Fields near Madeira Canyon

Friday I went to Madeira Canyon with a birding guide. I had never been to the Canyon before. It is a very rich birding area, because it represents to northern end of the distribution of many Mexican species.

The rock wren (Amerikaanse Rotswinterkoning) is not one these birds, it occurs in all the western states. This bird was nicely posing on a rock, as it should given its name. I have indeed only seen this species on rocks.

The guide was looking for Lawrence’s Goldfinches (Maskergeelvink), that she had seen in the fields near the Canyon. We did find them, but my first picture from the car was not very sharp, although it shows the colors very well. And it is new species for me.

We did go look for them walking in the fields, we that gave this picture. Not perfect either, I will have to go back to Tucson.

While looking for the Lawrence’s Goldfinch I did get distracted by the much more common Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Ladderspecht). I hindsight, I should have stayed focussed on the goldfinches of course.

The rufous-winged sparrow (Roestvleugelgors) looks a lot like the Chipping Sparrow. The guide says this is a rufous-winged sparrow because of the two mustachio markings under the chin. That is experience!

The first stop in the Canyon is at the favorite tree of a red-breasted sapsucker (Roodborstsapspecht). For Arizona, this is a rare bird, usually they stay in California. Click on this picture to see more of the same bird.