Species List

Stuart Healy Journal - August, 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 Monday, August 31, 1998

Saturday, August 1, 1998
Day 6 and final day with Beckham Bird Club. We started at San Xavier Mission around 6:30am and saw several regulars but not, unfortunately, Crissal Thrasher and Burrowing Owl. (There was a funeral at the cemetery so we passed on looking for the owl.) Birds seen included GREATER ROADRUNNER, GILDED FLICKER, BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, VERDIN, PYRRHULOXIA, BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER, ABERT'S TOWHEE, and the only STARLING that I saw on the trip!

Next we headed up Mt. Lemmon (along with half the population of Tucson) to look for missing species. It was cloudy and cool at Rose Canyon Campground, a far cry from the 100 degrees down below, and we soon found PYGMY and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, many VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, a family of HOUSE WRENS, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, several singing but elusive CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHERS, YELLOW-RUMPED, OLIVE, GRACE'S and RED-FACED WARBLERS (great, low views of a singing bird),  HEPATIC TANAGER and YELLOW-EYED JUNCO.

Our final choice was either to look for Mountain Chickadee in the cool of the mountains, or head to Marana Pecan Grove (and certain high temps and bugs) to look for Burrowing Owl. We opted to go to Marana and as I cruised the irrigation ditch without finding an owl I was already second guessing myself. Only a few species in the Pecan Grove including INCA DOVE, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, WARBLING VIREO, LUCY'S WARBLER and scads of ABERT'S TOWHEES. However, as we left the grove -- bingo, a very cute looking immature and an adult BURROWING OWL stared back at us as we admired them. Then, just for effect, the young bird flew up and perched atop a bush.

A good end to a hectic 6 days during which we saw 171 species and many of our target birds. Overall a very successful trip -- but disappointing to me, however, was the lack of owls. Spotted Owl was a particularly galling miss. Although night owls were mainly missed due to lack of opportunities because of rain, it doesn't make it any less easier to take (at least for me!).

Monday, August 3, 1998
Two back to back cancellations left me with an unexpected 5 days off. Although it's tough to lose income during the busy season, I can really use the R & R. After catching up on paperwork and e-mail, I made a mid-afternoon visit to Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds. It was very hot and muggy and although I persevered for an hour, I was only able to turn up the following 19 species:

Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Swainson's Hawk, American Coot, 2-Spotted Sandpipers, Mourning Dove, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Western Kingbird, Chihuahuan Raven, European Starling, Cactus Wren, Verdin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Common Yellowthroat, 20+Lark Sparrows, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, and Eastern Meadowlark

Tuesday, August 4, 1998
Hot and muggy again at Sierra Vista Sewage ponds A few signs of the coming season, however, with CINNAMON TEAL, newly returned LAZULI BUNTINGS and LARK BUNTINGS (males still looking pretty sharp in breeding plumage), and 4-WHITE-FACED IBIS. A total of 23 species from 11:00-noon. While looking at the Lazuli Buntings, I heard an unfamiliar call and turned to see the rear end of a fairly colorful bird drop into the weeds. Although I only got a glimpse, I'm fairly sure the bird was a PAINTED BUNTING. I waited around for 30 minutes but the bird did not reappear. My only other PABU in Arizona also came at the Sewage Ponds in August 1995. I remember waiting almost an hour for the that bird to come out of the weeds.

In the afternoon I headed to the mountains to find relief and spent from 3:00-5:00pm in Carr Canyon, seeing a total of 30 species. Reef Campground was completely deserted and I had the place to myself. It was fairly cool here and birds were plentiful but mostly silent. As I watched VIRGINIA'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY (both feeding on the ground) and GRACE'S WARBLERS, a  ZONE-TAILED HAWK soared gracefully 20 feet over my head. Calling nearby was a GREATER PEWEE, several BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS were chasing around, PYGMY NUTHATCHES were chattering everywhere, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS feeding young were abundant. A very pleasant way to escape the heat and mugginess in town.

I headed back down the mountain and decided to visit the feeders at Beatty's B&B in Miller Canyon which turned out to be another good idea. From 5:15-7:00pm I saw 8 species of hummers -- BROAD-BILLED (a few), WHITE-EARED (3 individuals), VIOLET-CROWNED (adult and imm, definitely quite rare in the Huachucas ), MAGNIFICENT (several), BLACK-CHINNED (gobs), ANNA'S (plenty), BROAD-TAILED (plenty), and just one RUFOUS. A nice way to spend another day off!

Wednesday, August 5, 1998
I spent a little longer at Sierra Vista sewage ponds today (1:10-2:45pm) and turned up over 30 species in continuing hot and muggy conditions. Monsoon clouds threatened for most of the afternoon, but the rain did not begin until around 5:30pm. No sign of the Painted Bunting, just a few more seasonal birds: 1-SNOWY EGRET, 2-SORA, 10-WHITE-FACED IBIS, BANK and TREE SWALLOWS, LARK SPARROW, and 50+LARK BUNTINGS. In the marsh, defying the heat, COMMON YELLOWTHROATS continue to sing their heads off and may be working on a second clutch. Numerous beautiful male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS are now present and they will continue to build in numbers to as many as 5000 by CBC time.

After a pretty good thunderstorm with some very heavy rain, I headed to the Huachucas to do some nightbirding. It was almost dark as I started up Garden Canyon, but BOTTERI'S and CASSIN'S SPARROWS were still singing throughout. At the Sportsman's Center (very low in the canyon for those that don't know it), several COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were flying around and calling. I heard several more as I continued up canyon, eyed by Border Patrol guys in two vehicles. Although habitat here is excellent, CONI is rare on the east side of the Huachucas. However, this year they seem to be quite common and I've seen them regularly.

It was damp and gloomy with few insects flying around and I didn't expect much. However, I was able to whistle up a WHIP-POOR-WILL and a single WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL -- a very curious individual that sounded like an immature bird. As I returned to town through the lower grassland,  2-GREAT HORNED OWLS were perched on roadside signs.

Thursday, August 6, 1998
I have to find Spotted Owl quite a few times in the coming week so I headed to Scheelite Canyon in the afternoon to check things out. It wasn't a cool day and I had to slog to the upper areas of the canyon without much cloud relief. To make matters worse, I was unable to find an Owl. Most folks that have looked recently have not found an owl. Despite the afternoon hour and warm conditions, the canyon was birdy and I saw over 20 species including STRICKLAND'S WOODPECKER, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, CANYON WREN, VIRGINIA'S and RED-FACED WARBLERS and HEPATIC TANAGER.

Friday, August 7, 1998
Out today with Ken and Linda Bielek from Phoenix, AZ. Our first stop was lower Garden Canyon grasslands for sparrows where we easily saw five species: BOTTERI'S, CASSIN'S, and RUFOUS-CROWNED (all singing), plus CHIPPING and LARK. Other birds in the grassland included SCALED QUAIL, ROADRUNNER and BLUE GROSBEAK.

Next we headed up Scheelite Canyon in search of Spotted Owl, but another exhaustive search failed to produce an Owl. Another bitter pill for me to swallow. Most of the same birds as yesterday plus GREATER PEWEE and WESTERN TANAGER (neither nest in Scheelite so they're obviously on the move). Many RED-FACED WARBLERS were in the upper canyon.

We headed west to find RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW near Chino Canyon. Numerous birds present and singing but they led us a merry old dance in 100 degree temps before we finally got good looks. A pair of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS continue at Amado Sewage Pond which was otherwise birdless. As we returned, we made a quick stop at Kino Springs where it was extremely hot and muggy. Somewhat of a circus as many birders were present looking for the reported GREEN KINGFISHER, which we soon saw at the southwest corner of the first pond. Calling nearby in the heat of the afternoon was a CRISSAL THRASHER, and both BOTTERI'S and CASSIN'S SPARROWS were singing. The SE AZ GRKI population has been zero this year -- for no obvious reason that's clear to me, and this is the first bird that I have seen in the state in 1998.

We ended the day at Ramsey looking unsuccessfully for Beryline Hummingbird from 4-5:00pm..

Saturday, August 8, 1998
I headed up Scheelite Canyon early, several hours ahead of Ken and Linda, to do battle with the Owls again. In Garden Canyon on the way up, all the sparrows were singing as usual. Quite unusual, however, was a SOLITARY SANDPIPER in roadside standing water. A new species for me in the Huachucas! An immature male ELEGANT TROGON was foraging at the Upper Picnic area as I drove by. A sign of good things to come?

Since the owls were (let's be kind and say) "disturbed" by USFW personnel a couple of weeks ago, I had seen them twice and missed them 3 times in a row, a new and dubious record for me. I'm happy to report that today I was able to find a single SPOTTED OWL in a well hidden but somewhat regular location that is well of the beaten path. The previous two sightings were also in the same tree indicating, at least to my feeble mind, that the bird is definitely wary. All three sightings were of the "old" bird. Perhaps the young newcomer has withdrawn to a side canyon or other well hidden location and is occasionally joined by the second bird. I'm clutching at straws trying to explain their behavior. Most of the species of the past two days were present today plus a couple of seasonal migrants: HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER and CASSIN'S VIREO, both of which were my first sightings of the season..

As I sat quietly waiting for Ken and Linda, I watched a pair of LESSER GOLDFINCHES building a nest in a nearby Juniper. They continually came close to me to collect nesting material. In the midst of this activity, an immature male ELEGANT TROGON flew in and perched not 10 feet away. The bird looked at me but made no attempt to fly away. The female goldfinch didn't seem to like it and flew to within a foot of the trogon and started a very plaintive "wailing" call that is an extension of its regular call. Upon hearing this, the male goldfinch zipped right over, sat above the trogon, and started singing its heart out! Unconcerned, the trogon just kept turning and looking around, totally ignoring the goldfinches, and after about 5 minutes they left it alone. Neat. A much better morning!

Sunday, August 9, 1998
Out today with Beth and Roger Smith of Rochester, NY. A cloudy and fairly cool start in Garden Canyon grassland where BOTTERI'S, CASSIN'S and RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS continue to sing. Other sparrows today were LARK and a heard only GRASSHOPPER. As I tried to track down the Grasshopper, MONTEZUMA QUAIL were calling in the distance. Other birds in the grassland included 3 flyover BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, lots of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS gathering on the wires, a pair of BRONZED COWBIRDS, and a female BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. Further up the canyon, the SOLITARY SANDPIPER was still in the roadside puddle and many recently fledged SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS were flying around and calling. (They are now dispersing into non breeding habitat and we saw them in both Sawmill and Scheelite Canyons.)

It was pleasant in Sawmill Canyon, with a light breeze, but unfortunately not very birdy. We easily found BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER but only came across one uncooperative GREATER PEWEE. Other birds included BAND-TAILED PIGEON, STRICKLAND'S WOODPECKER, ELEGANT TROGON, PYGMY NUTHATCH, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (carrying food), and GRACE'S WARBLER.

The SPOTTED OWL in Scheelite Canyon was a challenge again but, after another exhaustive (and exhausting) search, I found the "old" owl in a rarely used roost tree, well off the beaten path in the upper reaches of the canyon. After checking all the regular roost sites I was going to skip checking this particular tree, partly because it's so rarely used, but mostly because it's in a tough spot and I was already out of gas. I'm sure glad I persevered! Among the other birds around today were an immature female ELEGANT TROGON and VIRGINIA'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY and RED-FACED WARBLERS.

A late evening visit to Beatty's B & B feeders in Miller Canyon produced BROAD-BILLED, WHITE-EARED, VIOLET-CROWNED, MAGNIFICENT, BLACK-CHINNED, ANNA'S and BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRDS. Later in Carr Canyon, COMMON POORWILL and WHIP-POOR-WILL called as we waited for darkness. Eventually, several WHISKERED SCREECH-OWLS began calling and it didn't take long to whistle a cooperative bird into a good viewing position.

Monday, August 10, 1998
An early morning trip to Willcox Ponds produced 36 species with decent shorebird variety, albeit in low overall numbers no doubt due to the limited habitat. Best birds were DICKCISSEL and my season first NORTHERN HARRIER. The Dickcissel was on the south side of the clubhouse pond, initially calling while perched in a salt cedar which alerted me to its presence. I watched it for a while until it disappeared into the weedy stuff. Later, in the heat of the day, I was unable to relocate it. I saw 10 shorebird species: KILLDEER, AVOCET, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS,  SPOTTED, WESTERN, LEAST and STILT SANDPIPERS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and WILSON'S PHALAROPE.

In between early and late morning visits to Willcox, I birded in the lower portion of the Pinaleño Mountains along Highway 266. This is an excellent spot for BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS and they were still singing mid-morning in multiple locations. Stockton Pass campground often produces both Bridled and Juniper Titmice, but I came up with neither today -- just VIRGINIA'S and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS and LARK and CHIPPING SPARROWS. I stopped along the highway at another productive spot and in response to my screech-owl whistle I got WESTERN SCREECH-OWL, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, CASSIN'S KINGBIRD, BRIDLED TITMOUSE, VERDIN, BUSHTIT, PHAINOPEPLA, and WESTERN TANAGER

Afternoon visits to St. David (YELLOW WARBLERS still singing) and Sierra Vista sewage ponds were largely unproductive. At the ponds: SWAINSON'S HAWK, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 40 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, BANK SWALLOW, and large flocks of LARK SPARROWS and LARK BUNTINGS on Moson Rd.

Tuesday, August 11, 1998
Today I had been tentatively hired by a tour company to find a Spotted Owl. However, upon learning that I had found them only twice out of the last four tries, the leader chose not to proceed. Apparently, at least for this particular tour company,   it was more important to save $100 than to give participants an even chance at seeing the owl. Something to think about next time you consider going on a tour.

In mid-afternoon, as skies threatened, I headed to Scheelite Canyon anyway to try my luck. All the regular grassland species were singing in Garden Canyon and incredibly, the SOLITARY SANDPIPER was still present in the little puddle where it's been for at least 4 days! As I continued on, I realized that the "rock" on the road that I had just passed was a MONTEZUMA QUAIL. I reversed back level with the bird, a beautiful male, and we eyeballed each other before going our separate ways. The location was about halfway between the wash at the entrance to Game Management area "P" and the lower picnic area,

I spent about 3 hours in Scheelite -- lots of physical effort but eventually an easy to find SPOTTED OWL that other parties had missed. In gloomy and humid conditions I saw only a total of 13 species in the canyon including ELEGANT TROGON in two locations, GREATER PEWEE, numerous PAINTED REDSTARTS, and VIRGINIA'S and 3-RED-FACED WARBLERS.

Wednesday, August 12, 1998
Day 1 of 4 days with Joe Majdan and daughter Sheena from New Hope, PA. We began in the lower Garden Canyon grassland for sparrows (déjà vu all over again) about 6:15am. It was interesting to note that on this very cool and cloudy morning, CASSIN'S SPARROWS were in full song as we arrived, but it wasn't until after 6:30am that BOTTERI'S SPARROW'S started to sing. Other birds in the grassland were RED-TAILED HAWK, KESTREL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, BLUE GROSBEAK, loads of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, and RUFOUS-CROWNED and LARK SPARROWS. At the upper picnic area we soon found ACORN WOODPECKER, MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD, ELEGANT TROGON (adult male), SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, PLUMBEOUS and HUTTON'S VIREOS, and BRONZED COWBIRD.

After picking up BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER in Tucson Mountain Park we headed for Madera Canyon. Nothing much going on there (déjà vu) so we returned to Sierra Vista via Box Canyon Rd, a very underrated birding route. Our targets were CANYON WREN, seen easily and well -- always a sure bet here, and SCOTT'S ORIOLE. We saw only a female and were unable to track down another singing bird. We saw 30 species between Continental Rd and Hwy 83 including 6-ROADRUNNERS, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, ROCK WREN, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY (not often seen here), and BOTTERI'S and CASSIN'S SPARROWS.

Species List
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, American Kestrel, Blue Grouse, Wild Turkey, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Lewis's Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Western Wood-Pewee, Steller's Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, American Crow, Common Raven, Warbling Vireo, Townsend's Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Pygmy Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Mountain Chickadee, Pine Siskin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco, Green-tailed Towhee, Eastern Meadowlark

Friday, August 21, 1998
Out today with Enoch and Sylvia Johnson from Green Valley. We left town a little after 6:00am and after a slow drive up Garden Canyon (and a spot check at the gate with dogs, looking for drugs presumably),  we began birding in Sawmill around 7:00am. It was cloudy, blustery, cool and very quiet! A sure sign that summer is over as far as the birds are concerned.

In an effort to rustle up some birds, I began some NPO toots and after a while a few birds began to appear. But wait, what's this I hear in the distance? Sure enough, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL. I worked on him for a while but it became clear that he would only come so far. I asked Enoch and Sylvia if they wanted to head upslope to chase the bird. Since it was a lifer, they were game! I told them the bird would likely be high in a Pine about one or two feet from the top. We only needed to go about 250 yards before locating the bird perched in the clear near the top of a Pine, another lucky guess. The owl was tooting away as he stared down at us, apparently unconcerned by the harassing birds around it -- WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE,  WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH,  BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and GRACE'S WARBLER. As we left, the owl starting calling again as if to say, "please don't leave me".

Elsewhere in the canyon, BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS were still easy to find, mostly just above and just below the cabin. They are not singing now, but are still quite vocal with their "pit" calls. After leaving Sawmill we birded a little in Garden which was also very quiet. However, we did see STRICKLAND'S WOODPECKER, ELEGANT TROGON, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and CASSIN'S VIREO.

We ended the morning with a short visit to Sierra Vista sewage ponds, not a Yellow-headed Blackbird to be found! A perched up SORA was the only bird of note. Several hundred LARK BUNTINGS were on Moson Rd.

After a break we headed to Miller Canyon and the Beatty's feeders for another excellent hummer show. Where else can you see 8 species in short order -- BROAD-BILLED, WHITE-EARED, BLUE-THROATED, MAGNIFICENT, BLACK-CHINNED, ANNA'S, BROAD-TAILED and RUFOUS (missed Violet-crowned today). Calliope has also been seen occasionally. In my opinion, Beatty's is currently the best place in SE Arizona to view hummers and certainly has the most species diversity (currently and potentially). In terms of overall numbers of individuals, Paton's probably has more but they are mostly Broad-billed and Black-chinned. Mr. Beatty has worked hard to create a great setup with the feeders and flowers. Moreover, all the feeders are in one place making it easy to keep an eye on them simultaneously. All the feeders are numbered now and there are chairs and some shade. If you go, please don't forget to make a contribution to the sugar fund.

Monday, August 24, 1998
Only a brief visit to Sierra Vista Sewage Ponds today, my first for some time. Nothing startling, just a few more signs of the season. Here's what I saw in the rain from 1:30-2:00pm.

Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler (my season first at the ponds), Turkey Vulture, Swainson's Hawk, Sora, American Coot, 5-Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, 4-Baird's Sandpipers, Killdeer, Chihuahuan Raven (a large group, looking very ratty in the rain and all showing white necks), Loggerhead Shrike, Verdin, Barn Swallow, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird

Tuesday, August 25, 1998
The start of a 2 week tour with 16 participants of a Birdfinders, UK group. I'm co-leading with Birdfinders owner, Vaughan Ashby, and we will be visiting many locations in Southeastern, Central (White Mountains) and Northern (Grand Canyon) Arizona. Itinerary and Species List.

No birds of note  today as all we had time to do was drive from Phoenix to Tucson..

Wednesday, August 26, 1998
Day 2 with Birdfinders and our first full day out. In Tucson Mountain Park along the way to the museum we picked up a few common species including CACTUS and ROCK WRENS and CURVE-BILLED THRASHER. Since almost every species is new for many participants, every bird is of interest -- a rare occurrence for me. We spent most of the morning at the desert museum but did not see too many species. The bird I wanted most from here was COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD but we had to settle for a female. Other birds included GILA WOODPECKER, VERDIN, PURPLE MARTIN (lots),  BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER, CARDINAL, YELLOW WARBLER and HOODED ORIOLE. Nearby, at the intersection of Sandario and Mile Wide Roads, we found HARRIS'S HAWK and GILDED FLICKER (both reliable here).

In the afternoon we headed to the Catalinas and spent most of our time in Rose Canyon, where I was hoping for Red-faced Warbler. However, despite much searching, we didn't come across any.  Very disappointing, since with each passing day another one heads south. The only birds singing were PLUMBEOUS VIREO and GRACE'S WARBLER. Everything else we found was found mostly through sheer grunt work and luck, including PYGMY and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, OLIVE, WILSON'S, HERMIT, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, PINE SISKIN and LINCOLN'S SPARROW. Other interesting birds were a pair of soaring PEREGRINE FALCONS and a dead female RED CROSSBILL, hanging from a length of fishing line. On the way down the mountain, a stop at Windy point produced WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, CANYON, ROCK and BEWICK'S WRENS, VIRGINIA'S WARBLER and SPOTTED TOWHEE.

Thursday, August 27, 1998
Day 3 with Birdfinders saw us start at San Xavier Mission. Several BURROWING OWLS were an immediate find at the cemetery but RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW (adult and two young) proved very elusive before we saw them well. We tried for the thrasher grand slam but found only CURVE-BILLED and CRISSAL. We also saw COOPER'S HAWK, ROADRUNNER, INCA DOVE, GILDED FLICKER, CANYON and ABERT'S TOWHEE, BLUE GROSBEAK, LARK and BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS.

Next, we headed to Marana Pecan Grove. On the way, a fortuitous stop for LARK BUNTING on Trico Road also produced BENDIRE'S THRASHER perched on a power pole, singing, on a late August morning at almost 100 degrees -- go figure! The pecan grove was quite productive despite being very hot, with PEREGRINE FALCON, COMMON GROUND-DOVE, VERMILION FLYCATCHER, TROPICAL KINGBIRD, HORNED LARK, TOWNSEND'S, WILSON'S, and MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, and lots of LARK SPARROWS and LESSER GOLDFINCHES..

A brief stop at Green Valley sewage ponds shortly before they closed at 2pm was also productive and extremely hot. Shorebirds were numerous and we saw LEAST, WESTERN, BAIRD'S and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, a young LONG-BILLED CURLEW (that I unsuccessfully tried to make into AZ bird #400 WHIMBREL), lots of WILSON'S PHALAROPES, GREEN-WINGED and CINNAMON TEAL and a few SHOVELERS.

Mid-afternoon we birded the lower portion of Madera Canyon where it was very quiet. Among the birds seen between the Santa Rita Lodge and Proctor Rd were GREATER ROADRUNNER, BROAD-BILLED, ANNA'S, BLACK-CHINNED and MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRDS, BLACK-PHOEBE, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, HUTTON'S and WARBLING VIREOS, PAINTED REDSTART and BLACK-HEADED and BLUE GROSBEAKS. We ended the day in the grassland where CASSIN'S and BOTTERI'S SPARROWS were still singing, and eventually saw Botteri's.

Friday, August 28, 1998
Day 4 with Birdfinders. We started in Madera Canyon grassland and soon picked up CASSIN'S SPARROW. At Florida wash a VARIED BUNTING was perched up and singing, but BELL'S VIREO was decidedly uncooperative. Also here were ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, WARBLING VIREO, MACGILLIVRAY'S and VIRGINIA'S WARBLERS and a Western Diamondback rattler.

Next we headed up canyon in search of a trogon. It took us quite some time to find a male ELEGANT TROGON, initially elusive but eventually very cooperative. I was surprised to find the bird acting territorially until I realized it was still feeding young so late in the season. Our search was enhanced by the presence of an adult and cub Black Bear. Other birds in the canyon included SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, HERMIT and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS

We then tried unsuccessfully to find Lazuli Bunting along the perimeter road at Nogales Sewage Ponds (the ponds are closed to birders until October 1). A flock of  70 WHITE-FACED IBIS were our consolation. Later at Kino Springs we saw both adult and immature GRAY HAWKS, BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK and TROPICAL KINGBIRD. The first pond had lots of fishermen and BELTED KINGFISHER, no Green.

Saturday, August 29, 1998
Day 5 with Birdfinders was our day at California Gulch which turned out quite eventful. As I headed to the van at 3:30am, I realized that the key was in the vehicle, so a call to a locksmith was in order. That little faux pas on my part cost almost everyone a COMMON POORWILL, since we saw only one after our delayed start in near daylight. As if that were not enough, the other van had a flat about halfway into the gulch. However, we decided to "get the sparrow" first and fix it later. This season's most cooperative FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW was singing at the 2nd stream crossing, but spent most of its time perched very low and difficult to see. Fortunately, however, the bird at the 1st stream crossing was also singing and very cooperative. Other birds in the gulch included the usual ZONE-TAILED HAWKS, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, NASHVILLE, YELLOW, WILSON'S and MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, WESTERN and SUMMER TANAGERS, and VARIED BUNTING.

We spent the afternoon at Kino Springs where it was very hot and buggy -- but again we did not find a Green Kingfisher. We saw a decent variety of species though, including GRAY HAWK, LEAST and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, BELTED KINGFISHER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, TROPICAL KINGBIRD, BARN, ROUGH-WINGED, BANK and TREE SWALLOWS,  LUCY'S WARBLER, and loads of LAZULI BUNTINGS

Sunday, August 30, 1998
Day 6 with Birdfinders. We spent a very productive morning at Patagonia Lake State Park in less than ideal conditions --.most of the east trail was flooded and very muddy. However, migrants were very much in evidence and we saw over 50 species in about 4 1/2 hours including WESTERN GREBE, NEOTROPIC CORMORANT, BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK, GREEN HERON, SORA, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, N. BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET, DUSKY FLYCATCHER, DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (getting hard to find), OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, MOCKINGBIRD doing a perfect Scrub-Jay, tons of BELL'S VIREOS still singing, ORANGE-CROWNED, LUCY'S, YELLOW, NASHVILLE, VIRGINIA'S, WILSON'S, and MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, and LAZULI BUNTING.

A stop at Paton's did not produce many hummingbird species -- BROAD-BILLED, ANNA'S, VIOLET-CROWNED, BLACK-CHINNED and RUFOUS/ALLEN'S, but the number of individuals was very impressive.

A quick check of the Roadside Rest failed to produce Thick-billed Kingbird and confirmed that the Rose-throated Becards have abandoned their second nesting attempt. We did see two trip birds here though, BLACK VULTURE and WESTERN TANAGER. However, THICK-BILLED KINGBIRDS were indeed thick at the stream crossing on nearby Salerno Road. A good find here was a GREATER PEWEE, not so much that it was present but the fact that it was singing enabling us to find it. Our day ended with a brief visit to the San Pedro House for LESSER NIGHTHAWK but disappointingly, we saw only two.

On my return home I was saddened to learn that Smitty had died earlier in the day. He would have been 80 next month and remained reasonably active until quite recently. Over the years he made thousands of visits to Scheelite Canyon to see the Spotted Owls. His final visit was on March 10, 1998. I'll miss him and our owling adventures and reminiscences.

Monday, August 31, 1998
Day 7 with Birdfinders began in Garden Canyon grassland where BOTTERI'S, CASSIN'S and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS are still singing and large flocks of LARK and CHIPPING SPARROWS are now present. Many VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were on the wires.

Sawmill Canyon was very quiet but plenty of BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS continue, some still feeding young. A very cooperative STRICKLAND'S WOODPECKER was working a tree at the canyon entrance as we arrived. In Scheelite Canyon I was unable to find a Spotted Owl but we did find DUSKY and CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHERS, WILSON'S, TOWNSEND'S, NASHVILLE, VIRGINIA'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY and RED-FACED WARBLERS.

An afternoon visit to Ramsey was slow except for SWAINSON'S and ZONE-TAILED HAWKS along the entrance road and WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD at the feeders. An early evening visit to Beatty's in Miller Canyon was very productive and we saw 11 species of hummers from 5:30-6:30pm -- BROAD-BILLED, WHITE-EARED (several), VIOLET-CROWNED BLUE-THROATED, MAGNIFICENT, BLACK-CHINNED, ANNA'S, COSTA'S (imm. male), CALLIOPE (female), BROAD-TAILED and numerous RUFOUS/ALLEN'S types. Our last bird of the day came in Carr Canyon where a very friendly WHISKERED-SCREECH OWL allowed all participants to get a good view. After 6 days in the field our trip list stands at 171.

This log is in chronological order and the most recent entries are at the bottom of the page.
The last update was on Monday, August 31, 1998

Species List

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

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