Muddling through our April trip to the Green Valley (Madera Canyon) area of Arizona…

One of our best local birding areas in the desert was apparently on private property with a decrepit gate that was open. There were no signs prohibiting entry so we drove into a small dusty turnaround and began looking for birds. We almost immediately spotted a male Vermillion flycatcher flying around the area. After awhile we realized that there was also a female… with a nest!

This male Vermillion flycatcher was apparently her mate, although we never saw it approach the nest. While we were in the area a ‘ranch patrol’ arrived and asked us how we gained access. We told them the gate had been open. They were very nice and left, asking us to shut the gate when we finished birding! What a nice encounter!

This was another male we saw in a different area…

Here is another photo of a male Painted redstart on the water seepage at the B&B where we stayed…

And finally, for this post, a photo of a male Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) warbler at the same location.

There’s yet more Arizona to follow.