Madera Canyon

I arrived at Madera Canyon around 8:00 AM on a cold and rainy day. I planned on hiking up the Super trail hoping that I could find an Elegant Trogon. Because the light was so poor I considered leaving the camera and tripod in the car. I thought that I wouldn't be able to get any good photos and that I probably wouldn't see a Trogon in December. Luckily, I decided to take the camera. After hiking for about 1/4 mile in near darkness I caught a glimps of some movement on the right side of the trail. It took me a second to realize that the exotic bird that I was looking at was the Elegant Trogon.

Elegant Trogon

Mexican Jay

Bridled Titmouse

Arizona Woodpecker

Acorn Woodpecker

Lost Dutchman State Park

Lost Dutchman State Park is located 40 miles east of Phoenix in the Sonoran desert. It provides a good opportunity to photograph the common desert species. The bird feeders by the visitors center gave me some easy shots of Gambel's Quail.

Phainopepla female

Harris's Antelope Squirrel


Gila Woodpeck

Gambel's Quail female

Gambel's Quail male

Curve-billed Thrasher

Cactus Wren