Species List

Stuart Healy Journal - July, 2005 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 Sunday, July 31, 2005

Saturday, July 2, 2005   
Out today with Andy Shell from Pleasanton, CA and Bob Pietrusiewicz from Sierra Vista. We birded together previously  back in February. Today we visited Patagonia Lake, Kino Springs, Patagonia Roadside Rest Area and the Paton's yard. We left Sierra Vista at 4:30am with the temperature at 75 degrees, up to 101 degrees when we returned at 11:30am and probably in the mid 100s by mid afternoon. Birding was pleasant until 8:00am. Although the average monsoon start date is July 3, there aren't any significant signs of rain so far this year. I'm writing these notes at 6:00pm and the sky is as clear blue now as it was at the start of the day.

We began at Patagonia Lake but only birded along the entrance road. We needed only 30 minutes here to see three target species -- excellent looks at cooperative BOTTERI'S & RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS and VARIED BUNTING, all perched up, singing and approachable.

We moved on to Kino springs where we spent a couple of hours birding the first, second (club house) and sewage ponds. Three more targets came at the sewage pond, namely BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO and BRONZED COWBIRD. The cuckoo put on a wonderful show and we had just about as good looks at this species as I've ever had. We saw the bird in flight several times as well as perched on a fence at close range. A benefit of the lack of trees at Kino (since their removal) is that the relatively open habitat affords improved viewing opportunities. Perhaps not so good for the birds though.

TROPICAL KINGBIRDS were very vocal and easy to see at the first pond. The weeds here were loaded with LESSER GOLDFINCHES, BLUE GROSBEAKS and several VARIED BUNTINGS, one seen well in great light. I trolled for an Indigo Bunting without success. This is one of the better places for this (rare in SE AZ) species during summer.

The whole area was very productive and we recorded 50+ species between 6:15 and 8:15am. Other species included GRAY HAWK, all three myiarchus flycatchers and RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW.

After some fruitless cruising near Nogales, we eventually picked up BLACK VULTURE at the Roadside Rest. We heard THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD calling here but were unable to see the bird.

No matter, a very conspicuous THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD was perched in the nest tree opposite the Paton's Yard. VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD only put in one appearance during our 30 minutes stay.

Not a bad first day back at work but I'll sure be glad when the rainy season starts and we get some cooler temperatures.

Day List (69 species recorded):
Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Mallard, Black & Turkey Vultures, Gray & Red-tailed Hawks, Am. Kestrel, Gambel's Quail, Am. Coot, Rock Pigeon, Mourning & White-winged Doves, Common Ground-Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, White-throated Swift, Broad-billed, Violet-crowned & Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Gila & Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, N. Flicker, Western Wood-Pewee, Black & Say's Phoebes, Vermilion, Dusky-capped, Ash-throated & Brown-crested Flycatchers, Tropical, Cassin's & Thick-billed Kingbirds, Cliff & Barn Swallows, Phainopepla, Canyon Wren, N. Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Bridled Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Verdin, Chihuahuan & Common Ravens, European Starling, House Sparrow, Bell's Vireo, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Lucy's & Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Canyon & Abert's Towhees, Botteri's, Rufous-crowned, Rufous-winged, Lark & Song Sparrows, N. Cardinal, Blue Grosbeak, Varied Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed & Brown-headed Cowbirds and Bullock's Oriole.

Monday, July 4, 2005   
First of two days with Steve and Sybil Kohl from Brush Prairie, WA. We visited Carr and Garden Canyons in the Huachucas. The weather in the Sierra Vista has remained dry and unseasonably hot since I returned from my road trip and today wasn't any different with another 100+ day (103 when I got home at 1:30pm). Pretty damn miserable whether it's a dry heat or not.

We left town at 4:45am and began birding near Reef at sunrise. Birds were already active and there was even a slight chill in the air (~7500 feet here). Over a period of about 5 hours we recorded 50+ species in Carr Canyon. With the exception of Red-faced Warbler (which I tried hard to find in several locations), we managed to see all the typically sought after high elevation species, but not without effort in some cases. GREATER PEWEES were vocal early and hence conspicuous and BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS were still chasing each other around. Apart from GRACE'S and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, warblers were not easy to come by, although we eventually had great looks at the often elusive VIRGINIA'S WARBLER after an hour of effort. OLIVE WARBLERS were scarce with only one seen and heard. PAINTED REDSTART put on a good show.

ARIZONA WOODPECKER obliged after some initial reticence and we had good looks at PLUMBEOUS and HUTTON'S VIREOS, HEPATIC TANAGER and YELLOW-EYED JUNCO. We found nests of both vireos very low and close to the trail.

SULPHUR-BELLIED and BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS were in the sycamore zone of the lower canyon. Brown-crested Flycatchers are much scarcer in the Huachucas than the other SE AZ mountain ranges and this was only the second year that I've recorded them in Carr Canyon.

It was already very warm in Garden Canyon by the time we arrived there late morning and I'm surprised we rustled up 30 species. Unfortunately, Elegant Trogon wasn't one of them. We saw many of the same species as in Carr Canyon with the only new species coming in the grassland. Species there included AMERICAN KESTREL, GREATER ROADRUNNER, SAY'S PHOEBE, BLUE GROSBEAK and RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW.

By the way, I've sent my main lens to Canon for repair so there won't be any photos for a while.

Day list (64 species recorded):
Turkey Vulture, Cooper's & Red-tailed Hawks, Am. Kestrel, Rock & Band-tailed Pigeons, Mourning & White-winged Doves, Greater Roadrunner, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Acorn, Hairy & Arizona Woodpeckers, N. Flicker, Greater Pewee, Western Wood-Pewee, Say's Phoebe, Buff-breasted, Dusky-capped, Brown-crested & Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, Cassin's & Western Kingbirds, Violet-green & Barn Swallows, Canyon & Bewick's Wrens, N. Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Am. Robin, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Bushtit, Bridled Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Verdin, Loggerhead Shrike, Steller's & Mexican Jays, Chihuahuan & Common Ravens, House Sparrow, Plumbeous & Hutton's Vireos, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Olive, Virginia's, Black-throated Gray & Grace's Warblers, Painted Redstart, Hepatic & Western Tanagers, Spotted & Canyon Towhees, Rufous-crowned & Black-throated Sparrows, Yellow-eyed Junco, Pyrrhuloxia, Black-headed & Blue Grosbeaks, Great-tailed Grackle and Brown-headed Cowbird.

Tuesday, July 5, 2005   
Out again today with Steve and Sybil Kohl. We visited Patagonia Lake, Kino Springs and Las Cienegas. It was another very warm day, up to 105 degrees in Sierra Vista by noon when I got home. Enough already.

We left Sierra Vista at 4:30am and quickly found several target species along the entrance road to Patagonia Lake State Park -- CANYON TOWHEE, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, BOTTERI'S and RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS and VARIED BUNTING. Super looks at all species. I then worked an area where Cassin's Sparrows breed but couldn't raise one (they'll be singing their heads off after the rain starts).

We didn't enter the state park and continued on to Kino Springs where the birding was again excellent. We didn't stay as long or cover as much ground as I did here on Saturday but still managed 40+ species. The first pond continues to be the best spot -- LUCY'S WARBLERS, BLUE GROSBEAKS and VARIED BUNTINGS were all common here. A single GREAT EGRET was present. I saw a report of Lazuli Bunting here on Sunday but I didn't see any on Saturday or today. This is a very common migrant in southeast Arizona but my earliest sighting is July 22 (at Kino Springs). GRAY HAWK and TROPICAL KINGBIRD were both easy too see but we had to work for BRONZED COWBIRD. Near the sewage pond, a large number of BLUE GROSBEAKS were feeding and bathing in the sprinkler spay on the golf course grass, along with GAMBEL'S QUAIL and STARLINGS.

Ironically, having done the work at Kino for BRONZED COWBIRD, a couple were on the green in Patagonia during a bathroom break. A panting and very hot looking THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD was easy to see on Blue Heaven Road. It was close to 100 degrees here by 9:30am.

We finished up working the grassland at Las Cienegas where I can tell you it was HOT. We managed to find a cooperative GRASSHOPPER SPARROW but dipped again on Cassin's Sparrow. HORNED LARKS were common with plenty of juveniles present.

Day List (60 species recorded):
Great Egret, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Gray & Red-tailed Hawks, Am. Kestrel, Gambel's Quail. Am. Coot, Mourning, White-winged & Inca Doves, Common Ground-Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Broad-billed & Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Gila & Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Western Wood-Pewee, Black & Say's Phoebes, Vermilion, Ash-throated & Brown-crested Flycatchers, Tropical, Cassin's & Thick-billed Kingbirds, Horned Lark, N. Rough-winged & Barn Swallows, Phainopepla, Bewick's Wren, N. Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Common Raven, European Starling, Bell's Vireo, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Lucy's & Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Canyon & Abert's Towhees, Botteri's, Rufous-winged, Lark, Grasshopper & Song Sparrows, N. Cardinal, Blue Grosbeak, Varied Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed & Brown-headed Cowbirds.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005   
I've been doing non-birding stuff for a week, waiting in vain for the monsoons to begin. A quite miserable week and way too bloody hot for pleasant and productive birding -- yesterday's high temperature climbed to 105 again in Sierra Vista. Since I moved here 12+ years ago in 1993, I don't remember such a period with sustained mid 100 temperatures. Global warming may be real folks. Although the commercials for fall TV shows hold promise of a fleeting summer, this false hope soon wanes when I remember that it really doesn't cool down much until mid October.

It was another super warm day in southern Arizona. Tucson set a record at 110 degrees (10 above average for this date) and it was the 30th consecutive day above 100. It was wasn't much better in Sierra Vista and the location that I monitor was up to 106 at 1:30pm. The Florida fire in the Santa Rita Mountains is still raging (700 firefighters) and Madera Canyon is closed. The monsoon season is already more than a week behind the average start date of July 3. As the Animals sang all those years ago "We (I) gotta get out of this place". I'm already looking forward to my time in the White Mountains during the first two weeks in August.

Today was the first of two days with Fred Niedermeyer from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (who I've birded with once previously) and Fritz Lindeman from Hercules, CA. We made morning and evening visits to Carr Canyon in the Huachucas. The morning didn't go according to plan and we spent most of our time working the habitat in the 7500 feet zone trying to dig out target species. Many species were completely silent and we were in the canyon for 7 hours, more than twice what it usually takes to find the birds.

We chipped away stubbornly and slowly but surely found the birds we sought. OLIVE WARBLER, in particular, was very difficult and we spent hours on the bird. I hit all the best locations that I know and a second shot at what is perhaps the best spot eventually produced a cracking orange-headed adult male (it's always less satisfying to see a yellowish female or sub-adult male as a lifer, but it often happens). Well worth all of our effort. Even the abundant GRACE'S WARBLERS were mostly AWOL and we only came across one lone adult and a second adult with a juvenile in tow throughout the whole morning. We literally just bumped into a couple of RED-FACED WARBLERS as we walked between Reef and Ramsey Vista. VIRGINIA'S WARBLER was super elusive and we had to work hard to find just one. Unfortunately, only Fritz got a decent look at the bird. Several juvenile PAINTED REDSTARTS ("Blackstarts") and a couple of BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS rounded out the warblers.

Flycatchers were slightly more vocal and we didn't have much trouble finding them. BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS were numerous and active until about 10:00am. A few GREATER PEWEES sang for a while but it was mostly a case of hearing their "peek-peek" calls. Of course, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES were abundant. A pair of DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHERS and heard only SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER and CASSIN'S KINGBIRD rounded out the flycatchers.

The PLUMBEOUS VIREO nest that I found in May still had at least one youngster in the nest; perhaps a second clutch in the same nest? HEPATIC TANAGERS were seen in a couple of locations but remained very elusive. We saw only one WESTERN TANAGER. The problems of the day were exemplified by a completely silent flock of 20+ BUSHTITS. The highlight for me was EVENING GROSBEAK, unfortunately just a heard only but proof that the birds are continuing in the area where I saw them back in April. Our only cheap bird of the morning was a CANYON WREN along the side of the road as we drove back down the mountain.

Other species included a small group of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, female BROAD-TAILED and MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRDS, all three regular jays, HUTTON'S VIREO (fairly common), YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (most adult birds seen had at least one juvenile with them), SPOTTED TOWHEE (abundant and one of the few constantly vocal species) and BRONZED COWBIRD (generally much less common in the mountains than BROWN-HEADED).

I wasn't too hopeful for our evening owling session since this isn't the best time of year. The weather cooperated after the wind subsided leaving just heavy clouds and distant thunder and lightning -- unfortunately, not much rain. Over a period of an hour we didn't hear any spontaneous calling from owls, poorwills or whip-poor-wills. Eventually, we did hear some soft barking from a WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL and then managed to track the bird down for an excellent eye-level, close range look. Under the circumstances I'd have to call this a major success.

Day list (54 species recorded in Carr Canyon):
Turkey Vulture, Cooper's & Red-tailed Hawks, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning & White-winged Doves, Whiskered Screech-Owl, Magnificent, Black-chinned & Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Acorn Woodpecker, N. Flicker, Greater Pewee, Western Wood-Pewee, Buff-breasted, Dusky-capped & Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, Cassin's Kingbird, Violet-green Swallow, Canyon, Bewick's & House Wrens, N. Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Am. Robin, Bushtit, Bridled Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Steller's & Mexican Jays, Western Scrub-Jay, Common Raven, House Sparrow, Plumbeous & Hutton's Vireos, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak, Olive, Virginia's, Black-throated Gray, Grace's & Red-faced Warblers, Painted Redstart, Hepatic & Western Tanagers, Spotted Towhee, Yellow-eyed Junco, Pyrrhuloxia, Black-headed Grosbeak and Bronzed & Brown-headed Cowbirds.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005   
Out again today with Fred and Fritz. We left town at 4:30am and birded at Patagonia Lake, Kino Springs, Harshaw Canyon, very briefly in San Rafael Valley then finished up in Marion Paton's yard. It was a partly cloudy and (finally) a cooler day at the expense of some humidity. I'll take it. It was very windy with a few sprinkles when I got back to Sierra Vista at 2:00pm. Hopefully, the serious rain will soon be upon us.

Birding at Patagonia Lake was limited to the entrance road. We spent an hour here and had superb, close up looks at three target species -- BOTTERI'S SPARROW (perched on a fence wire, staring us out), RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW (perched up in a mesquite singing, eventually on the roadside grass) and VARIED BUNTING in excellent light. A great start to the morning. Others among ~30 species noted included GREATER ROADRUNNER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. Also present was my first lowland (male) WESTERN TANAGER of the season -- some of them sure do their business quickly and get out of the mountains.

We moved on to Kino Springs where the birding continues to be excellent (my third visit so far this month); a couple of hours produced 50+ species. The weedy first pond continues to host many COMMON GROUND-DOVES, LUCY'S WARBLERS, BLUE GROSBEAKS and VARIED BUNTINGS. A group of very confiding BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS, GREAT EGRET and SPOTTED SANDPIPER were fairly tolerant of three demented dogs (sans owner) that raced around and plunged into the water. Easy to see birds in the adjacent habitat included GRAY HAWK (one chick in the nest), BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, SUMMER TANAGER, a singing RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW and ABERT'S TOWHEE.

A female WOOD DUCK was a nice surprise on the lower section of the club house pond. This is a very scarce bird in summer in SE AZ (rare at best, anytime) and I only have a few records away from St. David at this season. I have two previous records at Kino Springs in April and May. TROPICAL KINGBIRDS were near the sewage pond (nesting on the golf course just north of the sewage pond). YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO called but didn't show itself. VERMILION FLYCATCHERS in various stages of plumage development were very common. BRONZED COWBIRDS were easy to see in a couple of locations (and several other places today).

I'd originally planned to visit Madera Canyon today but the Florida fire put paid to that. Failing to stop for a calling Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher yesterday had thus created a problem. I decided that the best chance to find one within the scope of our route was in Harshaw Canyon. It was pretty warm and humid in the sycamore zone of Harshaw Creek (no water) and I was happy that it didn't take too long to find a non-vocal and very cooperative SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER. We continued on into the oak zone to look unsuccessfully for Arizona Woodpecker but did pick up HEPATIC TANAGER in the same oak tree as a GRAY HAWK nest with two quite different aged chicks. (this really isn't typical habitat for Gray Hawk). Other species in the canyon included COOPER'S HAWK, a couple of soaring GOLDEN EAGLES (adult and immature), DUSKY-CAPPED and BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, plenty of MEXICAN JAYS, ROCK WREN, RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, BRONZED COWBIRD and BULLOCK'S ORIOLE.

Since we were so close, we continued on to the edge of the San Rafael Valley (at the top of the Harshaw Canyon) and had immediate success with a very cooperative GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (scope view). The only other species noted here in just a few minutes were KESTREL and HORNED LARK.

THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD was on duty near the nest site opposite the Paton's yard and VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD soon obliged us at the feeders. My first-of-season RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was also present. 20 species in all during a 30 minutes stay.

Day list (85 species recorded):
Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Wood Duck, Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's & Gray Hawks, Golden Eagle, Am. Kestrel, Gambel's Quail, Am. Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Rock Pigeon, Mourning & White-winged Doves, Common Ground-Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Greater Roadrunner, Broad-billed, Violet-crowned, Black-chinned & Rufous Hummingbirds, Acorn, Gila & Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, N. Flicker, Western Wood-Pewee, Black & Say's Phoebes, Vermilion, Dusky-capped, Ash-throated, Brown-crested & Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, Tropical, Cassin's, Thick-billed & Western Kingbirds, Horned Lark, Cliff & Barn Swallows, Phainopepla, Rock & Bewick's Wrens, N. Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Bridled Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Verdin, Mexican Jay, Common Raven, European Starling, House Sparrow, Bell's Vireo, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Lucy's & Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Hepatic, Summer & Western Tanagers, Spotted, Canyon & Abert's Towhees, Botteri's, Rufous-crowned, Rufous-winged, Lark, Black-throated, Grasshopper & Song Sparrows, N. Cardinal, Black-headed & Blue Grosbeaks, Varied Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed & Brown-headed Cowbirds and Bullock's Oriole.

Monday, July 18, 2005   
The past few days have continued very hot (100+) in Sierra Vista and although we've had some cloud buildup and afternoon thunderstorms typical of the monsoons, rainfall has been minimal. That changed late yesterday afternoon when we finally got some short lived, heavy rain for the first time this season. Apparently, this rain helped the Florida fire considerably (but Madera Canyon remains closed).

Out today with the DeBalko family -- Jonathan, John and Michelle from McAdoo, PA. Our principal targets for the morning were owls -- Northern Pygmy-Owl and Spotted Owl. We left town at 5:30am and returned at 2:30pm having seen both species, but not without some physical effort, especially on the latter. After yesterday's rain, the day began cloudy and relatively cool at the expense of a little humidity. The day warmed as usual and the location that I monitor in Sierra Vista was up to 104 degrees at 3:00pm.

We started in Carr Canyon where a round trip hike of about a mile easily produced a very cooperative NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL in a regular spot. Afterwards, we looked for a few other target species that were far harder to find than the owl. Birding was generally very slow but four hours in the canyon produced over 50 species. GREATER PEWEE and BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER were less vocal and visible than usual but we didn't have too much trouble in seeing both. Warblers were essentially non-existent and we found neither Red-Faced nor Olive. Typical species included BAND-TAILED PIGEON, HAIRY WOODPECKER, DUSKY-CAPPED & SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, scads of CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS (the latter two in the lower canyon), all three regular jays, PAINTED REDSTART, HEPATIC TANAGER and YELLOW-EYED JUNCO.

We moved on to Fort Huachuca and quickly picked up a singing BOTTERI'S SPARROW in Garden Canyon grassland despite the late morning hour. In the Sycamore zone, a very obliging ARIZONA WOODPECKER called as we drove by then hung around for all the looks that we wanted. SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was at the upper picnic area.

Scheelite Canyon was fairly warm and a little humid and it took three hours to find Spotted Owl. My educated guess as to where the bird might be (east fork of the canyon in a maple) was actually borne out. I figured that with the spate of hot days the owls would be in the coolest spot possible and the east fork loses the afternoon sun more quickly than other locations. However, since I've learned the hard way more than once not to try thinking like an owl and take short cuts, I went through my standard search procedure. Of course, this involves thoroughly checking the lower roosting area first (after all, 80% of my sightings have occurred here). Next, I decided to check the upper area (west fork of the canyon) since 8 of my last 10 sightings have been up there. Slog, slog, slog. No owl but RED-FACED WARBLER was good reward. CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER was also in the upper area.

Eventually, we headed into the east fork of the canyon where the preliminary check didn't produce an owl. I decided that splitting up was the best plan and I headed into more difficult terrain while the group focused on the shady west side of the canyon. Not two minutes had passed before Jonathan called me back. Sure enough, there sat a side by side pair of wide awake SPOTTED OWLS in a shady maple right up against the canyon wall. The owls were essentially impossible to see walking up canyon and still quite difficult to see from one particular location walking down canyon.

Other species in the canyon included ARIZONA WOODPECKER (quite vocal at times), BROWN CREEPER, PAINTED REDSTART and HEPATIC TANAGER. Also of note were three BANDED ROCK RATTLESNAKES in separate locations.

Back in Garden Canyon, a GRAY HAWK soared over the lower picnic area. A pair has nested along the sycamore drainage below the picnic area for at least three years now.

Our evening owling session in Carr Canyon turned out far better than I had anticipated given the time of year and my results a few nights ago. It was a warm, still evening with plenty of moonlight only occasionally obscured by clouds. We got off to a good start with a COMMON POORWILL sitting in the parking area. In contrast to my last session, poorwills were very vocal throughout the evening (I attribute that mostly to the moonlight).

We spent an inordinate amount of time to find WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL which is usually the easiest owl to locate and to see. After wasting time on a briefly calling bird that disappeared, we changed locations and had no trouble at all finding a very cooperative bird. In fact, multiple family groups were calling.

I've had trouble recently with WESTERN SCREECH-OWL so I wasn't hopeful. However, we quickly found a calling bird close to a regular location then had to work for a while before seeing it.

We finished off the evening by tracking down a constantly chattering ELF OWL in dense foliage (the bird was much lower in the tree and closer to us than it sounded, which is often the case with owls).

A good end to a five owl day with all species seen well.

Day list (73 species recorded):
Turkey Vulture, Cooper's, Gray & Red-tailed Hawks, Am. Kestrel, Gambel's Quail, Rock Pigeon, Band-tailed, Mourning & White-winged Doves, Greater Roadrunner, Western Screech-Owl, Whiskered Screech-Owl, Spotted Owl, N. Pygmy-Owl, Elf Owl, Common Poorwill, Magnificent Hummingbird, Acorn, Gila, Ladder-backed, Hairy & Arizona Woodpeckers, N. Flicker, Greater Pewee, Western Wood-Pewee, Cordilleran, Buff-breasted, Dusky-capped, Ash-throated & Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, Cassin's Kingbird, Cactus, Canyon & Bewick's Wrens, N. Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Am. Robin, Bushtit, Bridled Titmouse, Red-breasted & White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creeper, Verdin, Loggerhead Shrike, Steller's & Mexican Jays, Western Scrub-Jay, Chihuahuan & Common Ravens, House Sparrow, Plumbeous & Hutton's Vireos, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Grace's & Red-faced Warblers, Painted Redstart, Hepatic & Western Tanagers, Spotted & Canyon Towhees, Botteri's & Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Yellow-eyed Junco, N. Cardinal, Pyrrhuloxia, Black-headed & Blue Grosbeaks, Eastern Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle and Brown-headed Cowbird.

Thursday, July 21, 2005   
Prompted by a slightly cooler day yesterday and the fact that I received my main lens back from Canon late yesterday, I made a trip over to Willcox this morning. I was hoping to kill two birds with one stone -- see a few migrant shorebirds and check out the lens. This was my first non-client birding day since I returned from Wyoming at the end of June. It's been a crappy period of warm weather which is now hopefully coming to an end. I sure hope so because I'll be in the field almost continuously from now until the end of August

For those interested, I had my EF 100-400mm Image Stabilized lens repaired mainly due to a focusing problem caused by the fact that I whacked it against a rock when I fell in Scheelite Canyon back in May. Basically, with small subjects (small compared to the single center-point focus area that I use), the camera failed to acquire focus. No problem with large subjects. I figured that the ultrasonic beam used for focus control was misaligned. The lens also had a couple of (long time) problems that I was living with -- (1) the barrel of the lens did not slide smoothly from the 100mm to 400mm focal length positions and (2) using the manual focus ring loosened the focal length lock. After talking with technical support, I sent the lens to the Canon factory service center in Irvine, CA. It took a while to get an initial response from Canon (six business days from receipt) and even then it took a phone call to gee them up. The lens was actually looked at the day after receipt but someone failed to send out the estimate. On the plus side, the lens was repaired on the second business day after I gave authorization (even though they had told me 10-14 days) and I received it two days later. Repair cost was $309 (a standard fee of $299 plus $10 shipping).  The warranty states that the lens has been returned to "Factory Specifications". Warranty is 6 months on workmanship and materials.

I left home at 4:30am and saw lots of LESSER NIGHTHAWKS working the lights at the Border Patrol Checkpoint on Highway 90 north of Whetstone. I arrived at Willcox shortly after sunrise to find lots of birds feeding on the grass and dirt of the golf course driving range. Species noted here included 12+ EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES, a few WHITE-WINGED DOVES (fairly scarce here), many GAMBEL'S and SCALED QUAIL and a few YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS.

It's been a couple of months since I last visited here and I was happy to see that the main pond water level (while still fairly high) is such that there's a decent margin of shorebird habitat around the entire periphery (mostly sandy; some grassy sections). AMERICAN AVOCETS and BLACK-NECKED STILTS were both very common. The usual GREAT BLUE HERONS and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were present and I also noted 2 GREAT EGRETS.

BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS seemed almost as common as LEAST SANDPIPERS. By comparison, WESTERN SANDPIPERS were in very low numbers. I scanned the well distributed 100+ (mostly male) WILSON'S PHALAROPES many times but didn't turn up a Red-necked (it's still a little early). I saw a couple of SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 3 (calling) LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS still in alternate plumage and 3 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS. I made several passes around the pond and did not see any of less common species (Sanderling and Stilt & Solitary Sandpipers) sighted in recent days.

It's still early for the bulk of landbird migration so birds in this category were limited to summer and permanent residents. Many active and vocal CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS well outnumbered WESTERN KINGBIRDS. A pair of SWAINSON'S HAWKS were the only raptors that I saw.

I recorded 44 species in 2.5 hours before the heat and humidity started to kick in. On the way home, I decided to make a stop at Holy Trinity Monastery in St. David where it was even warmer and more humid. I persevered for a while and eventually turned up 34 species in 1.5 hours.

I tracked down a whining juvenile COOPER'S HAWK that didn't want to share its space with a couple of equally whiny GRAY HAWKS. The bird stayed in the shade setting the tone for most of the birds that I saw which makes for difficult photography. Apart from NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET, a pair of BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, several YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS and the aforementioned raptors, most species were not vocalizing so I probably missed a bunch. Among those that I did find were EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (I first detected them here in October, 2003), VERMILION FLYCATCHER, BELL'S VIREO, a few LUCY'S WARBLERS, perhaps as many as half a dozen SUMMER TANAGERS and ABERT'S TOWHEE.

I took plenty of test photos today (115 shots) and, although I didn't get any particularly good images, I was able to confirm that all lens problems have been fixed. As it turned out, the stilt, chat and tanager shots were all photo firsts for me.

Day list (70 species recorded):
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Ruddy Duck, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's, Gray, Swainson's & Red-tailed Hawks, Am. Kestrel, Scaled & Gambel's Quail, Am. Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Am. Avocet, Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitcher, Long-billed Curlew, Spotted, Western, Least & Baird's Sandpipers, Wilson's Phalarope, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning & White-winged Doves, Lesser Nighthawk, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Gila Woodpecker, N. Beardless-Tyrannulet, Black & Say's Phoebes, Vermilion & Brown-crested Flycatchers, Cassin's & Western Kingbirds, Horned Lark, Tree & Barn Swallows, Phainopepla, Cactus & Bewick's Wrens, N. Mockingbird, Verdin, Loggerhead Shrike, Chihuahuan Raven, House Sparrow, Bell's Vireo, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Lucy's & Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Abert's Towhee, Lark, Black-throated & Song Sparrows, N. Cardinal, Pyrrhuloxia, Red-winged & Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Eastern Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird and Bullock's Oriole.

Saturday, July 23, 2005   
Out today with Scott Kampmeier from Austin, TX who I've birded with twice before. We put in a very long day and found only 3 of 5 target species. It was a mostly cloudy day, cool by recent standards but still warm and very humid at times.

We left Sierra Vista at 5:00am for a trip to Carr Canyon. Our only target here was NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL which was easy to find but very difficult so see. We located an owl in the same location as last week and twice managed to whistle in the bird very close into two different oak trees. Try as we did, even with the help of all the mobbing dickey birds, we were unable to see the owl. When it flew away for the second time our chances for success looked quite poor. We persevered by working towards its territory and the bird rewarded our efforts by calling again. This time the owl was in a relatively open Douglas Fir (actually two birds) and we enjoyed some great looks. Phew.

We didn't see too many other species on this brief and focused visit. A fly-by EVENING GROSBEAK (no doubt attracted by all the fuss) represented the best bird. Others included BAND-TAILED PIGEON, WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, ARIZONA WOODPECKER, GREATER PEWEE, all three regular jays, VIRGINIA'S and RED-FACED WARBLERS, HEPATIC TANAGER and YELLOW-EYED JUNCO.

Next, we journeyed to the south end of Sulphur Springs Valley where we not only failed to find Bendire's Thrasher, we also burned a ton of time in the process. We checked eight nesting locations as well as cruising lots of good habitat and only came across one potential candidate on Noble Road. Thrashers can be tough after they finish their (early) breeding season, although we did see scads of CURVE-BILLED THRASHERS in various stages of juvenile plumage and at least 2 CRISSAL THRASHERS.

Highlight of our time here was a male PAINTED BUNTING found by Scott on Noble Road. This is a little early for this very rare in SE AZ species, although a male was found at Kino Springs last week. One may be tempted to question the habitat -- however, I've seen some oddball stuff migrating through the valley on mesquite lined dirt roads. Birds have to get from A to B. Apart from the Bunting, the sheer numbers of singing CASSIN'S SPARROWS were a joy. The rain has really galvanized them into action and I don't think we traveled a single valley road without hearing them.

Other typical valley species included many SWAINSON'S HAWKS, GREATER ROADRUNNER, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, SCALED QUAIL, scads of WESTERN KINGBIRDS, BLACK-THROATED SPARROW,  PYRRHULOXIA, BLUE GROSBEAK and BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. We also noted a couple of migrating (male) WESTERN TANAGERS.

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES were in Tombstone -- I first detected them here in April this year.

We arrived back in Sierra Vista around 1:30pm and got underway again at 2:00pm for a trip to California Gulch. Nothing of note seen along the way.

FIVE-STRIPED SPARROWS were easy to find just beyond the first stream crossing where there is a convenient highpoint for viewing. Between 5:00 and 6:00pm we enjoyed a number of birds singing and perching in the open for satisfying scope views. VARIED BUNTINGS were also present. It was very cloudy and muggy in the gulch.

The main event of the evening at the old Oro Blanco mine site turned out to be a non-event, at least through 10:30pm when we departed. Sunset was around 7:30pm and with cloud cover and zero moon, it was fairly dark by 8:00pm. Under these conditions, I expected very little nightjar activity and that was borne out. A few COMMON POORWILLS called briefly as did WESTERN SCREECH-OWL and ELF OWL. Then nothing for a very long time. I was hopeful that moonrise would trigger the Buff-collared Nightjar but we were foiled by the clouds. The almost full moon rose just before 10:00pm and immediately caused the Poorwills to sing. Unfortunately, clouds quickly obscured the moon and they soon fell silent again. We waited around for another half hour and heard absolutely nothing from any owl or nightjar species. Very disappointing. Complete failure on the Buff-collared Nightjar (i.e. not even hearing the bird) only happens to me on about 10% of visits.

We ended on a successful note to salvage something from the evening. On the journey home we saw a total of 7 COMMON POORWILLS sitting on the Ruby Road, including two that stayed put to provide us with excellent looks. Sierra Vista was a welcome sight at 1:30am.

[Nightjar note: I later learned that the Buff-collared Nightjar spontaneously vocalized and was seen fairly well just minutes after we left.]

Monday, July 25, 2005   
Out today with Mary Warren from Sandusky, OH and Marsha Macintire from Woodville, OH. We birded in Garden and Sawmill Canyons on Fort Huachuca. A clear and cool start at 5:30am (64 degrees); cloudy, muggy and 90 degrees by midday.

We spent a considerable amount of time in lower Garden Canyon grassland where there was plenty of activity. BOTTERI'S SPARROWS were singing and plentiful but not particularly easy to locate; CASSIN'S SPARROWS were less common but easier to find as they skylarked between mesquites while singing. Scope looks at both species as well as RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW. A few LARK SPARROWS rounded out the sparrows.

A roadside LAZULI BUNTING perched in a mesquite represented the least common species for this area. BLUE GROSBEAKS were common and confiding at roadside puddles. BULLOCK'S ORIOLES were also common in the mesquite zone, although we only saw females/juveniles. Other typical species included GREATER ROADRUNNER, VERDIN, PHAINOPEPLA, CANYON TOWHEE and PYRRHULOXIA.

SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS were impossible to miss once we reached the sycamore zone. ELEGANT TROGON duly obliged by calling as we stepped out of the car at the upper picnic area. It didn't take long to track down a male that was soon joined by a female. Shortly after looking at the trogons, our good karma continued as a couple of GOLDEN EAGLES soared overhead; an adult and an immature. We also had close up looks at a perched juvenile COOPER'S HAWK.

It was fairly quiet by the time we reached Sawmill Canyon, although an ELEGANT TROGON was calling near the cabin as we arrived. Highlights here were GREATER PEWEE, BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER and a female HEPATIC TANAGER building a nest (presumably for a second clutch). BAND-TAILED PIGEONS called from deep in the woods. A calling LAZULI BUNTING again represented the least common species for this location (4 records in 4 separate years from the last 12; 2 in spring, 2 in fall). Zone-tailed Hawk and Montezuma Quail were seen by others in the canyon this morning.

56 species recorded in Garden and Sawmill Canyons:
Turkey Vulture, Cooper's, Gray & Red-tailed Hawks, Golden Eagle, Band-tailed Pigeon, White-winged Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Elegant Trogon, Acorn & Arizona Woodpeckers, Greater Pewee, Western Wood-Pewee, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Black & Say's Phoebes, Dusky-capped, Ash-throated & Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, Cassin's & Western Kingbirds, Violet-green Swallow, Phainopepla, Canyon & Bewick's Wrens, N. Mockingbird, Crissal Thrasher, Bridled Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Verdin, Loggerhead Shrike, Steller's & Mexican Jays, Plumbeous & Hutton's Vireos, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Grace's Warbler, Painted Redstart, Hepatic Tanager, Spotted & Canyon Towhees, Botteri's, Cassin's, Rufous-crowned & Lark Sparrows, Yellow-eyed Junco, Pyrrhuloxia, Black-headed Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird and Bullock's Oriole.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005   
First of two days with Thor Manson from Hope, BC (who I've birded with once previously) and Brent and Carolynn Schmor from Abbortsford, BC. We made a trip to Oro Blanco mine and California Gulch, my second in recent days. We tried a different strategy and ended up with a similar result -- no Buff-collared Nightjar and an easy Five-striped Sparrow. A mild start to the morning, warming quickly in California Gulch where it was quite muggy.

We left Sierra Vista at midnight and arrived at the old Oro Blanco mine site at 2:50am. Skies were clear and the directly overhead half moon provided plenty of light. So much so in fact that we found a total of 10 COMMON POORWILLS along the Ruby Road with excellent looks at several birds. Still a fair way from my record of 16.

Apart from a few sporadic calls from COMMON POORWILLS, the mine area was generally quiet. BLUE GROSBEAKS fired up at 4:00am followed closely by CANYON TOWHEES, CASSIN'S KINGBIRD, SUMMER TANAGER and WHITE-WINGED DOVE. Eventually, it was a cacophony of sound well before dawn, especially when MEXICAN JAYS joined the fray. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO called occasionally. All that was missing was the star of the show -- Buff-collared Nightjar. My second consecutive trip without hearing the bird; one evening visit, one middle of the night visit.

We left the mine site at 5:30am and proceeded south on the upper road (along the western ridge of California Gulch) that leads to the south end of the gulch. About 200 yards beyond the upper cattle guard at the north end, I heard the calls of two (possibly more) BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS and we immediately set about locating the birds. Unfortunately, even though we were extremely close to them, they quickly separated and moved away (we tried again to locate them about 90 minutes later without success.)  This is the 3rd year that I've found this species in the California Gulch area (previously in August 1999 and August 2003).

The south end of California Gulch was birdy as usual and we soon saw or heard GRAY HAWK, COMMON GROUND-DOVE, NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET, THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD, BELL'S VIREO, BROWN-CRESTED & VERMILION FLYCATCHERS and HOODED ORIOLE.

A cooperative FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW was singing at the 5th stream crossing and we enjoyed scope looks at the bird perched in an Ocotillo.

The return walk yielded two YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS (very cooperative behavior from this normally secretive species), DUSKY-CAPPED and ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS to complete the myiarchus group, VARIED BUNTING and PURPLE MARTIN. I've visited the gulch regularly for the last 12 years and this year is the first time that I've seen Purple Martin here.

Driving back to Nogales on the Ruby Road we looked unsuccessfully for Montezuma Quail; SCOTT'S ORIOLE was our only target bird success. Of note were a couple of WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS about 2 miles west of the entrance to Ruby. This is only my second sighting here -- nine years ago I saw them in almost the exact same location on July 17, 1996. BOTTERI'S SPARROWS were singing along the blacktop section between mileposts 6 and 4.

A stop on South River Road (the Nogales bypass) quickly produced a very cooperative RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW. The bird sang for several minutes while perched in the clear atop a mesquite.

We finished up with a brief visit to Harshaw Creek Road south of Patagonia. We found SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER in the same sycamore as my previous visit on July 13 (just south of the first property after leaving Harshaw Canyon Road).

Wednesday, July 27, 2005   
Out again today with Thor, Brent and Carolynn. We visited Carr Canyon and the San Pedro river to bat clean up. A cool, cloudy and wet start to the morning on the mountain; relatively cool and cloudy on the San Pedro.

We left town at 4:00am to look for Elf Owl in lower Carr Canyon. Unfortunately, we didn't even hear one calling despite checking four regular territories and we ended up running out of darkness. Unlike the resident WHISKERED and WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS (both of which called -- not pursued), the migratory Elf Owl doesn't feel the need to defend territory after the young fledge and is free to wander around; thus making it more difficult after midsummer. COMMON POORWILLS called during breaks in the clouds when the moon appeared. Generally, though, it was quiet apart from the sound of thunder. SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER, HEPATIC TANAGER and RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW all vocalized as dawn approached.

We continued up the mountain to the Reef area, arriving just as (short lived) rain began. Our prey here was the almost always elusive VIRGINIA'S WARBLER. They played hard to get in the mixed habitat (oak/pine/fir/manzanita) west of Reef Campground, but it was far easier than usual and we were done in about 20 minutes.

Next stop was the San Pedro House where we quickly picked up ABERT'S TOWHEE. Finding them here is pretty much a foregone conclusion on any visit (someday I'll eat those words).

We then worked the mesquite area bounded by the Del Valle Road, Garden Wash and Highway 90. This is a much underbirded area, largely ignored by most visitors. However, it's a very good location for CRISSAL THRASHER. Sad to say, this isn't the best season for them and even though we located at least two birds, possibly more, it was essentially a case of "excellent fleeting glimpses were had by all" -- and we put in about two hours of effort. It would probably have been better to head over to Sulphur Springs Valley but we tried to save on travel time.

A pair of BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHERS represented a scarce species here (the male still had a full black cap). BOTTERI'S and CASSIN'S SPARROWS were both singing constantly. SPOTTED SANDPIPER on the Del Valle road was unusual (I see them on the river irregularly).

65 species recorded:
Turkey Vulture, Swainson's & Red-tailed Hawks, Am. Kestrel, Scaled Quail, Spotted Sandpiper, Mourning & White-winged Doves, Common Ground-Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Western Screech-Owl, Whiskered Screech-Owl, Common Poorwill, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Acorn, Gila & Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, N. Flicker, Western Wood-Pewee, Buff-breasted, Vermilion, Dusky-capped, Ash-throated, Brown-crested & Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, Say's Phoebe, Cassin's & Western Kingbirds, Violet-green & Barn Swallows, Phainopepla, Cactus, Canyon & Bewick's Wrens, N. Mockingbird, Curve-billed & Crissal Thrashers, Hermit Thrush, Am. Robin, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, White-breasted Nuthatch, Verdin, Loggerhead Shrike, Western Scrub-Jay, Mexican Jay, Chihuahuan Raven, House Sparrow, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Virginia's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Hepatic & Summer Tanagers, Spotted, Canyon & Abert's Towhees, Botteri's, Cassin's, Rufous-crowned & Black-throated Sparrows, Yellow-eyed Junco, Black-headed & Blue Grosbeaks and Brown-headed Cowbird.

Thursday, July 28, 2005   
First of four days with Marie Monson from Springfield, VA, Lynne Thomas from Albuquerque, NM, Betty Cash from Boca Raton, FL and April Middleman from Hollywood, FL. We visited Patagonia Lake, Kino Springs, Patagonia Roadside Rest Area and Paton's Yard.

There was a moderate breeze when we started birding along the entrance road to Patagonia Lake State Park and it actually felt a little cool (for the first time in quite a while I might add!). CASSIN'S SPARROWS were singing and skylarking but we selected an individual that insisted in dropping back into the grass. A modicum of patience was required before we managed decent scope views. In contrast, we had great close up looks at BOTTERI'S SPARROW at the first time of asking. RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW also cooperated quickly by perching up and singing in a mesquite. Ditto for VARIED BUNTING on a wire.

We then spent a few hours in the park proper without looking hard for anything in particular (including the gnatcatcher). We had to work much harder to see BELL VIREOS well than any of the species targeted along the entrance road. We only looked briefly at the water and recorded 50 species including BROWN PELICAN, BLACK VULTURE, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET, DUSKY-CAPPED & BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS and LAZULI BUNTING.

At Kino Springs, the weedy first pond was loaded with seed eating species including at least two INDIGO BUNTINGS, a handful of LAZULI BUNTINGS and scads of BLUE GROSBEAKS. We had to work to find LUCY'S WARBLER and TROPICAL KINGBIRD (eventually seen near the sewage pond nest site). Other species among 35 recorded included GRAY HAWK, COMMON GROUND-DOVE, INCA DOVE, RUFOUS-WINGED & LARK SPARROWS, SUMMER TANAGER, CANYON TOWHEE and BRONZED COWBIRD.

A stop at Patagonia Roadside Rest quickly produced a ROSE-THROATED BECARD perched near the nest. Unfortunately we only saw a ratty looking female during a 30 minute stay. VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD was at a nearby nest. Among the other species noted were GRAY HAWK, BLUE GROSBEAK and HOODED ORIOLE.

We finished up in the Paton's Yard where an early CHIPPING SPARROW was a major surprise. Although I typically start seeing them away from the mountains in mid to late August at locations like the San Pedro, Patagonia Lake and Kino Springs, I don't have any records at the Paton's until October. VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD put in a few appearances and we picked up an ABERT'S TOWHEE scratching in the dirt.

Although our evening owling session only produced WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL, we enjoyed wonderful close up views when the bird finally decided to capitulate after leading us around for a while.

Day List (77 species recorded):
Pied-billed Grebe, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Mallard, Black & Turkey Vultures, Gray Hawk, Am. Kestrel, Am. Coot, Spotted Sandpiper, Mourning, White-winged & Inca Doves, Common Ground-Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Whiskered Screech-Owl, Broad-billed, Violet-crowned & Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Gila & Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, N. Flicker, N. Beardless-Tyrannulet, Western Wood-Pewee, Black & Say's Phoebes, Vermilion, Dusky-capped & Brown-crested Flycatchers, Tropical, Cassin's & Western Kingbirds, Rose-throated Becard, Barn Swallow, Phainopepla, Cactus & Bewick's Wrens, N. Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Bridled Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Verdin, Loggerhead Shrike, Chihuahuan & Common Ravens, European Starling, House Sparrow, Bell's Vireo, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Lucy's & Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Canyon & Abert's Towhees, Botteri's, Cassin's, Rufous-winged, Chipping, Lark, Black-throated & Song Sparrows, N. Cardinal, Black-headed & Blue Grosbeaks, Lazuli, Indigo & Varied Buntings, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed & Brown-headed Cowbirds and Hooded Oriole.

Friday, July 29, 2005   
Out again today with Marie, Lynne, Betty and April. I'd planned to visit Carr and Garden Canyons but the birding in Carr was tough going and we ended up spending all our time there -- and still managed to miss several key species. Heavy overcast with occasional light drizzle made for very pleasant birding conditions at the expense of poor viewing conditions. The temperature back in town at 1:30pm was 30 degrees cooler than about 10 days ago!

We started out by looking for NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL and for a while it looked like I had gone to the well one too many times. Eventually, we did find a calling bird in a very dense location. Unfortunately, despite a hillside scramble, we only managed to see the bird fly away never to return. Bummer.

Warblers were very hard to come by. VIRGINIA'S WARBLER was incredibly elusive for several hours. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as everybody had seen one we saw them again several times. We also had to work hard for OLIVE WARBLER. We tracked a sporadically singing bird high in the pines only to have it fly away at the critical moment. We persisted, as I often do, and our eventual reward was some good looks a cracking orange-headed adult male. We also had good looks at adult and immature PAINTED REDSTARTS and brief looks at BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. Incredibly, we missed the most common warbler of all -- Grace's. Not a trace. Nada. I didn't even hear one. Ditto for Red-faced.

We did much better on flycatchers with eventual good looks at all species seen including a GREATER PEWEE perched atop a dead tree in typical fashion, a very cooperative CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER, just one very hard to track down BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER and a pair of noisy SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS (in the lower canyon).

Among the other typical canyon denizens seen were a couple of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, many WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS working quite low on this gray day, HAIRY WOODPECKER, a single VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, PLUMBEOUS & HUTTON'S VIREOS, male and female HEPATIC TANAGERS and half the world population of SPOTTED TOWHEES.

Back in the lower canyon, we picked up ARIZONA WOODPECKER, RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW and an immature LAZULI BUNTING (only my second Carr record). To give you an idea of how tough the day was, MEXICAN JAY was the last species sighted!

Our evening return to the canyon was a bust in the rain -- no owls heard.

51 species recorded in Carr Canyon:
Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning & White-winged Doves, N. Pygmy-Owl, White-throated Swift, Magnificent & Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Acorn, Hairy & Arizona Woodpeckers, N. Flicker, Greater Pewee, Western Wood-Pewee, Cordilleran, Buff-breasted, Dusky-capped & Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, Cassin's Kingbird, Violet-green Swallow, Phainopepla, Canyon, Bewick's & House Wrens, N. Mockingbird, Hermit Thrush, Am. Robin, Bridled Titmouse, Red-breasted & White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creeper, Verdin, Steller's & Mexican Jays, Western Scrub-Jay, Common Raven, Plumbeous & Hutton's Vireos, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Olive, Virginia's & Black-throated Gray Warblers, Painted Redstart, Hepatic Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Yellow-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak and Lazuli Bunting.

Saturday, July 30, 2005   
Day 3 with Marie, Lynne, Betty and April. Today we visited Sulphur Springs Valley, the Chiricahuas and Willcox. Conditions were overcast and cool for much of the day; a little clearer and much warmer at Willcox in the late afternoon.

We started at the southern end of Sulphur Springs Valley looking for thrashers and quail. I found it quite ironic that almost the first bird that we saw on Coffman Road was a BENDIRE'S THRASHER with one youngster in tow. Last Saturday I couldn't buy one despite lots of searching in many locations. Other species on Coffman included EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE, SCALED QUAIL, GREATER ROADRUNNER, BLACK-THROATED SPARROW and BLUE GROSBEAK.

Next, we spent several hours on the Pinery Canyon Road in the Chiricahuas. The birding here was almost as tough as in Carr Canyon yesterday and we had to put in a significant amount of effort for most of our birds. We had some early success with NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL in a location where I'd seen one a couple of times earlier this year (and in previous years). However, the owl didn't really didn't have its heart in defending territory and we had to take the mountain to Mohammed by walking some difficult terrain in order to see the bird.

MEXICAN CHICKADEES were relatively easy to come by and we found noisy flocks in several places. We worked hard to find RED-FACED WARBLER and ended up locating two birds (Pinery Canyon Road below the campground and Rustler Road above Onion Saddle). Unfortunately, not everyone saw them. GRACE'S WARBLER was again difficult to locate but unlike yesterday, we ended up seeing just one on Rustler Road near the Paradise cutoff. OLIVE WARBLER was heard (not pursued) in a couple of locations. BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER was the most common warbler. My first HERMIT WARBLER of the season (an immature) was a decent bonus for our efforts. CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHERS were common (since we didn't "need" the bird).

JUNIPER TITMOUSE can often be difficult so I was happy to hear several birds calling as we dropped down towards Paradise. Even better, it didn't take long to see one. This can often be a time consuming bird, either at the George Walker House or in pinyon-juniper habitat near the cemetery and other Paradise road locations.

My first-of-season LARK BUNTINGS (including a male in breeding plumage) were on the San Simon Road has we headed towards I-10.

We finished up with a quick visit to Willcox for a couple of easy target species -- BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and WILSON'S PHALAROPE.

Day List (87 species recorded):
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Mallard, Ruddy Duck, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's, Swainson's & Red-tailed Hawks, Am. Kestrel, Scaled & Gambel's Quail, Am. Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Am. Avocet, Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitcher, Long-billed Curlew, Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted, Western, Least & Baird's Sandpipers, Wilson's Phalarope, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning & White-winged Doves, Greater Roadrunner, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Magnificent & Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. Acorn, Hairy & Arizona Woodpeckers, N. Flicker, Greater Pewee, Cordilleran & Dusky-capped Flycatchers, Black Phoebe, Cassin's & Western Kingbirds, Tree, Cliff & Barn Swallows, Cactus, Canyon, Bewick's & House Wrens, N. Mockingbird, Bendire's & Curve-billed Thrashers, Hermit Thrush, Am. Robin, Mexican Chickadee, Bridled Titmouse, Juniper Titmouse, Pygmy, Red-breasted & White-breasted Nuthatches, Loggerhead Shrike, Steller's & Mexican Jays, Chihuahuan & Common Ravens, House Sparrow, Plumbeous & Hutton's Vireos, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Olive, Black-throated Gray, Hermit, Grace's & Red-faced Warblers, Painted Redstart, Hepatic & Western Tanagers, Spotted Towhee, Cassin's, Lark & Black-throated Sparrows, Lark Bunting, Yellow-eyed Junco, Blue Grosbeak, Eastern Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle and Brown-headed Cowbird.

Sunday, July 31, 2005   
Fourth and last day with Marie, Lynne, Betty and April. We had originally scheduled this day for a trip to California Gulch but decided to do a little clean up work on other species instead. Initially, any birding seemed to be in jeopardy.

It was raining fairly hard early this morning and we delayed our start until 6:00am by which time the rain was tolerable. We headed to Garden Canyon where it only took about 30 minutes to locate a male and female ELEGANT TROGON above the upper picnic area. We tracked them for a while and ended up with good looks at a couple of bedraggled birds.

An adult GRAY HAWK was at the middle picnic area; a juvenile COOPER'S HAWK and SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS were at the upper picnic area.

The rain had quit by the time we reached Patagonia Roadside Rest area. We had great scope looks at CANYON WREN on the south side of the road and the male and female ROSE-THROATED BECARDS near the nest on the north (creek) side of the road. The birds appeared to be doing some repair work after what had obviously been some heavy rain -- Sonoita Creek was running fast and very muddy. Adult and juvenile THICK-BILLED KINGBIRDS were easy to see at the southwest end of the rest area.

The effects of the rain were readily apparent at Patagonia Lake. The lake level has risen enough to cover the cormorant pilings and CINNAMON TEAL and COOTS were swimming in an area where we had walked just three days ago. All the washes have seen plenty of water. Although we spent a couple of hours looking unsuccessfully for Black-capped Gnatcatcher, we managed to track down a couple of WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS that responded to my whistled imitation trying to attract other species (the birds were perched side by side in a mesquite).

Among the regulars species in the mesquite bosque were NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET, singing (but subdued) BELL'S VIREOS and lots of calling YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS. BOTTERI'S & CASSIN'S SPARROWS were singing along the entrance road.

Day List (61 species recorded):
Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's, Gray, Swainson's & Red-tailed Hawks, Am. Kestrel, Am. Coot, Rock Pigeon, Mourning, White-winged & Inca Doves, Western Screech-Owl, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Elegant Trogon, Acorn, Gila & Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, N. Beardless-Tyrannulet, Western Wood-Pewee, Vermilion, Dusky-capped, Brown-crested & Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, Cassin's & Thick-billed Kingbirds, Rose-throated Becard, Violet-green & Barn Swallows, Phainopepla, Canyon & Bewick's Wrens, Bridled Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Verdin, Chihuahuan & Common Ravens, Bell's & Hutton's Vireos, Lesser Goldfinch, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Hepatic & Summer Tanagers, Canyon & Abert's Towhees, Botteri's, Cassin's, Black-throated & Song Sparrows, N. Cardinal, Black-headed & Blue Grosbeaks, Eastern Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle, Bronzed & Brown-headed Cowbirds and Hooded Oriole.
 

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
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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 Sunday, July 31, 2005

Species List

Stuart Healy Journal - July, 2005 If you use the contents of my journal for commercial purposes, please acknowledge the source to your clients - thanks.

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