The Backyard & Beyond  - October 2005

August 11th through the 16th Arden and I took a trip to Arizona. We experienced the Monsoons in full force. 

The first night there we headed to Beatty's in Miller Canyon (hummingbirds galore plus a couple White-eared Hummingbirds) then it was on to Mary Jo's at Ash Canyon for the Lucifer Hummingbirds. She had a male, female and young ones this year. That was fun to see.

On the 12th, we headed to Carr Canyon looking for but did not find the Aztec Thrush (3 or more had been there). We did learn later that at least one had been seen that day. After some other birding in the area we went to Ramsey Canyon to view the Beryline Hummingbird (rare-ish) and it started raining. Arden & I sat inside with the volunteer workers and talked and watched a hummingbird video (twice) for about 2 hours. The rain stopped and we went to the feeders outside. We saw the hummer and I photographed it then Arden walked up the trail while I stayed there. All of a sudden I heard what sounded like the biggest rain downpour you've ever heard and as I was looking at the feeder I noticed the small trickle of a creek behind the feeder had a wall of water coming down it and told the other 2 people who had just walked up from the cabins, to look at the creek. It was amazing. The workers came out since they had heard the sound and said they had never seen it like that before. Of course the road was closed since the water runs over the road (typical in Arizona). We were stuck until 6:30 PM when the water receded enough to cross it.

The next day (Saturday) had thunderstorms all over the place. We went back to Carr Canyon but left when it started raining. We managed to escape most of the rain by going to different areas around Sierra Vista. The San Pedro River was actually a huge river and you could not get down next to it. We walked the top trails and found displaying Cassin's Sparrows and I got the only new species photo of the trip. We even headed to Tombstone for a few hours and they were having Vigilante Days with people dressed in old western costumes with contests and skits. It was fun to watch.

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Later it was back to Beatty's in Miller Canyon. Even a` Violet-crowned came to the feeders. The rare Crescent-chested Warbler that had been seen flying down the canyon was seen there that morning. Darn (for us).

On Sunday we woke to rain, thunder and lightning again. We headed south-west and it poured rain the whole time. We checked the Patagonia NC Preserve but the entrance road near Paton's was covered by a river. We wanted to see what the west entrance was like and it had about 5 feet of water raging over the road carrying logs and debris. Near Nogales, the Santa Cruz River which we have never seen with water in it was moist from previous rains but no water. We spent about 10 minutes at the golf course to bird but the rain convinced us we didn't want to get out of the car. When we went back out, the Santa Cruz was now a river in "full force". We got a hotel room in Green Valley and stayed there until the rains quit and by 3 PM the river over the entrance to Madera Canyon had receded enough to enter. Beautiful sunny skies but cool. Unfortunately not many birds but we did watch some entomologist set up the white sheets and lights to study night bugs. No owls calling either.

Monday was sunny and clear and we went tot he Buenos Aries NWR near the border of Mexico. It was beautiful out there with all the fresh green grasses and the cool temperatures. We hiked trails at the Arivapa Cienaga and Arivapa Creek (like Patagonia) and drove the auto route at the headquarters.The funny thing was that all the dips in the road in that "far out" area were already plowed of the mud and debris. We realized that they had to keep them clean for the many border patrol vehicles out there. Back near Tucson the heat was in the 90's (yuk) and the road through the saguaros was still closed from debris. I guess visitors aren't as important as border patrol. We heard the news that a family in a van had tried to cross one of the waters and 3 kids had been washed out of the vehicle and the 3 year old had died. So said. Arizona has what they call the "Stupid Driver Law". If you get stuck in one of the gullies and have to be rescued, you pay for the rescue. That night another thunder storm came through Tucson and knocked down a bunch of power poles so power was out for blocks.

Tuesday it was clear and sunny and hot!!! We birded a little at a new area we found and Sweetwater then headed for the airport early to get out of the heat.

We saw 128 species and one unidentified meadowlark on the trip. No lifers.