Birds and Nature

While not as good looking or easily seen as the Rufous-necked Wood-Rail that was found at Bosque del Apache NWR last month, the Sinaloa Wren shares the mega-rarity label. Found not far from the entrance to Huachuca Canyon on the Ft Huachuca Military Base yesterday, it was an short drive for me to that location this morning since I have been staying just a few miles away in the town of Sierra Vista. Ironically it was harder and longer for me to find my way through the military base to check in at the MP office than it did to get out of my car and see the wren (saw it within 15 minutes of arrival thanks to Ron Beck, who discovered the bird and returned today on his bicycle so he could count it on his 'green-year' birding list). During the hour and an half I stayed this wren called then showed itself several times with some really quite good though brief views from as close as 25 feet. Clearly the top pic was the best I got. That photo plus the blurry bottom pic showin...

The Brodkins who have a residence in Carr Canyon a short distance south of Sierra Vista, AZ have had a Plain-capped Starthroat visiting their hummingbird feeders since yesterday. This species is a rare visitor from Mexico that has visited the feeders at this and nearly residences in and near Carr Canyon in previous years. Several other birders and myself were treated with brief views as this hummer tried to get some sugar water though it only got to perch for short periods as other hummers repeatedly chased off this more timid but larger hummingbird. SeEtta