Photo Gallery
Photos by Gary Rosenberg
The tour begins in Tucson where a number of Sonoran Desert species are common, such as this Cactus Wren…
…and this Ladder-backed Woodpecker.
In the late afternoon we’ll visit Sabino Canyon, where this Pyrrhuloxia soaks up the last of the sun’s rays.
We’ll watch the Sabino sunset in a Saguaro Cacti dominated landscape and wait…
…for the Elf Owls to emerge from their holes in the Saguaros…
…and for the Western Screech-Owls to call from the large mesquites.
We’ll visit the San Pedro River…
…where stunning birds such as Vermilion Flycatcher are common…
…and where one might encounter a singing Black-headed Grosbeak.
At higher elevations in the cool mountain canyons, Canyon Wrens entice us with their melodic descending whistles…
…and we’ll search for Arizona specialties, such as this Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher,…
…and more widespread breeders such as this Spotted Towhee.
If we’re very lucky, we might run into a Mexican rarity, such as this Flame-colored Tanager in Madera Canyon in 2004.
We’ll hike up Scheelite Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains in search of the daytime roost of the “Mexican” Spotted Owl.
We’ll also visit the mesquite-grasslands where other Arizona specialties can be found, such as this Botteri’s Sparrow…
…and the very local Rufous-winged Sparrow.
We’ll certainly see what is arguably the most-handsome of the sparrow, the Black-throated Sparrow.
We’ll end our tour in beautiful Cave Creek Canyon.
Birding here can be very rewarding. Greater Roadrunner can pop up unexpectedly,…
Bendire’s Thrasher is often seen below Portal…
…as is the Scaled Quail,…
…but Cave Creek Canyon is perhaps the best area for everyone’s favorite, the marvelous Elegant Trogon.