When we were here on our way back from Buenos Aires two years ago, one of the birds we were hoping to see was the Elegant Trogon, a bird that only comes as far north as Souteastern Arizona and only in the mountains. It is a chunky colorful bird. As it was March when we came through last, we were too early. It arrives here just about now.
The South Fork of Cave Creek Canyon is a well-known Trogon hangout and the road to teh trailhead is just outside the campground. We were up early and on the road just after dawn. It was the first cool morning since we left Cohasset. It was in the 40s when we headed out with a couple of warm layers on.
We got our first life bird of the day without even leaving the campsite. I looked out the door and there were two sparrows scratching in the dirt...Rufous-crowned Sparrows. They look a lot like Chipping Sparrows, but not quite. They were quite accommodating and just kept looking for seed and bugs as we got ready to leave.
Most people drive up the South Fork Road to the trailhead, but for some unfathomable reason, we decided to walk the two miles instead and bird on the way up. As we were coming down in in the afternoon, we remembered that we had done the same thing the last time we were here and concluded then that it was a bad idea...it is still a bad idea.
By the time we got to the trailhead, it was starting to warm up. There were no trogons at the first area where they had been heard and seen yesterday. We passed a group of young men who were coming down the trail and they described where they had just seen and heard a trogon...but by the time we got to the spot, it was quiet.
All we saw was a Coati, and animal sort of like a giant slow-moving raccoon. It was a nice siting, but it wasn't our target bird. It was time to turn back. We did, however, see at least three more life birds, the MacGillvary's Warbler, the Dusky-capped Flycatcher and the Plumbeous Vireo...but no Elegant Trogon.
We got back to Speedy, after our 8 mile walk, in time for a late lunch.
After lunch we stopped by the visitor center and then on to the Cave Creek Ranch, just outside the forest on the road to Portal. The ranch is a lodge catering to birders and they have a large array of feeders and water features just outside the main building where one can sit and watch. They also allow birders who aren't guests to come and watch.
We sat around for about two hours right among the birds and saw 27 species, including two life birds, Lewis's Woodpecker and Cassin's Finch.
We had six new birds for the day, but no Elegant Trogon.
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