Reprinted by permission of the Tucson Audubon Society
Cooler temperatures have been luring more people to the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia over the last week or so. While most visitors have been from Arizona, we’ve had folks from many other states and from as far away as Scotland and Switzerland!
Cassin’s Kingbirds have been gathering near the Paton Center entrance at dusk as they prepare to roost nearby. One recent evening they were joined by three boisterous Thick-billed Kingbirds, which will soon be on their way to Mexico for the winter, along with other species such as Summer Tanager, Gray Hawk, and Lucy’s Warbler. Recent arrivals among the birds that spend the winter here include Red-naped Sapsucker and Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Thank you to all of our partners, neighbors, and land stewards (of past and present) who made this possible and continue to hold this land in their hearts. Enjoy!Hummingbird numbers continue to impress, though the preponderance of immature birds can make identification a challenge. Fortunately, even the immature Violet-crowneds are easy to identify, and adult male Anna’s and Broad-billed Hummers visit frequently. Adult male Black-chinneds however have been in short supply. A rare visit by a male Costa’s and occasional visits by Rufous Hummingbirds round out the hummingbird list for the month, so far.
