I was lucky to get to stay here and it was at a point where it was really helpful (because I was tired) to have great birding right outside of my room. The lodge was comfortable and I would say somewhat accessible -- there is a gravel driveway, but the property is pretty level and there are lots of seats at the feeders. This was the view out my window.
If I go here again, I would book very early and try to get the room with a deck that overlooks this creek There is a popular trail along this creek and it is proximate to the store/cafe/feeders so I suspect it is not a quiet room.
The feeders were, for me, not as nice at the ones in Battiste's Bird Garden. Often you are looking down at them and the photographers were complaining there were not many natural perches. I tend to agree. Also because it is a famous place it draws people who are not birders and can tend to be noisy or disruptive. For example, I went back there to sit and bird late morning on the second day. It was nice for a while, but then this quartet of people showed up and one of the guys kept whistling at the Wild Turkeys because it made them gobble and the other three people in his party laughed. It's not like he did it once or twice -- I would say in the time I stayed he did it 20 times. Talk about not knowing when to quit. I didn't realize there was a posted list of rules which state do not make sounds or noises at the birds. Clearly he didn't either or he just chose to ignore that. I went back to my room to pack. But annoying because I'm a guest and they were clearly passersby.
Was very happy to have good looks at a pair of Hepatic Tanagers and a nice session with a Coatimundi on the last day.
First Full Day
This Rivoli's Hummingbird was only a few feet away from me and it kept flying between this perch and a feeder behind me -- it flew very very close to me several times. Iphone photo.
Hepatic Tanager -- Male Red, Female Yellow
Mexican Jay
House Finch
Wild Turkey
Arizona Woodpecker
Yellow-eyed Junco
Acorn Woodpecker
Bronzed Cowbird
Female Black-headed Grosbeak (the 7 is a feeder number)
And then there were Hummingbird -- nothing new, but lovely nonetheless.
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Rivoli's Hummingbird (the one who buzzed me)
Departure Morning
Just a few birds worth posting, but the Coatimundi was sooooooo cooperative. I had one the day before, but it was early and it was quickly up in a tree. This one was made for photos, in the right light and it hung around a bit.
Arizona Woodpecker
Common Raven -- love the shaggy plumage!
Coatimundi
If I had to do it again, I would probably stay for two days again because of the wonder of these early morning sessions at the feeders. If you're a hiker, you'd probably find more to do.
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