It was challenging for many reasons to get photographs on this day. The birds were far away. They were backlit. They were hiding behind branches of trees or leaves of cactus. It was somewhat cloudy. And yet I was surprised to finally go through all the pictures more thoroughly and find some images I didn’t know I had. Most of all, it is great to get a feel for the landscape where the birds and other creatures were.
Saving the big hike for the following day, we explored the low-lying areas along the Rio Grande.
Most of these birds we continued to see throughout the trip, like the Say’s Phoebe below. I like the cactus cover this bird was using.
Mexican Jays are stunning. I don’t think we ever saw more than two at one time. They were somewhat elusive.
We saw Roadrunners on occasion but not close enough or long enough to get really good pictures. Maybe we were too distracted by our search for less common species.
This coyote was practicing skills with a fallen branch as its prey.
Hearing and barely seeing a Bell’s Vireo is a big event where I come from, so witnessing their incessant chatter and then getting such great views was heaven for me.
Bell’s Vireo
I adore Ravens and tried to get photographs whenever I could.
We spent some time locating and then looking at this Tropical Parula. It was so far away I wasn’t at all sure I got a photograph so I was surprised to find a few that were in focus. So I guess it was good I was carrying around my monster lens most of the time, although by the end of the trip it was starting to fall apart…
Tropical Parula 
This Turkey Vulture is actually kind of cute. Snazzy pink legs and face to match.
Vermillion Flycatchers were almost everywhere. I like the female’s subdued plumage.
Vermilion Flycatcher (female)
I think Western Wood Pewee was a new bird for me.
I got only one distant fuzzy shot of the male Varied Bunting, bottom right.
Varied Buntings 
We were privileged to have good, long looks at a perched Zone-Tailed Hawk. You can just barely see the trademark tail band tucked underneath the tips of its folded wings.
Swainson’s Hawks are beautiful. Without the monster lens I would not have captured this detail.
The Gray Hawk is…well…very gray.
Gray Hawk
There were more Scott’s Orioles to be seen, but even though this one was quite far away, I love the vegetation it has decided to perch on.
Summer Tanager 
The Cordilleran Flycatcher was a new bird for me. I wish I’d gotten a better photograph, but this at least gives me an idea in case I am lucky enough to see one again.
Cactus Wren 
Canyon Towhee 
The gray day didn’t do this Acorn Woodpecker justice, but I still think of The Joker.
It will take me some time to process the rest of this trip’s pictures, but I get to savor my memories a little bit longer. In the meantime, we keep wondering when summer will arrive in the Chicago area. While I am glad it’s not hot, it’s been colder and wetter than I ever remember for mid-June. I hope your summer solstice is going well.
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