A Day In Miller Canyon
(click on a photo to enlarge)
This post is actually about my second visit to Miller Canyon, part of the Coronado National Forest in the Huachuca Mountains. The first took place when Doug and I visited three weeks earlier. After that experience, I knew I had to return again soon.
The big attraction in lower Miller Canyon is the hummingbird set-up at Beatty’s Guest Ranch, a private lodge at the end of the road that leads up to Miller Canyon trailhead. It’s probably the best place in the U.S. to see such a dazzling display of hummingbirds.
Beatty’s Guest Ranch Sign
After the short hike to the “Controlled Area” gate where one deposits a well-worth-it $5 bill, you follow the trail through the orchard to the hummingbird viewing area. There are not only comfortable benches but a canvas canopy should Mother Nature decide to produce a downpour (it was thundering when I got there but no rain developed).
Hummingbird Viewing in Comfort
I counted 17 hummingbird feeders behind the small fence. Just keeping my three feeders stocked and cleaned made me appreciate even more what the Beatty’s do for both hummingbirds and visitors! The photo below shows ten of the feeders — can you see all of them?
Some of the 17 Feeders
What drew us to this site were the enticing reports of two of the rarer hummingbird species in the U.S. — White-eared and Berylline. Both of these species are rare and irregular visitors to the “sky islands” in SE Arizona. Apparently both are nesting at Beatty’s. On our June visit we were fortunate to have many good views of two male White-eared Hummingbirds but no luck with the Berylline. There’s no mistaking the White-eared with it’s bold white eye stripe extending down to the neck.
Male White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis)
A More Colorful View of the Male White-eared
Upon my return on July 9, I had only to wait a half hour or so before the emerald green bird with cinnamon wings appeared at a feeder. Both male and female Beryllines were seen but only the female posed nicely for the camera.
Female Berylline Hummingbird (Amazilia beryllina)
In addition to these wonderful rarities, the “regulars” were going about their business. The female Broad-billed was busy collecting nesting material for her second or third brood from a ball of dog hair put out just for this purpose.
Broad-billed female with nesting material (Cynanthus latirostrus)
Occasionally a Violet-crowned would put in an appearance.
Violet-crowned Hummingbird (Amazilia violiceps)
A Blue-throated Hummingbird (Lampornis clemenciae) pair was present but preferred the feeders deep in the trees and never stayed very long, often squabbling with the equally large Magnificent Hummingbirds who also preferred the back feeders. Eventually one of the male Magnificents sat quietly on a branch for a few seconds allowing a few photos. It’s interesting how much a part light plays on the feathers of hummingbirds. In the “wrong” light they don’t look the least bit colorful. The following three photos are all of the same bird. Only the light changes.
Magnificent Hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens), male in poor light
Just change position a little and you see this:
Magnificent Hummingbird, male in better light
Or this:
Magnificent Hummingbird, male in good light
And if all these hummingbirds weren’t enough excitement for one day, word had it that a pair of Spotted Owls was roosting about a half mile up the Miller Canyon Trail. Who could pass up an opportunity like that? So, off I trudged up the trail hoping I wouldn’t run into a bear, an illegal immigrant or a drug smuggler (sometimes reported here also). At the designated spot, there was the owl pair sleeping the day away. The darkness of the woods made a non-flash photo impossible and were it not for the fact that they had their backs to me I would not have attempted to use a flash and risk disturbing them. So, hunkered down in a depression behind some low shrubs, I shot off a very few photos of the owls and then left them to their slumber.
Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis)
Ten species of hummingbirds and a pair of owls. A perfect ending to a perfect day.
July 17th, 2009 at 6:34 am
simply stunning photos. magnificent coloring. looks like a place well worth visiting.
July 18th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
How I envy your wonderful day in Arizona! The only hummers we find in Kentucky are the Ruby Throated. At least I don’t have trouble identifying any hummingbirds I find here!