Madera-Snowflake

 Madera & Heading North

March 31 con't 

After a fine visit with Jo I had to resupply! Into Green Valley to the Walmart I went.  My Coleman air bed sprung a leak and so I had to find a replacement...I bought it in 2011 it gave me plenty of service.  Walmart was sold out of the Coleman I wanted...so I got an el'cheapo to do for now...and by the time I got outta there it was 5 pm me.  I had heard of this good birding trail in Tubac..(Santa Gertrudis Lane) part of the Juan Bautista De Anza National Historic Trail!  

Only 20 miles south on I-19  I figured I might find a place to camp down there so I took off.  

Found the birding trail 

and some "bird nerds" ... gave me a tip on camping.  

there is a lot of old cars dumped here? 

Right away we had 3 Rufous Backed Robins on the trail they were ahead of me so the birds flushed across the river the nerds pointed them out I saw them retreating so no photo...but A decent enough naked eye to call it as seen...then before I could recover Bam.. a Lucy's Warbler in the Willow.  Yes please! (lifer)

Down the trail they spotted a Yellow Warbler and I zeroed in on a Wren but I don't know if it was the Sinaloa that was on everyone's radar and a continuing rare bird...I didn't see the face or neck period just a brown rear end of a wren dart down into the heavy cover right by the river's edge.  Probably was it, because I have not seen any other wrens reported there...but I just didn't get a good look at it. 

...the Santa Cruz the wren dropped down into that  green foliage by the river. I did try pishing etc but he never showed after about 10 mins trying...

So I didn't even mention it since I had basically run it aground...they had gone on up the trail.  We had 2 Bridled Titmouse, and couple of soaring Hawks that I never actually saw, and soon I turned back exhausted! MY day had started at just before sunrise and now I was whacked!

 

there is a bridled in there somewhere!

I found the county park they had described but it turned out not to be the place for me, several men chugging beer and BBQing so I headed back up to Madera Canyon, and found a nice boondock off one of the dirt roads just before you actually enter the canyon...it was already dark when I got there, no cows, no company just me and the dogs.  I had a quick sandwich, walked the dogs, pumped up the new air bed, and turned in!

Guess you think Im done with Madera Canyon...but 

April 1,

 Easter...yes I had completely forgotten...when I tried to go up to the Day Use area to fill our water bottles we ended up in a long line of people who wanted to have an Easter cook out and an egg hunt, at 6:30 AM! And they filled the picnic areas to over flowing.  In fact they closed the park! Somehow I was tangled up in the flow so I went as far South as I could on Madera Canyon Rd to Writgtson's Picnic Area and the Old Baldy Trail head.  I  heard rumors the Trogon had been pushed all the way down by birders yesterday so I figured I would give it one more shot...

                                                                 Mexican Jay

The Old Baldy and the Carrie Nation Trails split after about 1/3 the way up very steep and rocky...

Once again the barking....grrrrrrrrrr I was lucky to find a spot to park!

I took the right hand trail Carrie Nation...on the way up I met a few others who were going for the same last ditch effort...and when I ran into a group of preteens wearing flip flops on a rocky trail that has just whipped my butt...I figured I was wasting my time...they were making selfies and screaming and giggling, so I turned back.  On the way back I ran into my Delaware lady friends...they had seen the Trogon on Wednesday so they were just trying to get off the beaten and away from the crowds. They were staying in one of the lodge cabins.  They did have a target bird but for the life of me I can't recall what it was! If it's in your budget I'd suggest staying with the Santa Rita lodge all the areas are within walking distance.  I can imagine as the spring moves on lots of awesome birds arrive, I would not suggest going on any holiday weekend!

There is a day use fee but it's waived by the Access or Seniors pass and a few other passes.  Green Valley is about 10 miles away and you will find everything you can think of there.  

Back to the trail, Ruby Crowned Kinglets and Yellow Rump Warblers had all of us busy...then I saw what I know as a Strickland's Woodpecker.  The only Brown Woodpecker!  Now a days it is called the Arizona Woodpecker.  I was thrilled--> Lifer!  I went away without the Williamson's Sapsucker I wanted and the Elegant Trogon but I was happy with what I did see. 

a backlit Arizona Woodpecker. 

Half way back I walked with a young man named Elon, I don't know if this is the way he spells his name, what a fine young fellow! He said he met me for some reason and at some point that reason would be reveiled...wow-deep!

I left and continued out the Canyon and north toward's Tucson and and Hwy 77 to Oracle and then on through Globe and into the Salt River Canyon. 

WOW eye popping scenry all around..Just amazing. 

lunch stop along the salt river canyon

While driving this area my odometer did this! 

should of played the lotto?

When I got to Show Low I was really tired and annoyed with the Urban Sprawl that just went on for miles and miles, it was the same fast food and retail stores over and over...felt I'd never get out of there...I had intended to stay at Fool's Hollow it being April fool's day and all but the fool would have been me $20 for a primitive site?? Way too high for my taste so I hit the Sitegraves National Forest and had a Free Site for the night.  

Another late to camp day with time to walk the dogs, make a meal and lock up for another cold night we had frost on the ground when we awoke at just barely sunrise...I'm still on Eastern time and AZ doesn't do Daylight Savings so keeping up with what day and what time it is became a hardship! My old phone had the date right on the front my new one....no! So I kept asking people what day is it...and they gave me that look.  

April 2, 

After giving the dogs breakfast and making my own I walked around to see what birds were around found some House Finch, a Downy Woodpecker, and Pygmy Nuthatches! The are very much like our Brown Headed back home only smaller. 

pygmy nuthatch

I left on Hwy 77 North and stopped in Snowflake to get my oil changed.  The dogs would not let the tech get in the van period! So I drove it in and got it lined over the grease pit, and I got no vacuum service and only exterior window washing...no discount tho...I was actually about 1,000 past due for the oil change...They had fresh popped corn in the waiting area so I had a bag I think that's the first time in my life I had popcorn at 10:00 am it was however delicious if I had a theater room I'd def get one of those counter top pop corn machines like the one they had. 

Back on the highway we stayed on 77 North toward Holbrook, AZ. 

...to be continued...--->

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.