Arizona's Amazing Monsoon Madness: Birding and Nature

Highlights

• Visit Madera Canyon home to Elegant Trogon, Arizona Woodpecker, Bridled Titmouse, and during recent years, nesting Flame-colored Tanager
• Explore Arivaca Cienega, a part of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, where we’ll investigate the boardwalk trail
• Opportunity to Kino Springs Golf Course, where we hope to see several locally uncommon species including: Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Gray Hawks, Tropical Kingbirds, and Varied Buntings.
• Visit the bisbee mining & historical museum—an affiliate of the smithsonian institution.
• Visit Fort Huachuca, bringing a picnic lunch from Sierra Vista
• Visit the Nature Conservancy Preserve at Ramsey Canyon- one of the first well-known birding sites in Arizona.

What's this trip about?

The summer monsoon season turns Southeast Arizona’s mountains and deserts a verdant green. Arizona’s “second spring” is, by far, the best time to find a high diversity of hummingbirds (up to 14 species may be present), nesting grassland sparrows, breeding birds of Mexican affinity, and insects such as butterflies and dragonflies. Walks in cool shaded canyons and time in the pine and mixed conifer habitats are perfect for mid-day hikes; during early mornings and evenings we explore desert and grassland terrain. Guide, author, and local resident Bob Behrstock brings expertise with dragonflies and butterflies as well as birds to this adventure.  From Tucson we explore lush canyons of the Santa Rita Mountains and nearby Arivaca Cienaga of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. We visit legendary birding sites such as Kino Springs, the Nature Conservancy Preserves at Patagonia and Ramsey Canyon and an excellent wetland area at Whitewater Draw.  Cool lush canyons of the Huachuca Mountains promise hummingbirds galore.  At several feeding locations we find excellent opportunities to find and photograph colorful species. Our hosts at two delightful lodges treat us with special meals and hospitality.  In Bisbee and at Fort Huachuca we blend in a bit of Arizona’s history adding human color as well.

What's excluded

• Round-trip transportation from your home city to Tucson
• Optional activities or items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone charges, house cleaners,
• Gratuities
• Beverages from the bar

Accommodation