Christmas Mountains Oasis

For a blustery midday observation, the Christmas Mountains Oasis was still remarkably productive! Either way you look at the map, Marathon to CMO is at least 2 hours. So instead of taking the northern or southern routes, we cut straight through the middle. It would not be advised for low-clearance vehicles. It would definitely not be advised for any vehicle after a rain.

Also, speeds should really be kept down on that back road shortcut; aside from abundant Mule Deer and birds and plenty of other wildlife tracks... we had our second Western Diamondback Rattlesnake for the county! (photos at end of post; thanks to Joe for the ID correction!)

Location name: Christmas Mountain Oasis
Observation date: 11/3/10 (11:30 am - 2 pm)

X Scaled Quail - heard only
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk - male
1 Cooper's Hawk - female
4 White-winged Dove
1 Mourning Dove
1 Greater Roadrunner
6 Anna's Hummingbird
1 Rufous Allen's Hummingbird
1 Ladder-backed Woodpecker
2 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)
1 Eastern Phoebe
1 Common Raven
1 Cactus Wren
1 Rock Wren
1 House Wren
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 Swainson's Thrush
1 Hermit Thrush
1 Northern Mockingbird
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)
1 Spotted Towhee
1 Canyon Towhee
3 Chipping Sparrow
3 Vesper Sparrow
5 Black-throated Sparrow
1 Lark Bunting
1 Lincoln's Sparrow
15 White-crowned Sparrow
7 Pyrrhuloxia
14 Pine Siskin
4 Lesser Goldfinch
1 American Goldfinch

Total species reported: 32

Report generated by eBird.

Notes: Winds picked up considerably around one, knocking most birds into cover.

Butterflies noted: Arizona Sister, Monarch, Checkered White, Southern Dogface, Question Mark, empress ?

Mammals: fox or young coyote seen by Matt. Badger at low tank seen by Heidi.

Aforementioned Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (not at CM Oasis):


















Head detail, from a safe distance:


















Rattle detail: