Dec Species Seen

Stuart Healy Journal - December, 1996 If you use the contents of my journal for commercial purposes, please acknowledge the source to your clients - thanks.

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These brief notes were extracted from my posts to BIRDWG05 before this web site was published.

Sunday, December 1, 1996
Nogales Ponds were open today and the Rusty Blackbird was seen well foraging between the first two ponds near the office.

In town at Arivaca, the only ground-doves that I could find were Common.

At Arivaca Cienega there was at least one, possibly two Clay-colored Sparrows in a small flock of Brewer's. Two birds in particular were interacting, one of which I eventually saw and it was a Clay-colored. The birds were in the mesquite/grass about 30 yards along the trail to the right where it forks at the big cottonwood.

Monday December 2, 1996
Clark's Nutcracker and Red Crossbill continue in Sawmill Canyon.
Cassin's Vireo in Scheelite Canyon.

Wednesday, December 4, 1996
Despite the snow & cold in the Huachucas, a pair of Elegant Trogons were still in Scheelite Canyon this morning.

At Nogales SP, the Rusty Blackbird was still around this afternoon. Also present was a Neotropic Cormorant, 4 Snow Geese continue.

Very birdy at Patagonia Lake SP. 5 Neotropic Cormorants, Sora, Virginia Rail, Hammond's, Dusky, Gray & Ash-throated Flycatchers, Cassin's Vireo, O-C Warbler.

Thursday, December 19, 1996
I've just returned from a 10 day trip to TX and worked today in the Sulphur Springs Valley. I can confirm Will Russell's observations about reduced numbers of raptors, sparrows and lark buntings - all are down significantly from previous years.

For those of you that are familiar with the extremely reliable Barn Owls that roost and nest in the well on Mormon Road - cross them off your itinerary. I noticed several months ago that some cretins living nearby were dumping trash down the well shaft. There is now a considerable amount in there and the birds are gone.

Sunday, December 22, 1996
At Laveen Golf Course, the Oldsquaw was still present today at the northernmost pond. Amid the circus of noisy golfers, the bird was happily diving frequently (dodging submarine golf carts and sliced shots from too much egg nog).

At Peck's Lake I could only find 1 Tundra swan plus Canada Geese and many Canvasbacks. The bird was in the east arm of the lake and could not be seen from the overlook on Sycamore Canyon Road. I had to drive around the lake (about 1.5 miles) because the road that links the two arms of the lake is closed.

At Gilbert SP, 20+ BB Whistling Ducks were on the west bank of the southeasternmost pond.

Gilbert/Riggs pond is high again and had little of interest.

The field on the southeast side at the intersection of Gilbert and Germann roads had tons of raptors, including 1 rough-legged, 1 Ferruginous,  many red-tails (some dark phase) and harriers. Most of the birds were on the ground.

Two state birds and a year bird (T Swan). Now at 495 year birds for 1996. Wow, can I make it - the pressure is on!

Wednesday, December 25, 1996
At Patagonia Lake SP, at least 2 Ash-throated Flycatchers continue. Many empids, O-C Warbler and Virginia Rail. 50+ species this am.

At Madera Canyon, a male Blue-throated Hummer and Painted Redstart were both highly visible.

Friday, December 27, 1996
Arivaca Cienega: 1 female Ruddy Ground-Dove in grass/mesquite near entrance. Birds in town not looked for.

Nogales SP: Brief search revealed no sign of Rusty Blackbird.

Kino Springs: 50+ Mtn Bluebirds feeding on Hackberries at pond #1. Approx 10 Lawrence's Goldfinches in same area. 5+ Red Crossbills in pines south of clubhouse.

Patagonia Lake SP: 6 Neotropic Cormorants.

Sunday, December 29, 1996
Plenty of Am. Crows feeding with Ravens today in Sulphur Springs Valley. I began seeing them at the Pecan Grove on Moore Road about 1 mile N of Courtland Road. They were fairly common north of this point in the fields west of Hwy 191.

Mountain Plover were quite numerous albeit scattered around in the extreme northeastern Spitler fields, also CC Longspur.

Only 3 Ferruginous seen, 2 Harris', 2 Merlin, 2 Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon. Sandhill Cranes not congregated around Hyannis, but many around the valley. Also of note: Sage Thrasher (Coffman), Sage Sparrow (Frontier), Black-chinned Sparrow (Granite's).

Tuesday, December 31, 1996
I went to CA primarily to find 5 species for 500 year birds in 96. After working on 12/30, I drove to San Diego. On the morning of 12/31 I began at Tijuana Slough where I picked up Clapper Rail in no time. This is one of the easiest places I know for this bird, especially at high tide - they're almost on the sidewalk! A quick stop at Imperial Beach turned up the bird of the trip, a Pomarine Jaeger harassing terns off the end of the pier. 3 birds still needed. A short drive to Sunset Cliffs at Point Loma produced the usual 3 species of Cormorants at close range - Brandt's was number 478. Next stop was La Jolla were I lucked out with the tide and found Surfbird quite quickly. One more to go but I now had to drive 5 hours though LA traffic to look for #500. I arrived at Guadalupe Dunes west of Santa Maria with about 1 hour of daylight left. This is a sure fire place for Chestnut-backed Chickadee. However, it took me 1/2 hour to find one. An anti-climax if ever there was one! I scanned the ocean and added White-winged Scoter to finish with 501.

These brief notes were extracted from my posts to BIRDWG05 before this web site was published.

Dec Species Seen

Stuart Healy Journal - December, 1996 If you use the contents of my journal for commercial purposes, please acknowledge the source to your clients - thanks.

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