Just outside the visitor centre for Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge is a well manicured and paved walkway that leads down to the water with several covered stops along the way.  The day we decided to visit was quite warm, and as I still haven’t quite recovered from Sedona’s excursions, I was happy to take it easy.

We arrived mid-day and were immediately welcomed by a flash of yellow under wings.  I followed the bird for a bit until he landed in a bush and happily posed for this picture.  (I’m assuming he’s a flycatcher, and would be pleased if someone could let me know.)

A hummingbird sat in a nearby bush and was equally undisturbed by my presence.  As the sun was behind me, this made for an excellent look at the bright, gem-like iridescence of the bird, whom I believe to be an Anna’s Hummingbird.

Where we stopped is just a small portion of this large refuge, better seen by kayak or canoe as there is a large marshy area accessible only by watercraft.  Docks were set up along the walkway for fishing, so this is not just a birding sanctuary.

A large party of waterfowl were gathered across the river from us, among them this pair of Clark’s grebes.  Even from a distance, these lovely birds have a distinct appearance.

Several lizards scrambled about our feet, and warning signs were up to watch for snakes, but we didn’t have any untoward encounters.  We did, however, see a rather large, rectangular, beetle which was interesting.

If I hadn’t been so tired – with so much more we wanted to see – I might have done nothing more than sit and ponder the water, the mountains, the sky and the lulling contrasting colours of this Arizona paradise.