September is a good time to look for rare shorebirds and Red Knot certainly fits into that category in southeast Arizona. This high-arctic breeder is a casual fall migrant in the southeast part of the state (barely into double figure records as of 2007). This juvenile was photographed at Willcox on September 29, 2004. Note the chunky build, relatively small head-length bill and scaly appearance.

This artic tundra breeder is a casual spring and rare fall transient in southeast Arizona. Most of my 14 personal records in SE AZ (averaging less than one each year) are from fall and all except one have been immature or basic plumaged birds. This mostly alternate plumaged individual was photographed at Willcox on September 21, 2007.

Formerly a regular breeding species on the San Pedro, the Green Kingfisher population declined dramatically in 1998 and the bird is now rare and irregular on the river. In recent years, most sightings have occurred from September to early January. This female was photographed at Kingfisher Pond on the San Pedro on September 28, 2004.