Vermillion Flycatcher in our yard for several days last week. Chipping and Lincoln sparrows have arrived.

March 17 - Bird Walks along the San Pedro River every Monday morning at 8 a.m. in March.  Unique opportunity to visit private, conservation-easement property with the riparian habitat including burrowing owl roosts. ( They were reintroduced to the San Pedro valley last year.)  Our quests said the guide was great and a tremendous number of birds were seen including the burrowing owls.

March 12 - Ramsey Canyon Hike and Birding.  We hiked up to the overlook about 1 mile and 1,000 feet up from the starting point of 5,200 feet at the Nature Conversancy's Office.  We didn't see many birds on the way up but at the overlook we saw many different species and this was about 1:00 in the afternoon.  Numerous Mexican Jays, Arizona and Acorn Woodpeckers, Hummingbirds, Bush Tits, Painted Restarts, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creepers, and many more.  Golden Eagles have been soaring over Ramsey Canyon recently.  Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Nature Walks at 9:00 a.m.  We have a "Birders Vista B&B" pass you can use to cover you entrance fee to the preserve.

March 1 - A Great Horned Owl has been roasting in our pine trees for the last several weeks.  He is wonderful to see.  We know it is a he because of his deep hoot. We believe he is one of owls that was raised here in the last two years when we had nesting Great Horned Owls.  Unfortunately, the nest blew down in December. My husband built them another nest about 20 feet up in the pine tree.  Great Horned Owls do not build their own nests.  Hopefully this immature owl will stay with us and find a mate for next year.

February 16th - Ramsey Canyon.  Plenty of birds.  The Golden Eagles appear to be back to nest in the canyon.  Their nesting area is visible from the parking lot of the Nature Conservancy.  Arizona Woodpeckers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Painted Redstarts, Brown Creepers, Bridled Titmouses, Townsend Warblers, Acorn and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, and many other birds are there. 

January 30th - Parker Canyon Lake is a wonderful spot about 45 minutes from Sierra Vista at a 5,600 foot elevation.  We made the 4.6 mile hike around the lake on a somewhat cold and windy day.  We saw plenty of birds - Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harriers, Acorn and Laddered-backed Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Mexican Jays, Bridled Titmouses, Bewick's Wren, Dark-eyed Juncos, Ruby- crowned Kinglets, Great Blue Herons, Coots, Northern Shovelers, a female Phainopepla (gray), and Mallards.  We saw our first Mature Bald Eagle!  Wow what a treat.  The bird flew off from a large, dead tree and spiraled upwards till we couldn't see him anymore.  

January 29th - Whitewater Draw.  Over 37,000 Sandhill Cranes are in the Sulphur Springs Valley this year by recent count. At least 5,000 cranes are there during the day.  We saw White-crowned sparrows, a brilliant male Vermilion Flycatcher, Say's Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Song Sparrows, Killdeer, Snow Geese, Red-tailed Hawks, Kestrels, Northern Harriers, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Coots, Canyon Towhees Inca Doves, Loggerhead Shrike, female Red-winged Blackbirds, Egrets, and Pyrrhuloxias. The Great Horned Owls are in the pole barn.  There have been reported as many as 27 Barn and Long-eared owls in the willows.  They now have tape up that says owl roasting area but the owls are very visible when you look for them.  A marvelous place to bird!

January 25th - San Pedro House.  It was late in the day and very windy for birds.  We saw a Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Gila Woodpecker, Pyrrhuloxia, Black Phoebe, Coots, Northern Shoveler, Great Blue Heron, Lesser Goldfinches, White-crowned Sparrows, and a Great Owl by the river.  The most exciting moment was when we saw the Bobcat!

January 18th - Winter birds at Birders Vista B&B - the members of our 'backyard rush hour' - Cactus Wren, Pyrrhuloxia, Verdin, Lesser Goldfinch, Black-throated Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Lark Bunting, Lark Sparrows, Curved-bill Thrasher, Scaled Quail, Gambel's Quail, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-crowned Sparrow, House Sparrow, Great Horned Owl, Anna's Hummingbird, Bush Tits, Kestrels, Northern Harrier, and (Greater) Roadrunner.  On our walks down our road we have seen Loggerhead Shrike, Say's Phoebe, and Phainopepla this week.

January 14th  - Patagonia Lake and the Paton's in Patagonia

(You can tell this episode is written by Johnnie, as Audrey says "they want Birds, not words!", but I can't help myself. If you see this, then it means Audrey didn't edit it out...)

On Monday we took a day to go over to Patagonia Lake, Patagonia, AZ and the Paton's place. The lake is manmade, and occupies a small valley the Sonoita Creek runs through. It is, especially on a weekday, quiet and has easy hiking trails for those of us whose hiking is only a way to see the birds. They have resident Great Blue Herons and smaller Night Herons. We saw a Great Blue sunning from a distance. There were Canyon Towhees, Pyrrhuloxias, White Crown Sparrows,  and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks in the campground. On  the trail there were Bridled Titmouse,  Black Phoebe, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, more Bewick's Wrens, Wilson's Warblers, Dusky Flycatcher and several different Sparrows (identification still being debated). Many Coot, a pair of Northern Shovelers and other water birds were in the lake.  Elegant Trogon is at Patagonia Lake all winter but is hard to find sometimes.  At Paton's Place, late in the day, there were many Gambel's Quail, Pyrrhuloxia, a few Lazuli Bunting, Lincoln Sparrow, Anna's Hummingbird.

December 28th

Our birding guests saw the Elegant Trogon and many other species at Patagonia Lake today!  Plenty of birds to see even in the winter months.

December 20, 2007

We drove over to Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area and saw thousands and thousands of Sandhill Cranes that spend the winter here.  A small flock of Snow Geese were keeping them company.  An eagle flew over and that startled the geese and the cranes into the air!  It is an amazing spectacle to see! Other birds we saw, and that are commonly seen there, are American Coots, Killdeers, Plovers, Barn Owl,  Black Phoebes, Say's Phoebe, at least a dozen Vermilion Flycatchers, the Common Yellowthroat, Meadowlarks, Northern Harriers, Kestrels, and many others.

December 2nd

Today we went hiking in Ramsey Canyon with all the beautiful maples turning yellow and red.   The big Arizona Madrone trees are covered with red berries.  We saw a Bridled Titmouses, Brown Creepers, Northern Flickers, and  a Sharp-Shinned Hawk catch an Acorn Woodpecker. Of course lots of  Cowes deer and Arizona Gray Squirrels that are very friendly.

November 7th

We had 9 scaled quail in our backyard at 10:30 this morning!  Of course just for about 10 minutes.  We also have 20 to 30 Gambel's Quail several times a day.  

November 1st

Two scaled quail today around noon in the backyard!  They are very shy, skittish birds and only stay for about 5 minutes when they visit our yard.

October 31st

I saw the Red-Breasted Nuthatch in our stand of pines trees this morning!  This was a new bird for me and I was excited to see her at our B&B. 
Also the Western Kingbirds as still here. We hear and see them every evening. We saw a Bullock's Oriole on our hummingbird feeder this morning.. There are many other birds in our yard and we really enjoy them!

October 23rd

We took a trip to Parker Canyon Lake today.  Wow it was great over in the San Rafael Valley!  The elevation is about 5,500 feet and not a long trip if you go thru Fort Huachuca then south of Hwy 83 till it ends at the lake, about an hour.  Fantastic views! There were really a lot of birds out around mid afternoon.  We saw the Northern Harriers, two Great Blue Herons flying together, Arizona Woodpeckers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Dark-eyed Juncos, Black Phoebes, lots of different water foul, and the Belted Kingfisher.  A great place to have a picnic, enjoy the quite and watch the birds and enjoy the beautiful lake in the mountain surroundings.

October 16

Today we hiked up the overlook in Ramsey Canyon.  We were told that there weren't many birds around but we saw quite a few for late morning and early afternoon. Arizona Woodpeckers, female Western Tanager, Bridled Titmouses, Painted Redstarts (still there), Acorn Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, and many other birds.  Great place to hike, bird and just relax! 

October 15

Many birds are visiting our feeders this fall:  Gila and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Curved Bill Thrashers, Black-throated, White-crowned and Lark Sparrows, Canyon Towhees, Pyrrhuloxias, Cactus Wrens, Inca Doves, Scaled and Gambel's Quails. We still have the Black-chinned and Anna's Hummingbirds. You can see up to 300 species of birds in the this area of Arizona.  

October 7

We hiked up Scheelite Canyon today and saw the Montezuma Quails finally!  We only got to look at them for a minute before they vanished into the undergrowth. We heard the Canyon Wrens sing their beautiful songs and saw them too.  Unfortunately we did not see the Mexican Spotted Owls, but they are their hiding in the oak trees. We still have the Anna's and Black-chinned hummingbirds in our backyard with lots of beautiful butterflies and flowers.   Black-throated, White-crowned, and  Lark Sparrows are here with many other birds.  The aspens are turning yellow on the high peaks of the mountains.

Anna's Male Hummingbird

September 20th

Yesterday two guests spent the morning on Fort Huachuca in  Scheelite Canyon - they saw the Mexican Spotted Owls, the Elegant Trogon and the Painted Redstart! 

Today the same two guests drove over to Whitewater Wash less than an hour away. They reported very large numbers of hawks in the fields off Central Highway near Davis Rd. It was a mixed group of 30 to 40 perched on the large irrigation sprinklers and another 20 or so in the air! They identified adult and juvenile Redtails, Ferruginous, and possibly Common Black-Hawks.

We have also bought a new Canon digital SLR camera - much easier to get in focus bird pictures! The ones below taken in Patagonia were made with the new camera. The auto-focus system and anti-shake features make up for Johnnie's not-as-steady-as-he-used-to-be hands and eyes. We look forward to putting up better pictures in the future. The Great Horned Owls are here  in our tall pines.  The  male and female Great Horned Owl have had two sets owlets the last two years.  They successfully raised all their owlets -three chicks each year.  

September 12th

We had a day trip to Patagonia.  Wonderful birds at the Paton's in Patagonia.  Lucifer, Violet-crowned, Broad-billed , and Blue-Throated Hummingbirds. Dozens of hummingbirds at their feeders.  A wonderful place to go and set under the covered areas with chairs in the backyard. A Gray Hawk was there also.

September 8th

Hummingbirds are starting to migrate thru the area. We have many of the feisty birds in our backyard.  Around 14 species are still in this area and can be seen up in the Huachucas down to the San Pedro River.  Weekly banding of hummingbirds will continue thru the month of September.( See SABO link for banding schedule.)

September 3

An extremely large, light colored juvenile Ferruginous Hawk in perched in a dead pine tree on our property.  He was amazing!  Below is a Turkey Vulture my husband got a picture of on power pole.  Lots of birds to be seen at our B&B, down at San Pedro River and up in the Huachucas.

                                                            Picture by Georgia Lawrence

August 14

Cooper's Hawks, Chihuahuan Ravens, Western Kingbirds,  Blue Grosbeak, Gila and  Ladder-backed Woodpeckers,  Curved Bill Thrashers, Black-throated Sparrows, Canyon Towhees, Pyrrhuloxias, Cactus  Wrens, and many other birds at our B&B.  The Great Horned Owls are here all year in our tall pines just south of the house.  One of our baby Great Horned Owls sitting on our roof.

Cooper's Hawk dining on a dove                                   

             Picture by Pam and David Mortensen

Looking for a bird tour guide or local information? Check these links:

Sandy Anderson  (520) 458-0542   website www.grayhawknaturecenter.org

Stuart Healy (520) 458-7603     website www.aztrogon.com

Mark Pretti (520) 803-6889     website www.markprettinaturetours.com

August 5

Elegant Trogons are still in Garden Canyon.  Hummingbirds - Beryline at Ramsey Canyon, White-Eared at Beatty's in Miller Canyon and Lucifer at Ash Canyon B&B. This is the season for numerous species in this area. Mountain areas have the most this time of year.

July 16

Hummingbirds - Berylline at Ramsey Canyon, White-Eared at Beatty's in Miller Canyon and Lucifer at Ash Canyon B&B. This is the season for numerous species in this area. Mountain areas have the most this time of year.

June 26

Two Bullock's Orioles have been in the tall pines and  the mesquite trees. Brilliantly colored birds.  All the birds are enjoying the bountiful feast of thousands of plums in the orchard.   Our three Great Horned owlets are hunting and catching their prey now.  We saw all three owlets and the father last night in our pines.

June 4th

The Blue Grosbeaks are back for the summer.  The Great Horned owlets are flying around the back yard every evening and resting on the antenna on the house at sunset.  Great fun to watch them learn to fly and hunt.

May 20

Our three owlets are starting to fledge.  Moving out to the branches and flapping their wings as if they were going somewhere but no yet. Probably two more weeks.

May 15

Our guests saw the Trogons  in the nest in the Sycamore Trees at the 3rd picnic ground in Garden Canyon.  There are too many species of birds at the San Pedro Riparian Area at this time.  Reports of "giant bullfrogs"  with booming voices and very visible to everyone.  Also huge turtles about a foot across.  Both at the Kingfisher Pond near the San Pedro House.  

May 10

We hiked up Ramsey Canyon around noon today.  We heard a pair of Trogons near the "dancing trees".  We met a couple from Alabama who stood for 10 minutes watching the male and female Trogons.  They finally saw a Trogon after 10 years of trying.  Marvelous numbers of birds including the Hepatic  and Western Tanagers in the tops of Sycamores trees. Numerous Painted Redstarts, White-breasted Nuthatches. 

the Sulphur-Bellied Flycatchers are back for the summer.

April 22

We had a Yellow-headed Black in the backyard today. There around 50 of these birds on the power lines on Moson Road.

Male and female Bullock's Orioles; male and female Rufus, Black-chinned, and Anna's Hummingbirds,  Black-headed Grosbeaks, Dusky Flycatchers, and Lazuli Buntings.  

April 19

Our guests were hiking in Scheelite Canyon today and saw two Mexican Spotted Owls, male and female we assume, sitting in a tree right above the trail!   Canyon Wrens, Painted Redstarts, and Western Wood Peewee were heard and seen.  No Trogons in Garden Canyon, probably the first part of May before they start nesting there. Trogons have been heard and seen in Ramsey Canyon this week!  

April 11

Our guests saw two Great Horned Owls chicks today in front of the mother in the nest!  We knew they were there because she was shading with her wings out and sitting on the side on the nest the last week.  

April 7

We have seen the Bullock's and Scott's Orioles today.  Also the Lucy's Warbler.  A lot of migratory birds are here in April. We have found a Lesser Goldfinch's nest at eye level in the small plum tree in the orchard.  She has laid two eggs already.

March 31

A ten year old boy found the female Anna's nest in the pine tree.  The nest is only 5 feet off the ground and very easy to see.

March 22 - Hiking in Ramsey Canyon this morning.  We saw the Painted Redstart!  Plenty of White-breasted Nuthatches,  many species of Warblers, Acorn and Arizona Woodpeckers, and lots of other birds.

March 13 - We took the 10 minute trip to the San Pedro Riparian Area.  It is alive with so many species of birds they are hard to name them all.

Vermillion Flycatcher are abundant!

February 22 - Lots of birds in our area.  Kestrels, Coopers ad Red-Tailed Hawks are abundant along our road.   Anna's and Black-chinned  Hummingbirds, Black-throated and Lark Sparrows,  Roadrunners, Canyon Towhees, Pyrrhuloxias, Cactus and Bewick's  Wrens, Inca Doves,  Scaled and Gambel's Quails, Verdins, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, White-crowned Sparrows, Ladder-Backed and Gila Woodpeckers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and many more birds are on our 4 acres.  Of course our Great Horned Owls are year round residents. The female is sitting on the nest now with the male beside her in the morning hours.  Little owls by the end of March!

Our guests  hiked up Scheelite Canyon yesterday and saw the Mexican Spotted Owl!

Great Picture by Ted Smith!

February 1, 2007

The beautiful Black-throated sparrows are at the feeders in the backyard.  Our female Great Horned Owl is sitting in her nest with the matting season beginning this month.  By March she will have laid the eggs and then sit on the nest till the eggs hatch sometime around the 1st of April.

January 16, 2007

Winter birds are here: White-crowned Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Verdins, and Yellow-rumped Warblers.  We are seeing Black-throated Sparrows and many types Hawks.  A Kestrel had caught a bird in our backyard and was sitting on the ground with it.  That was a surprise. We have counted over 65 species of birds on our 4 acres during the last  year. The are hummingbirds spending the winter with us and are at our feeders all day.  Anna's Male Hummingbird in our garden ( sorry no flowers this time of year.)