Those who know me well, know I love to travel. Sometimes the places I go draw me back time and time again. Arivaca Arizona is one of these places. My first visit was in 2003 and my most recent was in 2017. [I originally posted this story before my visit on 2019-10-27. That story can be read <Here>] This region produced my first meetings with the Vermillion Flycatcher, Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, Cassin’s Sparrow and the Dusky-Capped Flycatcher. It has also produced some of my *best* meetings, if not my first, for other birds.
The geology of the valley forces the water in Arivaca Creek to the surface beginning two miles southeast of the rural town of the same name. Locals call this marshy zone the “cienega”. It is owned by the US Department of Fish and Wildlife as part of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Reserve, but it differs dramatically from the arid grasslands that dominate the rest of the 118,000 acre reserve. After passing through the cienega most of the creek’s water descends into subterranean channels until the summer Monsoon rains come. Still, because of the cienega’s topography, surface water can be found year-round there. This important resource attracts birds and other wildlife to the area. It also attracts nature lovers like me.
There is another reason I have returned many times to this area; I made an acquaintance on one of my earliest visits. That acquaintance became a friendship I value very much. My friend was a community leader in the town (population ~700) and I learned much of the local lore from her. She no longer lives in this small town, and has retired to the more “civilized” town of Green Valley 34 miles to the east. I try to visit her and her new digs as often as I can.
Rufous-Winged Sparrow(Peucaea carpalis) |
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Description: Found along the road to Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:28 12:29 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/4.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D722698-RufousWingedSparrow |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
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Description: Bird seen along the road to Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:28 12:48 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D722725-CassinsSparrow |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Grasshopper(Unknown) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:28 13:32 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 380 mm, f/5.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D722746-GrassHopper |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Pyrrhuloxia(Cardinalis sinuatus) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:28 14:06 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 380 mm, f/5.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D722759-Pyrrhuloxia |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gila Woodpecker(Melanerpes uropygialis) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:28 14:20 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 380 mm, f/5.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D722774-GilaWoodpecker |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Ornate Tree Lizard(Urosaurus ornatus) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:28 14:48 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 380 mm, f/5.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D722786-OrnateTreeLizard |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Grasshopper(Unknown) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:28 14:50 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 380 mm, f/5.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D722791-GrassHopper |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Grasshopper(Unknown) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:28 14:53 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 380 mm, f/5.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D722797-GrassHopper |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Dainty Sulphur Butterfly(Nathalis iole) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:28 14:54 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 380 mm, f/5.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D722799-DaintySulphur-Butterfly |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Grasshopper(Unknown) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:29 8:16 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D722802-GrassHopper |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Green-Tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus) |
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Description: (Pipilo chlorurus) Adult bird seen at the cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, Arizona USA 2015-10-29. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:29 9:07 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D722868-GreenTailedTowhee |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Cassin's Sparrow(Peucaea cassinii) |
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Description: Bird seen along the road to Arivaca Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 15:34 |
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Location:
Amado |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D727054-CassinsSparrow |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aries NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 17:31 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 |
File Name: D727162-VermillionFlycatcher |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Red-Tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aries NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 17:49 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: D727200-RedTailedHawk |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aries NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 18:20 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: D727295-LoggerHeadShrike |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Broad-Billed Hummingbird(Cynanthus latirostris) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aries NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:26 8:55 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: D727361-BroadBilledHummingBird |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Dusky-Capped Flycatcher(Myiarchus tuberculifer) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aries NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:26 9:23 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: D727408-DuskyCappedFlyCatcher |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Dusky-Capped Flycatcher(Myiarchus tuberculifer) |
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Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aries NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:26 17:07 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: D727498-DuskyCappedFlycatcher |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bell's Vireo(Vireo bellii) |
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Description: The Cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 7:01 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: BellsVireo_D5X0482 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bell's Vireo(Vireo bellii) |
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Description: The Cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 7:01 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: BellsVireo_D5X0498 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Curve-Billed Thrasher(Toxostoma curvirostre) |
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Description: Arivaca in rural south-central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 16:09 |
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Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: CurveBilledThrasher_D5X9995 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gila Woodpecker(Melanerpes uropygialis) |
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Description: A resident bird at the cienega in Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, Arizona USA 2017-05-03. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 16:24 |
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Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GilaWoodpecker_D5X0080 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gila Woodpecker(Melanerpes uropygialis) |
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Description: A resident bird at the cienega in Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, Arizona USA 2017-05-03. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 16:25 |
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Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GilaWoodpecker_D5X0097 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gray Hawk(Buteo plagiatus) |
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Description: Arivaca Creek. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 9:52 |
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Location:
Arivaca Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: GrayHawk_D5X0667 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Greater Roadrunner(Geococcyx californianus) |
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Description: Arivaca in rural south-central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 15:40 |
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Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GreaterRoadRunner_D5X9725 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black-throated Sparrow(Amphispiza bilineata) |
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Description: This bird is common near Arivaca in South Central Arizona USA 2003-08-30. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:30 13:45 |
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Location:
Arivaca |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD_1399BlackThroatSparrow |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Cassin's Kingbird(Tyrannus vociferans) |
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Description: Buenos Aires NWR. Arivaca, South Central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:30 18:30 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD_1420CassinsKingbird |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes |
Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
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Description: Female at Buenos Aires NWR. Arivaca, South Central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:30 19:46 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_1441VermillionFlycatcher |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes |
Yellow-Breasted Chat(Icteria virens) |
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Description: This bird was found in the cienega at Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, South Central Arizona USA 2003-08-31. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:31 9:15 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_1478YellowBreastedChat |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Yellow-Breasted Chat(Icteria virens) |
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Description: This bird was found in the cienega at Buenos Aires NWR in Arivaca, South Central Arizona USA 2003-08-31. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:31 9:17 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_1489YellowBreastedChat |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo(Coccyzus americanus) |
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Description: Buenos Aires NWR. Arivaca, South Central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:31 9:53 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: Cut-JCD_1495YellowBillCuckoo |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lucy's Warbler(Leiothlypis luciae) |
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Description: Seen while camped at Arivaca in rural south-central Arizona USA 2017-05-03 |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 16:29 |
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Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: LucysWarbler_D5X0143 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lucy's Warbler(Leiothlypis luciae) |
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Description: Seen while camped at Arivaca in rural south-central Arizona USA 2017-05-03 |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 16:29 |
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Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: LucysWarbler_D5X0165 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lucy's Warbler(Leiothlypis luciae) |
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Description: Arivaca in rural south-central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 15:57 |
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Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: LucysWarbler_D5X9831 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rufous-Crowned Sparrow(Aimophila ruficeps) |
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Description: The Cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 9:19 |
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Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: RufousCrownedSparrow_D5X0627 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
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Description: Arivaca in rural south-central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 16:11 |
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Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X0033 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
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Description: Arivaca in rural south-central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 16:12 |
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Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X0039 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
American Yellow Warbler(Setophaga petechia) |
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Description: (Dendroica petechia) Foraging in Arivaca, in rural south-central Arizona USA 2017-05-03. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 15:15 |
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Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: YellowWarbler_D5X9679 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
American Yellow Warbler(Setophaga petechia) |
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Description: Foraging in Arivaca, in rural south-central Arizona USA 2017-05-03. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 15:15 |
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Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: YellowWarbler_D5X9689 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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