Treasures from the Sierra Madre

A day off, doubly nice because I spent it in leisurely birding with Michael and John. And even better, it was cool and cloudy all day, a circumstance that let us visit not just the high elevations of Madera Canyon, but also the upper portions of Sycamore Canyon, usually oven-like this time of year but bearable today even at high noon.

Knowing that we would need to save some time if we were to hit Sycamore later, we decided to split up in Madera: Michael wanted to see an Aztec Thrush, while John and I opted for the Flame-colored Tanager at the Kubo. Success on both counts! Various beaming birders saw as many as 4 thrushes today, and the tanager sang loud and clear, eventually giving good views high in the dead sycamore branches it shared with the equally exciting Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, Dusky-capped Flycatchers, and other denizens of the sky island canyons.

We paused on the way down just long enough to admire such beauties as Varied Bunting, Botteri’s and Casssin’s Sparrows, and a fantastic intermediate-morph Swainson’s Hawk (my “bird of the day,” I think). And then it was across Ruby Road to Sycamore Canyon, where the mosquitoes weren’t bad, the air was cool, and the birds were surprisingly active for the late hour.

Most of the avian chatter was, as expected, Blue Grosbeaks and Bewick’s Wrens, but we were barely down the trail when the Rufous-capped Warbler sang twice. I was sure we’d see it, but in the next three hours, we heard it half a dozen times and never once caught so much as a glimpse: the little skunk. At least we know he’s still in there!

Scott’s, Hooded, and Bullock’s Orioles, and Summer and Hepatic Tanagers were colorful compensation, and Yellow-billed Cuckoos put on a good show, both visually and aurally; probable migrants included a few Western Tanagers and an early Warbling Vireo. Montezuma Quail were singing loud on the hillsides, but declined to show themselves there or on the road back to Arivaca.

All the same, a great day with some great birds!