Sierra Vista, AZ (1/28/2019)

Sierra Vista is well known among birders for its large number of birding "hot spots" and great variety of species.  Not only do they have numerous canyons that attract birds, there is the San Pedro River that provides a riparian area to welcome all manner of wildlife, including birds.  The local birding group and BLM have taken it a step further by establishing  San Pedro House near the river.  Per BLM's web site:

San Pedro House. a historic ranch house restored by the Friends of the San Pedro River, is a bookstore and gift shop run by volunteers. The area around the San Pedro House features interpretive signs of various native plants of the area, riparian, watersheds and aquifers, and wildlife. The American Bird Conservancy has identified the San Pedro House as being significant for world bird conservation and officially designated a globally important bird area.

I make it a point to visit San Pedro House whenever I'm in the area.  Hiking along the river is one way of photographing birds, sitting near the feeders is easier and more productive.  The grounds contain some of the most massive cottonwood trees you will find anywhere.  And there's a pretty good view of the Huachuca Mountains.

 Here are just a sampling of the birds I was able to photograph, some of which are "lifers" for me.

Red Crossbill

Female Red-winged Blackbird

Common Ground Dove

Male Gila Woodpecker

Male House Finch

Female House Finch

Western Screech Owl

Lesser Goldfinch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Loggerhead Shrike

Returning to Huachuca City and my RV park, I stopped by St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic church to check out its architecture.  I found it to be a beautiful church, most appropriate for southern Arizona.  

As I pulled into the RV park, a roadrunner walking through the area was kind enough to pose for me.

Greater Roadrunner