Backroads Day 5 - Sabino Canyon, AZ - 27 Feb 2020
On this our last day of the Backroads Tour of Arizona it was time to pack and start thinking about heading home. But, this morning we'd take a last hike through Sabino Canyon with Lindsey while others in the group would be riding with Abby. Robin decided to stay at the Hacienda Del Sol and finish up a homework assignment while I cinched up the Go-Pro Hero 7 to my camera harness and headed to the parking lot to meet the gang.
As last-minute preparations were being made we enjoyed a cold breakfast while waiting for the Sun to start warming the cold joints. In the meantime I walked around the parking lot and chased some birds. A Cactus Wren singing in the dawn light, followed by a Northern Mockingbird that decided to hide in a nearby cholla, then a male Costa's Hummingbird, and finally a Black-tailed Gnatcatcher. Not a bad haul before starting the tour!
Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort, Pima, Arizona, US
Feb 27, 2020 8:00 AM - 8:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Backroads Tour - Prep Station
4 species
Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) 1
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura) 1
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) 1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Feb 27, 2020 8:00 AM - 8:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Backroads Tour - Prep Station
4 species
Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) 1
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura) 1
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) 1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
We arrived at Sabino Canyon and headed out for a 2.5 mile hike around the canyon. Gila Woodpeckers and Gilded Flickers perched on nearby wires and were calling from nearby cacti (along with Cactus Wrens), while small flocks of Black-throated Sparrows moved through the underbrush.
I did my best to keep up with the group while still trying to chase birds or get photos of the landscape. But, these people were on a mission, and I was feeling my vacation. At one point I spotted a massive Javelina lumbering along the hillside to our left, but it was too hidden by vegetation to get any decent pics.
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| Is that Lord Voldemort following Woody? |
We headed back to the Visitor's Center. The Sun was now high enough to get some nice last photos of Phainopepla as they perched out in the open atop large snags.
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| Me taking a picture of me taking a picture of Phainopepla |
Not to be outdone, a Lesser Goldfinch stayed long enough for a quick portrait or two.
Back at the parking lot the riders were making their last preparations for the trip back to the hotel while the rest of us would ride back in the vans.
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, Pima, Arizona, US
Feb 27, 2020 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Backgroads Tour
7 species
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1
Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) 2
Gilded Flicker (Colaptes chrysoides) 2
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) 2
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) 2
Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) 4
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Feb 27, 2020 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Backgroads Tour
7 species
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1
Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) 2
Gilded Flicker (Colaptes chrysoides) 2
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) 2
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) 2
Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) 4
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
As I headed to the room I took my last pics; a pair of White-winged Doves resting on the lawn at the Hacienda.
At noon we had our bags and gear ready for a last van ride to downtown Tuscon and lunch at Maynards. I was sorry to leave the Hacienda Del Sol; this is a place worth visiting and more exploration. Lunch was great, and it was time to part ways. Half the group headed to local hotels while Abby took the rest of us to the airport. Robin and I would stay at the La Quinta Inn just a quarter mile from the airport and fly out in the morning.
For anyone wishing to have an outdoor experience biking and/or hiking we cannot recommend Backroads enough. This was our second trip with Backroads, and it was every bit as good as our first (check out my blog posts of Death Valley). The destinations are awesome. The bikes are awesome (again, we love their ebikes!). The accommodations are first class, and the food is outstanding. Most of all the staff are outstanding, professional and inspiration young people. We cannot say enough how much we adored having Lindsey, Abby, Daysha, and Justin for the week; they were simply outstanding.
Ride on!
Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort, Pima, Arizona, US
Feb 27, 2020 12:00 PM - 12:10 PM
Protocol: Stationary
1 species
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
Feb 27, 2020 12:00 PM - 12:10 PM
Protocol: Stationary
1 species
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
At noon we had our bags and gear ready for a last van ride to downtown Tuscon and lunch at Maynards. I was sorry to leave the Hacienda Del Sol; this is a place worth visiting and more exploration. Lunch was great, and it was time to part ways. Half the group headed to local hotels while Abby took the rest of us to the airport. Robin and I would stay at the La Quinta Inn just a quarter mile from the airport and fly out in the morning.
For anyone wishing to have an outdoor experience biking and/or hiking we cannot recommend Backroads enough. This was our second trip with Backroads, and it was every bit as good as our first (check out my blog posts of Death Valley). The destinations are awesome. The bikes are awesome (again, we love their ebikes!). The accommodations are first class, and the food is outstanding. Most of all the staff are outstanding, professional and inspiration young people. We cannot say enough how much we adored having Lindsey, Abby, Daysha, and Justin for the week; they were simply outstanding.
Ride on!
