Species List

Stuart Healy Journal - May, 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 Saturday, May 30, 1998

Friday, May 1, 1998
It was quite warm when I arrived at Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds at 8:45am and activity was already pretty low -- a sign of the doldrums coming up in late May and June. I stayed about an hour and found 30 species. Nothing of real note -- continuing CINNAMON TEAL, BUFFLEHEAD, WHITE-FACED IBIS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERS and WILSON'S PHALAROPE. A couple of wintering birds still around -- WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (first time I've seen the blackbirds stay at the ponds  into May).

Saturday, May 2, 1998
Day 1 of several days with Brian and Ann Gray from Toronto. Another crack of night start for a trip to California Gulch. We started down the gulch road around 6:30am and immediately (and most unusually) began to see vehicles. Camping near the dam were easily 100 people, many of them seemed to be refugees from the sixties and most of them apparently had a few too many the night before. We were invited to party but declined!

As we headed further into the gulch we lost the people and began to see birds, most notably a perched GOLDEN EAGLE and a perched ZONE-TAILED HAWK. Later we saw them both soaring in the gulch proper with the Zone-tailed harassing the Eagle -- quite a spectacular sight. Immediately upon arrival at the south end of the gulch, I was elated to hear a FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW singing spontaneously. It was perched in an Ocotillo and although I quickly got the scope on it, I wasn't quick enough for my clients to see it! Caramba. Many times in the past I've found and then lost the bird immediately, and then spent hours trying to relocate it. Fortunately, that wasn't the case today.  We soon found the bird singing again and got great scope views for as long as we wanted. In fact, there were at least 2, perhaps 3 birds singing between the 2nd and 4th stream crossings. 

The gulch was nowhere near as birdy today as on my last visit of 4/23, but we did get great looks at a couple of NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULETS and COSTA'S HUMMER. About 35 species in all, the most surprising of which was HEPATIC TANAGER at the California Gulch/Ruby Road intersection.

At Kino Springs we neither saw nor heard Tropical Kingbird but did see BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING- DUCKS copulating and a very late female GREATER SCAUP at the clubhouse pond. As far as I could tell, the bird was in good health and plumage was in good condition. This species is a good bird at any time in SE AZ, but in May it's quite remarkable.

No sign of Thick-bills at the Roadside Rest or at the 2nd stream crossing, but beautiful male WESTERN TANAGERS were present at both locations. The RR also had ROCK WREN and BELTED KINGFISHER. We eventually found a pair of THICK-BILLED KINGBIRDS on Blue Heaven Road, just west of the sanctuary entrance.

Monday, May 4, 1998
Day 2 with Ann and Brian. Our day began in Garden Canyon where we had instant success with ELEGANT TROGON, also seen later in Sawmill Canyon. Sawmill continues quiet, although we did see most of the expected species including BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER building a nest. In Scheelite the SPOTTED OWL was easy to find today find and, for a change, it was low down in the canyon. A brief visit to Ramsey Canyon produced GOLDEN EAGLE feeding chicks and my year first WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD.

A late afternoon trip to the San Pedro River (Hwy 90) failed to turn up a Green Kingfisher despite a thorough 3 hour search both N and S of the bridge. LESSER NIGHTHAWKS began their foraging as we left. Back in the Huachucas we heard ELF OWL and WHIP-POOR-WILL, but got good looks at our only target bird, WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL.

Tuesday, May 5, 1998
Another day with Ann and Brian Gray that saw us start early in the Sulphur Springs Valley. We had early good fortune and found several target birds in short order -- plenty of SCALED QUAIL, a perched up CRISSAL THRASHER, and small flocks of LARK BUNTINGS in breeding plumage. Other birds seen included COOPER'S and SWAINSON'S HAWKS, ROADRUNNER,   PYRRHULOXIA,  lots of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES and my first BRONZED COWBIRD of the year.

Our good luck continued as we headed up Pinery Canyon and got great scope looks at an extremely cooperative NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL. The canyon was very birdy with many singing RED-FACED WARBLERS, a few CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHERS, WESTERN and HEPATIC TANAGERS, and several other high elevation species. Although Rustler Park Rd is now open, the campground was still closed to vehicles. It was a beautiful still morning as we walked in and heard  the melodic song of newly returned WARBLING VIREOS. Barfoot Rd is closed by snow but we heard our only MEXICAN CHICKADEE of the day here. Down below in Paradise the Lewis's Woodpecker has left but we did find another target bird -- JUNIPER TITMOUSE.

Later, we spent from 3:15-6:30pm on the San Pedro near the Hereford Bridge but despite another thorough search, we did not find Green Kingfisher. A total of more than 6 hours over two days in two separate locations on the river failed to produce the bird. I also note from the SP House log that there are no recent reports of GRKI. Not very encouraging. My misery continued back in the Huachucas, where it was very cool and windy, and I couldn't find a Common Poorwill -- several heard (along with Elf Owl and Whip-poor-will) but none seen.

Wednesday, May 6, 1998
A morning in the Huachucas with photographer Brian Small, who wanted to improve on shots of a few birds that we worked on last year. It's tough working with photographers -- finding the bird is only a small part of the job! For example, the ELEGANT TROGON that provides great life views for many birders in Garden Canyon every day (including today), didn't give us any useful photo-ops. However, Brian already has some good trogon shots including the one on my home page.

Sawmill Canyon was once again very quiet and very disappointing. We found very few photo opportunities with the exception of a cooperative GRACE'S WARBLER, but did come across most of the regulars including ELEGANT TROGON, GREATER PEWEE, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and migrant YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and WESTERN TANAGERS.

Thursday, May 7, 1998
A short visit to Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds today -- 32 species from 1:00-2:00pm. I was quite disappointed to find that the best shorebird pond on Moson Rd (about 1 mile N of Highway 90) was being drained. Although the habitat was still very good, it won't be long before it's dried out and useless. I couldn't find anyone to ask why the water was being pumped out. Only a few shorebirds were present:  1-WHITE-FACED IBIS, 1-BLACK-NECKED STILT, 1-GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 3-WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 5-WILSON'S PHALAROPES.

Friday, May 8, 1998
Today I was out with Dr. John O'Connor from MA and a group of about 15 mostly non-birders attending a medical conference in Tucson. Before leaving town I checked on Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds. The Moson Rd pond continues to be drained and only the GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 1-WESTERN SANDPIPER remain from yesterday. I saw a couple of species that I seldom see at the ponds -- GREEN HERON (only 2 previous sightings) and a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE passing through (only 1 previous sighting, also in May).

It was cool and cloudy as we arrived at Madera Canyon at 2:15pm. Although I had mentioned that an afternoon visit would probably not produce many birds, the cool weather gave me cause for optimism. Unfortunately, it didn't make any difference and birds were at a premium. Even the Santa Rita Lodge feeders were almost empty with very little hummer activity. We spent about 1 1/12 hours walking from the lodge to Proctor Rd and only came up with 22 species. Of interest was a singing GREATER PEWEE near the Proctor Rd parking area, just a tad out of habitat! Although they winter in riparian habitat, I would expect them to be on territory by now.

Monday, May 11, 1998
Back in the field today after taking two non-birding days. I was disgusted with human nature after losing two days of business by trying to do the right thing for a particularly vindictive person. I've also been screwed a few times lately by cancellations and if it continues, I'll have to start requesting a deposit.

ELEGANT TROGONS were very active this morning and I encountered at least 6 individuals in Garden and Sawmill Canyons. In Sawmill, two traditional territories are now occupied with a definite pair at one and a male at the other. Sawmill is finally looking like normal and many birds were singing this morning.

Sawmill Canyon -- 7:00-8:30am, 27 species
White-throated Swift, Elegant Trogon, Strickland's Woodpecker, Greater Pewee, Western Wood-Pewee, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Cassin's Kingbird, Steller's Jay, Mexican Jay, Common Raven, Plumbeous Vireo, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Pygmy Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Bridled Titmouse, Olive Warbler, Grace's Warbler, Painted Redstart, Yellow-eyed Junco, Hepatic Tanager, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown-headed Cowbird

I hadn't visited Scheelite since May 4, but according to the sign-in log SPOTTED OWL has been easy to find.  That wasn't the case today, however, and I wore out some boot leather before finding one well up the canyon. As a reward for my efforts I also found NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL and RED-FACED WARBLER.

Scheelite Canyon -- 8:50-11:05am, 24 species
Spotted Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl, White-throated Swift, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Western Scrub-Jay, Mexican Jay, Common Raven, Hutton's Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch, Canyon Wren, Bewick's Wren, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Bridled Titmouse,
Virginia's Warbler, Red-faced Warbler, Painted Redstart, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Hepatic Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Scott's Oriole, Brown-headed Cowbird

Of interest at Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds: a single EARED GREBE (close to the date of my latest spring sighting here), a surprise PRAIRIE FALCON (first time here outside the normal November to February winter season), SCALED QUAIL (not often seen here), and a RING-BILLED GULL.

SV Sewage Ponds -- 11:40am-12:45pm,  31 species
Eared Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, 50+ White-faced Ibis,
Swainson's Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Scaled Quail, American Coot, 65-American Avocets, Ring-billed Gull, Mourning Dove, Cassin's Kingbird, Western Kingbird, Chihuahuan Raven, Verdin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, House Sparrow, House Finch, Lucy's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird

Tuesday, May 12, 1998
A calm day as I left town but frustratingly windy along the San Pedro River (Highway 90). My enthusiasm was certainly tempered and, judging by what I saw, the birds were none too frisky either. I managed only 40 species from 6:00-7:45am. To give you an idea of the conditions, the area is normally loaded with Kingbirds but the wind kept them down and I saw none today. Since I'm predominantly an "ear birder", I didn't have much fun either! Migrants were again lacking and I saw only WILSON'S WARBLER and WARBLING VIREO. In contrast, BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS seem to be far more common this year along the river and I counted at least 6 between the San Pedro House and Kingfisher pond -- not a stretch that normally holds so many. YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS and BULLOCK'S ORIOLES were well represented, otherwise birds were fairly scarce. Of note was a latish LINCOLN'S SPARROW.

Except for absent Shovelers, birds at Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds from 7:55-8:40am were pretty much the same as yesterday. Additions were GREATER YELLOWLEGS and WESTERN SANDPIPERS on Moson Rd, where pumping continues at the northernmost pond. However, there's still some water left and it should be useful for a little while longer until it dries up completely.

Wednesday, May 13, 1998
Day 1 of 2 days with Bill Reichert and beginning birder friends Gordon and Sue Putz from Chicago. We visited Garden, Sawmill, Scheelite and Ramsey Canyons, Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds and the San Pedro River. Despite the very windy conditions throughout the day, we managed to see   a respectable 80 species. It's a rare day when I'm not target birding and can stop to enjoy all the birds, but today was such a day. Pity it was so windy when even "easy" birds were hard to see. However, we had no trouble seeing ELEGANT TROGON in Sawmill (also heard in Ramsey), SPOTTED OWL in Scheelite and WHITE-EARED HUMMER in Ramsey. Ironically, on this very windy day, the owl was roosting in the "Windy Oak", so named because I once saw the bird blown out of the tree on a windy day!

Migrant WARBLING VIREOS were singing in Garden, BRONZED COWBIRDS returned to Sawmill, and I saw my first ever Arizona BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER on the San Pedro River near Kingfisher Pond. In Ramsey, a low canyon GRACE'S WARBLER was a little surprising. WESTERN, HEPATIC and SUMMER TANAGERS were all fairly plentiful in their respective habitats. Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher was seen in Ramsey on Monday but we neither saw nor heard one today.

Thursday, May 14, 1998
Another day with Bill, Gordon and Sue. We birded the Patagonia area where the weather was much better than yesterday -- cloudy and cool with no wind for most of the day. We saw a total of  90 species on the day with a good start of 50 species at Patagonia Lake State Park. Two BOTTERI'S  SPARROWS were singing along the entrance road and BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS, SNOWY EGRET and OSPREY were at the lake. Some of the other birds seen were NEOTROPIC CORMORANT, GRAY HAWK, NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (also at all other locations visited), GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, HOODED and BULLOCK'S ORIOLES and BRONZED COWBIRD.

At Kino Springs was my first VARIED BUNTING of the season, another SNOWY EGRET, GRAY HAWK, TROPICAL KINGBIRD, PYRRHULOXIA and CRISSAL THRASHER. More GRAY HAWKS at the Roadside Rest along with THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD and WARBLING VIREO. We saw the regular hummers in the Paton's Yard and a sleepy looking WESTERN SCREECH-OWL sitting at the nest hole entrance. A couple of surprises in the sanctuary were MEXICAN JAYS and HUTTON'S VIREO, somewhat out of habitat for this time of year.

Friday, May 15, 1998
Today I was out with Janet Goodman and Carol Meilandt from Walnut Creek, CA, and Mary South from Portland, OR. We visited California Gulch, leaving Sierra Vista at 4:00am and returning at 1:30pm. It was one of those days when practically everything went right from start to finish, and we found all but one target bird. Our first success came on the Ruby Rd at the particularly good Oak grove at milepost 8. I had just rolled down my window to listen for quail and as we rounded a bend, a male and female MONTEZUMA QUAIL were ahead in the road. As we approached, they moved to the grassy edge and allowed us great looks at close range (often the case if you stay in your vehicle). Just as it looked like we would have to "walk away from them" (a cardinal sin!), they finally waddled off into the oaks.

We began looking for sparrows about 7:30 and almost immediately found a pair of FIVE-STRIPED SPARROWS at a range too close for scope use -- an uncommon occurrence at best. The pair cavorted around unconcerned by our presence, with lots of singing, chasing, and luckily for us -- perching. This time we were almost obliged to walk away from them. We turned our attention to VARIED BUNTING, seen and heard briefly a little earlier as we walked into the gulch, and eventually got great looks at a singing male perched in an oak. Next we moved on to NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET who obliged us with sporadic singing while perched in a nearby Ocotillo. As we headed south down the gulch to look for Zone-tailed, another Five-striped was singing atop a Sotal as a GOLDEN EAGLE soared above. We saw the male ZONE-TAILED HAWK carrying an (unknown) prey item to the female, and had nice scope looks at the perched female until the male decided to harass us even though we were 200 yards away. Spectacular flyby views as we left them to it and headed back to "civilization".

After an exhilarating <g> lunch at McDonald's in Nogales, a brief stop at Kino Springs around noon produced the only failure of the day. It was hot and buggy and even though we heard CRISSAL THRASHER, we couldn't entice him into view. Next stop was the Roadside Rest where we soon saw THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD on one of his regular perches. We pushed our luck one more time and headed to the Paton's yard. Sure enough, the WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was hanging out of his cavity for our final success of the day. Perhaps I should make a quick trip to Vegas!

After I dropped off the ladies at Thunder Mountain Inn, I checked out Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds. Both the ponds on Moson Road are now dry and the only birds of note were BLUE-WINGED and CINNAMON TEAL at the marsh pond.

Saturday, May 16, 1998
Out today with the Kampmeiers, Scott from NC and Jack from NY. A successful morning in the Huachucas where my good luck from yesterday continued as we hit all our target birds. Although we didn't need ELEGANT TROGON, the Sawmill bird was well worth looking at as he again allowed close up views. Unlike the Garden picnic area birds, the Sawmill birds are less used to people. However, one of this year's nest sites is very close to where everyone parks so this pair are, of necessity, becoming more tolerant each day. A very unlikely bird this morning was MEXICAN MALLARD -- a new Sawmill bird for me! In this wet year, the "pond" near the cabin actually has water and today a pair of Mallards were present. Although technically in Garden, I have always counted birds here on my Sawmill list. OLIVE WARBLER was initially quiet but we eventually found several after working hard for the first one. GREATER PEWEE was less vocal than usual but a bird repeatedly visiting a nest provided good views. We watched a BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER building a nest in a Juniper (most nests are in Chihuahuan Pines). Sadly, however, another nest that had just been completed has disappeared, probably due to the recent high wind. BRONZED COWBIRD numbers were up today since their arrival a few days ago.

STRICKLAND'S WOODPECKER eluded us in the open oak/pine environment of Sawmill then, ironically, we saw one well in Scheelite where it's much denser and much harder to see birds. Another elusive bird in Scheelite was VIRGINIA'S WARBLER which took us quite some time before getting a decent look. The SPOTTED OWL was well tucked away but easy to find. In the Garden canyon grassland around noon I didn't expect to see BOTTERI'S SPARROW. But  what do I know, we got very good looks at a singing bird to complete a good morning.

Scott and Jack spent the afternoon in Ramsey seeing their target hummingbirds, WHITE-EARED and BLUE-THROATED. We met up again at 5:00 and visited the Hwy 90 crossing of the San Pedro River to look for Hammond's and Dusky Flycatchers which have mostly all gone, and as I expected we were unsuccessful. It was a warm, cloudy evening and we saw only 34 species in 2 hours. Of note was a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER and a possible early YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, not seen well enough to be certain. LESSER NIGHTHAWKS were out in force as we left at 7:20. Back in the Huachucas it only took about a minute to whistle in several WHISKERED SCREECH-OWLS. However, on the back roads near the river we were only able to hear COMMON POORWILLS.  On balance, though, a good day.

Sunday, May 17, 1998
Out today with Steve and Janell Klesius of Tampa Bay, Florida. My good luck of the past few days finally ran out and we only found 5 (4 seen) of our 6 target birds. Unfortunately, the big miss was Spotted Owl. Scheelite Canyon had many visitors yesterday and my records indicate that the owl moves up canyon after such events. Well, today it evidently moved elsewhere. It was a blow to me because, until today, May was my only 100% successful month. In 62 previous May visits I had never missed the owl.

The day began well enough with a singing BOTTERI'S SPARROW in Garden Canyon. Another target bird, VIRGINIA'S WARBLER, was elusive but finally seen well as we headed up after the owl. In the upper area was a consolation RED-FACED WARBLER and although I've seen them elsewhere this year, today I saw my first Scheelite CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER of the season.

We arrived at Kino Springs at 11:00am in search of our next target, VARIED BUNTING. It was very hot and uncomfortable as we searched for and soon found the bird. However, for the next 15 minutes he sang from various trees not more than 20-30 feet from us but, amazingly, we couldn't see him! At the clubhouse pond we had no trouble seeing our target TROPICAL KINGBIRD. The bird was aggressively interacting with CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS and a pair of BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS as a GRAY HAWK called nearby. Our final success came at a nest site at Patagonia Lake State Park where a male NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET allowed close views as he alternately preened and sang. We didn't bird here but did see a large group of NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS in the middle of the lake being deliberately flushed by boaters.

Monday, May 18, 1998
Today I started with egg on my face but had some good news to make it tolerable -- first the good news. For the first time in over 5 months, there are again two Spotted Owls in Scheelite Canyon. I last saw two owls on December 16, 1997.  Over the past five years I have seen two owls on 2 out of 3 visits, so I was certain that one owl had perished. Since that time I have seen a "smaller owl" a couple of times that I thought might be a new bird, but I could not confirm with a sighting of 2 owls together. Today I again saw two owls roosting in adjacent trees. The last time that an owl lost a mate (1993) it took six months to find a new one, and that pair never bred.

I cannot be sure but I believe the original owl is a 4-5 year female and the new bird is a 2 year old male. Since they normally breed for the first time at age 3 or 4, it may be the year 2000 before the current pair breed.

"Smitty" (Robert T. Smith), the Spotted Owl man who has visited the canyon many 1000s of times was pleased to learn about the new owl today. Approaching 80 years of age, Smitty has only been able to check on his beloved owls twice this year and has finally come to the realization that he will probably never be able to make the trip again.

Now for the egg-on-face part. Yesterday I was out with Steve and Janell Klesius of Tampa Bay, FL. Despite a lengthy early morning search in Scheelite, I was unable to find a Spotted Owl. Today I had a day off so I offered to try and find the owl for them again. This morning I headed up the canyon early ahead of Steve and Janell. Imagine my dismay when I checked the trail log only to learn that another party had seen the owls at 3pm yesterday -- and in an area that I searched thoroughly! I consoled myself with the fact that since these owls are brand new to each other, they may have flown into the location later in the day. However, since to my knowledge this has not occurred in the past, the chances are good that I walked past two owls hiding in plain sight! The miss was a triple whammy for me 1) first, missing the owl at all; 2) missing the owl on the first day that two birds had been sighted in 5 months; 3) Spoiling my only 100% successful month -- in 62 previous visits during May, I had never missed finding an owl. Yep, I was tad upset to say the least!

For those of you unfamiliar with the canyon, the trail forks above the lower roosting area at the 3/4 mile mark. Consequently, when an owl is not found in the lower area, it's always a dilemma which fork to do first. I couldn't find an owl in the lower area today, so I headed up the canyon thinking to myself "oh no, here we go again". Since I normally check the left fork first, and that's where the birds were yesterday, I spent a long time checking that area today before admitting to myself -- hey, they're not here! With every step up the right fork trail, and every tree checked,  I began to think that I would get skunked again. But no, as I reached the 1 mile mark, about as far up as the owls are found, there sat two owls. The "original" bird was in a maple and, as usual, totally indifferent to my presence. The "new" bird was in a nearby oak and very alert - hopefully he will become used to the many folks who will be looking at him in the future!

After many hundreds of visits to the canyon, the more I try to be smart and think like an owl, the dumber I get. It's easy to get preconceived notions about where the owl might be based on weather conditions, prior day's disturbance, etc. Occasionally they roost in the same tree two days running, then, like today they're in a totally different place. Hopefully, I can use the humbling failure of yesterday as a re-calibration of my attitude. Every day is a new day -- check every damn tree like a first time visitor!

Other birds in Scheelite today were VIRGINIA'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY and RED-FACED WARBLERS, PAINTED REDSTART, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, HEPATIC TANAGER and SCOTT'S ORIOLE. In Garden Canyon, the upper picnic area ELEGANT TROGON continues to be very easy to see; and several recently returned SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS were giving their "rubber ducky" calls in several locations.

An afternoon visit to Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds was very hot, windy and quiet, but did turn up new sewage pond bird #165 for me -- COMMON GROUND-DOVE. Several CINNAMON and BLUE-WINGED TEAL continue.

Tuesday, May 19, 1998
The warm weather that arrived a few days ago continued today with warm and cloudy conditions and an afternoon temperature of 90 degrees in Sierra Vista. I spent the day in the Huachucas with Richard and Ellen Borzelli of Bridgeport, New Jersey. We visited Garden, Sawmill, Scheelite and Ramsey Canyons (which were all pleasantly cool) and we had a pretty successful day.

Heading into Garden Canyon at 6:15am we immediately saw a pair of SCALED QUAIL -- pretty  uncommon in this location. At or near the upper picnic area were several SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, a very cooperative ELEGANT TROGON, and a PAINTED REDSTART building a nest. In Sawmill the male ELEGANT TROGON was also easy to see along with WILD TURKEY, BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER, GREATER PEWEE, GRACE'S and OLIVE WARBLERS and 20 other usuals. A pleasant surprise was EVENING GROSBEAK near the cabin -- they have shown up and nested around this time for several years.

In Scheelite we found only one SPOTTED OWL pretty high up the canyon. It was the new male that I have decided to call "Newman" -- every time I see it I can say "Hello, Newman". If it later turns out to be a female, I'll call it "Elaine". Only Seinfeld fans will get this. Other "good" birds were NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL and a WHIP-POOR-WILL on a nest that I flushed while trying to get a look at the owl. Our visit to Ramsey Canyon was very short because we found our target hummers almost immediately! After waiting for about 10 minutes, we saw male WHITE-EARED, BLUE-THROATED, MAGNIFICENT, BLACK-CHINNED and BROAD-TAILED. In the cliff aerie, the young GOLDEN EAGLE is getting quite large and active.

Wednesday, May 20, 1998
A lone CATTLE EGRET at Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds was the best bird  among the 22 species that I saw from 2:00-3:20pm today. This was only my 3rd spring record at this location. Other species included CINNAMON TEAL, SWAINSON'S HAWK, 12-WHITE-FACED IBIS, BLACK-NECKED STILT and SPOTTED SANDPIPER. The smoke haze from fires in Mexico reached Sierra Vista today and although ugly, it did cool things down a little.

Thursday, May 21, 1998
The high wind created an abandoned day for me but did clear out the hazy skies. I pushed myself to the sewage ponds for an afternoon visit and needless to say birds were hard to find. To compound the problem, workers in the fields were kicking up lots of dust. BLUE-WINGED and CINNAMON TEAL continue and there was a lone AVOCET trying to stay out of the wind

Friday, May 22, 1998
Out today with Ken Wysocki  from Chicago. A much better weather day -- the haze was mostly gone and the wind was quite tolerable. Ken had not birded here before so our plan was just to visit several areas around Sierra Vista and hope that the birds would fall into place. They did and we ended the day with exactly 100 species.

We started in Garden Canyon at the upper picnic area and soon found a dozen species including ELEGANT TROGON, SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, PAINTED REDSTART, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and WESTERN TANAGER. Migrating WARBLING VIREOS were still in the area and a pair of GRACE'S WARBLERS were a quite surprise at this location. (I saw them in a similar elevation in Ramsey recently.)

Sawmill Canyon again produced great views of ELEGANT TROGON and the usual species such as GREATER PEWEE, BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER, OLIVE WARBLER and HEPATIC TANAGER. I have the impression that BRONZED COWBIRDS are more common here than in previous years.

Conditions in Scheelite were quite delightful as we headed up the canyon around 9:00am. As expected, we had to head to the upper area to find 2-SPOTTED OWLS, roosting in adjacent maple trees. The owls roost mostly in oaks but take advantage of the coolness provided by maples when they leaf out.  Among the other birds that we found were NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL, STRICKLAND'S WOODPECKER, CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER, STELLER'S JAY, HUTTON'S VIREO, VIRGINIA'S WARBLER, RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, HEPATIC TANAGER, SCOTT'S ORIOLE and a migrating SWAINSON'S THRUSH.

A stop at the sewage ponds provided a quite unexpected late flurry of ducks -- SHOVELER, REDHEAD and a very late BUFFLEHEAD. Also present were BLUE-WINGED and CINNAMON TEAL, SWAINSON'S HAWK and a BLACK-CHINNED HUMMER working the marsh. At Ramsey Canyon we had to wait a little longer than usual to see WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD -- the bird was pointed out to us perched in a Juniper when we arrived, but it was about 45 minutes before we saw the bird well at the feeders. During that time we saw four other hummers, and the young GOLDEN EAGLE which was quite visible in the aerie.

After an afternoon siesta we ended the day with a visit to the San Pedro. We saw 40+ species from 5:00-7:20pm. including a perched SWAINSON'S HAWK, LESSER NIGHTHAWK at dusk, GILDED FLICKER (regular, but far less common than Northern Flicker here), a latish HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, and my first BLUE GROSBEAK of the year (much later than usual here in this part of SE AZ).

Sunday, May 24, 1998
My client for yesterday didn't show so I took the day off. Today I visited a few places that I hadn't checked for a while -- French Joe Canyon, Willcox, and St. David and finished up with a brief late afternoon visit to the San Pedro.

I started in French Joe Canyon and saw 35 species from 6:20-10:00am. Apart from one family camping and teaching their kids how to shoot, I was the only person there. The gunfire was a little disconcerting to say the least -- I fail to understand the mentality of people like this. I didn't add any species to my canyon list but the hike was pleasant and the scenery alone is worth the trip. Plenty of water in the lower and upper areas, and lots of columbine near the pools. Here's a list of what I saw: 

White-winged Dove, White-throated Swift, Anna's Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker,
Western Wood-Pewee, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cassin's Kingbird, Western Scrub-Jay, Mexican Jay, Hutton's Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, Phainopepla, Northern Mockingbird, Cactus Wren, Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, Bewick's Wren, House Wren, Verdin, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Bushtit,   Violet-green Swallow, Bridled Titmouse, House Finch, Black-chinned Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Hepatic Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Pyrrhuloxia, Blue Grosbeak, Hooded Oriole, Scott's Oriole, Brown-headed Cowbird.

Willcox was a tad warm when I arrived at 10:45am, but I did see some interesting stuff. By far the best birds were 4-RED-NECKED PHALAROPES with 7-WILSON'S. What a great ratio -- even I could pick 'em out! In fall it's more like 1000:1 if you're lucky. Other birds included 6-EARED GREBES, 2-GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 8-CINNAMON TEAL, SHOVELER, 1-AMERICAN. WIGEON, another late BUFFLEHEAD, BLACK-NECKED STILT, AVOCET, and SPOTTED SANDPIPER.

St. David was pretty quiet by the time that I arrived around 12:30pm. The only bird of note was a BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER that I hadn't seen at the monastery before. The San Pedro was also quiet around 4:30pm -- far more people than birds on this holiday weekend.

Monday, May 25, 1998
Out today target birding with Valerie Freer and Mary Collier from NY. A good start in Garden Canyon where we watched SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS taking lining material into a nest cavity. Next we saw the male ELEGANT TROGON at the nest site in Sawmill -- he becomes more cooperative with each passing day. Several BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS were easy to see, including a bird finally on eggs. Other birds included GREATER PEWEE, GRACE'S WARBLER and WILD TURKEY, fast becoming a regular.

Our best successes came in Scheelite Canyon where we had to work hard to find a pair of SPOTTED OWLS -- not two but a pair! The distinction is that when roosting side by side I call them a pair, as opposed to just "2" when roosting separately. The new pair were cozy together for the first time today. On our way up the canyon we were fortunate to flush a pair of MONTEZUMA QUAIL a couple of times. A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was in its regular spot, and in the upper area we saw CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER and RED-FACED WARBLER. Some days are indeed better than others!

Tuesday, May 26, 1998
An early morning visit to Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds proved quite productive with 27 species from 6:20-7:45am. Most notable was a perched up and singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW in the southwest field (first one as you enter the gate). I've seen them in this location a few times in several previous years. Although the habitat for them is ideal right now, it's unfortunate that they choose this spot because whenever grazing cattle are introduced or the field is harvested, the habitat disappears and they lose a nest.

A few latish migrants were still present this morning -- EARED GREBE, PINTAIL, SHOVELER, REDHEAD, and BLACK-NECKED STILT, and a couple of species that I don't often see at the ponds -- ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER and BULLOCK'S ORIOLE were both singing.

Wednesday, May 27, 1998
At the sewage ponds, the GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was perched up and singing again this morning near the observation hut. Unfortunately, about 200+ head of cattle were heading in to the field. The 3-REDHEADS that arrived a few days ago are still present.

Thursday, May 28, 1998
I left town shortly before 6:00am and spent a very pleasant early morning in Sawmill Canyon where it was nice and cool and quite birdy. For the first time in a while the male ELEGANT TROGON was not at the lower nest site, but I did hear the other male calling about 1 mile into the canyon. I was a little surprised to hear WHIP-POOR-WILL calling around 7:00am in an area that I'd previously found a nest. A pleasant surprise were my first Arizona BAND-TAILED PIGEONS of the year. They're somewhat irregular in Sawmill and this is a little earlier than I normally see them. Here's a list of 35 species that I saw from 6:30-8:00am.

Wild Turkey, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Whip-poor-will, Magnificent Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Elegant Trogon, Northern Flicker, Greater Pewee, Western Wood-Pewee, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Cassin's Kingbird, Steller's Jay, Mexican Jay, Common Raven, Hutton's Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Pygmy Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Bushtit, Violet-green Swallow, Bridled Titmouse, Olive Warbler, Grace's Warbler, Yellow-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee, Hepatic Tanager, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown-headed Cowbird.

For the second time this month I failed to find Spotted Owl in Scheelite Canyon but my consolation was NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL. According to the log they have been in the lower roosting area and easy to find for the past few days. Also in the log were several sightings of WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD. I looked for the bird and although I didn't see it, I did hear it. Location was about halfway up the bedrock area that runs from just above the lower roosting area to the 3/4 mile mark. I saw about 24 species from 8:10-11:00am.

Garden Canyon had warmed from 59 degrees to 85 by the time I headed back down canyon. The only birds of note were COOPER'S HAWK near the upper picnic area nest site, several noisy SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS in various locations, and a couple of singing BLUE GROSBEAKS near the fishing ponds. Normally common by now, they were the first BLGR that I have seen in lower Garden this season.

A mid-afternoon visit to Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds also yielded BLUE GROSBEAK, my first of the year for the location. It was about 90 degrees and breezy so not much was happening -- a singing LUCY'S WARBLER and calling SCALED QUAIL were the highlights of only 18 species noted.

Friday, May 29, 1998
Just a short visit to the sewage ponds today that produced end-of-season CATTLE EGRET and BLUE-WINGED TEAL, normally not seen after the end of May at this location.

21 species from 8:00-8:45am
Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Cattle Egret, Turkey Vulture,   Swainson's Hawk,  Scaled Quail, American Coot, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Western Kingbird,  Chihuahuan Raven, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Barn Swallow, House Finch, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle

Saturday, May 30, 1998
Out today with Anna Kopitov from Santa Cruz, CA. We started in lower Garden Canyon where several BLUE GROSBEAKS and BOTTERI'S SPARROWS were singing and easy to see. At the upper picnic area we watched a pair of SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS lining a nest cavity, about 300 yards from another nest site. A male ELEGANT TROGON was calling from a Sycamore perch, just above the stream crossing.

In contrast to my early morning visit to Sawmill two days ago, it was very quiet in the canyon today. However, the male ELEGANT TROGON was back on duty and easy to see at close range. Although quiet, we found BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER, GREATER PEWEE, and GRACE'S and OLIVE WARBLERS without much difficulty. BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were calling,  EASTERN BLUEBIRDS singing, and a COOPER'S HAWK soared overhead. I was disappointed to find that the recently completed Buff-breasted Flycatcher nest, at which the female had begun incubation, was out of the tree and on the ground. This is the second time I've seen it happen this year, in the same general location -- maybe the same pair.

We had to work hard in Scheelite to find 2-SPOTTED OWLS roosting about 100 feet apart in a location higher up the canyon than I've ever found them before, and, needless to say, in two new trees. It looks like this new pair will lead me a dance before I get them figured out. Other birds in the canyon included STRICKLAND'S WOODPECKER, CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER, VIRGINIA'S and RED-FACED WARBLERS and SCOTT'S ORIOLE.

After a siesta we headed to the Roadside Rest where from 3:40-4:20pm we could hear the pair of ROSE-THROATED BECARDS regularly calling to each other, but were unable to see them. However, after a brief visit to Kino Springs we returned about 6:00pm and had great looks at the male perched in dead branches about 50 yards west of the nest. As if that weren't enough, the bird then flew into a nearby low tree to give us a close up view. At Kino Springs we were fortunate to see the pair of   TROPICAL KINGBIRDS copulating, but after that we found very little else of note except GRAY HAWK and a heard only NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET.

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

Species List

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

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