Cooper’s hawk at WOW Arizona. — Photo by Pat Bean
“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” – John Burroughs
Rufous-winged Sparrow
I discovered this little fellow while I was looking for the rufous-winged sparrow. — Photo by Pat Bean
The Cooper’s hawk sat patiently for its photograph, but I was too enthralled by the rufous-winged sparrow to even take my point and shoot camera out of my pocket. While in most people’s eyes, the hawk would be considered the more magnificent of the two, the sparrow had my vote this day.
That’s because while I have seen many Cooper’s hawks, even watched a pair raise two chicks this past year, the rufous-winged was a lifer. It’s the 706th species now on my life list of birds. A big thinks for the sighting goes to Chris and MaryEllen, who over a 20-year period of hard work, have created a special wildlife sanctuary on their property.
Peeking through the cactus at one of the many hummingbird feeders on Chris and MaryEllen’s property. — Photo by Pat Bean
Chris was especially helpful in seeking this south eastern Arizona bird out for me, after I mentioned I wanted to see one when he was giving me and six other Audubon birders a tour of the grounds. After the circuit, and a bit of sitting on his patio watching a variety of hummers, curved-bill thrashers, gila and ladder-backed woodpeckers, white-crowned sparrows and house finches, I set out for the front meadow, where he said the rufous-winged hung out.
That was where I spotted the Cooper’s, and immediately knew there would be no small birds hanging out in this area until the hawk-watcher went off duty. So after snapping the hawk’s photo, I went elsewhere to search.
Chris soon joined me, saying he had heard a rufous-winged. A couple of minutes later, we had a clear view of one singing in a tree. It was a grand sighting, and after Chris and I high-fived, he said even he had chill bumps.
Blog pick of the day. Check it out.
Bean Pat: It seems only fitting that WOW Arizona’s web site get the blog pick of the day award. Check this marvelous place out at: http://wowarizona.org/ WOW, by the way, stands for Wonderful Outdoor World. Chris said people don’t need therapy or drugs to solve their problems. “They just need to get outdoors into nature.” It works for me.
Pat Bean's blog 
Pat, I looked and looked for a rufous-winged sparrow and all I could see was a lovely little mouse! LOL
But I have seen a Harris hawk – I think it was; I was too enthralled to do much more than gawp – as it attacked and pinned a mockingbird on my front porch floor, right in front of the storm door window. As it was holding the bird down, it looked in the window right at me (don’t know if it could actually see me) and then took its prey and flew off. I ws just dumbstruck for a long time.
You can’t find this bird in Texas Sam. I’m not sure I’ve heard anyone else call a mouse lovely. I love your sense of humor.
Gorgeous!
Thanks Cindy
I’ve heard of this place, I guess I should go. And, wow, I am impressed with 706 species as I just started counting a year or so ago and I am way, way behind that! I’m not counting back, though, not counting birds from the past, in other words, just the present.
I’ve been counting since 1999, and 182 of those birds are African species. The first 100 are easy to find Candace, which is exciting, but then it gets more difficult. The rufous-winged was my first new species in 2015. Happy birding Candace.