The Ranch is open to day visitors from 10 AM to 4 PM.  A $5 donation per individual is requested. Groups of more than four people must call in advance. 

SUMMER 2009 NEWS 

Summer has arrived at Cave Creek Ranch.  The local Arizona bird specialties are all singing and in their places.  Most birds are nesting, or are preparing to.  Many have already fledged their first broods.  We had a successful Broad-billed Hummingbird nest by Apt 4, and Indigo Buntings are nesting near the entrance.  While the winter rain and snowfall were light, we had 1.2 inches of rain in May, the second highest record for that month, and half an inch in June.  A good monsoon is predicted.  The creek is dry here (it’s flowing underground), but is still flowing on the surface farther up the canyon. It should begin flowing here again by early July. Temperatures have been very moderate.  May and June are traditionally our warmest months, but only a few days in May reached 90 degrees.

Some rare birds have shown up in the past month in the Chiricahuas: a Crescent-chested Warbler in the middle of May in Pinery Canyon, an Eared Quetzal in Echo Canyon in the Chiricahua National Monument, and the first North American record of a Grey-collared Becard right here in Cave Creek Canyon, in South Fork, on June 5.  Unfortunately that bird was seen for less than three hours, but good photographs were taken.  It was seen again on June 12 at Sunny Flat campground, about 2 miles west of the Ranch.  On June 15 a White-eared Hummingbird was seen at the feeder in front of the Common Room at the Ranch.

Mammals have been interesting.  A pair of Apache Fox Squirrels has returned to the Ranch after an absence of many months.  The Bobcat is seen regularly, a Coatimundi has been coming every couple of days, and we have a bumper crop of Cliff Chipmunks.  Bears have not been seen here yet (although they’ve been at Idlewilde campground a mile upstream), but we take all the feeders in each night to remove temptation should one pass through. 

Resident hummingbirds are Blue-throated, Magnificent, Black-chinned, and Broad-billed.  In July many more species will show up as migration begins, which will continue until early October.

We had a very good spring migration season this year, in spite of the economy, and reservations are strong for 2010.

Hope to see you here soon!

Reed Peters

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