August 2010 & 2009 Arizona MBWeeks

Note: The species lists from these recent August MBWeeks should be similar to those on the May 2012 MBWeek.

SOUTHEAST ARIZONA MBWEEKEND SUMMARY / July 31 - August 8, 2010

This year, it's safe to say no one minded that we mostly missed out on what seemed to be the most memorable and talked-about highlight of the 2009 MBWeek: Chiggers! True, Chris had a significant encounter with red ants instead, but it was the birding that we will remember most this year. In all, we turned up a composite total of 177 species, with no fewer than 102 of these "non-Minnesota" birds! By comparison, 2009's tally was only 162, although to be fair this difference was primarily due to the relative lack of water birding we did in 2009: only 7 water bird species then (when we skipped Willcox) compared to 26 this year.

Of course, there will always be some "misses" on any trip, but there weren't really that many this year. Discounting Northern Pygmy- and Elf owls, Lucifer Hummingbird, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, and Flame-colored Tanager, none of which any other birders were really seeing at the time, about the only significant birds we couldn't come up with were Mexican Whip-poor-will, Bullock's Oriole, and a certain unnamed quail. (There were also a few things in the mountain canyons that just barely made our list, having only appeared for the benefit of just one or two of us: i.e., Zone-tailed Hawk, Spotted Owl, Greater Pewee, Virginia's and Hermit warblers.)

Certainly, though, our successes outweighed those few disappointments. Personally, I was especially impressed by the Mississippi Kite, Short-tailed Hawk (new for my AZ list), Barn Owl, both Miller Canyon screech-owls, Berylline and White-eared hummingbirds, Juniper Titmouse, all 3 thrashers by the cotton gin mill, and our nice looks at sparrows – e.g., Rufous-winged, skylarking Cassin's, Botteri's, Five-striped, and an unexpected Black-chinned.

Even the weather mostly cooperated (was it hotter at the time in Minnesota?!), the logistics went smoothly, we found some good restaurants (and Safeways/Starbucks!), and even the drive to California Gulch was relatively easy to negotiate. I thank you all for coming and for your unexpectedly generous gratuities (despite my mostly "lame" leadership). And of course we all owe a big thank-you to Bob and Chris for their willingness and ability to drive us through another successful MBWeek!

Itinerary

July 31. Arrival in Tucson shortly after noon, then vehicle rentals, check-in at Quality Inn, and a fashionably late Subway/McDonald's lunch; birding at Ironwood Campground, Gates Pass Rd, Sweetwater Wetlands, and Golf Links Rd Burrowing Owls; evening shopping at our first Safeway and split-up for dinner.   

August 1. South on I-19 to Continental Rd, Florida Canyon, Madera Canyon (mostly Madera Kubo B & B), and Montosa Canyon; dinner at La Placita in Green Valley.

August 2. Return to Green Valley (i.e., Starbuck's), and south to Arivaca Rd, Ruby Rd, California Gulch, and Buenos Aires NWR cienega area; dinner at Cattletown & Claim Jumper restaurants. 

August 3. Return to Montosa Canyon (via Starbucks), Rio Rico, Kino Springs, Patagonia Lake State Park, Patagonia wayside rest, Paton's feeders in Patagonia, drive to Best Western Mission Inn in Sierra Vista, and dinner at Delio's I-talian restaurant. 

August 4. Most of day at Fort Huachuca: i.e., Huachuca, Garden, Scheelite, and Sawmill canyons; dinner at Mesquite Tree (evening birding rained-out). 

August 5. Morning at Carr Canyon; afternoon at Beatty's feeders, early dinner at Ricardo's & Mesquite Tree, early evening along Hereford Rd, and owling in Miller Canyon.

August 6. Morning at Sierra Vista sewage ponds, San Pedro House, Holy Trinity Monastery in St David, and Willcox ponds; drive to Portal Peak Lodge via Pinery Canyon Rd, Onion Saddle, Barfoot Junction area, Cave Creek Canyon, and Southwest Research Station.

August 7. Pre-breakfast birding along Stateline and Gin roads; return to Onion Saddle, Barfoot Junction/Overlook/Park, Rustler Park & vicinity; return to Portal via E Turkey Creek Rd, George Walker House feeders, Paradise Cemetery, and Maya Decker's feeders; evening poorwilling/owling along Paradise Rd and Cave Creek Canyon.

August 8. Pre-breakfast option to Herb Martyr/Southwest Research Station area; return to I-10 & Tucson airport via Foothills Dr/San Simon Rd.

Bird List (boldfaced species = "non-Minnesota" birds; i.e., those absent, accidental, or casual in Minn)

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (with babies at Rio Rico)

Wood Duck

Mallard

Cinnamon Teal

Greater Scaup (unusual at Willcox)

Ruddy Duck

Scaled Quail (mostly heard along Stateline Rd)

Gambel's Quail

Wild Turkey (mostly tame in Madera Canyon)

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Green Heron

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Turkey Vulture

Mississippi Kite (eating a frog at Holy Trinity)

Cooper's Hawk

Gray Hawk (best near Amado sewage pond)

Short-tailed Hawk (amazingly, seen by all over/near Barfoot Overlook)

Swainson's Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawk (mostly seen by Molly)

Red-tailed Hawk

Golden Eagle (twice) 

American Kestrel

Peregrine/Prairie Falcon (large falcon at the Fort; probably a Peregrine)

Virginia Rail (Sierra Vista ponds)

Sora

Common Moorhen

American Coot

Semipalmated Plover

Killdeer

Black-necked Stilt

Spotted Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs

Semipalmated Sandpiper (rare in Arizona)

Western Sandpiper (Willcox) 

Least Sandpiper

Short-billed Dowitcher (Willcox; also perhaps at Sweetwater)

Long-billed Dowitcher

Wilson's Phalarope

Rock Pigeon

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian Collared-Dove

White-winged Dove

Mourning Dove

Inca Dove (best at Paton's)

Common Ground-Dove

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Greater Roadrunner

Barn Owl (nice spotting, Janice)

Western Screech-Owl (family group in Miller Canyon)

Whiskered Screech-Owl (Miller & Cave Creek canyons)

Burrowing Owl (along Golf Links Rd)

Spotted Owl (seen by Bob & Linda at Scheelite)

Lesser Nighthawk (mostly along Hereford Rd)

Common Poorwill (heard-only at Miller Canyon & along Paradise Rd)

White-throated Swift

Broad-billed Hummingbird (common)

White-eared Hummingbird (very close looks at Beatty's)

Berylline Hummingbird (Madera Kubo; also at Huachuca Canyon) 

Violet-crowned Hummingbird (best at Paton's)

Blue-throated Hummingbird (best at Beatty's)

Magnificent Hummingbird

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird

Broad-tailed Hummingbird (best at Beatty's)

Rufous Hummingbird

Elegant Trogon (2 or 3 at Huachuca Canyon)

Acorn Woodpecker

Gila Woodpecker

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Arizona Woodpecker (Huachuca Canyon only)

Northern Flicker

Gilded Flicker (Gates Pass Rd)

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet (best at Florida Canyon)

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Greater Pewee (mostly seen by Jim)

Western Wood-Pewee

Cordilleran Flycatcher

Buff-breasted Flycatcher (incl a nest at Sawmill Canyon)

Black Phoebe

Say's Phoebe

Vermilion Flycatcher

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Tropical Kingbird (Sweetwater & Buenos Aires)

Cassin's Kingbird (almost abundant) 

Thick-billed Kingbird (still at Patagonia wayside)

Western Kingbird

Loggerhead Shrike

Bell's Vireo

Plumbeous Vireo

Hutton's Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Steller's Jay

Mexican Jay

Chihuahuan Raven

Common Raven

Purple Martin (nesting in saguaros)

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Mexican Chickadee (best at Onion Saddle)

Bridled Titmouse 

Juniper Titmouse (Paradise Cemetery)

Verdin

Bushtit (finally, one flock at Cave Creek Canyon)

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Pygmy Nuthatch (lots of them around Barfoot)

Brown Creeper

Cactus Wren

Rock Wren

Canyon Wren

Bewick's Wren

House Wren  (formerly the Brown-throated Wren)

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

Bendire's Thrasher (2 good views along Gin Rd)

Curve-billed Thrasher

Crissal Thrasher (Gin Rd & Foothills Dr)

European Starling

Phainopepla

Olive Warbler (in the wave near Barfoot Jct)

Virginia's Warbler (seen by a few at Montosa Canyon)

Lucy's Warbler (more seen than usual)

Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Hermit Warbler (mostly seen by Donn)

Grace's Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Red-faced Warbler (nice spotting, Chris)

Painted Redstart

Yellow-breasted Chat

Spotted Towhee

Canyon Towhee

Abert's Towhee (best at Sweetwater)

Rufous-winged Sparrow (best at Ironwood Campground)

Cassin's Sparrow (skylarking)

Botteri's Sparrow (lots heard; best view near Florida Canyon)

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Five-striped Sparrow (4 singing males)

Black-chinned Sparrow (unexpected at Cave Creek Canyon)

Lark Sparrow

Black-throated Sparrow

Lark Bunting (Gin Rd)

Song Sparrow

Yellow-eyed Junco

Hepatic Tanager (incl a baby at Ramsey Vista Campground)

Summer Tanager

Western Tanager

Northern Cardinal

Pyrrhuloxia

Black-headed Grosbeak (incl an apparent hybrid Rose-breasted at Carr Canyon)

Blue Grosbeak

Lazuli Bunting (Kino Springs)

Indigo Bunting

Varied Bunting (best at Montosa Canyon)

Red-winged Blackbird

Eastern Meadowlark (the lilianae subspecies, a potential split)

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Great-tailed Grackle

Bronzed Cowbird (Kino Springs)

Brown-headed Cowbird

Hooded Oriole

Scott's Oriole (Madera Kubo & Foothills Dr)

House Finch

Pine Siskin

Lesser Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Also seen (a partial list):

Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer, Pronghorn, Coatimundi (Montosa Canyon), Coyote, Rock Squirrel, Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Striped Skunk, Wetsern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Sonoran Whiptail, Tarantula.

PHOTO GALLERY

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SE ARIZONA MBW SUMMARY / AUGUST 1 - 9, 2009

I suppose that even after a week you're still probably engrossed in conversations about chiggers! Myself, I prefer to remember other highlights, like no fewer than a dozen hummingbird species, including the Berylline pictured above. (I'm sure Vija and perhaps others have better photos.) Though this rarity was not one of my two life birds, it was the best look I'd ever had of one. I'd also previously seen Rufous-capped Warbler, another of the rarities we all saw well, but certainly that Sinaloa Wren was new for all of us (and probably seen better than by most birders), and the Black-capped Gnatcatcher was an overdue addition to my list. 

Other highlights included our trip to California Gulch: not only did it provide our only Montezuma Quail, our first Gray Hawks, and the expected Five-striped Sparrows, but the road was remarkably easy to drive. Remarkable as well was our luck with owls, especially the two Miller Canyon screech-owls and the Spotteds in the Chiricahuas, and with no fewer than 18 flycatcher species. Equally memorable were the trogons at their Huachuca Canyon nest, the exceptional (probably even unprecedented) views of the cooperative Lucy's Warbler and Bendire's Thrashers, and the looks at Mississippi Kites we had time for back in El Paso at trip's end.

True, our total of 162 species was on the low side, mostly because we chose not to look for water birds. It also seemed drier than normal, probably one of the reasons the mountain birding was relatively slow. We also spent less time than usual at some places looking for certain specialties due to the presence of several staked-out rarities: note, for example, we made three trips to Patagonia! (And think of the fun we'd have fitting Brown-backed Solitaire and Flame-colored Tanager into our itinerary had they not disappeared the week before.)

We certainly owe thanks to Young Chris West (Boy Birdwatcher) for his help in Portal and vicinity. And of final note, my preliminary figures show that we came in about $500 under budget, which will probably amount to a Refund (!) of around $40 per person. After all my Visa charges for August are posted next month I'll have more information on this.  

Thanks again for a great trip and your very generous gratuities.  Kim

Itinerary

Aug 1. Meet at El Paso airport and departure at 2:00 (MDT) via I-10 for Green Valley; 6:30 (MST) arrival at Comfort Inn and dinner at AZ Family Restaurant. 

Aug 2. Florida Canyon (incl roadside sparrows en route), Madera Canyon (incl Madera Kubo), afternoon break, and late afternoon near Continental; dinner at La Placita. 

Aug 3. Arivaca and Ruby roads en route to California Gulch, east through Nogales to Kino Springs, Patagonia wayside rest, brief check for Sinaloa Wren, and Paton's feeders; return to Green Valley via optional stops at Rio Rico and Tubac; dinner at AZ Family Restaurant.   

Aug 4. Return to Sinaloa Wren, Patagonia wayside, Kino Springs, and Patagonia; drive to Sierra Vista, check-in at "Quality" Inn, afternoon break, and Beatty's feeders; dinner at Mesquite Tree.  

 

Aug 5. Morning in Fort Huachuca (incl Huachuca, Garden, and Sawmill canyons), afternoon break, and Ash Canyon B & B feeders; dinner at Delio's/Outback.    

Aug 6. Return (again) to Patagonia and TNC's Sonoita Creek Preserve; return to Sierra Vista, then Ramsey Canyon, afternoon break, and return to Beatty's; early dinner at Ricardo's/Mesquite Tree, and owling in Miller Canyon. 

Aug 7. Morning at Carr Canyon and return to Sierra Vista; E to San Pedro House, Elfrida, and across Chiricahuas via Pinery and Cave Creek canyons to Portal Peak Lodge; post-dinner owling/poorwilling option w/Chris West. 

Aug 8. Pre-breakfast birding w/Chris at Stateline Rd and Willow Tank; Paradise Rd, George Walker House feeders, E Turkey Creek Rd, Barfoot Junction and vicinity, Barfoot Park, and return to Portal via E Turkey Creek Rd and Paradise; dinner at Portal Peak Lodge. 

Aug 9. Return drive (into MDT) to El Paso via I-10 and along Frontera Rd in NW El Paso (for kites); 11:00 airport arrival for flights home. 

 

Bird List / 162 species

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Rio Rico)

Mallard

Blue-winged/Cinnamon Teal (Willow Tank; Cinnamon more likely) 

Wild Turkey

Scaled Quail (near Willow Tank)

Gambel's Quail

Montezuma Quail (twice on the road to California Gulch)

Great Blue Heron

White-faced Ibis (fly-bys in El Paso)

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Mississippi Kite (Frontera Rd in El Paso)

Cooper's Hawk

Northern Goshawk (fly-by in Madera Canyon)

Gray Hawk (best views en route to The Gulch and at Sonoita Creek Preserve)

Swainson's Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawk (seen by a few at Barfoot Junction)

Red-tailed Hawk

Golden Eagle

American Kestrel

Killdeer

Spotted Sandpiper

Rock Pigeon

Band-tailed Pigeon (finally perched at Barfoot Park)

Eurasian Collared-Dove

White-winged Dove

Mourning Dove

Inca Dove

Common Ground-Dove

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Greater Roadrunner

Barn Owl (4 in the gin mill near Elfrida)

Western Screech-Owl (again at Miller Canyon)

Whiskered Screech-Owl (especially easy at Miller Canyon)

Great Horned Owl

Spotted Owl (best at Barfoot Jct; also w/Chris at South Fork Canyon Rd)

Lesser Nighthawk

Common Poorwill (Fri evening on Paradise Rd w/Chris)

Whip-poor-will (heard-only at Miller Canyon)

White-throated Swift

Broad-billed Hummingbird

White-eared Hummingbird (Beatty's feeders)

Berylline Hummingbird (best at Beatty's; also Madera Kubo) 

Violet-crowned Hummingbird (Paton's feeders and Ramsey Canyon)

Blue-throated Hummingbird

Magnificent Hummingbird

Lucifer Hummingbird (Ash Canyon B & B)

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird

Calliope Hummingbird (best at Portal Peak Lodge; also Beatty's)

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird (=12 hummingbird species)

Elegant Trogon (pair feeding young in nest in Huachuca Canyon; also heard elsewhere)

Acorn Woodpecker

Gila Woodpecker

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Arizona Woodpecker (especially at Madera Kubo)

Northern Flicker

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet (Florida Canyon)

Greater Pewee (only seen by a few)

Western Wood-Pewee

Willow Flycatcher (migrants at 2 locations)

Gray Flycatcher (Florida Canyon migrant)

Cordilleran Flycatcher

Buff-breasted Flycatcher (Sawmill and Carr canyons)

Black Phoebe

Say's Phoebe (only at the Quality Inn)

Vermilion Flycatcher

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Brown-crested Flycatcher (Florida Canyon)

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Tropical Kingbird (Tubac)

Cassin's Kingbird 

Thick-billed Kingbird (wayside S of Patagonia)

Western Kingbird (= 18 flycatcher species)

Loggerhead Shrike

Bell's Vireo

Plumbeous Vireo

Hutton's Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Steller's Jay

Mexican Jay

Chihuahuan Raven

Common Raven

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Mexican Chickadee (Barfoot Jct)

Bridled Titmouse 

Juniper Titmouse (on the 2nd try in Paradise)

Verdin

Bushtit

White-breasted Nuthatch

Pygmy Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Cactus Wren

Canyon Wren

Sinaloa Wren (seen well on both sides of the highway)

Bewick's Wren

House Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (at the Lucy's Warbler spot near Continental)

Black-capped Gnatcatcher (Florida Canyon: my first of 2 lifers)

Eastern Bluebird

Western Bluebird

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

Bendire's Thrasher (exceptional views near Willow Tank)

Curve-billed Thrasher

Crissal Thrasher (disappointing views)

European Starling

Phainopepla

Olive Warbler (2 brief views in the Chiricahuas)

Virginia's Warbler (unexpectedly good looks en route to Paradise)

Lucy's Warbler (with amazingly obvious crown color)

Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Townsend's Warbler (migrant at Barfoot Jct)

Hermit Warbler (2 migrants; best at Barfoot Jct)

Grace's Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Painted Redstart

Rufous-capped Warbler (singing male finally seen by all)

Yellow-breasted Chat

Hepatic Tanager (best at Carr Canyon)

Summer Tanager

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

Canyon Towhee

Abert's Towhee (best at Sonoita Creek Preserve)

Rufous-winged Sparrow (mostly en route to Florida Canyon)

Cassin's Sparrow (impressive skylarking displays)

Botteri's Sparrow (best looks en route to The Gulch)

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Five-striped Sparrow (scope views at California Gulch; partial view at Florida Canyon)

Black-chinned Sparrow (en route w/Chris to Paradise)

Lark Sparrow

Black-throated Sparrow

Lark Bunting (Stateline Rd)

Song Sparrow

Yellow-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Pyrrhuloxia

Black-headed Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

Lazuli Bunting (more than usual)

Indigo Bunting

Varied Bunting (best views at Florida Canyon)

Red-winged Blackbird

Eastern Meadowlark (the lilianae subspecies/species)

Great-tailed Grackle

Bronzed Cowbird (Kino Springs)

Brown-headed Cowbird

Hooded Oriole

Scott's Oriole (heard-only)

House Finch

Lesser Goldfinch

House Sparrow

PHOTO GALLERY

Gray Hawk

Lucifer Hummingbird

Painted Redstart