On the Road Again

I left Ajo last Monday and drove to the Empire Ranch, also known as Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. It has been several years since I’ve stopped there. I spent 3 days birding in the Empire Gulch, Box Canyon, Madera Canyon, and the Patagonia area. I picked up a lot of birds that I haven’t seen for years, but the photography wasn’t very good. Some of the best birds were Thick-billed Kingbird, Berylline Hummingbird, Violet-crowned Hummingbird, many Gray Hawks, several Zone-tailed Hawks, and an Arizona Woodpecker, among many other species. Here are a few eBird checklists: Box Canyon, Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon, Madera Kubo Lodge, Patagonia Blue Haven Rd., Pattons, and Empire Gulch. I’m trying to live up to my New Year’s Resolution, to pick up as many species as I can this year. So far, I’m at 191 species, compared to 145 at this time last year. Now, I’m at Granite Gap. I plan to continue birding in as many places as I can get to for the next few days, then focus on astrophotography.

Just before leaving Ajo, I got this photo of a pair of Western Screech-Owls, one with a Western Banded Gecko.

A Sidewinder I found by my camper one night after returning from owling, still in Ajo.

A male Wilson’s Warbler in Empire Gulch.

A Chihuahuan Meadowlark at Empire Ranch. Formerly considered a race of the Eastern Meadowlark, now it is a full species.

Cliff Fendlerbush, *Fendlera rupicola*. Whole hillsides displayed this shrub in flower in Box Canyon.

I had just drove though the gate into Granite Gap when this Gila Monster crossed the road in front of me. My first one this spring.

2 replies on “On the Road Again”

I’ll bet Box Canyon was pretty with all of those flowers.
I’d never heard of the Chihuahuan Meadowlark. Someday we’re going to get down that way again and hopefully see some of those birds we missed, including that one and the elf owls.

These photos make me glad. Many we saw as well, but photographed so much better!

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