Vail, AZ ~ Yard Birds

Aaron's yard is so special and over the past few days I have kept a list of his yard birds.  So far the numbers are at 31 yard birds.  Looks are really close and I am able to take my time and study them.  No new life birds but I appreciate being able to get good images of some gorgeous birds.

Lazuli Bunting - Male

Lazuli Bunting - Female

Black-headed Grosbeak

Bullock's Oriole

Cactus Wren

Western Tanager

Curved-bill Thrasher

Mourning Doves

Gilded Flicker

Lucy's Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Vail, AZ ~ Birds Bathing

In the desert the birds need water to survive so they flock to water sources.  Aaron's place has a great water feature that brings in good amounts of birds throughout the day.  Early in the mornings many of the birds come into bath in the fountain or even just to get a drink.

Bullock's Oriole

Black-headed Grosbeak

Townsend's Warbler

Western Tanager

Western Tanager

Wilson's Warblers

Wilson's Warblers

CA ~ Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

Western Tanager

Today's adventure's included a bird walk at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve.  It started about 7AM and lasted about 3 hrs.  The leaders were excellent.  We saw 3 Mule Deer and lots of birds.  I saw 30 species though some in the group some more species.  12 were new life birds for me including Western Tanager, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Nuttall Woodpecker, Western Bluebird, White-winged Dove, Red-shafted Flicker, Coasta's Hummingbirds, Willow Flycatcher, Black-headed Grosbeck, Vermillion Flycatcher, Lark Sparrow and Western Wood- Peewe.

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Western Bluebird

Black-headed Grosbeck

Birding in Courthouse

It was so cool today to see if the Western Tanager would show up. This bird is a rare visitor to our area. He's been staying around the same place for the past month. He follows the Woodpeckers. First, they drill the holes into the trees with their beaks and this causes the sap of the trees to run. Then along comes the Western Tanager to drink the sap. Today I was lucky enough to see both birds with nice long looks at both of them. While waiting for the Tanager to make an appearance I saw Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, Tufted Titmouse and Carolina Chickadees among the birds.  It was great morning of birding. Here are looks at both the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and the Western Tanager.