ALL ABOARD!!
Next Stop...

Birding

Arizona is considered a "bird watching paradise" according to The Arizona Republic's February 20, 2000 issue. A story by Sam Negri claims that Southeastern Arizona is home to a "rich lode of avian life." Last year, Arizona tied for fourth in the nation for states with most bird species.

 

Birding is at its best in the desert and riparian area surrounding Karrels Double K Ranch. Lush creosote and mesquite shelter Gambel's Quail, road runners, cardinals and phainopepla. Hummingbirds and goldfinches zip around the pool waterfall and fountains next to the breakfast table.

Agua Caliente Park, a natural desert oasis with three ponds is a short walk from the ranch. The park is home to great horned owls, coopers hawks, vermillion flycatchers, great blue herons and more. Mt. Lemmon, a short drive away, is a favorite for birders who like to survey a variety of habitats at increasing elevations. Saguaro National Park East and Sabino Canyon provide additional opportunities for birding and hiking.

The location of the Double K Ranch provides an ideal location for birding. There are also a number of excellent locations within a short drive to experience bird watching in southeastern Arizona such as Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains, The Nature Conservancy at Ramsey Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains and Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains.

Mary with Mystic in Agua Caliente Park.

Double K Ranch Alarm Clock: The Gilded Metal Pecker taken by Carol and Dick

 

Bird Sightings

The following list is a composite of a several week period in spring of 2008. The birds were sighted on or above Double K Ranch; most from the breakfast table. The list does not include the many additional birds sighted at nearby Agua Caliente Park. Contributors include Nigel and Carole, Gene and Eulelie, Remy, Jean and Catherine and Mary from England, New Mexico, California and Arizona.

Bitterns & Herons Great Blue Heron American Vultures Turkey Vulture Ducks Mallard (4 in our pool!) Hawks Osprey Zone-tailed Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Quail Gambel's Quail Pigeons & Doves White-winged Dove Mourning Dove Roadrunners Greater Roadrunner Barn & Typical Owls Great Horned Owl Elf Owl Hummingbirds Broad-billed Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird (migrant) Woodpeckers Gila Woodpecker Gilded Flicker Jays & Ravens Common Raven Verdins Verdin (and nest)

Wrens Cactus Wren Kinglets & Gnatcatchers Ruby-crowned Kinglet Mockingbirds & Thrashers Northern Mockingbird Curve-billed Thrasher Silky Flycatchers Phainopepla Wood-Warblers Lucy's Warbler Emberizines Green-tailed Towhee Abert's Towhee White-crowned Sparrow Cardinals, Grosbeaks& Allies Northern Cardinal Pyrrhuloxia Icterines Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Hooded Oriole Cardueline Finches House Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch Old World Sparrows House Sparrow

Links to Explore

• Melody's Birding Adventures in Southern Arizona

• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

• Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory

• Tucson Audubon Society Southeast Arizona Birding

• Casa de San Pedro Bed and Breakfast Inn, Hereford, AZ

Beep-Beep

---

Depot Room | Rose Room | Caboose Room | Caboose Restoration
Photo Gallery | Garden Railway | Birding | What's New 
Guest Comments | Our Favorite RR Links | Ranch Critters | Map | Home

---

Send e-mail

Karrels' Double K Ranch Bed and Breakfast Homestay
3930 N. Smokey Topaz Lane
Tucson, Arizona 85749

Phone: 520-749-5345
Fax: 520-760-5594

© 2000-2011 Karrels' Double K Ranch
Tucson AZ Bed & Breakfast Homestay Inn