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NATURE ALI'S GRAND ADVENTURE - Day
29 - July 18, 2009
Ramsey Canyon to Quartzite, AZ
I headed toward Miller Canyon and Beatty’s to see all the wonderful hummingbirds
that were reported there as well as the Brown-backed Solitaire that had been
seen two days earlier. All of the sanctuaries in the canyons and private yards
charge $5 to access them… but it didn’t seem excessive because I was expecting
it in advance. I drove up Miller
Canyon and got to experience better looks one of the life birds I had seen the
day before, Mexican Jay, a whole flock was flying back and forth across the
road. My first life bird of the day was a Hepatic Tanager, which didn’t quite
get close enough for a really good view. While I was trying to photograph the
bird a nice Border Patrol agent came up and started chatting it up. Seems
illegal aliens use these wonderful birding canyons to cross the border that is
at the summit of the local mountains. I do wish the people coming into the
United States could do it legally and respect our laws and culture. I feel sorry
for the individuals but after seeing what the illegals growing pot in Fay Canyon
did with all the environmental damage they did with absolutely no conscience, I
am less sympathetic. After I saw 9 illegals get picked up by two coyotes in a
van, I wished I had paid more attention to the agent when he yelled out his
number. There were plenty of cars
at the end of the canyon next to Beatty’s with people looking for the solitaire
(which BTW, I found out later was seen in Ramsey Canyon that day, but alas not
by me). I decided not to hike up
to try to see the solitaire… just went and enjoyed sitting around the feeders
and meeting the interesting Beatty patriarch and his son. They were really
helpful in identifying the birds. They had some great dogs to pet too! After
taking many photos of hummingbirds, I walked around their trail and saw a few
life butterflies. I took a photo of a Bordered Patch butterfly and was
readjusting the camera when the endangered Huachuca Mountains frog jumped up and
ate it! So much for that butterfly.
Overall, I really enjoyed Beatty’s the best and makes me want to emulate the
welcoming atmosphere at the Kern River Preserve. The opportunity to peacefully
photograph birds was really great. I scored five (maybe six) life hummingbirds
here: Broad-billed, Broad-tailed, Violet-crowned, White-eared, Berryline, and
Blue-throated (which I believe I actually saw in Kern but didn’t see it long
enough or have anyone else see it to verify).
After Miller I went off to Ash Canyon Bed and Breakfast to try for the Lucifer
Hummingbird. I did get to see the bird but it was not as fun as the Beatty’s.
Knowing that the day was getting short, I needed to keep moving so I headed up
Carr Canyon with the goal of finding a Red-faced Warbler, alas, I never found
one, but I did find two more life birds, Buff-bellied Flycatcher and Yellow-eyed
Junco. I headed to one last place
before leaving southeastern Arizona, the San Pedro River, I was hoping for a
Gray Hawk, but seemed when I went somewhere with a target in mind I left empty
binoculared… I did see the rare Varied Bunting that had been reported… my last
life bird of the trip. I
reluctantly left birding paradise to head home. I intended to get as far as
possible and stop and sleep at a rest area as I had the entire trip. There were
thunderstorms looming so I headed out with an eye to the sky. I would stop this
time if rain threatened again. Although I encountered no rain the most bizarre
weather crossed my path, I can only call it ground turbulence. The winds were
whipping back and forth causing the car to rock back and forth which felt just
like turbulence I had felt during several plane rides.
I finally ended the day in a rest area in Tonopah or so I thought… I slept an
hour in the car before the oppressive heat had me awake and on the road again. I
couldn’t keep my eyes open so I stopped again for an hour in Quartzite awaking
an hour later to continue the journey.
370 miles
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