Tuesday morning

We are in Portal getting ready to bird the surrounding mountains. We have seen over 105 species do far and should see a whole new group today.
The feeders here are full of hummingbirds and we are learning lots of new field marks.


<< Bert >>

Sent from my cell phone.

Cocktail hour at Cave Creek Ranch, Portal AZ
<< Bert >>

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Lunch in Wilcox

Lunch at La Unica in Wilcox has its side benefits! Bert, our fearless trip organizer!
Connie

Birding Willcox!

<< Bert >>

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A good start to the day!

Burrowing owls!
<< Bert >>

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Monday morning

Breakfast before we head to Portal!
<< Bert >>

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Madera Canyon Sunset

<< Bert >>

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Madera Canyon

<< Bert >>

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Mid-day Sunday

We birded the Sonora Desert Museum and the Saguaro National Park this morning. Now we are headed to Madera Canyon for hummingbirds and owls.
<< Bert >>

Sent from my cell phone.

Arrived

We have arrived! Saw our first target bird, Rosy-Faced Lovebird - seen well and a lifer for three of us!

Connie

Day One Winds Down

We are waiting to see bats come out at dusk here in Tucson. Great first day. Highlights included Rosy-faced Lovebirds, Tropical Kingbirds, and Lesser Nighthawks.

<< Bert >>

Sent from my cell phone.

Arrived

We have arrived! Saw our first target bird, Rosy-Faced Lovebird - seen well and a lifer for three of us!

Connie

Gettin' ready

 

A few of my essentials for our trip are coming together. Let's see, ready for sun, bugs, walkin' the trails, hunger pangs, happy hour and most of all......Arizona birds!!!

<< Connie >>

Heat

As expected it will be hot in Arizona with afternoon thunderstorms......the monsoon season.
<< Bert >>

Sent from my cell phone.

Getting close!

Three more days here on the east coast and then we depart for Arizona. It will be good to see a Greater Roadrunner again.

Beep beep!

 

Cactus Wren!

While this species is common in Arizona, for those of us from the east coast it is always a treat to see.

Rosy-faced Lovebirds

We are trying to find a reliable location for this new "ABA Bird" in the Phoenix area. Unfortunately we will be looking for it on a hot August afternoon. Not the best situation but we will give it our best shot.

 

To the airport!

We have come to decisions about getting to and from the airport at the start and end of the trip.

Everything is falling into place!

 

 

Two months!

Two months from today we are heading west. Time to turn up the dial on the planning meter!

 

 

Airfare!

Since the time we booked our flights back in February the posted cost has decreased. So we all rebooked our flights and saved a significant amount. A big thank-you to Mike for alerting us about this.

And thanks to Southwest Airlines for making it happen!