Sunday, April 27 Benson & Patagonia, Tom & Sue's

 Sunday, April27

Tom makes blueberry pancakes this morning for a nice treat!  Tom is heading to the golf course and Sue, Greg and I will head to the Paton Center for Hummingbirds about 50 miles southwest in Patagonia.  It is operated by the Tucson Audubon.  They have lost some funding through Trump cuts, so we don't feel bad making a donation.

Dedicated to the celebration and conservation of hummingbirds, it is also a center for many other birds.  Right now, some are migrating, so it is a good time to see a variety of birds - and that we do!  Such a happy place - everyone is smiling! I could spend hours here!

There are several seating areas near hummingbird and other feeders, and also a couple of trails.   We walk one trail and spend time observing birds and learning from some of the avid birders who help identify them for us.  

There are broadbill, rufus, ruby-throated, Anna's, violet-crowned and others.  A few other birds, like this gila woodpecker, will also drink from the hummingbird feeders.  

The suet feeders attract several kinds of woodpeckers and other birds.   I particularly like the summer tanager, the goldfinches and the lazuli buntings.

Gila woodpecker, female

Male summer tanager (the female is yellow!)

A mama quail with chicks - she really didn't want to be seen.

Sue takes us a different route home, past some vineyards and pretty countryside. 

These prickly poppies were blooming alongside the road - tough plants! - though Tom and Sue said they haven't had the usual burst of colorful yellow poppies and others because of no rain.

  Tom accesses Anita's Portugal trip on the Polar Steps app and puts it on the TV so we can see what she has been up to, hiking the Camino.  Some gorgeous scenery along the Portuguese coast!  Tom fixes a yummy orange chicken stir fry for dinner.  Nice to catch up.