This is a report of a two night stay in Madera Canyon, a riparian oak woodland on the west side of the Santa Rita Mountains (Arizona, USA).
On arrival at Santa Rita Lodge I am greeted by a group of Gould’s wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana) in the yard below the gift shop. My brother (who is already there) points out a white-nosed coati (Nasua narica). I grab a flash to fill in the shadows. After photographing it on a feeder I follow it down the slope where it climbs a tree for the perfect photo op.
Later I am on the trail that crosses the small stream above the lodge. A mother and her photographer son are watching a utility pole that is reported to have a nest for elegant trogons (Trogon elegans). Deer on a hill above us get spooked. My view is too brief to determine if they are white-tailed or mule, but the Arizona jays (Aphelocoma wollweberi arizonae) are making a huge racket.
The source of trouble is a bobcat (Lynx rufus baileyi) according to the other photographer. He tries to point it out but I don’t see it before it disappears into the brush.
At dark I am on my brother’s porch where he has set up a hummingbird feeder to attract lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae).
As we are attempting to photograph them with flash, a ringtail (Bassariscus astutus arizonensis) walks along the porch railing within arm’s reach. He climbs up to the roof and hangs down to help himself to the nectar. He then goes into the adjacent trees where I would love to get a photo in a natural setting, but he evades us before I can get a shot.
I am up at dawn and walk up the road. Soon I hear the distinct call of a pair of elegant trogons, stars of Madera Canyon. They are off the road among private cabins and I cannot go onto private property. They come back to the road but are so high up it’s hard to get a good angle. I am photographing frantically, following them down the road and eventually manage a winner.
After breakfast I join several guests (with social distancing) at the hummingbird feeders next to the gift shop. I prefocus and set my exposure and rapid fire whenever one approaches. Southern Arizona, and Madera Canyon in particular, is known for a high diversity of hummingbird species. I don’t track them all but most of the birds at my particular feeder are broad-billed (Cynanthus latirostris).
There are dozens of hummingbirds of a few different species, but the talk among the birders is that there is a berylline (Amazilia beryllina).
I do another sunset hike on the stretch where the bobcat was seen yesterday and the same mother and son are there watching for trogons. I only have my 500mm f5.6 lens with me and soon regret leaving my 70-200 f2.8 in the room. That is because I get a close view of a large, dark morph black bear (Ursus americanus amblyceps) in the streambed. He is so close that I have a hard time getting his whole body in with the long lens. The small maximum aperture of 5.6 is also problematic in the low light. I go ahead of him up the slope (finding the mother and son to join me along the way) and eventually he sits so I can get a head shot. The shot I missed in the streambed would have been the ideal habitat shot if I had my other lens.
The mother and son inform me there is an elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi) nest in a utility pole across from the lodge (in front of the owner’s cabin). The owner Steve meets people there at dusk and spotlights the hunting owls as they perch in the adjacent tree.
After several shots I am back at my brother’s porch for more bats. We are hoping to see the ringtail again but he makes no appearance. I spotlight eyeshine in the far end of the yard which ends up being a raccoon (Procyon lotor), but he leaves before we get a shot. My brother informs me he got it later that night.
I am up at dawn again and only have time for a half hour walk. (Regretfully I have to check out early to meet workers at my Tucson home). The only major sighting is a turkey which allows me to photograph it in a natural setting (instead of the yard with bird feeders).
When I leave I spot a lone coyote (Canis latrans) on the road back to the freeway. Madera Canyon is a peaceful and wildlife-rich spot. The list of rare and common birds is mouth-watering, but I am not a birder so you will have to find that list elsewhere. If you are ever in Southern Arizona I would recommend spending a day or two here.
On arrival at Santa Rita Lodge I am greeted by a group of Gould’s wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana) in the yard below the gift shop. My brother (who is already there) points out a white-nosed coati (Nasua narica). I grab a flash to fill in the shadows. After photographing it on a feeder I follow it down the slope where it climbs a tree for the perfect photo op.
Later I am on the trail that crosses the small stream above the lodge. A mother and her photographer son are watching a utility pole that is reported to have a nest for elegant trogons (Trogon elegans). Deer on a hill above us get spooked. My view is too brief to determine if they are white-tailed or mule, but the Arizona jays (Aphelocoma wollweberi arizonae) are making a huge racket.
The source of trouble is a bobcat (Lynx rufus baileyi) according to the other photographer. He tries to point it out but I don’t see it before it disappears into the brush.
At dark I am on my brother’s porch where he has set up a hummingbird feeder to attract lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae).
As we are attempting to photograph them with flash, a ringtail (Bassariscus astutus arizonensis) walks along the porch railing within arm’s reach. He climbs up to the roof and hangs down to help himself to the nectar. He then goes into the adjacent trees where I would love to get a photo in a natural setting, but he evades us before I can get a shot.
I am up at dawn and walk up the road. Soon I hear the distinct call of a pair of elegant trogons, stars of Madera Canyon. They are off the road among private cabins and I cannot go onto private property. They come back to the road but are so high up it’s hard to get a good angle. I am photographing frantically, following them down the road and eventually manage a winner.
After breakfast I join several guests (with social distancing) at the hummingbird feeders next to the gift shop. I prefocus and set my exposure and rapid fire whenever one approaches. Southern Arizona, and Madera Canyon in particular, is known for a high diversity of hummingbird species. I don’t track them all but most of the birds at my particular feeder are broad-billed (Cynanthus latirostris).
There are dozens of hummingbirds of a few different species, but the talk among the birders is that there is a berylline (Amazilia beryllina).
I do another sunset hike on the stretch where the bobcat was seen yesterday and the same mother and son are there watching for trogons. I only have my 500mm f5.6 lens with me and soon regret leaving my 70-200 f2.8 in the room. That is because I get a close view of a large, dark morph black bear (Ursus americanus amblyceps) in the streambed. He is so close that I have a hard time getting his whole body in with the long lens. The small maximum aperture of 5.6 is also problematic in the low light. I go ahead of him up the slope (finding the mother and son to join me along the way) and eventually he sits so I can get a head shot. The shot I missed in the streambed would have been the ideal habitat shot if I had my other lens.
The mother and son inform me there is an elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi) nest in a utility pole across from the lodge (in front of the owner’s cabin). The owner Steve meets people there at dusk and spotlights the hunting owls as they perch in the adjacent tree.
After several shots I am back at my brother’s porch for more bats. We are hoping to see the ringtail again but he makes no appearance. I spotlight eyeshine in the far end of the yard which ends up being a raccoon (Procyon lotor), but he leaves before we get a shot. My brother informs me he got it later that night.
I am up at dawn again and only have time for a half hour walk. (Regretfully I have to check out early to meet workers at my Tucson home). The only major sighting is a turkey which allows me to photograph it in a natural setting (instead of the yard with bird feeders).
When I leave I spot a lone coyote (Canis latrans) on the road back to the freeway. Madera Canyon is a peaceful and wildlife-rich spot. The list of rare and common birds is mouth-watering, but I am not a birder so you will have to find that list elsewhere. If you are ever in Southern Arizona I would recommend spending a day or two here.
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