From: Bruce M. Bowman To: birders@umich.edu Subject: southeastern Arizona birding Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 23:05:15 I just got back from nearly a month in southeastern Arizona, where I was able to do quite a bit of birding (but OF COURSE not as much as I'd like to have done). There are a lot of nice birds there for folks like me who have never been there. Let me tell you, though, birding there isn't as easy as May birding in Michigan. The different habitats are many miles apart, you need a high-clearance, 4WD vehicle to get to many of the best birding sites, and you need to hike up high mountain trails and trudge across the desert. And it's hot; you drink 2-3 quarts of water in a day of birding. The most birds I had on any day was 63. (I birded four full days plus a number of one-hour days and a few half days.) The first week of May is normally the best for Big Day birding in southeastern Arizona. I didn't get there until May 5 and didn't get to do any significant amount of birding until a week later. (I understand this year wasn't good for Big Days there, though, since the water birds came and left on schedule while everything else was late.) I had 146 birds for the month (May 6-27). The my list is below. Bruce ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Bruce M. Bowman To: Paul Thomas Subject: southeast Arizona birding Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 21:35:26 Hi, Paul, We got back from Arizona yesterday. Here's an Arizona birding report of sorts. My biggest days were as below. May 13, 20, 21, and 27 were essentially full days of birding. This is really a long way from the >100-bird days that folks in Michigan were getting in about this same time period! The first week of May is normally the best for Big Day birding in southeast Arizona. I didn't get there until May 5 and didn't get to do any significant amount of birding until a week later. (I understand this year wasn't good for Big Days there, though, since the water birds came and left on schedule while everything else was late.) May 13 46 species May 15 40 species May 20 63 species (with Forrest Davis, Gary, & Lisa) May 21 62 species (with Forrest Davis, Gary, & Lisa) May 23 35 species (with Gary & Lisa) May 27 45 species (with Bob Ambrose) I had 146 birds for the month (May 6-27.) I did at least some birding four or five days a week. Bridge, social activities, and work on our new home in Green Valley prevented me from birding more than that. I got to the Madera Canyon area, Chino Canyon, the Huachuca Mountains, California Gulch and area, and Patagonia and Kino Springs. I got 52 life birds (ABA). I've got 378 now (554 world). Some notable birds that I didn't get were the female Rose-throated Becard that has been at the Patagonia Roadside Rest (but which is only occasionally seen) and the Fan-tailed Warbler that was there for only about two days. I learned of that bird at noon on the second day. I got down there with a friend to look for it at about 1:30. We looked and listened, with others, for a couple of hours and came up with nothing. There was a report that the bird was seen or heard again at 7:00 or so that evening, but it did not appear the next day. (My friend, from Green Valley and previously Rochester, New York, is Bob Ambrose. Maybe you know him? He's done a lot of "world birding." He's already been on a trip to Ecuador this year and later in the year will go to Brazil and then, on a third trip, to somewhere else in South America.) Gary and Lisa came down to visit the week of the 18th. Their primary goal was to get some southwest owls, Five-striped Sparrow, and the Black-capped Gnatcatcher (male) that is nesting with a Black-tailed Gnatcatcher at Chino Canyon. We hired a Sierra Vista guide, Forrest Davis, who would be able to find the owls for us. He also took us to California Gulch, where we found four Five-striped Sparrows without problem. Bob Ambrose took us to Chino Canyon, where we watched the gnatcatchers--somewhat uncooperative that day--and eventually got a good look at the Black-capped. We didn't do very well on the owls. We neither saw nor heard Flammulated Owl. We got good looks at only Spotted Owl (Scheelite Canyon) and Western Screech-Owl (Carr Canyon). We heard but got only poor looks at Whiskered Screech-Owl and Elf Owl. (Elf Owl is easy at the Madera Canyon Lodge, but I was never there at dawn or dusk.) Gary got one life bird--the Black-capped Gnatcatcher. He's got 660+ ABA birds. Lisa got 13. She's got about 600 for the ABA region. Bruce SOUTHEAST ARIZONA MAY 6, 1997 to MAY 27, 1997 First Sighting MO DA YR SPECIES LOCATION STATE ---------- GREBES -------------------------------------------------- 05 20 97 Pied-billed Grebe Nogales Wastewater Treat AZ 05 14 97 Eared Grebe G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ ---------- BITTERNS and HERONS ------------------------------------- 05 20 97 Great Blue Heron Patagonia Lake State Park AZ 05 14 97 Snowy Egret G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ 05 20 97 Green Heron Arivaca AZ ---------- IBISES and SPOONBILLS ----------------------------------- 05 21 97 White-faced Ibis Sierra Vista Waste Water AZ ---------- SWANS, GEESE, and DUCKS --------------------------------- 05 13 97 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Old Nogales Highway AZ 05 14 97 Mallard G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ 05 14 97 Blue-winged Teal G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ 05 14 97 Cinnamon Teal G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ 05 14 97 Gadwall G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ 05 14 97 Ring-necked Duck G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ 05 20 97 Surf Scoter Nogales Wastewater Treat AZ 05 20 97 Ruddy Duck Nogales Wastewater Treat AZ ---------- AMERICAN VULTURES --------------------------------------- 05 20 97 Black Vulture Patagonia Roadside Rest AZ 05 07 97 Turkey Vulture Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ ---------- KITES, HAWKS, EAGLES, and ALLIES ------------------------ 05 06 97 Cooper's Hawk Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ 05 20 97 Gray Hawk Kino Springs AZ 05 14 97 Zone-tailed Hawk G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ 05 20 97 Red-tailed Hawk Cal. Gulch to Syc. Canyon AZ 05 20 97 Golden Eagle California Gulch AZ ---------- PARTRIDGES, GROUSE, TURKEYS, and QUAIL ------------------ 05 05 97 Gambel's Quail Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ ---------- RAILS, GALLINULES, and COOTS ---------------------------- 05 21 97 Common Moorhen San Pedro Nat'l Cons.Area AZ 05 14 97 American Coot G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ ---------- PLOVERS and LAPWINGS ------------------------------------ 05 14 97 Killdeer G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ ---------- STILTS and AVOCETS -------------------------------------- 05 21 97 American Avocet Sierra Vista Waste Water AZ ---------- SANDPIPERS, PHALAROPES, and ALLIES ---------------------- 05 14 97 Spotted Sandpiper G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ 05 14 97 Wilson's Phalarope G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ ---------- PIGEONS and DOVES --------------------------------------- 05 07 97 Rock Dove Nogales AZ 05 06 97 Band-tailed Pigeon Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ 05 05 97 White-winged Dove Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ 05 05 97 Mourning Dove Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ 05 20 97 Inca Dove Santa Gertrudis Lane AZ ---------- CUCKOOS, ROADRUNNERS, and ANIS -------------------------- 05 07 97 Greater Roadrunner Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ ---------- BARN OWLS ----------------------------------------------- 05 27 97 Barn Owl Santa Rita Expt'l Range AZ ---------- TYPICAL OWLS -------------------------------------------- 05 21 97 Western Screech-Owl Carr Canyon AZ 05 21 97 Whiskered Screech-Owl Sunnyside Canyon AZ 05 21 97 Elf Owl Carr Canyon AZ 05 21 97 Spotted Owl Scheelite Canyon AZ ---------- GOATSUCKERS --------------------------------------------- 05 16 97 Lesser Nighthawk G.V., 3162 Madrid; gulch AZ 05 21 97 Common Poorwill Sunnyside Canyon AZ 05 21 97 Whip-poor-will Sunnyside Canyon AZ ---------- SWIFTS -------------------------------------------------- 05 20 97 White-throated Swift California Gulch AZ ---------- HUMMINGBIRDS -------------------------------------------- 05 09 97 Broad-billed Hummingbird G.V., 3162 Madrid; gulch AZ 05 27 97 Violet-crowned Hummingbird Patagonia, Paton's home AZ 05 21 97 Black-chinned Hummingbird San Pedro Nat'l Cons.Area AZ 05 23 97 Anna's Hummingbird Proctor trail below falls AZ 05 10 97 Costa's Hummingbird 2nd wash before Florida W AZ ---------- TROGONS ------------------------------------------------- 05 21 97 Elegant Trogon Garden Canyon AZ ---------- WOODPECKERS and ALLIES ---------------------------------- 05 06 97 Acorn Woodpecker Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ 05 10 97 Gila Woodpecker Green Valley, at the Rays AZ 05 15 97 Ladder-backed Woodpecker Hawk Way (off Canoa Rd.) AZ 05 21 97 Hairy Woodpecker Sawmill Canyon AZ 05 21 97 Strickland's Woodpecker Garden Canyon AZ 05 13 97 Northern Flicker trogon trail from Roundup AZ 05 05 97 Gilded Flicker Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ ---------- TYRANT FLYCATCHERS -------------------------------------- 05 18 97 Northern Beardless-TyrannuletProctor trail below falls AZ 05 21 97 Greater Pewee Garden Canyon AZ 05 10 97 Western Wood-Pewee Whitehouse handicap trail AZ 05 10 97 Cordilleran Flycatcher Expt'l Range Work Center AZ 05 21 97 Buff-breasted Flycatcher Garden Canyon AZ 05 10 97 Black Phoebe Expt'l Range Work Center AZ 05 10 97 Say's Phoebe Green Valley, at the Rays AZ 05 13 97 Vermilion Flycatcher Florida Wash AZ 05 06 97 Dusky-capped Flycatcher Madera Canyon, Super Tr. AZ 05 09 97 Ash-throated Flycatcher G.V., 3162 Madrid; gulch AZ 05 20 97 Tropical Kingbird Kino Springs AZ 05 20 97 Cassin's Kingbird Cal. Gulch to Syc. Canyon AZ 05 20 97 Thick-billed Kingbird Patagonia Roadside Rest AZ 05 13 97 Western Kingbird White House Canyon Road AZ ---------- SWALLOWS ------------------------------------------------ 05 20 97 Violet-green Swallow California Gulch AZ 05 14 97 Northern Rough-winged SwallowG.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ 05 14 97 Cliff Swallow G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ 05 08 97 Barn Swallow G.V., 3162 Madrid; gulch AZ ---------- JAYS, MAGPIES, and CROWS -------------------------------- 05 06 97 Mexican Jay Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ 05 13 97 Chihuahuan Raven White House Canyon Road AZ 05 10 97 Common Raven White House Canyon Road AZ ---------- TITMICE ------------------------------------------------- 05 06 97 Bridled Titmouse Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ ---------- VERDINS ------------------------------------------------- 05 08 97 Verdin G.V., 3162 Madrid; gulch AZ ---------- BUSHTITS ------------------------------------------------ 05 06 97 Bushtit Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ ---------- NUTHATCHES ---------------------------------------------- 05 06 97 White-breasted Nuthatch Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ 05 21 97 Pygmy Nuthatch Sawmill Canyon AZ ---------- WRENS --------------------------------------------------- 05 07 97 Cactus Wren Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ 05 20 97 Rock Wren Kino Springs AZ 05 20 97 Canyon Wren California Gulch AZ 05 13 97 Bewick's Wren Nature Trail, Madera Can. AZ 05 23 97 House Wren Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ ---------- OLD WORLD WARBLERS and GNATCATCHERS --------------------- 05 13 97 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Florida Wash AZ 05 23 97 Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Florida Wash AZ 05 24 97 Black-capped Gnatcatcher Chino Canyon AZ ---------- THRUSHES and WRENTIT ------------------------------------ 05 13 97 Hermit Thrush road, Parking B to Lodge AZ 05 06 97 American Robin Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ ---------- MOCKINGBIRDS and THRASHERS ------------------------------ 05 07 97 Northern Mockingbird Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ 05 08 97 Curve-billed Thrasher G.V., 3162 Madrid; gulch AZ ---------- SILKY-FLYCATCHERS --------------------------------------- 05 10 97 Phainopepla White House Canyon Road AZ ---------- SHRIKES ------------------------------------------------- 05 20 97 Loggerhead Shrike Arivaca to Calif. Gulch AZ ---------- STARLINGS and ALLIES ------------------------------------ 05 07 97 European Starling Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ ---------- VIREOS -------------------------------------------------- 05 10 97 Bell's Vireo 2nd wash before Florida W AZ 05 06 97 Solitary Vireo Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ 05 06 97 Hutton's Vireo Madera Canyon, Super Tr. AZ 05 10 97 Warbling Vireo Whitehouse handicap trail AZ ---------- WOOD-WARBLERS ------------------------------------------- 05 20 97 Orange-crowned Warbler Patagonia Roadside Rest AZ 05 10 97 Lucy's Warbler 2nd wash before Florida W AZ 05 09 97 Yellow Warbler G.V., 3162 Madrid; gulch AZ 05 06 97 Yellow-rumped Warbler Madera Canyon, Super Tr. AZ 05 13 97 Black-throated Gray Warbler Madera Canyon Lodge AZ 05 06 97 Townsend's Warbler Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ 05 21 97 Grace's Warbler Garden Canyon AZ 05 21 97 Common Yellowthroat Sierra Vista Waste Water AZ 05 10 97 Wilson's Warbler Expt'l Range Work Center AZ 05 06 97 Red-faced Warbler Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ 05 13 97 Painted Redstart Nature Trail, Madera Can. AZ 05 27 97 Yellow-breasted Chat Santa Gertrudis Lane AZ 05 21 97 Olive Warbler Sawmill Canyon AZ ---------- TANAGERS, CARDINALS, GROSBEAKS, BUNTINGS, SPARROWS ------ 05 10 97 Summer Tanager Expt'l Range Work Center AZ 05 06 97 Western Tanager Madera Canyon, Super Tr. AZ 05 08 97 Northern Cardinal G.V., 3162 Madrid; gulch AZ 05 07 97 Pyrrhuloxia Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ 05 06 97 Black-headed Grosbeak Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ 05 21 97 Blue Grosbeak Garden Canyon AZ 05 23 97 Varied Bunting Florida Wash AZ 05 06 97 Spotted Towhee Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ 05 13 97 Canyon Towhee Florida Wash AZ 05 27 97 Abert's Towhee Santa Gertrudis Lane AZ 05 27 97 Botteri's Sparrow Road 406, near Madera Can AZ 05 10 97 Rufous-winged Sparrow 2nd wash before Florida W AZ 05 20 97 Rufous-crowned Sparrow California Gulch AZ 05 10 97 Black-throated Sparrow 2nd wash before Florida W AZ 05 20 97 Five-striped Sparrow California Gulch AZ 05 10 97 Lincoln's Sparrow Expt'l Range Work Center AZ 05 06 97 Yellow-eyed Junco Madera Canyon, Old Baldy AZ ---------- BLACKBIRDS and ALLIES ----------------------------------- 05 14 97 Red-winged Blackbird G.V. Waste Water Tr.Plant AZ 05 21 97 Eastern Meadowlark San Pedro Nat'l Cons.Area AZ 05 27 97 Western Meadowlark Road 406, near Madera Can AZ 05 13 97 Great-tailed Grackle G.V., Animal Care Center AZ 05 07 97 Common Grackle Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ 05 20 97 Bronzed Cowbird Ruby Lakes AZ 05 07 97 Brown-headed Cowbird Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ 05 10 97 Hooded Oriole Expt'l Range Work Center AZ 05 23 97 Bullock's Oriole Madera Canyon Lodge AZ 05 20 97 Scott's Oriole California Gulch AZ ---------- FINCHES and ALLIES -------------------------------------- 05 27 97 Cassin's Finch Madera Canyon Lodge AZ 05 08 97 House Finch G.V., 3162 Madrid; gulch AZ 05 18 97 Pine Siskin Madera Canyon Lodge AZ 05 20 97 Lesser Goldfinch California Gulch AZ ---------- OLD WORLD SPARROWS -------------------------------------- 05 05 97 House Sparrow Green Valley, 3162 Madrid AZ ============= Total = 146 =============