Arizona 2003
Arizona Woodpecker - hiding nuts in an oak tree, Madera Canyon AZ. It's North America's only brown-backed woodpecker and used to be called Strickland's Woodpecker. This one was photographed February 19 2003 in the Bog Springs Campground, Madera Canyon where it's a very common camp bird.
Curve-billed Thrasher - photographed March 06, 2003, at sunset in the Organ Pipe National Monument Campground.
Elegant TrogonThis beautiful Elegant Trogon posed for a dozen happy birders in the Patagognia State Park February 28 2003. At first it was a considerably distance across a stream but wife Jean called "pretty bird, pretty bird" and in no time at all it flew across to a tree right beside her. Over 50,000 birders descend on Arizona each year to see this bird. Only a few are this fortunate!
Elegant Trogon - Patagonia Lake State Park February 28 2003. Here the trogon "Talks" to Jean. It is NOT a musical bird.
Gilded Flicker - guards its nest in a Saguaro Tree in the Organ Pipe National Monument March 06 2003. The red malar says it's not a Yellow-shafted Flicker. The cinnamon forehead, gray face, and yellow underwings (barely visible) distinguish it from the Red-Shafted variety.
Gila WoodpeckerFebruary 27 3003 a female Gila Woodpecker hollows out an apple provided by Mrs. Paton at her residence on the outskirts of Patagonia. Mrs. Paton is very gracious and welcomes birders. While there we saw a rare Violet-crowned Hummingbird.
Gray-breasted Jay - hides in the shrubbery at the Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon. February 14 2003. It used to be called the Mexican Jay.
Mourning Dove. February 11 2003. A Mourning Dove in the Organ Pipe National Monument.
Vermillion Flycatcher. A male Vermillion Flycatcher at Patagonia Lake State Park.
Verdin in a flowering Ocotillo in the Organ Pipe National Monument, March 06 2003. Look closely and you'll see the identifying chestnut-coloured wing patch.
White-breasted Nuthatch at feeder, Santa Rita Lodge February 14 2003. The bird froze in this position for several minutes after a raptor flew by.
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