White Mountains, AZ - Trip Summary
Stuart Healy, July 27-August 31, 2007
Trip Log (journal entries)	Trip Species List	Trip Photo List (links)

I spent from July 27 through August 31, 2007 in the White Mountains of Arizona, my third consecutive extended summer trip (a combination of working with clients and ongoing research). I spent most of my non client days doing routine work, mostly looking for migrants.

I stayed at The Bunkhouse at Juniper Hill in Nutrioso (highly recommended). I recorded 53 species on the property adding 12 to my overall Juniper Hill list of 70. The most interesting birds were adult and hatch year male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

Although I've made many regular (often target bird focused) trips to the White Mountains annually since 1994, it's these extended trips that allow me to get a much better understanding of day to day birdlife. I've tinkered with dates somewhat over the past three years and this year I avoided the early part of July. Early July can be quite warm before the monsoon rains begin and the only advantage is that most species are still singing. By late July and August, young of the year birds become plentiful, hummingbird migration is underway and seasonal movement of the breeding birds begins. Migration through the mountains doesn't really start until mid August and usually isn't significant until the end of August into September. For 2008, I've once again increased the amount of time that I'll be spending in the mountains and the dates for my summer trip are July 28 through September 11, 2008.

Weather
The monsoon season was well underway by the time I arrived in late July. During the first couple of weeks I saw some severe thunderstorms with heavy rain being the norm at some point almost every day. After a brief respite in the middle of the trip that brought warmer days, less intense thunderstorms and less rain, the monsoon made a bit of a comeback towards the end of August and most days had a decent amount of rain. Although there were very few completely rain free days, the impact on birding was minimal. Low temperatures on most days ranged from the low to mid 50s (occasionally dropping to the low 40s at high elevation in the early mornings). Afternoon highs ranged from the mid 60s to the mid to high 70s. There were a few days that were too warm for my liking (85 degrees) but such days would probably be considered ideal by most folks. I wore a sweater twice, raingear once and used the A/C in the car three times. Wind was never a problem.

Lake and stream conditions
Water levels in most lakes were close to normal (although this may not have been the case in early July before the rain began) and marsh habitat was present in those areas that normally have it. Mexican Hay Lake is usually the first to dry up and even here the water level was decent (enough for nesting Eared Grebes). Nutrioso Reservoir and Sunrise Lake were the only bodies of water with seriously low water levels. However, after the monsoon did its thing, the shallow east end of Sunrise Lake had ideal shorebird conditions towards the end of the August. Almost all creeks that I checked had water (more than normal in many cases) and the Little Colorado River was running well (very high at times) in all locations.

Road Closure
Due to the partial closure of SR 273 for construction work (the main east-west route through the mountains), I was unable to access Sheep Crossing and the Mt. Baldy trail. While not a major problem, this did reduce the options for a few species and create some travel inconveniences. The road should be open by next summer.

Notes for selected species
The following is just a brief summary of selected species. By visiting the links above, you can find day to day details of the trip (in my journal), see the overall trip list, and view the bird photos that I took by using links in the photo list. Questions and comments welcome.

Including travel days, I found a total of 192 species on the trip (176 species within my White Mountains measurement area). I saw all the usual White Mountains specialties at least once and added 5 species to my White Mountains list. The top ten most seen species across all habitats (listed in decreasing order of sightings) were Northern Flicker, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Lesser Goldfinch, Virginia's Warbler, House Finch, American Robin, Common Raven, American Kestrel and Chipping Sparrow. The first four species were seen every day. Even the lowest on this list was seen on all but three days.

With just a few exceptions, "real" migrants didn't begin to appear until later in August. I emphasize "real" to differentiate between true migrants and seasonal movement of breeding species (such movement from a number of species was already in evidence right from my arrival in late July, especially Virginia's Warbler). I didn't see anything truly unusual although a couple of Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Hooded Warbler sightings were certainly unexpected.

American White Pelican
One bird seen at Luna lake on August 29 and 31. A new species for me in the White Mountains (I have Apache County records further north at Lyman Lake and Many Farms Lake).

Grebes, Egrets, Ducks, Waders, Shorebirds, Gulls and Terns.
I saw breeding Eared Grebes at several lakes -- Carnero, Luna, Mexican Hay and Sunrise. Western Grebes were scarce, seen only at Lyman Lake and Sunrise Lake. I thought Clark's Grebe might be breeding at Becker Lake but, after a couple of early sightings, I didn't see them after August 5.

Great Blue Herons were present at almost every lake and just failed to make the top ten most seen list. A lone Great Egret was in residence at Luna Lake for the entire period. I saw Snowy Egret once at Becker Lake.

Post breeding Common Mergansers were much less in evidence on the lakes this year which may indicate late breeding (only three sightings at Big & Crescent Lakes and a couple on the Blue River). I saw Mallard, Cinnamon Teal & Ruddy Duck regularly; Pintail & Redhead occasionally throughout the trip. Migrant ducks started to appear in mid August (Shovelers and Green-winged Teal). I started seeing Gadwall in the third week of August and American Wigeon appeared at the end of the month.

I first noted migrant White-faced Ibis near Becker Lake on August 6. Multiple sightings after that at Becker Lake, near Lyman Lake, at Nelson Reservoir and Sunrise Lake (highest count 27). I saw 9 American Avocets near Lyman Lake and 2 at Sunrise Lake.

Shorebirds were never plentiful and apart from the fairly common and widespread Spotted Sandpiper, I saw none at all until August 13. In order of decreasing abundance, I recorded Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Lesser Yellowlegs, Red-necked Phalarope (Mexican Hay & Sunrise), Western Sandpiper (6 at Sunrise), Baird's Sandpiper (2 juveniles at Luna Lake), Black-bellied Plover (2 at Sunrise Lake) and Greater Yellowlegs.

One Ring-billed Gull at Sunrise Lake;  migrant Black Terns seen on four occasions (three times at Becker Lake, once at Sunrise Lake). Highest count was 7.

Raptors
Bald Eagle seen on eleven days (mostly adults with a couple of immatures) at Becker Lake (2), Crescent Lake (3), Luna Lake (3), Nelson Reservoir (1), Sierra Blanca Lake (1) and Sunrise Lake (1). I saw Ospreys twice as often at the same locations plus Carnero Lake, Greer, and South Fork. Red-tailed Hawks were widespread but quite uncommon. I saw Swainson's Hawk only twice (Crescent Lake and in the plains grasslands north of Springerville). Sharp-shinned Hawks outnumbered Cooper's Hawks but neither were numerous. I saw Northern Goshawk twice (near Three Forks and high on the Escudilla trail). I saw Peregrine Falcon on 5 days in 7 different locations.

Dusky Grouse
Seems to be the most requested bird by clients. I had 50% success on this trip. Adult male seen on 4 of 8 visits to Big Lake Lookout and a female with family seen on 2 of 4 visits to Green's Peak (the two failures were in the afternoon).

Montezuma Quail
Generally hard to find in the White Mountains but I had three good sightings on this trip. Twice at Wenima Wildlife Area (male on August  6 and 19) and male & female at Tutt Creek on August 18.

Sandhill Crane
The same (presumably) lost and lonely individual was present at Luna Lake for the 8th consecutive year.

Pigeons and Doves
Since first appearing in the Springerville-Eagar area in 2000, Eurasian Collared-Doves are now very common. In fact, in the Becker Lake "complex", they are now at least as common as Mourning Doves. Springerville, Eagar and Nutrioso are the strongholds and I also recorded them in Greer for the first time. White-winged Doves remain uncommon in Springerville and Eagar. Band-tailed Pigeons seemed much less common than in recent years (seen in Greer, Nutrioso and along the Blue River). Rock Pigeons are in the minority!

Hummingbirds
Broad-tailed & Rufous Hummingbirds were widespread and abundant (at all but the highest elevations) feeding at flowers and thistle as well as at feeders. Most were females and immatures; migrant adult Rufous males were slightly more common than summer resident adult male Broad-tailed until mid August when the abundance reversed. Calliope males were relatively easy to find in early August but I only saw females after mid month. I didn't see the first female Black-chinned until August 8 and the first male sighting was August 27. The best public feeder sites for hummingbirds were at Luna Lake and Sipe Wildlife Area. Compared to previous years, hummingbird numbers seemed lower and this was especially true at the feeders at Juniper Hill. A steady reduction in consumption of sugar water at the Luna Lake feeders in recent years seems to confirm my impression. However, this may simply mean that the birds are taking advantage of natural food.

Woodpeckers
Lewis's Woodpecker - after a serious decline in the early 2000s, Lewis's numbers continue to increase, particularly in the Nutrioso area where they have always been more numerous than elsewhere. I also saw them in Eagar, at Sipe WA and two high elevation locations where they are decidedly uncommon -- Crescent Lake and Three Forks.

Acorn Woodpecker - although common not too far to the south in northern Greenlee County, I found them to be quite scarce in Apache County until 2002. They seem to have declined this year and I only recorded them a few times in the Nutrioso area.

Williamson's Sapsucker - much less common this year even though I found them in all the regular locations. It's difficult to quantify in a meaningful way but. for what it's worth, I ended up with 50% less sightings than last year despite spending 30% more days in the field.

Red-naped Sapsucker - after a slow start, I recorded them more times than last year. Movement from breeding areas to low elevation staging areas was later this year.

Downy Woodpecker - always scarce and much more so this year. Heard along the West Fork trail in Greer; seen at South Fork.

American Three-toed Woodpecker - can still be found with effort in the four year old burn east of Three Forks. Seen there on 5 of 7 visits but the average time to locate and distance covered within the burn was greater this year than in previous years. Also seen at Big Lake Lookout, in the FR 249/582 burn east of Big Lake, on the Escudilla trail, on Green's Peak and along the trail above Sunrise campground.

Flycatchers
Olive-sided Flycatcher - multiple sightings in breeding habitat (mostly in the Big Lake area) through the first week of August when, presumably, most birds started to head south. Only one late sighting at the end of the month at Sunrise.

Hammond's Flycatcher - one migrant at Big Lake Lookout (August 28).

Gray Flycatcher - seen a few times in PJ habitat in the Springerville-Eagar area through mid August and probably all breeding birds. Also seen several times in northern Greenlee County.

Dusky Flycatcher - seen on regular breeding territory in East Fork, Greer. Migrants seen in multiple locations.

Cordilleran Flycatcher - easy to see and hear in multiple locations through mid August when vocalizations all but ceased. Fledged young seen at Sipe WA and Big Lake Lookout.

Ash-throated Flycatcher - seen in several locations in Springerville-Eagar area (Becker Lake, Grassland WA and Sipe WA). Also, one interesting high elevation sighting in mixed ponderosa, spruce-fir and aspen at 8700 feet near Divide Hill.
 
Cassin's Kingbird - seen at Grassland WA, Sipe WA and Wenima WA but no evidence of potential breeding as in previous years.

Tree Swallow
Surprisingly absent as a migrant. Only two sightings in the first two weeks of August, none later.

American Dipper
Although the currently inaccessible Sheep Crossing is perhaps the best place, West Fork in Greer is usually reliable and I was successful on all six occasions that I specifically looked for the bird.

Gray Catbird
Seen several times near the bridge at South Fork where successfully nesting occurred (well developed immature still being fed on August 5). Also seen at Wenima WA.

Thrushes
Bluebirds - both species very common in their respective habitats with some overlap in PJ. Seen most days, Western slightly more numerous than Mountain.

Townsend's Solitaire - uncommon to fairly common; mostly in PJ and Ponderosa habitats. Sightings at Big Lake Lookout, Grassland WA, Nutrioso, Sipe WA, South Fork, Tutt Creek and Water Canyon. Immatures more conspicuous than adults.

Bridled Titmouse
Recorded in Greenlee County within 2.5 miles of the Apache County line on the Blue River road. No breeding records shown in the Arizona Breeding Bird Atlas (ABBA) at this lat-long. Fairly common just a few miles south at Tutt Creek.

Corvids
Gray Jay - with Sheep Crossing off the menu, I relied on Sunrise and located them on each of three attempts (with some difficulty on two occasions) along the trail above Sunrise Campground.

Pinyon Jay - apart from some early difficulty in the first couple of days, they were easy to come by at Grassland WA, several locations near Nutrioso, Sipe WA (100-200 birds) and South Fork (50+ birds). Despite many visits, I heard them only twice at the traditional site of Nelson Reservoir.

Clark's Nutcracker - widespread and particularly easy to see in Greer.

Hutton's Vireo
Recorded on two out of three visits to Tutt Creek just west of Blue Crossing in Greenlee County, approximately 10 miles south of the Apache County line. At this longitude, the closest breeding location shown in the ABBA is approximately 30 miles south of the county line.

Finches
As usual, Pine Siskins and Lesser Goldfinches were widespread and abundant. Relative to SE AZ, a high proportion of the Lesser Goldfinches were "black-backed". I didn't conduct a formal count but I guesstimate at least 20%. I saw American Goldfinch three times in the thistle field at Becker Lake through mid August (first time that I've seen one in the White Mountains). Red Crossbills were common and widespread; seen on 23 days at 14 locations covering all elevations from Green's Peak down to PJ at Sipe.

Warblers (16 species)
Olive Warbler - Seen a couple of times on breeding territory at Luna Lake (adult male, July 29; immature male, August 29).

Orange-crowned Warbler -  uncommon migrant (mostly in low elevation riparian along the Little Colorado); first sighting August 13.

Virginia's Warbler - initially abundant and widespread; less numerous after August 20.

Yellow Warbler - fairly common migrant seen throughout the period in low elevation riparian (only one high elevation record at Three Forks).

Yellow-rumped Warbler - common at high elevation, didn't move lower in significant numbers until August 25.

Black-throated Gray Warbler
Multiple sightings in PJ and riparian habitat at Grassland WA, Nelson Reservoir, Tutt Creek, Saffel Canyon and Sipe WA. Also, two high elevation sightings at Big Lake Lookout (9,300 feet) and high on the Escudilla trail at 10,500 feet

Townsend's Warbler - seen twice at Sipe WA (August 20) and Big Lake Lookout (August 28). Females or immature males.

Hermit Warbler - seen four times starting August 15 (3 at Big Lake Lookout, once at Luna Lake). All immature birds.

Grace's Warbler - seen four times at Hulsey Lake, Luna Lake and Tutt Creek.

MacGillivray's Warbler - very common in riparian throughout, especially from mid August. Only Virginia's was more common.

Common Yellowthroat - fairly common but local, most records from Nelson Reservoir.

Hooded Warbler - first fall male or female seen twice at South Fork (August 10 and 17).

Wilson's Warbler - uncommon migrant, one early sighting on August 7 then none until August 17.

Red-faced Warbler - seen five times at Benny Creek (twice), Green's Peak, Hulsey Lake and in Nutrioso.

Painted Redstart - seen twice along the Blue near the school.

Yellow-breasted Chat - seen multiple times at Becker Lake WA, South Fork and Wenima WA. Vocal for most of August.

Tanagers
Western Tanager - common at low and mid level elevations. No red headed birds seen; only females, immatures and non breeding plumaged males.

Hepatic Tanager - I saw them more times this year and in greater numbers than previously. Sightings on 12 days at Big Lake Lookout, Blue River, Nelson Reservoir, Nutrioso, Rudd Creek #3, South Fork and Tutt Creek. Highest count 5.

Sparrows, Towhees and Juncos
Green-tailed Towhee - fairly common but less so than in most years. Multiple sightings at all elevations from 10,500 feet on the Escudilla trail down to PJ at Sipe.

Spotted Towhee - common, mostly at low and mid level elevations.

Canyon Towhee - has increased over the past few years; seen four times on this trip at Becker Lake, Sipe WA and Wenima WA (feeding fledged young on August 19).

Brewer's Sparrow - a late migrant this year; I didn't record my first sighting until August 27. I'll often see them starting the first week of August and they are fairly common by September.,

Vesper, Chipping (both common) and Lark (fairly common) Sparrows were seen regularly in grassland and open PJ habitats.

Savannah Sparrow - seen several times at Sunrise Lake (a breeding location); no low elevation migrants seen.

Black-throated Sparrow - one migrant seen at Sipe WA.

Dark-eyed (red-backed) Junco - common in wooded areas at all elevations above ~7500 feet.

Grosbeaks and Buntings
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - adult male July 30, hatch year male August 3; both at Juniper Hill. Possible breeding in the area?

Black-headed Grosbeak - common at low elevation locations with mixed PJ and riparian.

Blue Grosbeak - fairly common at low elevation riparian locations along the Little Colorado (such as Wenima WA). Vocal throughout the entire period, although individuals in some locations stopped singing after approximately August week 3.

Lazuli Bunting - fairly common migrant becoming very common in August week 2. Mostly in low and mid level riparian areas; no sightings above ~8500 feet. No males seen in the latter part of the month.

Indigo Bunting - seen less this year than in most years (although I didn't focus on this species). Sightings at Little Colorado bridge on Airport Road in Springerville, at South Fork and at Wenima WA.

Blackbirds, Orioles, etc.
Meadowlarks - fairly common and widespread in grassland at all elevations; Eastern slightly more common than Western.

Yellow-headed Blackbird - fairly common but local; confined to lakes with enough marshy habitat for breeding: i.e. Becker, Carnero, Luna and Sierra Blanca. Females & immatures were far more numerous than adult males.

Brewer's Blackbird - common and widespread at all elevations, mostly close to bodies of water.

Bullock's Oriole - uncommon in low and mid level riparian habitats; no adult males seen after August 5.

Expected species not seen
Willow Flycatcher - by my records, has declined as a breeder and I probably left the mountains too early to catch a migrant.

Song Sparrow - usually breeds in Greer.

Lincoln's Sparrow - perhaps understandable since the only really reliable breeding location is the inaccessible Sheep Crossing and low elevation migrants don't usually appear until September. In the past I've seen birds in the breeding season on the trail above Sunrise campground, but not this year.

I'll also mention Great-tailed Grackle. This is a species that I saw sporadically in Springerville and Eagar in the 90s through 2001. However, apart from one sighting in May 2005, I have not recorded them in the East White Mountains since 2001. I don't really have any guesses why they have disappeared.