B&B Birding

(click on a photo to enlarge)

B&Bs that cater to birders are very popular here in SE Arizona. Fortunately you don’t have to be a guest to visit some of them, and those that only cater to guests often open their doors to birders when rarities show up. So all it took was a phone call the day before to ask permission to visit Battiste’s Bed, Breakfast & Birds in lower Miller Canyon in the Huachuaca Mts. Tony and Julie had several target birds for me: namely Piñon Jay and Golden-crowned Sparrow both quite far from their normal ranges.

The sparrow was visible the minute I arrived. Now that’s a cooperative bird! Normally a resident of the western half of the Pacific coast states, this sparrow somehow ended up in Hereford, AZ. It certainly picked a lovely spot.

Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)

My three hour vigil watching for the Piñon Jay to appear was not successful. Apparently it was waiting for me to leave because I was told that it showed up 15 minutes after I had departed. There are always rewards and disappointments when out birding. However, I could hardly be disappointed because during my time at the B&B, I saw 29 species of birds including Anna’s Hummingbirds, Ladder-backed, Acorn and Arizona Woodpecker, Hutton’s Vireo, Fox Sparrow, and Yellow-eyed Junco! A veritable winter bird feast!

I’ve tried, but failed, to capture a good photo of a Spotted Towhee. No problem here — they were all over the place. There is a splendid photography set-up at the B&B along with a blind that seats two people which can be rented by the hour or half-day. If you’re a guest there, it’s yours to use at your convenience. What an asset for bird photographers!

Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)

Yellow-rumped Warblers were abundant in the garden and a few cooperated for photos. This first-winter bird has retained very juvenile plumage.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)

This yellow-rumped shows typical winter plumage.

Yellow-rumped Warblers used to be split into two different species: Myrtle Warbler and Audubon’s Warbler. While very similar in appearance, they can be distinguished in the field by the color of the throat. Myrtle’s have white throats while Audubon’s are yellow. The yellow-throated form is mainly found west of the Rockies whereas the white-throated birds are found in every state and Canada.

Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s ) Warbler

I’d been hearing Pine Siskins but hadn’t seen any come to the feeders. When they did, I was taken aback by one so yellow that, at first, I thought it was a Lesser Goldfinch.

Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus)

Since I’d never seen a Pine Siskin this yellow before, I did a little research. According to the “Sibley Guide to Birds,” there is a scarce yellow adult form of the Pine Siskin and guess what? It’s most frequent in the southwest! Yet another interesting sighting in the Battiste’s beautiful bird garden.

Published by Arlene Ripley on February 11th, 2010 Tagged Arizona, Birds, Cochise County, Nature, Wanderings

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