Sierra Vista, AZ to Sulphur Springs Valley

Kate and Jim's 2003 Vacation - Day 4 - Feb 25

Attention everyone!  It's too dang cold and windy.  The weather has not been cooperating at all.  We haven't been able to take our jackets off all week, and this is Arizona!  We were planning to look for the Rufous-capped Warbler in French Joe Canyon, but the weather argued against that.  Kate and I got up at O-dark-hundred in anticipation of an early start with Stuart.  But the wind just got windier and the skies looked like the end of the world.  Stuart called just about the time we were dressed, and we agreed that Kate and I should go with Plan B instead.  The RCWA will be another excuse bird.

DSC00590.JPG (39354 bytes) We started our day at the Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds.  For you non-birders, we do spend time at places like this, even in Arizona.  There were a fair amount of birds there, even though the area has become a little overgrown.  As you can see from this picture, the weather was threatening, to say the least.  Those clouds hung over the Huachuca Mountains all day.  

This view is looking west from the viewing platform at the ponds.   
DSC00588aw.JPG (29386 bytes) This view is looking northeast, at the Dragoon Mountains.  Somewhere out there is Tombstone, AZ but we didn't stop this time.  No interest in T-shirt shops this trip...too cold.
DSC00600.jpg (24289 bytes) On our way out of the ponds, we saw this very cooperative raptor perched by the side of the road.  Kate and I tried to dope out whether it was a Sharp-shinned Hawk or Cooper's Hawk.  We were fuzzled. So I sent a picture to one of our birding buddies, Ann Johnson, who forwarded it on to Jim Bangma, and they agreed that it was an immature Merlin!  Duoh!

For those of you who want to chime in and are wondering about the size, it was slightly bigger than a Blue Jay.
DSC00600a.jpg (32034 bytes)
DSC00601c.jpg (23797 bytes)
DSC00605.jpg (38485 bytes) We drove through the Mule Mountains to get to Sulphur Springs Valley and came upon this roadside shrine.  No point, just an interesting picture.
DSC00604.jpg (31609 bytes)
DSC00606.jpg (29953 bytes) The weather was just as threatening in the Sulphur Springs Valley as it was in Sierra Vista.  Cold and windy with periodic showers.  We even drove through a short dust storm.  Ugh.
DSC00609.jpg (29345 bytes) Our first stop was Whitewater Draw where the state has set up a refuge for wintering Sandhill Cranes.  We see them migrating though Chicago area every spring and fall, so we thought it would be fun to see them on their wintering grounds.  There weren't the thousands that we were expecting, but we did see small flocks flying around all day.   We saw our second Vermillion Flycatcher of the trip and a possible Bald Eagle at this location.
DSC00612.jpg (54863 bytes)
DSC00619.jpg (30890 bytes)
DSC00620.jpg (44728 bytes) A couple of artsy-craftsy shots.  Where's Life Magazine when I have such great stuff to send them?
DSC00621.jpg (42387 bytes)
DSC00660.jpg (63764 bytes)
DSC00627.jpg (42404 bytes) Our next stop was at the Willcox Pond (yes, it's spelled right).  This seems to be where all of the wintering Northern Shovelers hang out.  As you can see, the weather has not improved.  In fact we got hit by a shower here.  But the wind was so strong that we just rearranged the car so that the open window was in the lee of the wind, and we were dry.  
DSC00639.jpg (50593 bytes)
DSC00659a.jpg (81156 bytes) This is  the sign at the entrance to the pond.  Seems like a very welcoming gesture by the local community.  Although it's probably just that the golfers were tired of people showing up at the pro shop wondering where the pond is (that was Cynical Jim talking).
DSC00633a.jpg (80633 bytes) We spent a lot of time watching the Shovelers, mostly so that I could take a picture.  I took LOTS of pictures.  That's the beauty of digital...infinite amounts of film.  Unfortunately they didn't come close enough for the 5x zoom, but with a little cropping and zooming...well heck, still not a great picture.
DSC00657.jpg (70926 bytes) There were so many of them, we had a chance to watch their feeding behavior in larger groups.  Notice the lines of Shovelers.
DSC00658a.jpg (82526 bytes)
DSC00654a.jpg (116925 bytes) There was an American Avocet feeding among the Shovelers.  We also saw Common Mergansers and Ruddy Ducks in the deeper part of the lake.  Other good birds in the area were Cinnamon Teal, Bufflehead, and the always popular Greater Roadrunner.
DSC00661.jpg (53965 bytes) Kate gave me her usual "He's taking a picture of something silly again" look when I pulled over for this image.  But I think it came out well.  If someone from an agricultural publication would like to use this picture, I'm amenable - just pay me the big bucks.  
DSC00662a.JPG (73641 bytes) We looked at LOTS of Red-tailed Hawks in search of Ferruginous Hawks and Golden Eagles, but saw neither.  However, karma did reward us with a couple of Harris's Hawks at the end of our sweep of the valley near Double Adobe.
DSC00669a.JPG (34496 bytes) The weather had not improved in the Huachucas while we were gone.  This is a view of the south end of the range, at the Coronado National Memorial.  The border is a couple of miles south (left) of where we took this picture.
DSC00670a.JPG (42264 bytes) Tourist note: We had dinner at The Diner on Route 92 south of Sierra Vista.  Nice place and very mean chili.  I tried their hot version and it was very tasty, but beware of having a whole bowl.  We moved to new lodging at the Casa de San Pedro, a very nice bed and breakfast right along the San Pedro River.