By Jim Gain

OPERATION PHOTOTROGON

This blog series chronicles the adventures that Rich Brown and I experienced on our quest to find and photograph the amazing birds of Southeast Arizona in May of 2022.

After a very successful trip up Carr Canyon, we decided to return to the Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary to see if we could photograph a Pyrrhuloxia, Scott’s Oriole or a male Lazuli Bunting while we killed time waiting to go to Tony and Julie Battiste’s Bed Breakfast and Birds house to see their famous house guest, the Elf Owl. Neither Rich nor I got any lifers, but I did manage to find a few birds to photograph.

White-winged Dove
Curve-billed Thrasher
Mexican Jay
Acorn Woodpecker
Western Tanager
Bullock’s Oriole – Immature Male
Summer Tanager – Immature Male
Black-headed Grosbeak (Top) & Scott’s Oriole
Scott’s Oriole – Male
Scott’s Oriole – Male
Scott’s Oriole – Female
Bullock’s Oriole – Male
Bullock’s Oriole – Male
Hooded Oriole – Female
Greater Roadrunner
Greater Roadrunner
Cactus Wren
Western Tanager
Bewick’s Wren
Black-headed Grosbeak – Male
Black-headed Grosbeak – Male
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Bottom) & House Finches
Lazuli Bunting – Female
Lazuli Bunting – Male

Ebird Checklist Link Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary

Next Stop – Paton Center for Hummingbirds Redux

4 responses to “Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #7 – Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary Redux”

  1. […] By Jim Gain OPERATION PHOTOTROGON This blog series chronicles the adventures that Rich Brown and I experienced on our quest to find and photograph the amazing birds of Southeast Arizona in May of 2022. Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #6 – Carr Canyon Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #5 – Miller Canyon–Beatty’s Guest Ranch Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #4 – Ash Canyon … Continue reading Operation PhotoTrogon Stop #7 – Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary Redux […]

  2. RICHARD H BROWN Avatar
    RICHARD H BROWN

    Jim, Great post! I believe that it’s a virtual toss-up between Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary and Paton’s Center for the Hummingbirds for bird photography and diversity:-) Tony Battiste’s is a close third and is the best for photographing birds on a natural perch. Rich

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

  3. Jim Hoagland Avatar
    Jim Hoagland

    Great photos of these bird species. Glad you had a successful trip to Arizona.

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ABOUT ME

Through my lens and prose I hope to instill a greater sense of awe, compassion and inspiration as I discover new creatures, explore interesting habitats, and gain wisdom about the natural world that’s all around us. It is my hope that readers are motivated to learn more about our environment and its inhabitants, and become passionate advocates for conservation.

I earned my college degree in biology, a foundation that shaped not only how I see the world, but how I’ve spent my life sharing it with others. For more than 35 years, I worked in education as both a teacher and administrator, guiding students through the wonders of science and the joy of discovery. That same spirit of curiosity has carried me through decades of volunteer work in citizen science and conservation. This blog brings together my passions for birding, conservation, and storytelling.

~ Jim Gain