Broad Billed Hummingbirds

The miserable UK March weather made us decide to head off to warmer climes for Easter and our chosen destination was Phoenix, Arizona in America's beautiful south west. When we left the UK on 1st April it was only 2C and trying to snow.That all changed when we got to Arizona - with some days topping 34C!

Little did we know when we booked the trip that Arizona, and particularly south east Arizona is a Mecca for birders and during the summer months (May - September) it has the largest number of Hummingbird species ever recorded in the United States, some 14 species in fact - including some rare species which are normally residents south of the Mexican border.

Hummingbirds recorded at Beatty's Guest Ranch at Miller Canyon, AZ include: Allen's, Anna's, Berylline, Black-chinned, Blue-throated,Broad-billed, Broad-tailed, Calliope, Costa's, Lucifer, Magnificent, Rufous, Plain-capped Starthroat, Violet-crowned, White-Eared.

Unfortunately the unseasonably cool winter in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area seemed to have hit Hummingbird numbers and some plants had also been killed by the severe frosts in early 2013.

As we were staying in Scottsdale, a trek to Miller Canyon was too far on this occasion, but we did discover an excellent nearby location for Hummingbird viewing - Boyce Thompson Arboretum, which was about 50 miles east of Phoenix on I-60 (a comfortable hour's drive). With a little patience we were rewarded with great views of Broad Billed Hummingbirds in their natural environment in the Boyce Thompson Hummingbird Garden.