SE Arizona Birding: Day 5

After spending the night in the "Rooster Cabin," a cabin owned by Mt. Lemmon Cabins (a great place to stay!), we headed up hill to a nearby ski resort to do some high elevation birding.  Red-faced Warblers were abundant, as were Black-capped Chickadees.  Pygmy Nuthatches were chattering all over the place, but we didn't spot any until we headed down the mountain.  We also spotted a number of Olive Warblers, a lifer for everyone!  Dark-eyed Juncos and Virginia's Warblers were also abundant.

Red-faced Warbler

Pygmy Nuthatch

Down in the city, Chris spotted another Zone-tailed Hawk.  We pulled over to watch it and got great up close views as it soared above us!

Zone-tailed Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawk

Our next stop was the Sonoran Desert Museum.  It was already mid-day, so birds were not very active. I suggest going there early in the morning as soon as it opens, so you can get great looks at the common desert birds that frequent the grounds (like Cactus Wrens, Gila Woodpeckers, etc.).  You can also watch the injured/rehabbed birds get fed in the aviaries if you arrive early.  Most of them were just lounging around by the time we got there.

Gila Woodpecker

White-winged Dove - fledgling

Cactus Wren

Inca Dove (in the aviary, not in the wild!)

Of the 163 species we found on this trip, 5 were lifers for me and Alex! Mark got 83 lifers,

while Chris got 100!