Species List

Stuart Healy Journal - August, 2000 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 28, 2000

Tuesday, August 1, 2000
Day 1 with Birdfinders: Day List 80
Today was a long day of birding at low elevations where the temperature was over 100 for much of the day. We started in Aravaipa Canyon followed by the San Pedro River in Dudleyville, then on to Marana Pecan grove, finishing up at Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson.

We got off to a relatively late start and after some roadside birding in Mammoth it was already fairly warm in Aravaipa Canyon when we entered shortly before 9:00am. RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS are pretty reliable here along the road near the entrance, and a bird was singing as we arrived. We followed it around for a while but it was definitely a BVD job for most participants.

At the first creek overlook we fared a little better with 'scope looks at a perched juvenile ZONE-TAILED HAWK. About four miles from the wilderness area (near the large bridge) we found our first COMMON BLACK-HAWK in the trees. Two miles further east we had good looks at a couple more soaring birds for a total of 3. Other species in the canyon included PURPLE MARTIN, CANYON WREN, BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER, BELL'S, a couple of migrant WARBLING VIREOS and HOODED ORIOLE.

Over at Dudleyville around 12:30pm. the heat and humidity were pretty unbearable and we bailed out without seeing Mississippi Kite, hardly an AZ specialty. Not too much was stirring here and the few birds seen included BELL'S VIREO, BLUE GROSBEAK, YELLOW WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and ABERT'S TOWHEE.

Marana Pecan Grove produced the usual BURROWING OWLS and we counted 8 easy to see birds. Hundreds of WHITE-WINGED DOVES were present along with INCA DOVE, BLACK PHOEBE, ASH-THROATED & VERMILION FLYCATCHERS, N. CARDINAL and  LESSER GOLDFINCH. A lone BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK was a flyover on nearby Marana-Trico Road.

Back in Tucson we ended the day with a 2 hour session at Sweetwater Wetlands where cloud cover finally provided some relief after a long day in the sun. The highlights here were a continuing LEAST GREBE and 4-HARRIS'S HAWKS returning to roost as dusk approached. Other birds from among 40+ species seen were CINNAMON TEAL, GREEN HERON, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, LESSER NIGHTHAWK, ROADRUNNER, GILDED FLICKER, TREE, N. ROUGH-WINGED, CLIFF, BARN and BANK SWALLOWS and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD.

Wednesday, August 2, 2000
Day 2 with Birdfinders: Day List 67, Trip list 115
We birded first at San Xavier Mission and Tucson Mountain Park (to add a few desert species and improve on views of birds already seen) then as the day warmed we headed into the Catalinas.

An early start at San Xavier Mission paid off immediately with great views of several singing RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS. A few BURROWING OWLS were in the cemetery but we paid them little attention. One of our targets here was GILDED FLICKER which we found after considerable effort. Among the other species present were GREATER ROADRUNNER, GILA and LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS, BROWN CRESTED FLYCATCHER, VERDIN, BELL'S VIREO, BLUE GROSBEAK, ABERT'S TOWHEE and HOODED ORIOLE

In Tucson Mountain Park we enjoyed the Saguaro Forest and added BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER, PYRRHULOXIA, BLACK-THROATED SPARROW, WESTERN TANAGER and SCOTT'S ORIOLE.

In the Catalinas we found some cooler temperatures and several of the high elevation species. On the way up, a stop at a viewpoint produced a very obliging ROCK WREN. In the pines our first birds were a couple of RED CROSSBILLS and we saw a couple more later on. We had to work hard to eke out a few, mostly silent, warblers, but eventually we found OLIVE, GRACE'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, YELLOW-RUMPED and RED-FACED  WARBLERS. Other species included HAIRY WOODPECKER, all 3 NUTHATCHES, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, HERMIT THRUSH, PLUMBEOUS VIREO, HEPATIC TANAGER, SPOTTED TOWHEE and YELLOW-EYED JUNCO.

Thursday, August 3, 2000
Day 3 with Birdfinders: Day List 75, Trip List 137
An early start in the Santa Rita grasslands saw us get excellent looks at many singing BOTTERI'S and CASSIN'S SPARROWS. Also singing were BLUE GROSBEAK and BLACK-THROATED and RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS. Around Florida wash were ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, BELL'S VIREO, LUCY'S WARBLER, WESTERN TANAGER and VARIED BUNTING.

Later in the morning the higher elevations were generally unproductive with mostly silent and hard-to-see DUSKY-CAPPED and SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, although 3-ARIZONA WOODPECKERS, a silent GREATER PEWEE and a soaring GOLDEN EAGLE were a nice reward for our efforts. Other species were COOPER'S HAWK, CANYON WREN, HUTTON'S and PLUMBEOUS VIREOS, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.

Hummingbird activity at the lodge feeders was fairly good and we added BROAD-BILLED, BLACK-CHINNED, ANNA'S, a nice male CALLIOPE and a couple of RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS.

A short visit to Nogales sewage ponds was very productive with BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK, CINNAMON TEAL, WESTERN and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, a PEREGRINE FALCON completely unfazed by an harassing MOCKINGBIRD, scads of LAZULI BUNTINGS in the marsh (very reliable here in August) and a few YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS.

A late afternoon visit to Kino Springs yielded 4 kingbird species including good views of THICK-BILLED and TROPICAL KINGBIRDS and an adult and immature GRAY HAWK. Other species present were GREEN HERON, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO and BRONZED COWBIRD.

Friday, August 4, 2000
Day 4 with Birdfinders: Day List 64, Trip List 145
An early start on the Ruby Road didn't have the usual payoff as only about half of the participants saw the only COMMON POORWILL we found sitting in the road. As we waited around for daylight we heard a calling MONTEZUMA QUAIL and WESTERN SCREECH-OWL. We fared much better in California Gulch with some good views of at least 4-FIVE-STRIPED SPARROWS that were present.

Later in the day we made a concerted effort in the Pajaritos and after covering plenty of ground, our two hours of effort paid off with 3-MONTEZUMA QUAIL seen by everybody, although not well.

While waiting for darkness at Peņa Blanca lake, we recorded BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK, GREEN HERON, SORA, LESSER NIGHTHAWK and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO.

Our evening excursion in the Pajaritos for Common Poorwill didn't improve on the morning session and we saw only one flying bird.

Saturday, August 5, 2000
Day 5 with Birdfinders: Day List 66, Trip List 156
Our investment in a trip to Chino Canyon paid off with a well seen male BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER. We had to be very persistent to see it but, eventually, we had 'scope looks as the bird called and preened atop a mesquite for several minutes. We also briefly saw a calling female. Other birds included LESSER NIGHTHAWK, GREATER ROADRUNNER, N. BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET, BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER, many singing CASSIN'S and RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS and VARIED BUNTING. A very rare here DESERT TORTOISE (that we had to move from the road) was a nice bonus as we left the canyon.

A stop at the Roadside Rest in Patagonia was generally unproductive and we did not see or hear Rose-throated Becard. After a couple of sightings last month, no birds have been confirmed from this location. As usual, THICK-BILLED KINGBIRDS were active and noisy. Also present was my season first migrant ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER.

Hummingbird activity at the Paton's was quite frenzied and at least 2-VIOLET-CROWNED were easy to see. Also present were CALLIOPE, RUFOUS, a rare-for-this-location BROAD-TAILED, plus the regular BROAD-BILLED and BLACK-CHINNED.

An afternoon visit to Beatty's B&B in Miller Canyon was very productive with 11 species of   hummingbirds -- BROAD-BILLED, WHITE-EARED (young male), BLUE-THROATED, MAGNIFICENT, BLACK-CHINNED, ANNA'S, COSTA'S (male), CALLIOPE (several males and females), BROAD-TAILED, RUFOUS and ALLEN'S. All but the White-eared and Allen's were seen at the public viewing site. I did not see the Allen's.

Our evening owling session was a very tough gig and only patience, persistence and lots of physical effort resulted in all the participants getting excellent looks at an (eventually) very cooperative WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL. This bird deserved a medal for tolerance as it sat openly on a branch and called constantly for about 10 minutes. I'm sure that to the bird the approach of 18 of us must have sounded like a herd of Elephants tramping up the wash towards it.

Sunday, August 6, 2000
Day 6 with Birdfinders: Day List 54, Trip List 163
Our day began well with a drive through Garden Canyon grasslands. I heard a COMMON NIGHTHAWK calling and we stopped to investigate. They are generally rare east of the Huachucas but have become more common and regular here in recent years. We saw 4 of them, including one roosting on a Mesquite branch at close range. However, the best was yet to come when someone spotted a male and female MONTEZUMA QUAIL on the grass verge. The birds hesitated a few times but they eventually waddled across the road and hopped over the yellow line! Great 'scope looks.

At the upper picnic area we had to work hard to locate a male ELEGANT TROGON but again, we ended up with 'scope looks. Also present here were SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, PAINTED REDSTART & HEPATIC TANAGER.

Heading up Scheelite Canyon we met others who had seen a SPOTTED OWL near the 5/8 mark. It was a relief to know that we didn't have to slog to the upper reaches of the canyon on this hot day. In addition to the easy-to-see bird at 5/8, we also found a well hidden owl at 1/2 mile.

Our morning ended in Sawmill Canyon where BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS were quiet and hard to find. We eventually located three of them.

During a brief afternoon visit to Ramsey Canyon, we found a very active and easy-to-see female BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD.

An excellent day came to a premature and soggy end as our evening owling session was rained out with a tremendous monsoon downpour.

Monday, August 7, 2000
Day 7 with Birdfinders: Day List 61, Trip List 172
Our 4:30am start for French Joe canyon was not rewarded with even the slightest glimpse of RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER. From 7:00-10:30am we heard the bird numerous times ranging from just above the upper spring, upstream as far as the dry waterfall. We had to be content with the wonderful scenery and the almost 40 species recorded here, including a few migrants.

Species recorded in the canyon were:
White-winged Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Common Poorwill, Costa's, Broad-tailed & Rufous Hummingbirds, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Western Wood-Pewee, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Cassin's Kingbird, Western Scrub-Jay, Mexican Jay, Hutton's & Warbling Vireos, Mockingbird, Curve-billed & Crissal Thrashers, Cactus, Rock, Canyon & Bewick's Wrens, Bushtit, Bridled Titmouse, House Finch, Virginia's & Rufous-capped Warblers, Black-chinned, Black-throated, Cassin's & Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Spotted & Canyon Towhees, Black-headed Grosbeak, Northern Cardinal, Blue Grosbeak and Hooded & Scott's Orioles.

In the late afternoon we returned to Beatty's B&B in Miller Canyon in search of LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD. After a vigil of some 2 hours we were rewarded with several excellent views of a male at the public viewing site. This was our 14th hummer species of the tour.

Our evening owling session for the third night in a row finally produced the other "little owls" and required very little effort. We had excellent views of both ELF OWL and WESTERN SCREECH-OWL without having to leave the road. Quite a difference from Saturday's "death scramble" and yesterday's rainout.

Tuesday, August 8, 2000
Day 8 with Birdfinders: Day List 81, Trip List 192
We spent the early part of the morning in Sulphur Springs Valley. LESSER NIGHTHAWKS were still active on Charleston and Davis Roads has we headed east. Our first stop on Frontier Road was productive with SWAINSON'S HAWK, SCALED QUAIL, PYRRHULOXIA, many singing CASSIN'S SPARROWS, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and several other common species. On Coffman Road we had good looks at ROADRUNNER, several SCALED QUAIL perched up on the fences, and a very cooperative BENDIRE'S THRASHER.

At Whitewater Draw came the first major surprise of the trip so far, an immature LAUGHING GULL transitioning from juvenile to first winter plumage, closer to the latter. A state bird for yours truly. Other birds here included CATTLE EGRET, BLACK TERN, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 37-LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, AM. AVOCET, WHITE-FACED IBIS, 30-WILSON'S PHALAROPES, BELTED KINGFISHER and BANK SWALLOW.

After doing the tourist bit in Tombstone we headed into the Chiricahuas where we saw plenty of MEXICAN CHICKADEES along with several BAND-TAILED PIGEONS and OLIVE, GRACE'S, HERMIT and RED-FACED WARBLERS. A stop near Paradise for Juniper Titmouse saw us get sidetracked by a very elusive GRAY FLYCATCHER seen by half the participants. We never did see the titmouse, but fair exchange is no robbery. A calling MONTEZUMA QUAIL was perhaps 1/2 mile away.

Quite a spectacle awaited us as we drove north along the San Simon Road after dark. Hundreds of LESSER NIGHTHAWKS were sitting in and flying over the road, deftly avoiding our vehicles. We also saw 3-COMMON POORWILLS.

Wednesday, August 9, 2000
Day 9 with Birdfinders: Day List 93, Trip List 213
Despite the high water level, our early morning check of Willcox pond was fairly productive. SCALED QUAIL were easy to see near the golf course. Our list here was:

Eared Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Green-winged & Cinnamon Teal, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, N. Harrier, Scaled & Gambel's Quail, American Coot, 5-Long-billed Dowitchers, 4-Spotted, 6-Western, many Least & 10-Baird's Sandpipers, 250-Wilson's Phalaropes, 8-Black-necked Stilts, 58-American Avocets, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Say's Phoebe, Western Kingbird, Chihuahuan Raven, Loggerhead Shrike, Barn Swallow, House Finch, Common Yellowthroat, Lark Sparrow and Yellow-headed Blackbird.

After a drive north to the White Mountains our first stop was at Luna Lake where we encountered wet and delightfully cool conditions. We spent a pleasant three hours here and turned up 40+ species, the best of which was DOWNY WOODPECKER. A common bird to be sure, but quite rare in this part of Arizona. Two OSPREYS worked the lake and many LAZULI BUNTINGS worked the marsh where a MARSH WREN chattered but remained unseen. PURPLE MARTINS and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS hawked for insects. Shorebird habitat here is minimal and we found only GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WILLET and SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Other species included GADWALL, RING-NECKED DUCK, SORA, RING-BILLED GULL, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, WESTERN BLUEBIRD and PINE SISKIN.

It was drizzling in nearby Nutrioso but our time along the creek paid off with the usual  LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS (around 10 seen) and a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER that flew in as we were about to leave. Among the other species here were ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and WESTERN TANAGER. In the residential district we soon found a flock of PINYON JAYS which can often be time consuming to find.

Our last stop of the day was at a very cold Nelson Reservoir. An amazing 13-SORAS were wandering around in the open and easily seen, but a single VIRGINIA RAIL remained mostly hidden and tested our patience before it was seen by all. A COMMON NIGHTHAWK was working at dusk and a calling MONTEZUMA QUAIL was a bit of a surprise. [There is a small population in the White Mountains.]

Thursday, August 10, 2000
Day 10 with Birdfinders: Day List 84, Trip List 234
A day of hits and misses in mostly cool and cloudy conditions. Heading out to Green's Peak this morning we saw a dozen or so MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS and a few VESPER SPARROWS. After huffing and puffing around at 10,200 feet for half an hour I'm sure everyone was feeling a little dejected as we decided to try the other side of the hill. The lady in the fire tower recognized me and shouted "there's one by the vehicles". Sure enough, a male BLUE GROUSE  was soon joined by another and they fed in plain sight where we had parked. Aarrrgh! Other species in the area were SWAINSON'S HAWK, HORNED LARK, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE and GRAY-HEADED JUNCO. While "indisposed" I spotted a WILD TURKEY that didn't make it onto our trip list.

At Sunrise lake we looked in vain for Bald Eagle but found only 4-OSPREYS, 5-WESTERN GREBES and a single CLARK'S GREBE, that we almost overlooked. Also on the lake were COMMON MERGANSER and 35-BLACK TERNS. Birds around the lake included at least 3 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 2-SWAINSON'S HAWKS, numerous MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, a few VESPER and SAVANNAH SPARROWS, and migrating WESTERN KINGBIRDS and LAZULI BUNTINGS.

Over in Greer, after lunch at the Country Cafe, we moved on to Butler Canyon (east fork of the Little Colorado) where activity was quite low. We did manage to find a couple of our targets species here though - a pair of DUSKY FLYCATCHERS and a male MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER with young. A calling but distant CLARK'S NUTCRACKER was too far to chase. A female BLUE GROUSE sitting on a log and posing for photos was an unexpected surprise and made all the huffing and puffing this morning seem a little redundant. This was the first time that I had seen one at this location.

South of town along the west fork of the Little Colorado we searched in vain for Dipper but added an elusive WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER, CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER, GOLDEN and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, and NASHVILLE and VIRGINIA'S WARBLERS. I again heard CLARK'S NUTCRACKER and one person saw one.

We finished the day near Springerville at South Fork (of the Little Colorado) where we easily saw OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER but had to work hard for TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE. Among the other birds here were LEWIS'S & HAIRY WOODPECKERS, 1-PINYON JAY!, WARBLING VIREO, BLUE GROSBEAK and WESTERN TANAGER. However, a spectacular sight was a gathering of some 130-COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, all circling and swirling overhead as dusk approached.

Friday, August 11, 2000
Day 11 with Birdfinders: Day List 77, Trip List 241
Today we moved on to the sightseeing portion of the trip after spending the morning birding again in the White Mountains to look for a few still needed species.

We began at Sunrise Campground where conditions were damp, cool and cloudy. After very little searching we located a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER in what seems to be a regular territory. Everyone had 'scope views as this very cooperative bird foraging on an open snag, unconcerned by our presence. Our search for Gray Jay didn't fare as well as time constraints forced us to leave without walking the trails. They have not visited the campground much this year but they can still be found along the Apache Dream and Long Trek trails, where I saw them in May.

We checked Sunrise Lake again for Bald Eagle but came up empty. Additional species not seen here yesterday were CANADA GOOSE and PEREGRINE FALCON. We briefly discussed checking some of the other large lakes but, again, time was our enemy.

Over in Greer our success rate improved when I heard CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS as we drove into town. Great looks at a bird working on a metal roof and a TV antenna! On the west fork of the Little Colorado we found AMERICAN DIPPER after about 30 minutes of searching. Other species noted were VIRGINIA'S, NASHVILLE and MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS.

Someone we met mentioned that they had seen an eagle at Crescent Lake yesterday, so after deciding earlier not to go, now the twitch was on (to use the vernacular of my countrymen). We headed over there and after a short search found 2 adult BALD EAGLES, a very desirable bird to see for many participants. Also on Crescent Lake were 5-OSPREYS, 3-DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS and 2-COMMON MERGANSERS.

Before heading north we made a brief stop at Becker Lake in the rain. We hadn't yet seen a WESTERN MEADOWLARK and although this is a reliable spot for them, we had difficulty picking one out of the EASTERN MEADOWLARKS because of the conditions. We didn't pay much attention to other species here but we did note PIED-BILLED GREBE, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, N. HARRIER, BLACK TERN, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, ROCK WREN, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD.

On our journey north we came across 2-GOLDEN EAGLES on Hwy 180  in exactly the same spot as previous trips. The Petrified Forest is not a very birdy place and the rainy conditions didn't help. However, since our visit here was really for sightseeing, nobody seemed to mind. Unfortunately, the Painted Desert was not at its best in the rain and cloudy conditions. We recorded only 10 species including SAY'S PHOEBE, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE and HORNED LARK.

Our day ended with a drive to Flagstaff in mostly wet and cloudy conditions with only a single COMMON NIGHTHAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER and a few COMMON RAVENS and GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES seen along the way.

Saturday, August 12, 2000
Day 12 with Birdfinders: Day List 60, Trip List 242
Today was mostly a sightseeing day at the Grand Canyon. Driving north along Hwy 180 from Flagstaff to the canyon we saw several large flocks of PINYON JAYS plus the usual AM. CROWS, COMMON RAVENS and WESTERN BLUEBIRDS.

Along the South Rim Trail we found a nice selection of species as we admired the views. A bonus here is that the birds are used to people and are very confiding. Most interesting were 5 species of warblers - BLACK-THROATED GRAY, VIRGINIA'S, HERMIT, YELLOW-RUMPED and MACGILLIVRAY'S. We also had good looks at several other species including WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, JUNIPER TITMOUSE, PYGMY NUTHATCH, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER feeding young, CANYON and ROCK WRENS side by side, and 3-RED-CROSSBILLS at eye level. Also present was an interesting female/immature tanager that had features of both Hepatic and Western. We left it unnamed.

While most participants took a sightseeing flight over the canyon, the remainder birded along a back road among the Ponderosa pines. We saw CASSIN'S and WESTERN KINGBIRDS, YELLOW, VIRGINIA'S and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, RED CROSSBILL and a few other common species.

After some roadside birding on the way back to Flagstaff, we made a stop at the Pioneer Museum just north of town. We found lots of birds taking advantage of a small puddle of water, among them were RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, PINE SISKIN & RED CROSSBILL.

Sunday, August 13, 2000
Day 13 with Birdfinders: Day List 50, Final Trip List 246
Our targets for the final day were Gray Vireo and better looks at Black-chinned Sparrow. We got underway early and hurried past the lakes south of Flagstaff. Upper Lake Mary and Mormon Lake were both dry, Lower Lake Mary was low.

We arrived at Slate Creek Divide at 7:30am where, to my surprise, it didn't take long to locate a very cooperative GRAY VIREO. Even better, everyone had excellent 'scope looks at this often skulking and elusive species. Before we left two hours later, I was amazed to find at least 5 other individuals singing so late in the season.

Next, we turned our attention to BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW and, again, we had great looks in no time at all. We then made a token effort for Crissal Thrasher, a bird I sometimes see here. The habitat here for this species is marginal and they breed very early in the season, so not surprisingly we came up empty.

Continuing south we made a quick stop at Mesquite Wash which was extremely hot and produced almost no birds. Back in the city with the temperature 113 in places, we checked several ponds and managed to add 3 more trip species before everyone decided that they'd had enough!

Gilbert Wildlife Area was (again) mostly dry and held very few birds. It's a crying shame that so much time, effort and money as gone into creating a pleasant environment for wildlife and people in the middle of suburbia, to continually find the area without water. Present today were BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, BLACK-NECKED STILT, LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERS and a few LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. All were in a pitiful amount of water at the unimproved end near the lumberyard.

The pond on Gilbert Road near Chandler Heights Road was loaded with birds, including 3 trip species -- several GREAT and many SNOWY EGRETS and 4-SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. Others present included CINNAMON TEAL, WHITE-FACED IBIS, many BLACK-NECKED STILTS and AM. AVOCETS, and a single BLACK-TERN.

Monday, August 14, 2000
An early flight back to London via Houston meant no birding this morning. Birdfinders offers tours throughout the U.S. and we didn't try for any of the eastern vagrants in the area right now. Instead, we focused on AZ specialties and birds that are easier to find here than elsewhere. Over the 13 days of birding we traveled 2400 miles and finished the trip with 246 species (2 heard-only), one more than the previous best in 1998. We missed only a couple of the specialties. Itinerary and Species List

For me it was drive home and a few days of R & R, followed by some personal guiding work and a decent break before I start another tour with Birdfinders beginning in early September.

Thursday, August 17, 2000
Out today with Cindy Ward from Dallas, TX and two friends from Little Rock, AR. A mostly cloudy, cool and humid morning with a thunderstorm in the early afternoon. Certainly more of a typical monsoon day, the likes of which we haven't seen much of this season. Most of the rain has come later in the day or at night.

We began in Garden Canyon grassland where BOTTERI'S SPARROWS, singing from low mesquites, and skylarking CASSIN'S SPARROWS were both extremely easy to see. Other mesquite-grassland regulars were SWAINSON'S HAWK, WESTERN and CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, VERDIN, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, CURVE-BILLED THRASHER, MOCKINGBIRD, BLUE GROSBEAK, CANYON TOWHEE, LARK and RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS and LILIAN'S MEADOWLARK. Many VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were on the wires, LESSER GOLDFINCHES fed in the weeds, and a first year male SCOTT'S ORIOLE worked a blooming Agave.

At the upper picnic area it didn't take too long to track down a calling ELEGANT TROGON and we had a great view for about 30 seconds until the bird flew on. Also around in Garden Canyon were SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, BRIDLED TITMOUSE PLUMBEOUS and HUTTON'S VIREOS, and WESTERN and HEPATIC TANAGERS.

In Sawmill Canyon we had to be patient to find a calling BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER and be even more patient to get a good view. The canyon was quiet except for a loudly calling ELEGANT TROGON, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, the usual raucous STELLER'S and MEXICAN JAYS and a few singing GRACE'S WARBLERS. Present but generally silent were ARIZONA WOODPECKER, BROWN CREEPER, HUTTON'S VIREO and AM. ROBIN.

Our visit to Scheelite Canyon was unproductive. By the time that I reached the lower roosting area two of my clients had already headed down canyon. I didn't find an owl in the lower area and with a thunderstorm imminent we didn't head to the middle and upper roosting areas. So, as far as my Spotted Owl record keeping is concerned, this didn't even qualify as a visit. We recorded about a dozen species including 3 or 4-CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHERS, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, CANYON WREN, VIRGINIA'S WARBLER, WESTERN and HEPATIC TANAGERS and RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW.

Friday, August 18, 2000
Day 1 of two days with Jimmy McHaney from Fort Worth, TX. During the "Five-striped Sparrow season" (late April to early September), I've missed seeing the sparrow only twice. Both were in late May in the drought year of 1996. Jimmy has the dubious distinction of being with me on one of those trips. Today we set out to rectify the situation.

A 2:30am start (thank god the season is almost over) saw us heading out of California Gulch shortly after 6:00am. having had good 'scope looks at a FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW that was singing when we arrived. Recent rains have increased the water levels in all places where standing water collects, but we had no problem getting in and out. Driving out, I a pointed out to Jimmy a stump that looks like a quail that has fooled me many times. He said "it would be nice if one would walk out now" and I said "or swim out". Right on cue, not 10 seconds later, we saw a male and female MONTEZUMA QUAIL at a puddle next to the road! We watched them for a minute but eventually we had to drive by them, at which time they waddled away slowly up a slope. Timing is everything.

Afterwards we made a short visit to the Santa Ritas to look for Aztec Thrush. The bird hadn't been seen for almost a week and after an hour be bailed out around 11:00am. Wouldn't you know it, the bird was seen late in the afternoon! Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Saturday, August 19, 2000
Out again today with Jimmy McHaney from Fort Worth, TX. Another early start (4:00am) for Chino Canyon paid dividends with cool conditions and a sighting of the BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER after only 1 hour and 45 minutes of searching. We talked with some local birders who had made two visits this week without seeing the bird, including a 5 hour marathon just yesterday. At that point, our hopes weren't high. However, did I mention that timing is everything?

Around 8:00am I thought I heard a very weak Gnatcatcher call. At that time we bumped into Dick Palmer and co. again and as I got through telling them that I thought I had just heard the bird, Jimmy said "hey, there's a Gnatcatcher here". We saw the molting male BLACK-CAPPED in the company of a male BLACK-TAILED and at least one other bird. I thought I heard a second Black-capped calling at a time when I thought I knew where the other one was. However, the birds were moving around quite a bit and I may have been mistaken. The location was close to the trail a little higher up canyon than previous sightings, by about 100 yards.

In the lower part of the Canyon, many sparrows of several species were in full voice - BOTTERI'S, CASSIN'S, RUFOUS-WINGED, RUFOUS-CROWNED and BLACK-THROATED. Also singing were several VARIED BUNTINGS. Other birds present included ROADRUNNER, N. BEARDLESS TYRANNULET, ASH-THROATED and DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHERS, SCRUB-JAY, CANYON and ROCK WRENS, CRISSAL and CURVE-BILLED THRASHERS, WILSON'S WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK and HOODED ORIOLE.

Elsewhere in the Santa Ritas we made another attempt for AZTEC THRUSH and today our timing was perfect. We arrived at the choke cherry site at 10:00am to find the bird perched in plain view for about 3-4 minutes. Unfortunately, the bird was in shadow but beggars can't be choosers (or greedy) can they. From what I saw in poor light, the bird was a male. Over the next hour the bird remained in the cherry tree or in the adjacent oak, but we never improved on the view. 

Sunday, August 20, 2000
Out today with local folks Dutch and Pat Nagle and Al and Diane Puff, From Hereford, AZ. My third early start (3:00am) in three days, this time for another trip to California Gulch. Along the Ruby Road we flushed 3-COMMON POORWILLS; and a GRAY HAWK was near the damn on California Gulch Road.

Conditions in the gulch were very pleasant during our time there. Best of all, FIVE-STRIPED SPARROWS were easy to find and we saw several birds perched up, singing and preening. I counted a definite 4 birds, perhaps more, but it's sometimes difficult to eliminate double counting since the birds nest close together. VARIED BUNTINGS are still plentiful and in full voice.

We birded only at the north end (to avoid getting wet feet) and activity wasn't very high. Most of the better birding is south of the gulch proper. Migrants are now passing through and in this category were WILSON'S WARBLER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and WESTERN TANAGER. Regulars included ROADRUNNER, MEXICAN JAY, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, BLACK PHOEBE, CACTUS, CANYON & BEWICK'S WRENS, SUMMER TANAGER, CANYON TOWHEE and HOODED ORIOLE.

Friday, August 25, 2000
Out today with Lud Deppisch from  Tucson, AZ who I've birded with on 6 previous occasions. After 4 non-birding days off, my 4:00am rising was a rude awakening this morning. I met Lud in Green Valley and we headed into the Santa Ritas in search of Aztec Thrush.

The bird had not been reported since last Saturday when I was fortunate enough to see it. Our chances today were not good and, somewhat as expected, our 4 hour vigil went unrewarded. The choke cherry tree is quite depleted now so it's highly possible the bird has moved on. During the last  Aztec Thrush invasion of 1996, birds were seen in Carr, French Joe, Madera & Miller Canyons, so it is a good idea to check all fruiting trees/plants in your favorite places, because there are probably more birds out there.

Today while waiting around watching the trees grow, I recorded the following in and around the "thrush" site: Cooper's Hawk, Mourning Dove, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Acorn & Arizona Woodpeckers, Western Wood-Pewee, Dusky-capped and numerous, noisy Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, Mexican Jay, Hutton's & singing Plumbeous Vireos, American Robin, White-breasted Nuthatch, Canyon Wren, Bridled Titmouse, Nashville, Black-throated Gray & Red-faced Warblers, several Painted Redstarts, a few immature Yellow-eyed Juncos, and Hepatic & Western Tanagers.

Monday, August 28, 2000
Out today with Carr Heaney from Omaha, NE and his son Mike from Wichita, KS. We spent a very atypical cool and wet day in the Huachucas looking for a few target species. After last night's 7 hours of rain, conditions started out overcast, cool and just a tad on the damp side! Matters got worse when (most unusually) we got heavy mid-morning rain which then followed us around on and off for the rest of the day.

The grassland sparrows were totally subdued on our drive up Garden Canyon and I didn't hear even a single bird. The most visible birds were VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, gathered in numbers on the wires. Our first target bird was Red-faced Warbler -- no easy matter at this time of year as many have already left. In the Huachucas, one of the best places that I know for fall warblers is the open area above the pools in Scheelite Canyon. However, since we didn't need Spotted Owl I wanted to avoid hiking up there. Consequently, we spent a fruitless hour birding around Garden Canyon upper picnic area. I say fruitless only in terms of our target bird because we did record a fair number of species here and the birding was interesting and pleasant. PAINTED REDSTARTS seem to have been a little scarce recently but this morning they were extremely numerous in several family groups. Very much in evidence were several mixed flocks of warblers containing ORANGE-CROWNED, WILSON'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY and many NASHVILLE  WARBLERS. Other species included BAND-TAILED PIGEON, SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, BUSHTIT, PLUMBEOUS, HUTTON'S and WARBLING VIREOS and WESTERN TANAGER.

It's not often that I head up Scheelite Canyon not looking for an owl, and then end up with two owl species! We found a pair of SPOTTED OWLS well tucked away off the trail and later we were able to show them to a couple of other parties. We also had a calling NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL whose interest died at the critical moment -- when he got close to us! The area above the pools was very active with warblers, by far the best of which for me was a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, species #104 for my Scheelite Canyon list. In a very large mixed flock of warblers we had at least one singing RED-FACED WARBLER but only managed fleeting glimpses. Other warblers were ORANGE-CROWNED, NASHVILLE, VIRGINIA'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, TOWNSEND'S, WILSON'S and PAINTED REDSTART. We recorded a total of 26 species here with CRISSAL THRASHER worthy of note since it was only my second record in the canyon. Among the other species were regulars such as CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, CANYON WREN, BROWN CREEPER, RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW and WESTERN TANAGER.

Shortly after we encountered the warbler flock the heavens opened with a vengeance and it was goodbye Red-faced Warbler. After a futile attempt to shelter and wait it out (ha!) we had to exit the canyon in a tremendous downpour that turned the trail into a stream. After drying out we ventured out again to Beatty's B&B in Miller Canyon. Our target here was LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD and we were rewarded with several views of a good looking male (the bird made 3 short visits to the feeders at the public viewing site). We also checked the controlled access where a male WHITE-EARED was almost constantly present. Hummingbird activity was very high, even in the rain, and we recorded lots of BLACK-CHINNED and ANNA'S, several each MAGNIFICENT and BLUE-THROATED, 1 female CALLIOPE, many BROAD-TAILED and young RUFOUS (RUFOUS/ALLEN'S playing to the rules) and 1 adult male RUFOUS. Heading back down canyon we stopped to check a feeding flock with NASHVILLE and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS and heard calling DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER and CRISSAL THRASHER.

Perhaps misguidedly given the conditions we headed up Carr Canyon. However, even though skies threatened, this time we managed to avoid the rain. Mixed warbler flocks were again the theme with one flock in particular containing NASHVILLE, VIRGINIA'S, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, TOWNSEND'S, HERMIT, GRACE'S and PAINTED REDSTART. Carr is one of a few places in the Huachucas were you can see all three regular jays at the same place - STELLER'S, MEXICAN and WESTERN SCRUB, and we did. A couple of juvenile RED-TAILED HAWKS called regularly, as if complaining at our presence. A lone GREATER PEWEE was calling (not singing) and was easy to see. Other species included BAND-TAILED PIGEON, WARBLING VIREO and new for our day list PYGMY NUTHATCH, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, HERMIT THRUSH, AM. ROBIN and YELLOW-EYED JUNCO.  

In the evening we headed out again with WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL as the primary target. After several preliminary skirmishes with a few birds that called but were generally uncooperative, we found a family group and had good views of a couple of perched birds. Surprisingly, after so much rain and being late in the season, both COMMON POORWILL & WHIP-POOR-WILL were calling. As we began an attempt for Western Screech-Owl, the rain began again and we called it quits (sort of summed up the day!).

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

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 28, 2000

Species List

Stuart Healy Journal - August, 2000 If you use the contents of my journal for commercial purposes, please acknowledge the source to your clients - thanks.

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