Monday we decided to go to the area south of Tucson down around Patagonia Lake. I had gotten this suggestion from the Sycamore Canyon blog...thanks, Kathie! 
It was a beautiful drive through area that was rolling hills with green shrub trees.
We stopped in Sonoita for some lunch and I liked this Inn. A very small town....more of a crossroads with a few stores and houses.
More of the terrain we crossed. This area is near the Santa Rita mountains.
Dorothy knew an area before you get to Patagonia Lake where there was a creek that she thought we would see some birds. The creek was running across the road where we stopped and we spent an enjoyable time seeing woodpeckers, hawks, Lesser Goldfinch, and misc. other small birds.
This is a new one for me! An Acorn Woodpecker! Isn't it beautiful? There were 4+ flying back and forth across the creek and I spent most of my time watching them.
Here are two of them. The one was very busy at that hole in the tree.
Here it has its head in the hole.
Looking at me!
High up on a limb. The chest is very pretty!
It is about 9" long....similar to a Red Bellied Woodpecker.
Am I nuts, or does the top of this tree trunk look like a woodpecker????
This is the little creek that ran through here. Both sides of the road were fenced as private, so all you could do was stand on the road and shoot from there.
If you look closely there are 3 Lesser Goldfinches in this photo. There were a bunch of them in a bush along the creek and they liked drinking the water. I had a lot of trouble trying to photograph the smaller birds.
Not sure what this bird is. Haven't really had time to look it up.
Mike and Dorothy were watching a couple hawks that were hanging around. I got this one flight shot.
We finally got to Lake Patagonia, but we didn't see much wildlife around the lake and we were getting tired.
I did see this pretty butterfly!
There were some Coots on the lake.
Such big feet!
It was a beautiful drive through area that was rolling hills with green shrub trees.
We stopped in Sonoita for some lunch and I liked this Inn. A very small town....more of a crossroads with a few stores and houses.
More of the terrain we crossed. This area is near the Santa Rita mountains.Dorothy knew an area before you get to Patagonia Lake where there was a creek that she thought we would see some birds. The creek was running across the road where we stopped and we spent an enjoyable time seeing woodpeckers, hawks, Lesser Goldfinch, and misc. other small birds.
This is a new one for me! An Acorn Woodpecker! Isn't it beautiful? There were 4+ flying back and forth across the creek and I spent most of my time watching them.
Here are two of them. The one was very busy at that hole in the tree.
Here it has its head in the hole.
Looking at me!
High up on a limb. The chest is very pretty!
It is about 9" long....similar to a Red Bellied Woodpecker.
Am I nuts, or does the top of this tree trunk look like a woodpecker????
This is the little creek that ran through here. Both sides of the road were fenced as private, so all you could do was stand on the road and shoot from there.
If you look closely there are 3 Lesser Goldfinches in this photo. There were a bunch of them in a bush along the creek and they liked drinking the water. I had a lot of trouble trying to photograph the smaller birds.
Not sure what this bird is. Haven't really had time to look it up.
Mike and Dorothy were watching a couple hawks that were hanging around. I got this one flight shot.
We finally got to Lake Patagonia, but we didn't see much wildlife around the lake and we were getting tired.
I did see this pretty butterfly!
There were some Coots on the lake.
Such big feet! So we headed home.
Back home we found this lizard crawling up the wall of the house. He is only about 5" long.
This close-up makes him look huge :-)
Would you believe that Mike saw the Bobcat again....and I was in the other room again!!! At least he grabbed a camera this time!
It is calmly strolling across Dorothy's patio! Then across the lawn and over the wall. I plan to camp by the door tomorrow evening! Sometimes he lays in the yard. Dorothy has some excellent shots from other visits, if I never manage to see it for myself! I'm making a lot of typing errors.
Back home we found this lizard crawling up the wall of the house. He is only about 5" long.
This close-up makes him look huge :-)Would you believe that Mike saw the Bobcat again....and I was in the other room again!!! At least he grabbed a camera this time!
It is calmly strolling across Dorothy's patio! Then across the lawn and over the wall. I plan to camp by the door tomorrow evening! Sometimes he lays in the yard. Dorothy has some excellent shots from other visits, if I never manage to see it for myself! I'm making a lot of typing errors.Time for bed!
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17 comments:
Such fantastic photos!!! I love the acorn woodpecker photo and yes that branch did look like a wp.
What an adventure you're on with you venturing out to see wildlife and it venturing in to see you!
It's so cool that you are getting to see such different wildlife. The woodpeckers are really great and the shot of the linx is wonderful!
WoW! that was so interesting.The Acorn Woodpecker is almost comical looking.It is neat to see these different critters.
Blessings,Ruth
Oh, Mary, you got some wonderful photos....that woodpecker is a handsome one indeed. And in the one photo, you have to enlarge it to see the three goldfinches....even then, one is sort of hard to spot.
I love that bobcat!
I thought that tree stump was a bird as well!
And what is that bobcat coming around for??? The cats? I think I'd be a little disconcerted to see him walking across my patio!
What wonderful photos, Mary.
I remember how excited I was the first time I saw an Acorn Woodpecker. My companion on the birding expedition was from CA, and very "another one?" but then, he flipped over Wood Ducks while I was in a "I can see those any time" mode. Guess that's what makes travel interesting.
Mary, Such great pictures of the western critters. Love that Acorn Woodpecker.. I've never seen one.. Gorgeous!!!!
Sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Beware of the bobcat---BUT get some more pictures.
Hugs,
Betsy
Fantastic scenery Mary. AZ is somewhere definitely want to visit sometime. Maybe one day! That Acorn Woody is a cracker! I love your 'high up on a limb' photo of him best. Not sure what your mystery bird is, I though some sort of Kingbird first off, but the bill looks a bit weird. Hmmmm.
Hope you get your patience rewarded with a Bobcat sighting and photos of course! (-:
Great scenery Mary, interesting trip, thanks for the report so far.
I have never seen the Acorn Woodpecker. Those are some great shots.
An Arkies Musings
Wonderful pictures! You are not crazy, the top of the stump DOES look like a woodpecker! I hope you get to make a good picture of the Bobcat!
Good grief, who feeds that Bobcat. He looks well taken care of. Great shot Mary!
I love those Acorn woodpeckers too. They have such interesting faces. Would you believe I looked at that old tree part and even before I read your text I thought "What kind of woodpecker is that?'. Great catch! I bet you are having such a good time. Us, well we're waiting for another winter storm. Will keep you posted. Keep up the GOOD work. Love the lizard.
B.
Thanks everyone! I just love visiting places where I see things that are different than at home. Although I see a some of my home birds here, too...cardinals, house finches, doves.
Annie: I think the bobcat probably finds a lot of nice fat quail and doves to eat. I hope he doesn't get any of the bunnies!
Becky: Sorry to hear another storm in on the way. Wish you were here, although so far it isn't real warm.
Did you not walk the birding trail at the east end of the lake? that's where most of the birds hang out! I hope you had a good time anyways. Looks like your stop along the creek was worth it. Those acorn woodpeckers live and feed in colonies. There are a couple of other places in Patagonia (the town) to go birding. 1 is Sonoita Creek managed by the Nature Conservancy. It is down off a side road. I have not birded there yet but its one of my "to do" spots. On that same road is a place called Paton's bird haven. Here some private owners maintain bird feeders for birders to come sit in their yard and watch birds. All they ask is a donation to the sugar fund for the hummingbirds! It's one of the best places to see rare hummingbirds in AZ! Tucson Audubon can give you info about it or just email me.
More great shots and there is that cat again. So cool! These make me realize I haven't been anywhere in a while. I've been out around here but I feel a real trip in my future. :-)
Love the Acorn Woodpecker, only saw the first one on a blog earlier this week. I didn't even know they existed before that. They are a good looking wooodpecker.
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