The Huachuca Mountain Sky Island is chock full of exciting birding destinations. There are too many exceptional places to describe in a single post. I will attempt to offer information about the locations I’ve enjoyed in sections or episodes. This one is about the locations at Fort Huachuca Army Base.
This is a working military base, so playing by the rules is imperative. Disobey the rules, even unintentionally, and the consequences will be unpleasant. A visit here starts with a stop at the security station at the main gate, to show your ID, your vehicle registration and insurance before you can acquire a day pass. To access Garden Canyon and Huachuca Canyon, each person must pass through the Army base.
Positioned at the foot of the northern slope of the Huachuca Mountains, the base is famous for its legacy as the home of the “Buffalo Soldiers.” The grind of creek water and time have carved into the mountain’s Garden Canyon and Huachuca Canyon. This Sky Island is nestled next to the border with Mexico and attracts birds rarely found elsewhere north of Mexico.
Both canyons are navigable via dirt roads, though when I visited here in 2023, these neglected roads had deteriorated, and travel was rather unpleasant. Sometimes closed gates will restrict vehicles from travelling the full length of these roads, but foot and bicycle traffic can carry the interested explorer far up-slope to meet its inhabitants. The journeys into each of these canyons begins on open grasslands, and the habitat changes to a creek-side oak and sycamore riparian corridor, and later to conifer forests at higher elevations.
If the intrepid explorer is willing to scamper up steeper side trails, there is potential to meet Mexican Spotted Owls here. The gallery below should provide an idea of some possibilities for birds and other subjects you could meet in these canyons.
Mexican Jay(Aphelocoma wollweberi arizonae) |
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Description: Garden Canyon at Fort Huachuca. Huachuca Mountians near Sierra Vista Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:25 8:45 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D721803-MexicanJay |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Mexican Jay(Aphelocoma wollweberi arizonae) |
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Description: Garden Canyon at Fort Huachuca. Huachuca Mountians near Sierra Vista Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:25 8:54 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: D721825-MexicanJay |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Painted Redstart(Myioborus pictus) |
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Description: Garden Canyon at Fort Huachuca. Huachuca Mountians near Sierra Vista Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:25 9:35 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 340 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: D721849-PaintedRedstart |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Red-Naped Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus nuchalis) |
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Description: Garden Canyon at Fort Huachuca. Huachuca Mountains near Sierra Vista Arizona USA 2015-10-25. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:25 10:34 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: D721872-RedNapedSapsucker |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Red-Naped Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus nuchalis) |
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Description: Garden Canyon at Fort Huachuca. Huachuca Mountains near Sierra Vista Arizona USA 2015-10-25. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:25 10:34 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/6.3, 1/800 |
File Name: D721878-RedNapedSapsucker |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Hutton's Vireo(Vireo huttoni) |
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Description: Garden Canyon at Fort Huachuca. Huachuca Mountians near Sierra Vista Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:25 11:47 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 |
File Name: D721919-HuttonsVireo |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bridled Titmouse(Baeolophus wollweberi) |
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Description: Garden Canyon at Fort Huachuca. Huachuca Mountians near Sierra Vista Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:25 11:58 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 |
File Name: D721934-BridledTitMouse |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pyrrhuloxia(Cardinalis sinuatus) |
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Description: Garden Canyon at Fort Huachuca. Huachuca Mountians near Sierra Vista Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:25 15:00 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 |
File Name: D721999-Pyrrhuloxia |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pyrrhuloxia(Cardinalis sinuatus) |
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Description: Garden Canyon at Fort Huachuca. Huachuca Mountians near Sierra Vista Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:25 15:01 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 |
File Name: D722010-Pyrrhuloxia |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cactus Wren(Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) |
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Description: Garden Canyon at Fort Huachuca. Huachuca Mountians near Sierra Vista Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:25 15:11 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 380 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 |
File Name: D722028-CactusWren |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Towhee(Melozone fusca) |
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Description: Garden Canyon at Fort Huachuca. Huachuca Mountians near Sierra Vista Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:25 15:14 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 380 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 |
File Name: D722034-CanyonTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Nashville Warbler(Leiothlypis ruficapilla) |
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Description: Bird found late summer in Garden Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, near Sierra Vista, Arizona USA 2003-08-29. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:29 11:59 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: JCD_1206NashvilleWarbler |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: Garden Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, near Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:29 11:59 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/180 |
File Name: JCD_1209WesternWoodPewee |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Broad-Tailed Hummingbird(Selasphorus platycercus) |
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Description: Garden Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, near Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:29 13:17 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/40 |
File Name: JCD_1276BroadTailedHummingbird |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-Lined Sphinx Moth(Hyles lineata) |
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Description: Garden Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, near Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:29 13:19 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD_1286SphinxMoth |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
California Sister(Adelpha bredowii) |
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Description: A.K.A. Arizona Sister. Garden Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, near Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:29 13:53 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_1296ArizonaSisterButterfly |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Red-Spotted Purple(Basilarchia arthemis) |
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Description: Garden Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, near Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:29 14:27 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: JCD_1320-RedSpottedPurple |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Hutton's Vireo(Vireo huttoni) |
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Description: Fort Huachuca, in southeastern Arizona has some of the best birding I’ve found in the state. Here, Hutton’s Vireos mingle with other rarities, such as Elegant Trogons, Sulphur-Bellied Flycatchers, and others. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:29 17:54 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: JCD_1362HuttonsVireo |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Hutton's Vireo(Vireo huttoni) |
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Description: Huachuca Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, near Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:29 18:01 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/180 |
File Name: JCD_1372HuttonsVireo |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Arizona Gray Squirrel(Sciurus arizonensis) |
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Description: Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains, south of Tucson Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:08:31 10:50 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/90 |
File Name: JCD_9600ArizonaGraySquirrel |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Arizona Gray Squirrel(Sciurus arizonensis) |
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Description: Huachuca Canyon, North Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:08:31 10:50 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 600 mm, f/8.0, 1/90 |
File Name: JCD_9602ArizonaGraySquirrel |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Date Taken: 2004:08:31 13:56 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD_9664SonoranBumblebee |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
California Sister(Adelpha bredowii) |
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Description: A.K.A. Arizona Sister. Garden Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains, near Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:08:31 15:15 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/80 |
File Name: JCD_9715ArizonaSister |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes |
Western Tiger Swallowtail(Papilio rutulus) |
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Description: Garden Canyon, North Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:01 9:19 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 420 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD_9752TigerSwallowTail |
| Copyright 2004, Jack Daynes |
Sulphur-Bellied Flycatcher(Myiodynastes luteiventris) |
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Description: Garden Canyon, North Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:01 11:30 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD_9790SulphurBelliedFlycatcher |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Red-Tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis) |
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Description: Garden Canyon, North Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:01 11:56 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 600 mm, f/8.5, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_9842RedTailedHawk |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Red-Tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis) |
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Description: Garden Canyon, North Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:01 11:59 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/180 |
File Name: JCD_9849RedTailedHawk |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Monarch Butterfly(Danaus plexippus) |
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Description: Garden Canyon, North Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:01 13:45 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_9875MonarchButterfly |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Trogon(Elegant Trogon) |
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Description: Garden Canyon, North Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:01 13:58 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 750 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD_9879ElegantTrogon |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Sulphur-Bellied Flycatcher(Myiodynastes luteiventris) |
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Description: A bird from Garden Canyon, North Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:01 15:49 |
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Location:
Garden Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/180 |
File Name: JCD_9921SulphurBelliedFlycatcher |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Trogon(Trogon elegans) |
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Description: I had hoped to spend two days at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista Arizona as I headed home from my 2023 North American Expedition. When I learned of the poor road conditions and the closure of Garden Canyon, I settled for a half day in the lower Huachuca Canyon. The birds I found here are like few places in North America. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:12 13:29 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: ElegantTrogon_Z9X1950_HuachucaCanyon-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Sulphur-Bellied Flycatcher(Myiodynastes luteiventris) |
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Description: I had hoped to spend two days at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista Arizona as I headed home from my 2023 North American Expedition. When I learned of the poor road conditions and the closure of Garden Canyon, I settled for a half day in the lower Huachuca Canyon. The birds I found here are like few places in North America. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:12 14:08 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: SulphurBelliedFlycatcher_Z9X2192_HuachucaCanyon-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Plumbeous Vireo(Vireo plumbeus) |
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Description: I had hoped to spend two days at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista Arizona as I headed home from my 2023 North American Expedition. When I learned of the poor road conditions and the closure of Garden Canyon, I settled for a half day in the lower Huachuca Canyon. The birds I found here are like few places in North America. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:12 13:56 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PlumbousVireo_Z9X2001_HuachucaCanyon-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: I had hoped to spend two days at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista Arizona as I headed home from my 2023 North American Expedition. When I learned of the poor road conditions and the closure of Garden Canyon, I settled for a half day in the lower Huachuca Canyon. The birds I found here are like few places in North America. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:12 12:52 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: SummerTanager_Z9X1913_HuachucaCanyon-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra) |
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Description: I had hoped to spend two days at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista Arizona as I headed home from my 2023 North American Expedition. When I learned of the poor road conditions and the closure of Garden Canyon, I settled for a half day in the lower Huachuca Canyon. The birds I found here are like few places in North America. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:12 14:53 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: SummerTanager_Z9X2304_HuachucaCanyon-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: I had hoped to spend two days at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista Arizona as I headed home from my 2023 North American Expedition. When I learned of the poor road conditions and the closure of Garden Canyon, I settled for a half day in the lower Huachuca Canyon. The birds I found here are like few places in North America. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:12 13:56 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_Z9X2029_HuachucaCanyon-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus) |
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Description: I had hoped to spend two days at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista Arizona as I headed home from my 2023 North American Expedition. When I learned of the poor road conditions and the closure of Garden Canyon, I settled for a half day in the lower Huachuca Canyon. The birds I found here are like few places in North America. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:12 14:55 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WesternWoodPewee_Z9X2354_HuachucaCanyon-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Greater Roadrunner(Geococcyx californianus) |
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Description: I had hoped to spend two days at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista Arizona as I headed home from my 2023 North American Expedition. When I learned of the poor road conditions and the closure of Garden Canyon, I settled for a half day in the lower Huachuca Canyon. The birds I found here are like few places in North America. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:12 15:03 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: GreaterRoadrunner_Z9X2392_HuachucaCanyon-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cassin's Vireo(Vireo cassinii) |
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Description: My first thought was this was a Plumbeous Vireo. But there is enough yellow on this bird that believe it is a Cassin's Vireo. Winter is the only season they should be found here, but perhaps it was an early migrant. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:12 13:58 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: CassinsVireo_Z9X2061_HuachucaCanyon-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Plumbeous Vireo(Vireo plumbeus) |
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Description: I had hoped to spend two days at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista Arizona as I headed home from my 2023 North American Expedition. When I learned of the poor road conditions and the closure of Garden Canyon, I settled for a half day in the lower Huachuca Canyon. The birds I found here are like few places in North America. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:12 13:56 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: PlumbousVireo_Z9X1989_HuachucaCanyon-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Sulphur-Bellied Flycatcher(Myiodynastes luteiventris) |
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Description: I had hoped to spend two days at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista Arizona as I headed home from my 2023 North American Expedition. When I learned of the poor road conditions and the closure of Garden Canyon, I settled for a half day in the lower Huachuca Canyon. The birds I found here are like few places in North America. |
Date Taken: 2023:07:12 15:02 |
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Location:
Huachuca Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: SulphurBelliedFlycatcher_Z9X2375_HuachucaCanyon-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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