Ramsey Canyon, Carr Canyon and Miller Canyon all descend from the eastern flanks of the Huachuca Mountains. For bird lovers, each of these places offers a wealth of opportunities for meeting unusual or even rare birds. Many of the birds stay for the warmer months, only to raise the next generation, but some remain year-round. Still, other birds might just be passing through on their annual migrations.
Ramsey Canyon is the northernmost of these canyons and nearest to the town center of Sierra Vista. The Nature Conservancy owns and operates this canyon during “banker’s hours” five days a week. It is surrounded by steep cliffs, nestled deep within the bosom of its sky island home. Ramsey Canyon is arguably the most famous of all locations around the Huachuca Mountains. Given the limited timeframe to access the grounds, it’s unlikely you will have the place to yourself, and if that doesn’t concern you, the trails up the canyon will delight.
Carr Canyon is a little further south from Ramsey Canyon. I’ve visited here but once, but I’ve been meaning to return one day. My explorations didn’t give me much in the way of bird encounters, but in August of 1999 I enjoyed the great vistas from the higher ridges where the road carried me.
Miller Canyon is an amazing location, and one of the best places on the planet to meet hummingbirds. I find it regrettable that the primary “host” at the guest ranch atop the road is such an unpleasant grump when he chooses to be so. The wealth of bird life here makes this an attractive birding destination anyway.
Still further south is Ash Canyon. I’ve heard lovely things about this destination, but I’ve never visited there. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this possible destination.
In the gallery below are contained some of the images and memories from my past visits to these canyons.
Broad-Tailed Hummingbird(Selasphorus platycercus) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:27 14:32 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X1907-BroadTailedHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Rivoli's Hummingbird(Eugenes fulgens) |
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Description: Formerly named Magificent Hummingbird. Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:27 15:47 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/80 |
File Name: D3X1964-MagnificentHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Anna's Hummingbird(Calypte anna) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:27 16:02 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X1971-AnnasHummingBird-SubAdult |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Black-Chinned Hummingbird(Archilochus alexandri) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:27 16:07 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X1980-BlackChinnedHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Helmeted Guineafowl(Numida meleagris) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 7:02 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: D3X1993-HelmetedGuineaFowl |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rufous Hummingbird(Selasphorus rufus) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 7:13 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X1998-RufousHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Costa's Hummingbird(Calypte costae) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 7:45 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X2022-CostasHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Broad-Tailed Hummingbird(Selasphorus platycercus) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 8:15 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X2056-BroadTailedHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Desert Spiny Lizard(Sceloporus magister) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 13:02 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X2086-DesertSpinyLizard |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rivoli's Hummingbird(Eugenes fulgens) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 13:25 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X2120-MagnificentHummingbird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake(Lampropeltis pyromelana pyromelana) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 14:23 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X2137-SonoranMountainKingSnake |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rufous Hummingbird(Selasphorus rufus) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 14:48 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X2171-RufousHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Rivoli's Hummingbird(Eugenes fulgens) |
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Description: Formerly named Magificent Hummingbird. Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 15:03 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X2221-MagnificentHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Anna's Hummingbird(Calypte anna) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 15:04 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X2226-AnnasHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Broad-Billed Hummingbird(Cynanthus latirostris) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 15:13 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X2235-BroadBilledHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rufous Hummingbird(Selasphorus rufus) |
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Description: Female at Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 15:31 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/80 |
File Name: D3X2279-RufousHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Rivoli's Hummingbird(Eugenes fulgens) |
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Description: Formerly named Magificent Hummingbird. Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 15:34 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X2290-MagnificentHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rivoli's Hummingbird(Eugenes fulgens) |
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Description: Formerly named Magificent Hummingbird. Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 15:52 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/80 |
File Name: D3X2335-MagnificentHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Monarch Butterfly(Danaus plexippus) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:28 17:09 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: D3X2351-MonarchButterFly |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Hutton's Vireo(Vireo huttoni) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:29 10:18 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X2365-HuttonsVireo |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Painted Redstart(Myioborus pictus) |
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Description: (Myioborus pictus) A bird found at Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona USA 2013-08-29. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:29 10:56 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X2394-PaintedRedstart |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Painted Redstart(Myioborus pictus) |
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Description: (Myioborus pictus) A bird found at Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona USA 2013-08-29. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:29 10:56 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X2405-PaintedRedstart |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Mexican Jay(Aphelocoma wollweberi arizonae) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:29 11:23 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X2441-MexicanJay |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Broad-Tailed Hummingbird(Selasphorus platycercus) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:29 11:29 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X2453-BroadTailedHummingBird |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Mexican Jay(Aphelocoma wollweberi arizonae) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:29 11:30 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X2460-MexicanJay |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Mexican Jay(Aphelocoma wollweberi arizonae) |
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Description: Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, near Hereford, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:29 11:34 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X2468-MexicanJay |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Black-chinned Hummingbird(Archilochus alexandri) |
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Description: Female. Ramsey Canyon, North-East Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:02 13:21 |
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Location:
Ramsey Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 700 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD_0001BlackChinnedHummingbird |
| © 2004 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Rivoli's Hummingbird(Eugenes fulgens) |
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Description: Beatty's Miller Canyon Guest Ranch, East Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:02 14:01 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 500 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: JCD_0042MagnificentHummingbird |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Rivoli's Hummingbird(Eugenes fulgens) |
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Description: Female. Beatty's Miller Canyon Guest Ranch, East Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:02 15:00 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 650 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: JCD_0086MagnificentHummingbird |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Black-Chinned Hummingbird(Archilochus alexandri) |
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Description: Beatty's Miller Canyon Guest Ranch, East Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:02 16:11 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/80 |
File Name: JCD_0125BlackChinnedHummingbird |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Canyon Wren(Catherpes mexicanus) |
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Description: Ramsey Canyon, North-East Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona 2004-09-02. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:02 10:38 |
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Location:
Ramsey Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_9956CanyonWren |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Rufous Hummingbird(Selasphorus rufus) |
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Description: Beatty's Miller Canyon Guest Ranch, East Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:02 12:05 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 400 mm, f/9.5, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD_9977RufousHummingbird |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Black-chinned Hummingbird(Archilochus alexandri) |
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Description: Female. Beatty's Miller Canyon Guest Ranch, East Face of the Huachuca Mountains. Sierra Vista, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2004:09:02 13:21 |
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Location:
Miller Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 700 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD_9995BlackChinnedHummingbird |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Desert Rainbow(Scenery) |
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Description: Looking at the Santa Cruz Valley from Carr Canyon near Sierra Vista Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2008:04:14 20:32 |
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Location:
Carr Canyon |
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Camera Information: |
File Name: jcd990827a03-SierraVista-Rainbow |
| © 1999 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
View From The Huachucas(Scenery) |
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Description: Looking at the Santa Cruz Valley from Carr Canyon near Sierra Vista Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2008:04:14 20:31 |
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Location:
Carr Canyon |
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Camera Information: |
File Name: jcd990827a06-SierraVista-CarrCanyon |
| © 1999 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Arizona Monsoon Rain(Scenery) |
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Description: Looking at the Santa Cruz Valley from Carr Canyon near Sierra Vista Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2008:04:14 20:31 |
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Location:
Carr Canyon |
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Camera Information: |
File Name: jcd990827a12-MontezumaPass-Huachuca |
| © 1999 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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