Sierra Vista to Tucson

Kate and Jim's 2003 Vacation - Day 6 - Feb 27
DSC00786ab.JPG (147298 bytes) We finished up our stay at the Casa de San Pedro with a trip bird of White-winged Dove.  After another delicious breakfast (oatmeal pancakes), we took the scenic route to Tucson on Routes 82 and 83 along the eastern side of the Santa Rita mountains.  Well, it wasn't THAT scenic, but it was a road that I've never been on before...a lifer road!
DSC00842a.JPG (52229 bytes) Our first stop in Tucson was the Arizona Desert Museum.  This is a pretty neat spot - a combination of botanic garden and zoo.  Years ago, it was our first stop on our first Arizona vacation.  And I still recommend it.
DSC00816a.JPG (48206 bytes) Unfortunately, the exhibit we really came to see was the hummingbird aviary, which was closed for renovation.  They said it was scheduled to open on Saturday morning, right about the time we were heading to the airport to fly home.  But we did visit their other aviary which had many, many Inca Doves.  Evidently they don't have any problem breeding in captivity.  For those of you who aren't birders, no we can't count them.  Birders can only count birds that are "wild and unrestrained."  Birds in an aviary aren't.  But it was still interesting and good for photography.
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DSC00809ab.JPG (48197 bytes) Bullock's Oriole
DSC00812ab.JPG (77326 bytes) Gambel's Quail
DSC00824a.JPG (50707 bytes) Killdeer
DSC00825ab.JPG (84339 bytes) Hooded Oriole

One of the other birds we saw was a Redhead in an exhibit.  I thought we had a trip bird until we went down to the lower level and the sign referred to the Redhead - it was a captive bird.  BUT it was interesting because we got to watch him dive.  THAT was neat.  I've never seen that before.  Birders constantly wait for Redheads to come UP from their dive.  We don't get to see them while they're swimming around underwater.  

We also saw a pair of Black Vultures flying around.  Since they WERE flying, and it wasn't an aviary, we'll assume they were wild, along with the Cactus Wrens, Gila Woodpeckers, and Verdin we saw.
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DSC00835a.JPG (75232 bytes) Coati
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DSC00853a.JPG (62152 bytes) Ocelot
DSC00854a.JPG (59991 bytes) Gunnison's Prairie Dog (a little worse for the wear - apparently they get into territorial battles)
DSC00843a.JPG (46184 bytes) Uh...cacti.
DSC00851a.JPG (32751 bytes) And of course, weather was still a problem.  It was windy all day (what a surprise) and we got rained out near the end of the day.  Luckily we were almost finished anyway, and it gave us a chance to visit the gift shop.  Kate bought a very spiffy hat which you'll see in tomorrow's pix.
DSC00859a.JPG (41398 bytes) After the Desert Museum, we decided to do something decidedly unbirderlike by visiting the San Xavier Mission.  This used to be a birding destination, but the members of the reservation now frown on birders because of the lack of respect shown by some when viewing the nearby cemetery.  But visitors to the church are still welcome.  

The mission was built about 1700 and was the first church in Arizona and California.  We got there too late for visiting the inside (and the gift shop, of course), but the late afternoon sun did provide some good light for pictures.
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We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at the Tucson airport.  I won't mention the restaurant of the evening.  It doesn't deserve comment.