Species List

Stuart Healy Journal - January, 1998 If you use the contents of my journal for commercial purposes, please acknowledge the source to your clients - thanks.

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This log is in chronological order and the most recent entries are at the bottom of the page.
The last update was on Friday, January 30, 1998

Friday, January 2, 1998
In addition to the "regular" geese, today there were 13-CANADA GEESE at Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds. A new sewage pond species for me on my first visit of 1998!

The SNOW/ROSS/GREATER-WHITE FRONTED were in the fields on Moson Road, the Canada Geese were in the fields on Dake Road.

Saturday, January 3, 1998
A difficult, long, but rewarding day working with Rig Currie and Roy Poucher from CA. We began in the San Rafael Valley at the Vaca Ranch area, where after considerable effort we got decent looks at BAIRD'S SPARROW. In the area were many CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS and as we left, a calling SPRAGUE'S PIPIT flushed from near the corral  into the fenced off fields to the south. A PRAIRIE FALCON was perched on a fence post a few hundred yards west of the corral.

Next stop was Patagonia Lake State Park where we burned almost 4 hours on NUTTING'S FLYCATCHER. Jon Dunn's group had been there since 8:30, and as he was leaving, he found the bird at 12:30pm about 200 yards south of its "regular" location. However, one of my clients was back at the car so we had to find the bird all over again, which we did around 1:30pm! This time the bird was back in the regular location; it stayed about mid-mesquite and did most of its foraging by swooping down to the ground. The bird was mostly silent but would immediately vocalize whenever an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER approached closely. It was neat to compare the pipping of the Ash-throat with the radically different call of the Nutting's. We didn't focus on too many other birds but did see GRAY and HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS, SWAMP SPARROW and the usual  NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS.

After a 90 minute drive we arrived at Rainbow's End ranch to find the McCOWN'S LONGSPUR flock quite active despite being late in the day. On nearby Moore Road was a male suckleyi MERLIN. After much cursing and lots of searching we found 70+ MOUNTAIN PLOVER still foraging in the northeast Spitler fields with very little daylight left. Our final stop was at Whitewater draw to watch thousands of SANDHILL CRANES coming in to roost. GREAT-HORNED OWLS were perched on poles on Coffman and Davis Roads.

Sunday, January 4, 1998
Back at it again today with Rig and Roy. An early start as Sierra Vista Sewage ponds produced the SNOW, ROSS'S, GREATER-WHITE FRONTED and CANADA GEESE and a ground sitting MERLIN.

San Xavier Mission was quite birdy and the thrashers were singing and very cooperative. Perched up views of CURVE-BILLED, BENDIRE'S and 4-CRISSAL made for nice (although not direct!) comparison. Most of the expected species were seen including GILDED FLICKER.

40 species at Marana Pecan Grove (Woodpecker central) including BURROWING OWL, LEWIS'S WOODPECKER, RUDDY GROUND-DOVE (female with INCAS in the NW corner), and WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS enjoying the afternoon sun. We did not see the Red-headed Woodpecker between 11:30am and 2:00pm.

Tuesday, January 6, 1998
Nogales Sewage Ponds
I was hopefully scanning a group of LESSER SCAUP and bingo, I came across a male GREATER SCAUP. The bird was larger, (not significantly but certainly discernibly) with a larger bill, and with the black bill tip much more noticeable than on the Lessers. The head was green (though that doesn't mean much) and very smooth and rounded, with no bump as in Lesser. The only other bird of note here was PEREGRINE.

Although I've seen Greater Scaup 3 out of the past 5 years in AZ, I'm well aware that often the clinching character is wishful thinking. When I lived in WA state, I was always trying to make Greater into Lesser! So, even though I was comfortable with my diagnosis, I was still hoping that the bird would fly. Eventually it did, revealing white extending all the way onto the primaries.

This is perhaps the first time that I've seen both Scaup species so close together for direct comparison. Another difference that struck me was that the Greater seemed to be significantly longer necked. When I got home, I reviewed various publications on the subject and the neck difference is mentioned in Madge and Burn's, "Waterfowl".

Patagonia Lake
I spent a pleasant 2 1/2 hours starting at 8:00am when the temp was right around freezing. I was determined not to spend any time on Nutting's and saw a total of 50 species. Nothing special but numerous GRAY and DUSKY FLYCATCHERS (perhaps 4-5 of each), 3-COMMON SNIPE, 7-ORANGE CROWNED WARBLERS, my first CINNAMON TEAL of the year, and many sparrows of various flavors.

Kino Springs
Since the new owners did some "housekeeping" (included whitewashing over the really neat painting that was done not so long ago!), most of the brushy stuff is gone and with it the birds. The only species of note were GREEN HERON and BELTED KINGFISHER.

Santa Gertrudis Lane
More CARDINALS and PYRRHULOXIAS in one place than I've ever seen before, 4-GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES and the usual RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS.

Madera Canyon
Pretty chilly - all the common woodland birds and 2-MAGNIFICENT HUMMERS.

I wonder why the W-C Seedeater found on the Patagonia count was not reported. Probably because there's a 100% chance that it's an escapee.

Thursday, January 8, 1998
First stop was Whitewater Draw which disappointed yet again. About  20 species in 30 minutes with nothing of note. However, nearby Lee Road had MERLIN, PRAIRIE FALCON, and GOLDEN EAGLE.

On Central just S of Elfrida was a single FERRUGINOUS HAWK (the only one that we say all morning). This is a particularly small individual  that I have seen in the same spot a few times recently. Lots of SANDHILL CRANES feeding in the corn stubble on central.

At Rainbow's End, McCOWN'S (numbers down) and CHESTNUT-COLLARED (numbers
up) LONGSPURS continue. Many LARK BUNTINGS, SAVANNAH, VESPER and BREWER'S SPARROWS, AM. PIPIT, HORNED LARKS, ROADRUNNER, both MEADOWLARK species, and on nearby Moore Road, a roosting GREAT-HORNED OWL.

In the Spitler fields we could only find a single MOUNTAIN PLOVER. Hell, that's like seeing 1 Bushtit - it just doesn't happen!. The bird was in the NE field where 70+ birds were present on 1/3.
Back on Hwy 191 2-HARRIS HAWKS were in, appropriately, the Harris Hawk tree, often the Great Horned Owl tree. I've never seen them both in the tree at the same time, but I have seen an owl in the tree and the hawks on the wires just a few feet away.

After a slow lunch at the Desert Pony we headed over to St. David for the last hour of our birding day. Very pleasant conditions (mild, no wind) and 35 species including GREEN HERON, WOOD DUCK, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER and VERMILION FLYCATCHER.

Sunday, January 11, 1998
Today I was working with Bernie English and Carolyn Porrino. They had called me last year wanting an adventure - so I took them to California Gulch for the Five-striped Sparrow. This time a more sedate trip to Sulphur Springs Valley and the Chiricahuas. Thrasher breeding season is definitely underway with singing CRISSAL THRASHERS on Frontier and Coffman Roads and singing BENDIRE'S THRASHER on Coffman Road. Many more FERRUGINOUS HAWKS in the valley today than I've seen so far this winter.

In an unsuccessful attempt to cross the Mountains via Pinery Canyon Road, I found a small group of JUNIPER TITMICE near the steam crossing about 8 miles below Onion Saddle, definitely uncommon on the west side of the mountains. There were also many in the "regular" spot on the Paradise Road along with WESTERN SCRUB-JAY.

The Spofford's feeders had plenty of business today including PAINTED REDSTART (suet feeder), BLUE-THROATED HUMMER and SCRUB-JAY. 

Monday, January 12, 1998
Another day with Bernie and Carolyn. Scrape ice of the car in the am, turn on the A/C by 2pm.

Patagonia Lake State Park
A pleasant 50 species morning working at the State Park. We didn't look for Nutting's, however, it was seen. Several people asked us "are you looking for the Nutting's" - I resisted the temptation to say Nutting's Schmutting's and replied instead with no, but thanks anyway. People look at you strangely when you pass on such a rarity!

Better birds for me were MEXICAN JAYS and a STRICKLAND'S WOODPECKER, almost at marsh level in mesquite habitat for the second consecutive winter. WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES and both CORMORANTS continue. With patience along the marsh edge - great looks at COMMON SNIPE,   SWAMP SPARROW, VIRGINIA RAIL and many others. Only one HAMMOND'S found but many GRAY and DUSKY FLYCATCHERS were very active and vocal. I've noted many times that contrary to published information, Duskies do indeed give their dee-hic calls in winter, not just on breeding territory. Several ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS foraging on the ground. Also of note, 1-RING-BILLED GULL, at least 12-COMMON MERGANSERS, and the continuing BARN SWALLOW.

Paton's Yard
Very birdy today. LAZULI BUNTINGS were numerous and there were also good numbers of PINE SISKINS. Most interesting was the  ruddiest male COMMON GROUND-DOVE that I have every seen. I wonder about the possibility of a Ruddy/Common hybrid?

In the evening we made a cold and unsuccessful trip to Carr Canyon for Whiskered-Screech Owl. These birds are pretty common but you wouldn't know it from this night. Not a single owl heard let alone seen!

Wednesday, January 14, 1998
Whenever I'm not working with clients, I'm usually in the field doing grunt work. I'm a great believer in the fact that you have to put in the time and sweat the details to be consistently successful. Perhaps that stems from my engineering days when the object was always to make the routine stuff, well, routine. So today, despite being groggy from a cold/flu, I headed for the Huachucas. I wanted to check on the trogon and sapsucker.

As I started up Sawmill canyon at 9:15am, the temperature was 32 degrees with patchy, solid ice here and there throughout the canyon. It was deathly silent but I couldn't tell if it was me unable to hear anything or not. I scratched out a few birds (9 species total) and was able to locate a nice male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER.

When the sapsuckers arrive on their wintering grounds, they establish a number of "sap well" trees. During this time you can hear them tapping and they are relatively easy to locate. As the season progresses, they become very inconspicuous with light tapping at best, and they rarely call. The key to finding them consistently is to find their regular trees. It's then just a matter of picking a tree and waiting for the bird to stop by as it does the rounds, or to systematically check all the trees. Today I found the bird in the first tree that I checked. Ironically, I found the bird in the same tree on my last visit, the only difference being on that occasion it was the last tree that I checked! C'est la Vie.

As I was about to leave the canyon I met Bob Schutsky's BirdTreks group They were after the Williamson's so I doubled back to show them the bird. As we watched it, one of the group said "hey, what's this bird". I looked and despite the distance and shadows, there was no mistaking the outline of an ELEGANT TROGON. One good turn deserves another and I left the canyon having confirmed both my target birds.

We got great looks at the bird, an adult male, which presumably is the same bird that I've seen on most trips to Sawmill since last October. The overnight temperature in Sawmill must have been in the low twenties, perhaps even in the teens. Proof indeed that (at least for this particular individual) a reliable food source is more important than warm conditions.

As I headed down Garden, I stopped just below the upper stream crossing as I heard a flock of BUSHTITS. I guess my ears were working after all! My good luck continued - there were several MONTEZUMA QUAIL on the west slope near the stream crossing.

I hadn't intended to visit Scheelite Canyon, but Bob's group didn't find  a Spotted Owl and I love a challenge so I decided to soldier on. I was rewarded with about a dozen species including STRICKLAND'S WOODPECKER and 1 very hard to see SPOTTED OWL. However, I didn't come across the NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL that Bob had found earlier in the morning.

In the afternoon I checked Sierra Vista sewage ponds. The last few days have been quiet there and I haven't seen the geese/falcons/Merlin of late. The only consistent bird seen again today is FERRUGINOUS HAWK. In the marsh, several SORAS and 1 VIRGINIA RAIL were calling. I also saw a  COMMON MOORHEN which is decidedly uncommon at the sewage ponds. Since I've only seen it 9 times in 469 visits, I'd say that it's rare here.

Friday, January 16, 1998
Today I was working in the Patagonia area again, this time with Irene and Allan Warschauer from New York. We  visited Patagonia Lake State Park, Paton's Yard and the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Sanctuary. The state park and Paton's were both very birdy as usual but the sanctuary was quite dead in the afternoon.

At the state park, all of the recent birds continue and today we also saw WILSON'S WARBLER and GREAT EGRET that I've missed the past week or so. The MYRTLE warbler near the parking area (mentioned by Narca) has been in almost the same spot for 2 months! Its more metallic chip than Audubon's initially sent me chasing after it but I've learned by lesson.

Paton's yard was overrun with LAZULI BUNTINGS and we also saw them in the sanctuary.

At the end of the day, a mad dash to Palominas Pond for VERMILION FLYCATCHER (reliable here in winter) where we also saw a lone BARN SWALLOW as night fell. This year they seem to be wintering in AZ over a wide area, but only singly or in small numbers according to most reports. The last time that I saw them in winter was in 1993 - anyone have an explanation as to why they're sticking around?

Saturday, January 17, 1998
A quiet morning in the Huachucas with the Warschauers. We started in Sawmill Canyon and as I was pointing out a "sapsucker tree", there was a male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER right on cue. Saw precious little else for an hour before finding the male ELEGANT TROGON. Scheelite was also pretty quiet around noon and the only bird of note was 1 easy-to-find but hard-to-see SPOTTED OWL. I felt sorry for my 4 clients who had huffed and puffed up the trail only to see the ass end of a bird that normally provides great views. Incidentally, I've only seen 1 owl on my trips for the past 4 weeks, I hope #2 is OK - perhaps they just had a tiff.

A quick trip to Ramsey produced a BLUE-THROATED HUMMER although a Magnificent is also a regular at the feeders. 

St. David was pleasant in the afternoon with continuing WOOD DUCKS, GRAY FLYCATCHER and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.

Final stop was Whitewater Draw. A sunset full of color that was hard to beat as a stand alone item. Add to that the sights and sounds of wave after wave of SANDHILL CRANES coming into roost and you've just about got perfection. Also of note, 50-LONG-BILLED CURLEWS.

Sunday, January 18, 1998
Today I was working with Mike Higgiston of NY. I had helped Mike for a week last Feb and will be with him again in California next month. However, today he had flown in for just one bird, NUTTING'S FLYCATCHER. By 9:00am we saw the bird in the "usual" place just a few yards into the wash from the marker. Today, for the first time, I was able to observe the distinctive tail pattern which was timely since the bird didn't vocalize.

Now what to do. Mike decided that he would like to try for the Yellow-billed Loon in NM. So, we headed  to Caballo Lake in an attempt to be perhaps the first folks on the planet to see Nutting's and Yellow-billed Loon in the same day. My, how the mighty are fallen. After finally leaving Sierra Vista around noon, we had about 90 minutes of daylight to cover the lake where I normally spend all day. Not surprisingly we came up empty. Has anyone counted the COMMON MERGANSERS there? I did a rough estimate and came up with 8000. Even divided by 2 it's a big number!

It was a shame that we had so little time there with so many birds to look at. Our best bird was GLAUCOUS GULL seen not far offshore from the State Park boat launch in with the mergansers.

Monday, January 19, 1998
Another good morning in the Sulphur Springs Valley with Mike Higgiston. We began with thrashers,  CRISSAL on Coffman Rd and BENDIRE'S on Central Hwy between Lee and Davis Roads. Also on Central in  the same location PRAIRIE FALCON and FERRUGINOUS HAWK.

At Rainbow's End Ranches, a small flock of McCOWN'S LONGSPURS.  At Spitler Cattle Co., the SW field (corner of Rucker Canyon and Hwy 191) has ideal plover conditions. The field is being heavily grazed by sheep and had many KILLDEER, FERRUGINOUS HAWK, 2-BALD EAGLES, CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR but no Mountain Plovers.  We did not have time to check the other fields. On Davis Rd, a second Prairie Falcon and a MERLIN.

Tuesday, January 20, 1998
A visit to Sierra Vista sewage ponds from 2-3pm produced 33 species including VERMILION FLYCATCHER, 2-PEREGRINE FALCONS and 6-LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. The 4 geese species that I hoped would overwinter have apparently left.

Thursday, January 22, 1998
I was in Tucson today on non-birding business but I found an hour to stop by Reid Park. I didn't see the Pine Warbler but the CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER was constantly flycatching in and around the Olive trees from 10:30-11:30am. All the usual birds including COOPER'S HAWK, displaying ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, and about a dozen or so WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS soaring overhead.

Friday, January 23, 1998
Another pleasant morning in the Huachucas but not one of my more productive days. I began in Sawmill Canyon at 9:00am where the temp was 29 degrees and, not surprisingly, there was very little activity. Within an hour it was quite warm and a large mixed flock of  titmice, nuthatches, creepers and kinglets were foraging quite vocally. I made a serious but unsuccessful search for the wintering trogon, although I did find a WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER  in one of its regular trees. In fact, I've seen it in the same tree on the past 4 visits.

Next I went to Scheelite and despite a 3 hour search ranging into the upper reaches of the canyon, it was one of those rare occasions when I was unable to locate a Spotted Owl. Both December and January are traditionally the months in which I have the least amount of   success as the owls become more erratic, especially during bad weather. Even during these months I  find an owl on about 75% of my visits (compared to about 93% in most other months). The only other birds of note were several WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS and a STRICKLAND'S WOODPECKER.

Later, I made a short visit to Sierra Vista sewage ponds where it was quiet in the afternoon 70 degree temperature. I saw only 25 species in an hour including MERLIN and PRAIRIE FALCON. In the nearby desert scrub where I regularly hear VERDINS calling, today I heard them singing as they think about nesting. 

Monday, January 26, 1998
After a couple of days slaving over a hot computer, I was able to get out to Sierra Vista sewage ponds this morning where I saw 44 species from 9:30-11:30am.  January is a time of little change with birds neither leaving or arriving. Ironically, however, after thinking that the geese had all left, I saw a lone ROSS'S GOOSE at the northernmost pond on Dake Rd. Also on Dake was a large flock of more than 250-AM. PIPITS and both EASTERN and WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, seemingly dueling by song as first one species then the other sang.

Raptors were hard to come by with only a PRAIRIE FALCON of note along with the usual Harriers, Red-tails and Kestrels. At the northernmost pond on Moson Rd were 2- EARED GREBES, 2-LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, SCALED QUAIL,  and a VERMILION FLYCATCHER. The marsh area was very quiet and even the usually noisy SORAS were walking around but not calling. Here's the full list of what I saw:

Eared Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Ross's Goose, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Mallard,  Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Prairie Falcon, Scaled Quail, Sora, Coot, Long-billed Dowitcher, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Say's Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Chihuahuan Raven, Loggerhead Shrike, European Starling, Cactus Wren, Marsh Wren, Verdin, Horned Lark, American Pipit, House Finch, White-crowned Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Canyon Towhee, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Western Meadowlark, Brewer's Blackbird

Thursday, January 29, 1998
A brief afternoon visit to Sierra Vista sewage ponds was warm, quiet, but nevertheless interesting. I again saw the formerly reliable FERRUGINOUS HAWK sitting in the fields on Moson Road. Also seen after a fairly long absence (either staying well hidden or gone for a while) were 4-SNOW, 2-ROSS'S and 1-GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (all at the last pond on Dake Road). The scrub at the entrance to Dake (often good for half a dozen sparrows species) has been cleared to make way for a parking lot or new building. I saw 34 species  including  many SAVANNAH SPARROWS, a female VERMILION FLYCATCHER, and a  lone LARK BUNTING that has been hanging out with Vesper Sparrows all winter (must have lost his buddies).

Friday, January 30, 1998
San Pedro
I began a little after sunrise at the river where it was extremely cold and I managed only 28 species  from 7:30-9:00am.. LESSER GOLDFINCHES were abundant and actually singing. I made a half- hearted attempt to find a Green Kingfisher but the bird had more sense than me - no doubt he was somewhere warm. The only species of note was a singing CRISSAL THRASHER.

SV Ponds
On my way to the mountains I stopped at SV ponds for a change <grin> where, although only 4 miles from the river, it was considerable warmer. In less than an hour I saw 37 species and it  was déjà vu all over again with 13-CANADA, 4-SNOW, 2-ROSS'S and 1-GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. I wonder if the geese actually leave for a few days at a time,  or whether they're just out of view in the many swales on Moson where they were today.

Also on Moson in quick succession I saw FERRUGINOUS HAWK, PRAIRIE FALCON, MERLIN, 6 species of sparrows and ROADRUNNER. At the marsh, a hand clap produced replies from 2 VIRGINIA RAILS and a SORA, while a PEREGRINE FALCON sat in nearby tree.

Scheelite Canyon
My trip began as though it would be an unmitigated disaster. As I started up the canyon, 4 very noisy hikers were ahead of me and every critter in the Huachucas could probably hear them. I was reminded of a Smittyism, "if you want to commune with nature, don't drown it out". I said hello and scurried on past to have a chance to see a few birds. Good, I thought as their voices diminished,only to be disheartened again as 3 more hikers were coming down the trail with 2 big dogs! Oh well, it's a free canyon.

As I reached the 3/8 mile marker, it began to hail. Fortunately, not the summer monsoon hail that  stings your ears. It was 50 degrees and sunny as I left town so I had changed into shorts, what a dork. Now I was really happy.

The owl (singular) had been hard to find of late. Nobody had reported seeing one in the sign-in log recently and I had missed it on my last trip so I was prepared for a long hard slog. However, I was lucky enough to find a reasonably well hidden SPOTTED OWL around 5/8. Still only one for over a month, now I'm  a little worried about #2.

On the way out the trip was redeemed. I heard a familiar call and said to myself, no, can't be, but it was - a ROCK WREN on the east slope rocks around 1/2 mile. This is my fifth year working in Scheelite with no previous sightings. In fact, they are very hard to come by in this part of the Huachucas. I have seen them twice in Garden Canyon on the north slope opposite the entrance to Scheelite. They are fairly common in other parts so not entirely unexpected here.

Further down canyon I came across a mixed flock of titmice, kinglets, etc. I noticed a few "little green jobs" foraging on the ground and thought kinglets. I looked and saw RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, no I said, HUTTON'S VIREO, no, what the hell's going on here, CASSIN'S VIREO. It took me a minute to escape from the twilight zone and realize it was all three species foraging on the ground  together! Definitely one for the "you learn something every day category". Cassin's Vireo is a good bird for the Huachucas in winter. My last comparable sighting was December 2, 1996, also in Scheelite. As I exited, A STRICKLAND'S WOODPECKER was at the trailhead. Not a bad trip up the canyon after all!

This log is in chronological order and the most recent entries are at the bottom of the page.
The last update was on Friday, January 30, 1998

Species List

Stuart Healy Journal - January, 1998 If you use the contents of my journal for commercial purposes, please acknowledge the source to your clients - thanks.

Top of Page