Madera Canyon

 

View of Mt. Wrightson from Old Baldy Trail

Our next excursion was to Madera Canyon, world famous for its birding and its exotic species that sneak up from Mexico.  We saw an elegant trogan here in 2017, after many years of searching, as well as a red-faced warbler.  Not so lucky this year, but still an excellent day for hiking and birding.

First off, a stop at the Santa Rita Lodge feeders, where we instantly spotted a few of the Canyon's specialities:

Rivoli's hummingbird (no longer called the magnificent hummingbird but still magnificent)

Arizona woodpecker

Female hepatic tanager

Male hepatic tanager

Acorn woodpeckers (what a clown!)

There were at least ten wild turkeys picking up the scraps below the feeders. Giant pigeons!

After that, what was the point in hiking uphill to look for birds? Well, who could pass up the opportunity to hike in the snow in Arizona?  

Hiking up the Old Baldy Trail to Josephine Saddle

This was actually our second opportunity to hike in the snow in Madera Canyon.

Back in 2007 we rented a cabin at the Santa Rita Lodge in December and spent a magical few days with the canyon almost to ourselves.  We saw bear tracks in the snow (bears are very rare in Arizona).  

On this day we took the Old Baldy Trail that leads to the top of Mt. Wrightson, the highest peak in the Santa Rita range.  We thought we'd go as far as we could (by which I mean as far as I could go before I got exhausted) and turn around, but on the way up we met several people.e who were doing a loop.  They said the Super Trail they came up on was much less snowy so we went back down that way.  It was also less steep so we definitely went the wrong way.

Hiking down the much sunnier, much less snowy Super Trail

The Super Trail goes through attractive grassy slopes dotted with yucca, agave and live oaks.

View back to snowy slopes

After the hike we took one last look at the feeders and saw this scavenger.

Coatimundi 

And this beauty.

Painted redstart, Bird of the Day!

A fine way to top off the day.