Arizona

May 25, 2004


Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) A brief visit to Boyce Thompson Arboretum while on a business trip yielded a few new lifers and some pictures, though I wasn't as happy on the photographic side as I was for our earlier trip this year. 

I arrived around 06:30, grabbing a bite and coffee in Superior (about 3 miles past the arboretum).  I had to bird the parking lot at first, until I convinced the girls at the visitor centre to let me in early (around 7:30).  The staff there were very nice and helpful.  The weather wasn't too hot, as it was relatively cloudy to start and stayed hazy until 10:00, when I left to return to Phoenix.  According to one of the interpreters, the timing wasn't great for bird numbers, as it is past migration.

In addition, there were quite a few squirrels, lizards and butterflies that were active, including a beautiful Gila Monster.

Galleries from the visit:

Yuma Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermaophilus harrisi)

Bird list for the visit (44 species; L = lifer):

Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American coot
White-winged Dove Mourning Dove Inca Dove White-throated Swift
Black-chinned Hummingbird (L) Anna's Hummingbird Gila Woodpecker Western Kingbird
Brown-crested Flycatcher Bell's Vireo (L) Common Raven Violet-green Swallow
N. Rough-winged Swallow Verdin Cactus Wren Bewick's Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Cedar Waxwing
Phainopepla Lucy's Warbler (L) Yellow Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager Western Tanager (L) Canyon Towhee Abert's Towhee
Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal Great-tailed Grackle Bronzed Cowbird (L)
Brown-headed Cowbird Hooded Oriole (L) House Finch Lesser Goldfinch
House Sparrow Gambel's Quail Killdeer Wilson's Warbler


Copyright © 2003-2008
Paul Mansz & Pattie McKerral


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