Sunday, September 1, 2013

Humdinger--A Fond Farewell

Spending time in the White Mountains in July turned up some great hits and misses. I was able to add some much-coveted Life and State birds to my list, and also come away with some satisfying photos. On my second and last day in the White Mountains, the afternoon thunderstorms forced us down from the mountain trails of the Grouse and Gray Jays, back towards Greer, where we decided to spend our last hour or two chasing and photographing some of the less reclusive high elevation species. Tommy had already turned up Northern Pygmy Owls and we had heard Gray Catbirds--a very solid find in Arizona--in the Greer area. Just walking down the middle of Greer, we had Cordilleran Flycatcher, Band-tailed Pigeon, Swallows, and Williamson's Sapsuckers. The last target group, one which I was aching for and one we were saving for last, was the high altitude Hummingbird gang.


Broad-tailed Hummingbirds were the most numerous up in the White Mountains, filling the role that Anna's Hummingbirds play in the lower valleys of Arizona, but they were only the tip of the...uhh...Hummingbird iceberg.
Many of the lodges and restaurants in Greer have well-attended hummingbird feeders hanging out for the mutual enjoyment of bird and person alike. Hoping to get looks and shots of Calliope and Rufous Hummingbirds, we had a stake out at the Molly Butler Lodge for our temperamental quarry. 


We were able to find males and females of every expected Hummingbird species in the area, though photographing them was another challenge altogether, and since we were up in the rustic mountains, it didn't feel quite right to only plunder lots of shots of perched hummingbirds on feeders, which meant the above photo was as good as I could do with the intriguing and majestic Calliope.

Around the Molly Butler Lodge, we also had the pleasure of observing some nesting Cordilleran Flycatchers, a pesky member of the dreaded empidomax mafia. IDing these empids was no problem in the White Mountains though, as their vocalizing and high altitude presence ruled out the look-alike Pacific-slope Flycatcher from any empid-related ambiguities.


Even with all the gorgeous Hummingbirds buzzing around at arm's length, I spent a fair amount of time watching this Cordilleran catch insects and bring them to a nest in the underside of an eave on the back of the Lodge. I don't have a favorite species, but the Flycatchers are certainly, overall, my favorite group of birds.


Somewhat embarrassingly, the Calliope was a Life bird for me, but seeing and photographing that special, streak-necked Hummingbird was not my main goal for our photo stomp. 
With its fiery coloration and personality, the Rufous Hummingbird, along with the American Dipper (totally opposite personality and coloration) was the main photographic target for my trip. These feisty, irascible little buggers are immensely entertaining, unless of course one is a mild-mannered Hummingbird just trying to get a drink in Rufous territory.


Perhaps you've had the experience with a college friend, or going out to a bar or having a night on the town, or even at a family reunion, where there's just some jerk who seems to want to pick a fight or start an argument with every single person that makes eye contact with him. There's no pressing reason, he's just a territorial turd who can't relate to anybody except by being competitive or pugnacious.

Now picture that jerk being only half the size and weight or everybody else around the bar or wherever, and picture the jerk with an absolutely fabulous, flamboyant orange beard, over a white corsage and an orange suit. That's the Rufous Hummingbird. He's totally obnoxious, and totally gorgeous.



I left the White Mountains feeling tremendously satisfied with my photos and sightings. The scenery and weather alone was worth the trip, and with so many specialties up there too, I will have to add it to a yearly birding repertoire in the summer months.

20 comments:

  1. Gorgeous Rufous Hummingbird Laurence! I also love the flycatcher!

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    1. Thanks Mia. I wouldn't want to get a drink with the Rufous, but I'll admire from afar.

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  2. Killer shots of the RUHU! Also impressed with the male Calliope. I have only seen 1 male and 1 female of that species, but not photos. I am going to add a trip to the White Mountains on my calendar every year. Definitely awesome a quality birding and great photos!

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    1. Thanks Gordon,

      We should team up next summer. We'll come away with all the Hummers again, guaranteed, and lots of other great stuff.

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  3. Beautiful pictures of this totally obnoxious and gorgeous hummingbird! Super cute flycatcher .. I dread IDing them.

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    1. Thanks Debbie,

      It is funny how such mild birds as the empid flycatchers fill us with such trepidation, and yet, also intrigue...

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  4. Fabulous photos of the hummers and flycatchers! We missed going to the White Mountains this summer, so I am enjoying them through my blogging friends. Thanks!

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    1. Thanks Carole,

      I'm sorry y'all didn't make it up to the White Mountains this summer, but I hope you had plenty of other nice visits. One nice thing about the Mountains, is you can count on them to be there next year too : )

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  5. As always, you have such exciting Finds on these trips! We had the same issue with the rain, but we still had a really nice time Birding the areas around Greer Great capture of the calliope!

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    1. Hey Chris,

      We had some fallow moments, but every once in a while he'd hit a gold mine!

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  6. Sounds and looks like you had a great trip, Laurence. I enjoyed your post and photos. I'm going to have to try the White Mountains during one of my trips down to Arizona.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Jeff. I guess you've got lots of other excellent high altitude options both near your residence and between here and Phoenix, but all the same the White Mountains are a very pretty, very easy-to-bird area. I'll be back there next year for sure!

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  7. Great end to a great series of posts! Loved the Rufous Hummingbird shot and better yet, your description of the bird. It beats the field guide species account descriptions!

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    1. Thanks Tommy,

      I spent years in the field, taking meticulous notes and trying to come up with the most succinct, accurate, and scientific description of the RUHU.

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  8. That Rufous-Hummingbird is damn impressive!

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    1. Thanks. They dress to impress, and then they impress their fist into everybody's face anyway.

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  9. Laurence, so true! All of it! The birds, the scenery, everything! You crack me up, as always. And I am so jealous because you saw so many of the species I wanted to see but missed out on due to rain. Well, you are right, I hope to go back next year and FIND those Dippers as well as others! it's a great way to escape this sizzling Tucson (and Phoenix)heat in summer!

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  10. Hello Laurence,

    I first came across your blog earlier this year, then Tommy D's, and have been enjoying both ever since. I have been spotting AZ wildlife all my life, but never paid specific attention to the birds till this last year. Your and Tommy D's blogs have been a great help and inspiration! Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge.

    Just so happens I was camped out in the Greer area the same time you there. Your blogs have made it painfully obvious how much I have been missing. However I may have seen the same Swainson's hawk. I was at the pull over about two miles past the Sunrise Ski Lodge (where the pavement used to end) and it was sitting in the top of a small pine tree along the meadow tree line. My attempt at a sharp photo also failed. The pine cones looked good so I think the branch may have been moving just enough to blur the photo.

    I am always looking for Grouse up there. They camouflage so well and sit so tight, that you may have been within a few feet of one and missed it. I did the Greens Peak hike a few years ago and did not see any, but I have seen them on the side of the roads that circle the base of the peak. Go figure. I sometimes go several years between spots and then feel it was just luck when I do find one!

    Hopefully I will be up there later this week and your series of posts should make the trip that much more successful and enjoyable. I hope you keep posting about your outings because I will sure keep reading about them.

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    1. Hey Bruce!

      Thanks so much for your comment. It's great to have you stop by the blog, and I'm glad you can also share directly in the in the fabulous birding/natural exploration that is to be done, especially because trying to share it in a 2 dimensional space like this blog can only ever be half-way successful.

      Best of luck on your next trip into the White Mountains. I won't be back until next summer, but I hope to run into you in the field some time.

      Cheers!

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