SOUTHEAST ARIZONA MBWEEK SUMMARY
July 27 - August 4, 2018
We could hardly have gotten off to a faster start on our MBWeek! By the end of our first afternoon we had already seen a staked-out-at-a-sewage-pond Fulvous Whistling-Duck (exceptionally rare in AZ), a family of local and often-elusive Black-capped Gnatcatchers (with a tyrannulet and Varied Buntings among them) at Proctor Road, and a group of always-elusive Montezuma Quail at Santa Rita Lodge (the only ones we'd see all week). And by noon the next day we had already listed Five-striped Sparrows (plus our first Lucifer Hummingbird) along Box Canyon Rd, a Rose-throated Becard at its Tumacacori nest, and that afternoon we listed our first Elegant Trogon, Arizona Woodpecker, and Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher in Madera Canyon.
But, of course, things have a way of evening out. On Day 6 only part of our group managed brief looks and listens at a Rufous-capped Warbler; on Day 7 we missed out on a Flame-colored Tanager (heard 45 minutes before we got there); on Day 8 a stake-out Groove-billed Ani refused to appear for us (while showing up for others that day), and there were no Buff-collared Nightjar sounds that night at The Gulch (though some of us glimpsed either that or a poorwill in the road as it imitated a rock in the road before flying off).
Given a choice, I'd always rather get off to a slow start and finish with a flourish, and it's usually best to have fewer staked-out rarities around during a tour – especially when they involve difficult hikes or long drives which take time away from other places we'd like to visit. (We never did make it to Fort Huachuca, Patagonia Lake State Park, or Mt Lemmon.) Still, we finished with an even 180 species, which is a few species shy of our average in the mid-180s for a trip that includes Willcox water birds. (A Willcox-less trip might have a total in the 160s or 170s.) Our best number was 196 back in 1992, and the last time we did this trip in 2015 we found 192 species.
The below-average total was somewhat expected, given that the monsoon season had generally been modest and spotty, so that there was little rain to stimulate bird activity and song. Most telling was our list of only 8 hummingbird species – the lowest tally for any previous late-summer MBWeek here had been 10. It's also tempting to blame the weather for the absence of Western Screech-Owl, Juniper Titmouse, Bendire's Thrasher, Black-chinned Sparrow, and Bullock's Oriole from our list. But there are always a few "misses" on any trip, and these were about the only regular specialties we couldn't find (and typically none of them are easy to come up with).
But I'd say that what we did find certainly outweighed those we didn't. In addition to the highlights mentioned above from our first day and a half, we saw a long list of "non-Minnesota" species...birds like Mississippi Kites, Gray and Zone-tailed hawks, Barn Owl, Whiskered Screech-Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl (always a challenge to see, and a nice consolation on the Hamburg Trail trek), Gilded Flickers, 17 flycatcher species (including Greater Pewees, Gray, Cordilleran, Buff-breasted, Tropical and Thick-billed kingbirds), Mexican Chickadees, Olive Warblers (including 4+ in one tree), 10 non-Minnesota sparrows (e.g., Abert's Towhee, Rufous-winged, Botteri's, Cassin's), 9 non-Minnesota warblers (e.g., Lucy's, Virginia's, Grace's, Hermit, Red-faced, Painted Redstart), Hepatic Tanagers, and many others. In addition we heard Common Poorwills, a close Mexican Whip-poor-will, Elf Owls, and Crissal Thrashers.
And let's not forget the Yellow-green Vireo that I'd say Pete and George managed to see along the De Anza Trail on the last morning. According to Pete's description...
"I saw a vireo in the outside branches of a cottonwood tree about 25 feet above us that immediately reminded me of a Red-eyed Vireo – bigger than Warbling, longish bill, dark eye line, mostly whitish below, although it was moving around among the leaves, so that good solid looks were fleeting. George Lahr soon joined me and saw yellow plumage along the sides and flanks and also felt that the bird was more greenish-toned than grayish. We did not hear any vocalizations. After about 20-25 seconds it flew north up the river."
Don't know if they are counting it for their lists (and it would have been a life bird for me), but the account sounds good enough to include it on the all-time MBW list as species #711!
Itinerary
July 27 – All arrived @TUS airport by 1:30 pm; first to Green Valley WTP (for that whistling-duck), then to Proctor Rd and Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon; dinner at Cattle Town and first of 2 nights in Tucson.
July 28 – Box Canyon Rd, De Anza Trail in Tumacacori, return to Madera Canyon and Box Canyon Rd, and Ajo Way Burrowing Owls en route to dinner at Little Mexico.
July 29 – Saguaro Nat'l Park East, St David, Willcox settling pond, up Pinery Canyon Rd and down through Cave Creek Canyon to Portal for first of 2 nights; dinner at Portal Peak Lodge.
July 30 – Stateline Rd before breakfast, Cave Creek Canyon (incl South Fork Canyon, Southwest Research Station, Paradise Rd jct), Onion Saddle, Rustler Park, and Paradise Rd (incl George Walker House feeders); dinner at Portal Peak Lodge.
July 31 – Paradise Rd before breakfast, Bob Rodriquez feeders, Four Bar Cottages, Stateline Rd, Douglas (gas) & Busbee (lunch), San Pedro House, and Ash Canyon B & B; dinner at Ricardo's, owling at Miller Canyon, and first of 3 nights in Sierra Vista.
August 1 – Hunter Canyon, and drive up Carr Canyon Rd to Reef Townsite & Ramsey Vista campgrounds; dinner at German Cafe.
August 2 – San Pedro House, Ramsey Canyon & Hamburg Trail hike; dinner at Ricardo's & Pizzeria Mimosa, and owling in lower Carr Canyon.
August 3 – Pre-dawn nighthawk drive on Moson Rd, Sierra Vista WTP, one group to Whitewater Draw and other group to Miller Canyon & Beatty's feeders, then both groups in Patagonia; dinner at Cow Palace, nightjar-less drive to Warsaw Canyon @California Gulch, and night in Green Valley.
August 4 – De Anza Trail @Santa Gertrudis Ln to search for that vireo (by those with afternoon flights home).
Bird List
(boldfaced species = unexpected rarities, or often-elusive & local AZ specialties)
Fulvous Whistling-Duck (staked-out rarity at Green Valley WTP, on our first day)
Cinnamon Teal
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Scaled Quail
Gambel's Quail
Montezuma Quail (Santa Rita Lodge – also on our first day!)
Wild Turkey
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Inca Dove
Common Ground-Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (heard-only)
Greater Roadrunner
Lesser Nighthawk (pre-dawn along Moson Rd)
Common Nighthawk
Common Poorwill (heard-only twice; probably seen at CA Gulch)
Mexican Whip-poor-will (close heard-only in Miller Canyon)
White-throated Swift
Rivoli's Hummingbird
Blue-throated Hummingbird (best at Southwest Research Station)
Lucifer Hummingbird (best at Ash Canyon B & B)
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
[ Calliope Hummingbird (possible ID by leader-only) ]
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Violet-crowned Hummingbird (best at Patons in Patagonia)
Sora (heard-only)
American Coot
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Killdeer
Long-billed Curlew
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
[ Long-billed Dowitcher (possible ID at Willcox) ]
Spotted Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Wilson's Phalarope
California Gull (staked-out rarity at Willcox)
Black Tern
Great Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
White-faced Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Golden Eagle (en route to Douglas)
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Goshawk (heard-only at Miller Canyon nest)
Mississippi Kite (several at St David)
Gray Hawk (best at Tumacacori)
Swainson's Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk (3-4 sightings)
Red-tailed Hawk
Barn Owl (Four Bar Cottages)
Whiskered Screech-Owl (Miller Canyon)
Great Horned Owl (leader-only in Portal)
Northern Pygmy-Owl (nice consolation for some on the Hamburg Trail hike)
Elf Owl (heard-only, especially Lower Carr Canyon)
Burrowing Owl
Elegant Trogon (incl a family group at the Hamburg Tr tanager site)
Acorn Woodpecker
Gila Woodpecker
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Arizona Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Gilded Flicker (Saguaro National Park East)
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Rose-throated Becard (at a Tumacacori nest – on our first morning)
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet (with the Proctor Rd gnatcatchers, on our first day)
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
Tropical Kingbird
Cassin's Kingbird
Thick-billed Kingbird (Portal)
Western Kingbird
Greater Pewee (Ramsey Vista campgr)
Western Wood-Pewee
Gray Flycatcher (Paradise Cemetery migrant)
Cordilleran Flycatcher
Buff-breasted Flycatcher (Reef Townsite campgr)
Black Phoebe
Say's Phoebe
Vermilion Flycatcher
Loggerhead Shrike
Bell's Vireo
Hutton's Vireo
Plumbeous Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Yellow-green Vireo (seen by Pete & George on the last morning!)
Steller's Jay
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay
Mexican Jay
Chihuahuan Raven
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow (best along Portal-Paradise Rd)
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Mexican Chickadee (Rustler Park)
Bridled Titmouse
Verdin
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Rock Wren
Canyon Wren
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Bewick's Wren
Cactus Wren
[ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (possible ID) ]
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Black-capped Gnatcatcher (Proctor Rd family group – on our first day!)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Western Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Curve-billed Thrasher
Crissal Thrasher (heard-only twice)
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Phainopepla
Olive Warbler (best at Rustler Park)
House Sparrow
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
Spotted Towhee
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Canyon Towhee
Abert's Towhee
Rufous-winged Sparrow
Botteri's Sparrow (best by Pizzeria Mimosa)
Cassin's Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Five-striped Sparrow (on Box Canyon Rd – on our first morning!)
Black-throated Sparrow
Lark Bunting
Song Sparrow
Yellow-eyed Junco
Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark (the lilianae subspecies)
Hooded Oriole
Scott's Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Bronzed Cowbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Lucy's Warbler (best at Tumacacori)
Virginia's Warbler (best near Ramsey Vista campgr)
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Grace's Warbler (Reef Townsite campgr)
Black-throated Gray Warbler (ditto)
Townsend's Warbler (seen by a few near Onion Saddle)
Hermit Warbler (best at Rustler Park)
Rufous-capped Warbler (seen by 3-4; heard by most)
Red-faced Warbler (best at Rustler Park)
Painted Redstart
Hepatic Tanager
Summer Tanager
Western Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Pyrrhuloxia
Black-headed Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Varied Bunting
Significant Others:
Black-tailed Rattlesnake (seen twice by a few)
bat, sp.
Antelope Jackrabbit (California Gulch)
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Desert Cottontail
Rock Squirrel
Coyote
Coati
Striped Skunk
White-tailed Deer
Mule Deer
* * *
SOUTHEAST ARIZONA MBW SUMMARY
July 31 - August 9, 2015
Sorry to disappoint you all – Cindy especially – but it turns out that 192 is not a record for this MBWeek. While it is a nice total, 15 more than the last time the Edwardsons attended, and a bit above the average for this late-summer week in AZ, our highest total was actually 196 species way back in 1992. A few other trips here had around 190, and keep in mind that this trip was a day longer starting on a Friday, and it included two birds we only had in Phoenix (Honkers and Lovebirds!) which none of the other summer SE AZ trips had included. (Starting in Phoenix also failed to break our all-time MBW high of 113 degrees, as it merely reached 110 that day, but I doubt anyone was too upset by this.)
Numbers aside, though, this was certainly a memorable and successful MBWeek. With an early and active monsoon season, the deserts and grasslands were greener than I’d ever seen here. We never really got rained on, but there were some interesting diversions like the flash flood that blocked our way up Pinery Canyon – and at the same time turned us around in time to find a most obliging pair of Montezuma Quail lingering along the roadside! And though that large puddle/small pond on the California Gulch road briefly immersed our minivans’ headlights, the combination of this and our earlier flat tire failed to prevent our evening excursion to see Five-striped Sparrows and unexpected Elf Owls.
I was also impressed by places I’d never been to, such as the amazing Chiricahua Desert Museum, upper Miller Canyon above Beatty’s (vocal and visible pygmy-owls and eventually 2 Spotted Owls), Comfort Springs (our first Red-faced Warblers), Hamburg Trail (for Tufted Flycatcher – species #699 on the MBW composite list!), and especially under-birded Peña Blanca Canyon (trogons, tyrannulets, Varied Buntings, and more on refreshingly level terrain).
Of course, there were many highlights as well at more familiar sites: Mississippi Kites circling over Saint David; seven owl species actually seen (not just heard), with four of these in Miller Canyon; Harris’s Hawk, Lesser Nighthawk, Gilded Flicker, and Rufous-winged Sparrow all along the same residential street in Green Valley; a Plain-capped Starthroat on our third try at the Conrad feeders and Lucifer Hummingbirds on our first at Mary Jo’s B & B; the Buff-breasted Flycatcher nest at Carr Canyon; Thick-billed Kingbirds at three sites (just one is normal); the simultaneous appearance of a Greater Pewee, Mexican Chickadees, and Olive Warblers near Rustler Park; both Crissal and Bendire’s Thrashers in the same shrub at Willow Tank; and the best movement of warblers I’ve ever seen in AZ – 11 species at one spot in Summerhaven on Mt Lemmon, with multiple Virginia’s Warblers among them!
True, there may have been some disappointments: Buff-collared Nightjars and Mexican Whip-poor-wills had apparently stopped calling for the season, the White-eared Hummingbird at Beatty’s had not been seen for days, that Flame-colored Tanager was a no-show on the day we were at Ramsey, at Peña Blanca the Black-capped Gnatcatcher and Rufous-capped Warbler were heard-only, and there were a few birds on our list that no more than two or three of us saw. But these hardly matter considering the long list of Arizona specialties we did find, with no fewer than 115 of these “non-Minnesota” birds.
Itinerary
July 31: Early-afternoon arrival at PHX, Encanto Park (especially for Honkers?), and drive to Tucson via Columbus Park and Sweetwater Wetlands (a.k.a. visitor-friendly sewage ponds); dinner at Casa Molina and night at La Quinta Tucson Airport.
August 1: Lisa Frank Ave (for Burrowing Owls), Saint David (for kites), Willcox, Pinery Canyon (for a flash flood and quail), and drive to Portal via Douglas; first of 2 dinners and 2 nights at Portal Peak Lodge.
August 2: Stateline Road, first of 3 visits to the Conrads’ feeders, Dodie’s yard in Portal’s exclusive western suburbs, Cave Creek Canyon (incl South Fork Canyon & SW Research Station), E Turkey Creek Rd (briefly), Rustler Park & vicinity, return to the Conrads after a break, and post-dinner poorwilling.
August 3: Third & successful visit with the Conrads’ starthroat, Willow Tank & vicinity, Paradise Road & Cemetery and Goerge Walker House feeders, Chiricahua Desert Museum (!), and drive to Sierra Vista via Mary Jo’s Lucifer Hummingbird feeders at Ash Canyon B & B; dinner at Outback Steakhouse and first of 3 nights at Days Inn, Sierra Vista.
August 4: Ramsey Canyon (briefly), rest of morning at Miller Canyon (incl the hike above Beatty’s and the Beatty feeders), afternoon return for most back up the canyon (for Spotted Owls) / brief visit for others to Coronado National Monument and Hunter Canyon; dinner at Outside Inn and owling at Miller Canyon.
August 5: Hunter Canyon (briefly), most of the day up Carr Canyon, afternoon break for some / Sierra Vista sewage ponds & San Pedro House for others; dinner at Ricardo’s and owling at Carr Canyon.
August 6: Sierra Vista sewage ponds, San Pedro House, rest of morning up Ramsey & Hamburg canyons (for Tufted Flycatchers!), and afternoon drive to Green Valley via Patagonia (Patons’ feeders, Blue Haven Rd, and wayside rest), South River Rd, Rio Rico, and Amado sewage ponds; dinner for some at American Family Restaurant and first of 2 nights at Comfort Inn, Green Valley.
August 7: Peña Blanca Lake and Canyon; lunch/dinner at the Cow Palace, afternoon break for most / Madera Canyon for some, and late afternoon-evening drive to California Gulch (with a flat tire en route and a “car wash” on the way out).
August 8: The Calle Lecho neighborhood in Green Valley, a flat-tire fix at Walmart, and Mt Lemmon’s Bear Canyon, Rose Lake Canyon, Bear Wallow Rd, and a Summerhaven warbler wave (!); return to Phoenix, dinner at Caffé Boa, and final night at Clarion Hotel, Chandler.
August 9: Departures for home from PHX.
Bird List
(boldface type = “non-Minnesota” species: absent, accidental, or casual in MN)
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Canada Goose (Phoenix-only)
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Scaled Quail
Gambel's Quail
Montezuma Quail
Wild Turkey
Pied-billed Grebe
Neotropic Cormorant
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Mississippi Kite
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Goshawk (heard-only)
Harris's Hawk
Gray Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
Sora (heard-only)
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Long-billed Curlew
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Phalarope
Black Tern
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Inca Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Greater Roadrunner
Western Screech-Owl
Whiskered Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Northern Pygmy-Owl (future split?)
Elf Owl
Burrowing Owl
Spotted Owl
Lesser Nighthawk
Common Poorwill
White-throated Swift
Magnificent Hummingbird
Plain-capped Starthroat
Blue-throated Hummingbird
Lucifer Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Anna's Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Elegant Trogon
Acorn Woodpecker
Gila Woodpecker
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Arizona Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Gilded Flicker (Steve-only)
American Kestrel
Prairie Falcon
Rosy-faced Lovebird (Phoenix-only)
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Tufted Flycatcher
Greater Pewee
Western Wood-Pewee
Cordilleran Flycatcher
Buff-breasted Flycatcher
Black Phoebe
Say's Phoebe
Vermilion Flycatcher
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
Tropical Kingbird
Cassin's Kingbird
Thick-billed Kingbird
Western Kingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
Bell's Vireo
Plumbeous Vireo
Hutton's Vireo
Warbling Vireo (future split?)
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay (future split?)
Mexican Jay
Chihuahuan Raven
Common Raven
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Mountain Chickadee
Mexican Chickadee
Bridled Titmouse
Verdin
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch (future split?)
Pygmy Nuthatch
Brown Creeper (future split?)
Rock Wren
Canyon Wren
House Wren
Bewick's Wren
Cactus Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Black-capped Gnatcatcher (heard-only)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Western Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Curve-billed Thrasher (future split?)
Bendire's Thrasher
Crissal Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Phainopepla
Olive Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Lucy's Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Virginia's Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Grace's Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Hermit Warbler
Rufous-capped Warbler (heard-only)
Wilson's Warbler
Red-faced Warbler
Painted Redstart
Yellow-breasted Chat
Spotted Towhee
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Canyon Towhee
Abert's Towhee
Rufous-winged Sparrow
Botteri's Sparrow
Cassin's Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Black-chinned Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Five-striped Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Lark Bunting
Song Sparrow
Yellow-eyed Junco
Hepatic Tanager
Summer Tanager
Western Tanager
Northern Cardinal (future split?)
Pyrrhuloxia
Black-headed Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Indigo Bunting
Varied Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark (future split?)
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Bronzed Cowbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Hooded Oriole
Bullock's Oriole
Scott's Oriole
House Finch
Red Crossbill (future split?)
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
House Sparrow
* * *
SOUTHEAST ARIZONA MBWEEKS PHOTO GALLERY
Scaled Quail ~ Willow Tank (Roy Zimmerman photo, 2015)
Varied Bunting ~ Box Canyon (Joel Claus photo, 2023)
Northern Pygmy-Owl ~ Miller Canyon (Roy Zimmerman photo, 2015)
Montezuma Quail ~ Pinery Canyon (KRE photo, 2015)
Burrowing Owls ~ Tucson (KRE photo, 2015)
Spotted Owl ~ Miller Canyon (Jerry Pruett photo, 2012)
Lucy’s Warbler ~ Portal (Roy Zimmerman photo, 2015)
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher ~ Madera Canyon (Neil Wingert photo, 2018)
Mexican Chickadee ~ Rustler Park (Roy Zimmerman photo, 2015)
Black-capped Gnatcatcher ~ Proctor Road (Neil Wingert photo, 2018)
Phainopepla (KRE photo, 2011)
Buff-breasted Flycatcher ~ Carr Canyon (Val Landwehr photo, 2023)
Cordilleran Flycatcher (Roy Zimmerman photo, 2015)
Acorn Woodpecker (Roy Zimmerman photo, 2015)
Elegant Trogon ~ Huachuca Canyon (KRE photo, 2012)
Black-throated Sparrow (Neil Wingert photo, 2018)
Five-striped Sparrow ~ Box Canyon (Joel Claus photo, 2023)
Yellow-eyed Junco (Jerry Pruett photo, 2012)
Gray Hawk ~ Sonoita Creek (KRE photo, 2008)
Barn Owl ~ near Portal (Pete Hoeger photo, 2018)
Plain-capped Starthroat ~ Rio Rico (Joel Claus photo, 2023)
Lucifer Hummingbird ~ Ash Canyon (Neil Wingert photo, 2018)
Broad-billed Hummingbird (Pete Hoeger photo, 2018)
Violet-crowned Hummingbird ~ Patagonia (Roy Zimmerman photo, 2023)
White-eared Hummingbird ~ Miller Canyon (Val Landwehr photo, 2023)
Rivoli's Hummingbird (Neil Wingert photo, 2018)
Red-faced Warbler ~ Rustler Park (Neil Wingert photo, 2018)
Hooded Oriole (Neil Wingert photo, 2018)
Pyrrhuloxia ~ Saguaro National Park East (Neil Wingert photo, 2018)
Also see the PHOTO GALLERY
following the summaries of the 2023, 2018 and 2015 MBWeeks
_________
SOUTHEAST ARIZONA MBWEEK
July 22 - 30, 2023
Our flight from MSP was on time (unlike our canceled return flight a week later!), but it took longer than it should have at the PHX car rental desks, and trying to meet for lunch was complicated by the discovery that a certain I-10 exit had two different Subways – both next to Shell stations. It was also 111 degrees that afternoon, just 2 degrees shy of the all-time MBW high of 113. With all the news about the heat lately, it took a while for us to notice that Arizona’s so-called monsoon season hadn’t really developed. Accordingly, the birds were not yet as active and vocal as they should have been, there was no sign of late summer/early fall migration, and it became a challenge to find some of the expected passerines.
I’d have to guess, for example, that for the first time ever this MBW missed Cassin’s Sparrow, normally a species that’s singing everywhere in the grasslands. Similarly, Black-chinneds were silent and undetected, while Rufous-wingeds and Botteri’s were harder to find, and the lack of rain probably was somewhat responsible as well for Buff-collared Nightjar, Mexican Whip-poor-will, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, and Olive Warbler not calling enough for us to find.
And though we were able to include Gilded Flicker, Rose-throated Becard, Bendire’s and Crissal thrashers, Rufous-capped Warbler, and Flame-colored Tanager on our lists, they were mostly quiet as well and not seen as well as we would have liked. The heat did us no favors either – 100-plus-degree weather has a way of slowing birders down, limiting their hours in the field, and curbing the urge to pursue uncooperative birds for better looks.
Despite all these challenges, though, our MBWeek was still a success. We finished with a grand total of 167 species, and I’d think we would have had around 185 if we had found time to visit the Willcox sewage pond and adjacent golf course ponds. This MBW tends to list around 170 species or so without Willcox, but we have managed to see 190+ when Willcox and its water birds are included, and when there’s at least some passerine migration, a normal monsoon season to stimulate song, and more reasonable temperatures.
A more significant statistic demonstrating how well we did is that we found no fewer than 110 non-Minnesota species – birds not found on the MN Regular list. This amounts to practically 2/3 of the birds we found, and that may be the highest proportion this MBW has ever reached in that category. And keep in mind that traveling out of state to see birds not found in MN is the primary goal of any MBWeek.
In addition to that aforementioned becard, Rufous-capped Warbler, and the tanager pair w/cowbird, there were certainly lots of highlights. Among these were no fewer than 14 hummingbird species, most notably the Plain-capped Starthroat, not one but two Beryllines, and a White-eared. Three encounters with Montezuma Quail was pretty special (Ash and Miller canyons, heard at Hunter Canyon) since 0-1 is the norm, and Jodi’s poorwill video at Hunter was amazing. Short-tailed Hawk is quite rare in AZ, so it’s fortunate that one soared into view and called over Mt Bigelow Rd – albeit too briefly. Finding six owl species was impressive, especially since we saw five of them (including N. Pygmy-Owl and both screech-owls). Our list included 16 flycatchers, and among these were Greater Pewee at 3 spots (0-1 is average), plus 13 sparrows (including that quite close and cooperative Five-striped).
And let’s not forget all those other quintessential AZ specialties we found – such as Lucifer and Violet-crowned hummingbirds, Elegant Trogon, Arizona Woodpecker, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Sulphur-bellied and Buff-bellied flycatchers, Mexican Jay & Mexican Chickadee, Bridled Titmouse, Yellow-eyed Junco, Abert’s Towhee, Chihuahuan Meadowlark, warblers like Lucy’s, Grace’s, Red-faced & Painted Redstart, plus Hepatic Tanager and Varied Bunting. Seems hard to believe that such species are relegated to the last paragraph of a MBWeek’s highlights.
Itinerary
July 22 – Morning arrival @PHX, 111-degree afternoon drive to Tucson & Green Valley with stop at Sweetwater Wetlands (i.e., a former sewage pond facility with wooded trails and interpretive signs that welcomes birders, making the MPCA look foolish), brief post-dinner visit to Butterfly Park, and first of 3 nights in Green Valley.
July 23 – Successful drive to Box Canyon for sparrows with 5 stripes, successful hike to Tubac’s famous becard-by-the-three-nests, Tumacacori, and pleasant though starthroat-less vigil on Randy & Carolyn Smith’s shaded back deck in Rio Rico.
July 24 – Successful return to Rio Rico for the starthroat; long, too warm, but mostly successful hike at Patagonia Lake State Park for Rufous-capped Warbler; Paton’s hummingbirds in Patagonia and unsuccessful search for an owl burrow near Sonoita; post-dinner nightjar excursion to Brown Canyon (with poorwills and screech-owls heard instead).
July 25 – Road to Elephant Head trail for alleged gnatcatchers, brief visits to Amado sewage ponds, Canoa Ranch, and Desert Meadows Park; long drive to Portal via a fly-by flicker in Sahuarita, empty kite trees in St. David, up Pinery Canyon, down Cave Creek Canyon, and first of 2 nights in Portal.
July 26 – South Fork Canyon (especially for trogons), Southwest Research Station (especially for a Berylline), Paradise Rd junction, Barfoot Junction, Rustler Park, and George Walker House feeders in Paradise.
July 27 – Return to Paradise Rd and Four Bar Cottages (for owls and thrashers); drive to Sierra Vista via lunch at the Gadsden Hotel (!), Ash Canyon Bird Observatory feeders (for Lucifers and Montezumas), and Beatty’s hummingbird feeders (especially for White-eared); first of 2 nights in Sierra Vista.
July 28 – Miller Canyon (too-brief looks at Flame-colored Tanagers w/cowbird), Carr Canyon (especially Reef Townsite campground), Ramsey Canyon (another Berylline!), and post-dinner nightbirds along Hunter Canyon Rd (especially for spotlighted poorwills and a screech-owl w/whiskers!).
July 29 – Veteran’s Park, the SVEOP sewage ponds, and George Walker House; drive to Phoenix via a distant owl @burrow, another hummingbird feeder in Patagonia (but no Allen’s), and Mt Lemmon (especially Incinerator Ridge and Mt Bigelow Rd); final night in Phoenix.
July 30 – Morning return to PHX for MSP flights (after original flight was canceled) via some lovebirds at Steele Indian School Park.
Bird List (boldface = “non-MN” species: i.e., Casual, Accidental, or absent in MN)
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Mexican Duck
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Ruddy Duck
Scaled Quail
Gambel's Quail
Montezuma Quail
Wild Turkey
Pied-billed Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Inca Dove
Common Ground Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Greater Roadrunner
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Lesser Nighthawk
Common Poorwill
White-throated Swift
Rivoli's Hummingbird
Plain-capped Starthroat
Blue-throated Hummingbird (a.k.a. Mountain-gem)
Lucifer Hummingbird
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Anna's Hummingbird
Costa's Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-billed Hummingbird
White-eared Hummingbird
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Berylline Hummingbird
American Coot
Neotropic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Gray Hawk
Short-tailed Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Barn Owl
Whiskered Screech-Owl
Western Screech-Owl
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Elf Owl (heard-only)
Burrowing Owl
Elegant Trogon
Acorn Woodpecker
Gila Woodpecker
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Arizona Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Gilded Flicker
American Kestrel
Rosy-faced Lovebird
Rose-throated Becard
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
Tropical Kingbird
Cassin's Kingbird
Thick-billed Kingbird
Western Kingbird
Greater Pewee
Western Wood-Pewee
Cordilleran Flycatcher
Buff-breasted Flycatcher
Black Phoebe
Say's Phoebe
Vermilion Flycatcher
Bell's Vireo
Hutton's Vireo
Plumbeous Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Loggerhead Shrike
Steller's Jay
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay
Mexican Jay
Chihuahuan Raven
Common Raven
Verdin
Mountain Chickadee
Mexican Chickadee
Bridled Titmouse
Juniper Titmouse
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Bushtit
Phainopepla
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Rock Wren
Canyon Wren
Cactus Wren
Bewick's Wren
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Curve-billed Thrasher
Bendire's Thrasher
Crissal Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Western Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Red Crossbill (heard-only)
Lesser Goldfinch
Rufous-winged Sparrow
Botteri's Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Five-striped Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Yellow-eyed Junco
Song Sparrow
Canyon Towhee
Abert's Towhee
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Yellow-breasted Chat
Chihuahuan Meadowlark
Hooded Oriole
Bullock's Oriole
Scott's Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Bronzed Cowbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Lucy's Warbler
Virginia's Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Grace's Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Rufous-capped Warbler
Red-faced Warbler
Painted Redstart
Hepatic Tanager
Summer Tanager
Western Tanager
Flame-colored Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Pyrrhuloxia
Black-headed Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Varied Bunting
* * *
Berylline Hummingbird ~ Cave Creek Canyon (Roy Zimmerman photo, 2023)
Whiskered Screech-Owl ~ Hunter Canyon (Roy Zimmerman photo, 2023)
Botteri's Sparrow ~ San Pedro House (Jodi Henricks photo, 2023)
