After the Patagonia Sonoita Creek Preserve visit we drive the short distance to the Paton Center for Hummingbirds which is really close by. Here we are quite surprised as the Center has a new parking lot, much more spacious, with some toilet facilities and a trail leading to the center proper. Based on info online it was finished only a couple months prior so it is really new.
We take the trail to the center proper exploring the interesting panels. For some reason there is an advertising here for a major birding tour company but we like most the list of birds that can be seen here, wonder how many we will be able to see during our short visit.
We start with the non-hummingbird feeder section which is full of Lazuli Buntings. Lots and lots of them and surprisingly confiding in us.
And then we see our preferred bird, a Northern Cardinal male just trying to eat as many seeds as possible before the woodpeckers or buntings get all of them.
The area seems a bit more maintained than last time with a beautiful pond and lots of well stocked feeders. Including the many hummingbird feeders.
As usual there are many hummingbirds here including the major specialty that attracts many birders here, the Violet-crowned Hummingbird. We have some great views of the hummingbirds as they come to the feeder and we enjoy them for a while before returning to the car and then back to our lodging for lunch and then an outing to the museum.
The next day we start our day with a visit to Paton but this time we take the new trails to the Sonoita Creek looking for any interesting birds or mammals for that matter.
There are no special birds but quite a few more common ones like lots of Abert’s Towhees and Yellow Warblers, Northern Yellow Warblers to be more precise.
And then we find a more special bird, for Phoenix people at least, a Bridled Titmouse just sitting on a branch next to the trail. Right next to multiple lizards.
We also see our first white-winged dove of the season, soon they will appear also in Phoenix but for now we just say hello to an old annual friend.
At the hummingbird feeders we see the usual hummingbirds but at the non hummingbirds feeders we add a few more species like Canyon Towhee and Lesser Goldfinch before moving on to another visit of the Sonoita Creek Preserve.
