Sunday, after spending the day at the Gilbert Water Ranch, I drove the Superstition Highway forty miles east to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. I’d been here only once before in the fall of 2019 (last year) and was looking forward to another visit. I doubt that birding was a consideration or a goal for the founders when they conceived of establishing this arboretum in the Roaring 1920s. Never-the-less, that’s been one result achieved.
One challenge in photographing here is that many of the trails through the arboretum are narrow. If you use a tripod as I do, it takes up space on the trail and makes it an obstacle for other visitors to navigate. There were several occasions this day where I found a peaceful spot to attempt a bird capture, only to have to shift my gear to accommodate an approaching group of folks out to enjoy this amazing location. I feel it’s my responsibility to keep the path clear in these situations. But it was frustrating to have a nice bird come into view and not be able to follow it with my camera because of an approaching group of citizens out to enjoy their day. Most of the visitors here are out to savor the amazing collection of trees and plants, and these trails are ideal for that purpose. My goal here is to adapt to these conditions and look for quiet places out of the way from most of the traffic, or wide places where my presence won’t pose an obstacle to my fellow visitors. It was tricky, but I was fortunate in finding a number of satisfying opportunities to capture the local avifauna.
Most of the birds I met this day, I suspect are residents. I believe I was too early for many of the migrants that make their annual journey north to pass by here. Still, it was a beautiful day in the neighborhood (sorry Mr. Rogers), and I enjoyed it immensely.
Anna's Hummingbird(Calypte anna) |
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Description: Some of my time late in the day during my stay at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum was spent at the hummer feeders. The arboretum is near Superior Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 11:26 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 |
File Name: AnnasHummingbird_D5X1406-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black-Chinned Hummingbird(Archilochus alexandri) |
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Description: Some of my time late in the day during my stay at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum was spent at the hummer feeders. The arboretum is near Superior Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 11:33 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackChinnedHummingbird_D5X1455-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Broad-Billed Hummingbird(Cynanthus latirostris) |
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Description: Some of my time late in the day during my stay at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum was spent at the hummer feeders. The arboretum is near Superior Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 11:25 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: BroadBilledHummingbird_D5X1398-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Broad-Billed Hummingbird(Cynanthus latirostris) |
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Description: Some of my time late in the day during my stay at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum was spent at the hummer feeders. The arboretum is near Superior Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 12:01 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: BroadBilledHummingbird_D5X1498-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cactus Wren(Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 10:05 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/6400 |
File Name: CactusWren_D5X1003-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cactus Wren(Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 10:06 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 1/100 |
File Name: CactusWren_D5X1049-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Cactus Wren(Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 10:06 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: CactusWren_D5X1055-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Wren(Catherpes mexicanus) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona, where I heard the unmistakable song of the Canyon Wren. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 8:09 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/6400 |
File Name: CanyonWren_D5X0727-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Wren(Catherpes mexicanus) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona, where I heard the unmistakable song of the Canyon Wren. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 8:10 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: CanyonWren_D5X0740-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Canyon Wren(Catherpes mexicanus) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona, where I heard the unmistakable song of the Canyon Wren. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 8:12 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: CanyonWren_D5X0778-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Costa's Hummingbird(Calypte costae) |
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Description: Some of my time late in the day during my stay at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum was spent at the hummer feeders. The arboretum is near Superior Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 11:21 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: CostasHummingbird_D5X1377-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Curve-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma curvirostre) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. This charismatic bird was one of the 'usual suspects' in the park. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 9:33 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: CurveBilledThrasher_D5X0894-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Curve-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma curvirostre) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. This charismatic bird was one of the 'usual suspects' in the park. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 9:34 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: CurveBilledThrasher_D5X0921-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Curve-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma curvirostre) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. This charismatic bird was one of the 'usual suspects' in the park. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 9:34 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: CurveBilledThrasher_D5X0935-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Northern Cardinal(Cardinalis cardinalis) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 11:28 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: NorthernCardinal_D5X1423-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Phainopepla(Phainopepla nitens) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 8:16 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: Phainopepla_D5X0794-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rock Wren(Salpinctes obsoletus) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. This Rock Wren was my third wren species of the day. The others being Cactus and Canyon Wrens. I thought I heard Bewick's Wrens, but they did not offer themselves to my camera. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 10:14 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: RockWren_D5X1135-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rufous-Crowned Sparrow(Aimophila ruficeps) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. These sparrows are difficult to distinguish from Rufous-Winged Sparrows, but their 'deer-deer' calls single them out. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 10:14 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: RufousCrownedSparrow_D5X1090-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rufous-Crowned Sparrow(Aimophila ruficeps) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. These sparrows are difficult to distinguish from Rufous-Winged Sparrows, but their 'deer-deer' calls single them out. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 10:16 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: RufousCrownedSparrow_D5X1152-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rufous-Crowned Sparrow(Aimophila ruficeps) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. These sparrows are difficult to distinguish from Rufous-Winged Sparrows, but their 'deer-deer' calls single them out. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 10:17 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: RufousCrownedSparrow_D5X1228-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rufous-Crowned Sparrow(Aimophila ruficeps) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. These sparrows are difficult to distinguish from Rufous-Winged Sparrows, but their 'deer-deer' calls single them out. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 10:19 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: RufousCrownedSparrow_D5X1263-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rufous-Crowned Sparrow(Aimophila ruficeps) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. These sparrows are difficult to distinguish from Rufous-Winged Sparrows, but their 'deer-deer' calls single them out. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 10:20 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: RufousCrownedSparrow_D5X1280-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Spotted Towhee(Pipilo maculatus) |
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Description: I spent the day meeting birds at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:02:24 10:39 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: SpottedTowhee_D5X1349-Boyce-Thompson |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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