On August 8 I went to Madera Canyon near Green Valley, Arizona, to try to see a Berylline Hummingbird and an Aztec Thrush.\u00a0 The Berylline Hummingbird\u00a0 is considered a somewhat rare ABA # 3, whereas the Aztec Thrush is a very rare # 4.\u00a0\u00a0Both birds had been reported present in Madera Canyon over the preceding week or so, and both birds would be new North American Life Birds for me.\u00a0 I arrived at\u00a0the Madera Kubo Bed and Breakfast in the Canyon\u00a0and very shortly after checking in I was treated to close-up views of a beatiful male Berylline Hummingbird.\u00a0 He came fairly regularly to the Hummingbird feeders maintained by the Kubo B & B proprietors.\u00a0 This was particularly rewarding for me because the Berylline Hummingbird was the last of the 18 North American Hummingbird species\u00a0for my life list, unless I am extremely lucky to find a rare Green-breasted Mango in southern Texas some day.\u00a0 So now my “Trochyllidae” family list is,\u00a0by my standards,\u00a0complete.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Berylline Hummingbird proved to be a quick find and gave very satisfactory, close views.\u00a0 With such good luck, and in spite of the somewhat late hour, I decided to take the hike up Madera Canyon to try to find the Aztec Thrush feeding on the Choke Cherry Tree where many other birders had spotted it in recent days.\u00a0 The trek up the Canyon proved to be\u00a0a challenge for this somewhat out-of-shape spetuagenarian,\u00a0 because of the incline, the elevation, the heat and the humidity.\u00a0 When I finally arrived at the “spot” about 3:00 p.m., there were a\u00a0about 6\u00a0other birders present and waiting for the Thrush to make its appearance.\u00a0 It had been seen earlier in the day, most recently at about 1:30 p.m.\u00a0 The wait proved fruitless.\u00a0 As the sun began to set, I abandoned the search for the day and trudged back down the canyon for an early, self-prepared dinner of cereal and fruit, and then\u00a0to bed at the quaint A-frame cabin at Kubo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next morning I rose early, and began\u00a0the climb back up the Canyon about 6:00 a.m.\u00a0 One other birder joined me\u00a0 for part of the trip, then went on ahead as I was not as fast as he was.\u00a0 I arrived at the Choke Cherry\u00a0 tree about 6:45, and as the hours passed, about 100 more birders showed up but the\u00a0Thrush did not.\u00a0 As we waited we were treated to wonderful views of a beautiful Elegant Trogon that came to the tree several times to gorge on Choke Cherries.\u00a0 I also was able to see several Southwestern specialties, including Black-throated Gray Warblers, Hutton’s Vireos, Plumbeous Vireos, and a Painted Redstart. \u00a0By noon, many of the birders were leaving, and as the bird had now been absent for about 24 hours and the day was hot and\u00a0humid and rain was starting, I decided to abandon ship also, and\u00a0hiked back\u00a0down the Canyon and drove back to Phoenix.\u00a0 When I arrived home the next day, I checked the NARBA hotline, and wouldn’t you know it, the Thrush had appeared at the Choke Cherry Tree at 1:38 p.m., about 8 minutes after I left.\u00a0 Oh well, so goes birding.\u00a0 Maybe next week, if the bird is still being seen, I will try again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On August 8 I went to Madera Canyon near Green Valley, Arizona, to try to see a Berylline Hummingbird and an Aztec Thrush.\u00a0 The Berylline Hummingbird\u00a0 is considered a somewhat rare ABA # 3, whereas the Aztec Thrush is a … Continue reading