Evan Obercian on his just-completed winter tour of Southeastern Arizona

Our winter week in Southeast Arizona saw days of crisp, chilly desert air, gently-warming sun, spectacular and varied scenery, and nearly 140 species of birds.  From our exceptionally comfortable home-base on the San Pedro River riparian corridor in Hereford, we ventured afield to explore the oak forests beneath the towering painted rock domes of the majestic Chiricahua Mountains;  bird-rich areas within the Sulphur Springs Valley; canyons in the Huachucas and the Santa Ritas; the Saguaro-clad rockscapes of the Sonoran desert near Tucson;  the enormous, oceanic expanse of grasslands in the San Rafael Valley, where silence reigns; and many habitats in between.  The birding was excellent, punctuated by a spectacle of Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw, a rare Streak-backed Oriole near the bird-famous town of Portal, and just an awesome plethora of wintering sparrows and other birds, scattering along fences and in brushy areas throughout.  

The Chiricahua Mountains were crowned with new snow

Ferruginous Hawks were again in the Sulphur Springs Valley

Great Saguaro Cacti graced the hillsides not far from Tucson

In many places, "spish" and you were surrounded by sparrows; here three White-crowns and a Brewers.

Fabulous rock formations grace the entrance to the Chiricahua"s Cave Creek Canyon

At Whitewater Draw in the Sulphur Springs Valley we may have seen 15,000 Sandhill Cranes