Tag Archives: Patagonia Lake State Park

On The Road, Photos-Birds

~Another new bird to add to my Life List…

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~Northern Beardless-Tyannulet

We camped at Patagonia Lake State Park for two weeks recently. This wasn’t our first stay, in fact we have camped in this beautiful, arid area many times. If you enjoying being in a dry desert environment then you would like Patagonia Lake.
The park is well known for its birding trails, and the number of different species that are attracted to the area. Birders from all over the world are attracted to this area in hopes of sighting a new bird to add to their birding list. Patagonia Lake is also a big attraction for people, that love fishing and boating. Patagonia Lake State Park is located between Patagonia and Nogales, AZ.
 Of all places to see a new bird. It was flitting around the mesquite trees near the Gift Shop in the RV campground. This tiny flycatcher is known to hang out in riparian stands of mesquite trees mixed with cottonwoods, sycamores or oats. I was truly lucky to see this tiny bird, because its range is Mexico and the lower south western areas of Arizona and Texas.

I’am happy to add number 430 to my Birding Life List.
Gila Woodpecker.
Abert’s Towhee.

 

On The Road, Photos-Birds

~Two birds from a camping trip to Patagonia Lake State Park, AZ

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I took these photos back in 01/2024 at Patagonia Lake State Park.  I don’t believe I have shared them.

I love Towhees. This Green-tailed Towhee is such a beautiful bird with its white throat, distinct rufous head to its olive green wings, back and tail. It’s one of the smallest Towhees with a huge personality.

They are very secretive, so when this one popped up on this rock I was thrilled. Like most Towhees you find them hidden under scrubs while scratching for food on the ground. They prefer shrubby habitats like sagebrush, mountain mahogany and mixed shrublands. They eat seeds, berries and insects.


This photo shows its rufous colored head.

The Pyrrhuloxia is a red and grayish bird that looks similar to the Northern Cardinal. Sometimes it is referred to as  the “desert cardinal”.  The Pyrrhuloxia has a beauty all its own with its red face, chest and tail. It prefers arid environments like deserts, mesquite thickets and scrublands. They like to eat seeds, fruit and insects. What a fun word to learn how to pronounce!

Pyrrhuloxia- male

Patagonia Lake State Park has a huge variety of birds and is a fun place to camp.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing these two colorful birds!

On The Road, Photos-Birds

~Arizona Birding Series – Say’s Phoebe

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December 2020 – Patagonia Lake State Park

Habitat

Say’s phoebe is a passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. A common bird in the western United States, it prefers dry, desolate areas.

 

Behavior

Like other phoebes, Say’s Phoebes bob their tails. They perch on low shrubs or rocks and dart out to grab prey from the air, the foliage, or the ground. They can often be seen hovering low over fields looking for prey.

Diet

Say’s Phoebes’ primary diet is insects. They eat a number of terrestrial insects as well as the typical flying variety.

 

Fun Facts

  • The Say’s Phoebe breeds farther north than any other flycatcher, seemingly limited only by the lack of nest sites.

  • The numbers of this bird are declining, probably due to loss of habitat in its winter range. 😦

  • This bird was named for Thomas Say, the American naturalist.

  • A group of flycatchers has many collective nouns, including an “outfield”, “swatting”, “zapper”, and “zipper” of flycatchers.

I have a great time photographing the Say’s. It is amazing how close they let me get to them. I believe they are so focused on their prey they just ignore everything else.

Happy Birding