My New Birds Found While Traveling from Billings, Montana to Yellowstone

American Goldfinch

My husband, grandson and I took a trip to Billings, Montana in July for a family reunion, trip to Yellowstone and fishing. Along the way I was always on the lookout for the birds. My goal was hopefully to get 5 new ones. I exceeded this by seeing 14! I did not get a photo of the Lark Bunting and a very poor one of the Barrow's Goldeneye which is the last of these photos. It was an amazing trip with family. We were especially happy to share this time with our 19 year old grandson, Tallan.

 Black-capped Chickadee

American Dipper

Caspian Tern

Cassin's Finch

Common Goldeneye F

Gray Catbird

Horned Lark

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Swainson's Hawk

Western Meadowlark

Williamson's Sapsucker

Barrow's Goldeneye

Birders at the whatbird.com forum were wonderful in helping me with the identification of some of the birds. 

Birding on Mt. Lemon, Tucson, Arizona

My husband, Keith, and I spent a wonderful morning and early afternoon with our friends Kate Reynolds and her mother, Virginia Foley Reynolds. This time we let the birds come to us. We found a comfortable spot, sat is our chairs with coffee and were rewarded with some exciting looks and sounds of birds.

The following is a sampling of some of beautiful birds we saw.

American Robin

Red-faced Warbler

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher -I was very surprised that I captured this fast moving little bird.

Cordilleran Flycatcher

Hermit Thrush

Painted Redstart

Spotted Towhee

Summer Tanager

White-breasted Nuthatch by nest in cavity of tree

House Wren

There are always the birds I am not sure of, such as this little bird in the photo below. My thought is that she is a Female Lesser Goldfinch.

One of the rewards while birding is a chance to see other wildlife.

Cliff Chipmunk

Birding around in Tucson, Arizona

Here are just a few of the wonderful birds I have seen while walking in Sabino Canyon, and some of the parks around Tucson.

Anna's Hummingbird

Black-throated Sparrow

Cactus Wren

Cactus Wren with lunch

Cedar Waxwing

Gila Woodpecker

Great Horned Owl

Greater Roadrunner

Harris's Sparrow - a rarity for Tucson

House Finch

Northern Flicker

Sage Thrasher - Another rarity for Tucson

Sora

Verdin

White-winged Dove

Hiking Douglas Springs Trail

This morning my husband and I decided to hike part of the Douglas Springs Trail on the east end of Tucson, Arizona. It's February and the weather is beautiful, about 53 F. The trail runs along the northern boundary of the Saguaro National Park East.

            The trail starts out flat then begins a gradual climb into the Rincon Mountains. 

                      There is quite a variety of cacti and other plant life along the way.

                      

 

Surprisingly, there were not many birds, which is a big interest of mine. However, the song of the Cactus Wren could be heard up and down the trail. He is a great little bird to see!

A quick look at a tiny bit of wildlife!