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| Hiking | 2.00 Miles |
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| | Hiking | 2.00 Miles | | | |
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| no partners | | Mission accomplished, and then some! Best day of wildlife watching ever - two huge firsts! 
Second trip to Portal/Cave Creek in two weeks - this time I got an earlier start, getting up at 4am to arrive there by 7.
Once again I lingered near the parking area for a few minutes, and same as last week I heard the Trogon call as I was peeing near the trailhead! Lol
I took off up the creekbed, following the sound ... a few minutes later I popped out onto the trail and paused to listen. I still heard the call, but softer and hard to locate. Finally I caught some movement in a pine tree and spotted him! He was in the shade at first, so his green parts looked black, but I clearly saw the red breast. So thrilling!
I watched him through the binoculars for a few minutes, then noticed another bird moving nearby ... could it be? Yes, it was the female - and she was feeding a baby in a nest hole!! Could not believe I found a nest site.
After a few more minutes, they flew away and I settled into a comfy log seat with a great view of the nest tree to await their return. I turned around to look for the hummingbird I kept hearing, glanced towards the creekbed ... and there 50 yards away was an adult black bear!
I jumped up for a better view, and took a few noisy steps towards the creek - the bear heard me and we stared deep into one another's eyes for a few long moments. Felt like love.  He or she then sprinted (quickly and noisily) partway up the hill on the other side, making huffy puffy bear sounds as it went.
I celebrated a bit, then saw Mrs Trogon at her nest again. This was about all the excitement I could take, so I headed out.
Checked out Sunny Flat Campground - really nice - then stopped at the V.C., but it wasn't the same lady I talked to last week there today.
Stopped at the Chiricahua Desert Museum to buy an Elegant Trogon hat.
Also saw my first scaled quail, road runners, Mexican jays, kestrel falcons, and red tailed hawks.
Side note: wouldn't have been a good day to be an illegal border crosser in the area. Border Patrol was lining NM80 from I-10 to Rodeo. Saw at least 10 B.P. trucks - one towing horses -and two more agents on quads. Two of them waved at me.
Incredible, amazing day - and it's barely noon! |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
