Feb. Species Seen

Stuart Healy Journal - February, 2008 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 Friday, February 29, 2008

Sunday, February 3, 2008
It was a case of Texas continued at Sierra Vista EOP this morning with very windy conditions. The birding was lackluster and uninspiring to say the least and the number of species seen was really low. Not much of a treat for this birthday boy. I've added a summary for the recent Texas trip. 

I usually like to mention the highlight species then the also-rans. However, I'm struggling to come up with anything remotely resembling a highlight. Ergo, I won't bother. Even the normally abundant YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS were in short supply. KILLDEER was the only shorebird. No Peregrine.

Nasty weather in Sierra Vista on Monday, Feb 4 (snow in the Huachucas, rain and wind in town).

Thursday, February 7, 2008
Out today with Nancy and Jack Waldron from Michigan, currently wintering in Patagonia. We visited Sulphur Springs Valley without any specific objectives. We delayed this trip from earlier in the week to give the weather a chance to improve and that sure paid dividends. After the snow, rain and wind earlier in the week, today was an absolutely gorgeous day. It was also one of those SE AZ "winter" days with a temperature swing of 50 degrees. Although it wasn't particularly cold at 6:45am when I left home (28 degrees), I still had to do a little windshield scraping. When we crossed the San Pedro at the Charleston bridge a little later it was down to a nippy 20 degrees and only 24 degrees on Central Highway as we started scanning for plovers at 8:00am. Up to almost 70 degrees in Sierra Vista in mid afternoon.

MOUNTAIN PLOVERS were a little hard to come by in the fields on Central Highway but we eventually found 10 distant birds after about 30 minutes of effort (in the second field north of Davis). There could well have been more but we stopped looking after seeing that group. On days such as today, it's imperative to look for the plovers early in the morning before the heat shimmer becomes a problem (unless you get lucky and find them near the road). A group of 13 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS were in the same field and multiple FERRUGINOUS HAWKS were scattered around the various fields, either on the ground on perched on irrigation rigs. A perched PEREGRINE FALCON, KESTREL, many RED-TAILED HAWKS and a few HARRIERS rounded out the raptors in this location. Lots of HORNED LARKS and LARK BUNTINGS were present.

Coffman Road produced 20+ SCALED QUAIL, a handful of CANYON TOWHEES and PYRRHULOXIAS but not a single thrasher.

We had Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area to ourselves for quite a while, but a large contingent of people had gathered by late morning. Highlights were geese and owls. The geese came in around 11:00am and consisted of the continuing flock of ~150 SNOW, a few ROSS'S and a single GREATER-WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE that stands out like a sore thumb when the flock is in flight. We saw 5 BARN OWLS with minimal effort without entering the willows. Finding 2 LONG-EARED OWLS was a lot harder -- they were not in their "regular" location. A single BURROWING OWL completed our owl tally since we missed the "can't miss" Great Horned Owl (none in the barn and the willow grove is now closed to entry).

A lone BLACK-NECKED STILT was the best bird for me -- my first February sighting in Cochise County. Although common in parts of SE AZ in winter, they normally don't start passing through Cochise County until April (although I do have one March record). Shorebirds were generally sparse; we saw 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a few SPOTTED & LEAST SANDPIPERS. A few hundred SANDHILL CRANES were in the surrounding fields but most were elsewhere in the valley.

A single FERRUGINOUS HAWK within the boundary of the wildlife area proper was noteworthy (not often see here). Other species included CINNAMON TEAL, ROADRUNNER, VERMILION FLYCATCHER (only one noted) and AMERICAN PIPIT.

We finished up with a trip out to the Granite's (in the Swisshelm range) where it was quite warm in the early afternoon. Our only (singing) BENDIRE'S THRASHER of the day came along the way on Jefferson Road. BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW was a tough nut to crack and in the end I was the only one who laid eyes on the bird. Regular denizens of this pretty area of rocks, cacti and scrubby habitat included CACTUS & CANYON WRENS, several singing CURVE-BILLED THRASHERS, numerous BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS, SPOTTED TOWHEE and NORTHERN CARDINAL.

Friday, February 8, 2008
Out today with Bill Lindley from London, Ontario who I've birded with on four previous occasions. Our only target for the day was Crescent-chested Warbler in Madera Canyon and I'm happy to report that we had multiple, satisfying views of the bird. Since Bill also saw the continuing Northern Jacana in Casa Grande yesterday, his trip was a great success.

Another beautiful day in southeast Arizona. The day began much warmer than yesterday (well above freezing when I left home at 5:00am) and compared to several visits last month, it was even relatively mild on the Old Baldy Trail. However, mild as it was, the trail conditions after the recent snow were quite treacherous in places. I'm not really sure which was more difficult -- the journey up canyon when the packed snow was solid and glassy, or the walk back down when it was wet and slushy. If you go in the next few days, wear footwear with a good grip and be careful.

We were the first party to reach "Aztec Thrush Ravine" around 8:15am, just in time to hear and briefly see a few members of a BRIDLED TITMICE and BUSHTIT flock working its way very quickly down canyon. We then had to wait until 9:50 am until the flock returned at which time the birds were much more vocal and active. I soon heard CRESCENT-CHESTED WARBLER and we and a few other folks managed decent, albeit brief looks before the flock quickly moved on.

Some 20 minutes later, I relocated the warbler a couple of hundred yards down canyon a little below "Aztec Thrush Ravine". This time the flock was much more sedentary and the warbler was somewhat easier to spot as it foraged in the open, sometimes by hanging upside down at the outer edges of oak leaves, calling regularly. Unlike the first encounter, I think this time all of the fairly large group of folks who were present got to see the bird. After negotiating the trail, they surely deserved some success.

By the way, "Aztec Thrush Ravine" is a very well defined transverse canyon that crosses the main trail just before the first major switchback. The banks of this switchback are reinforced with metal, painted green. The location is approximately 1.5 moderately steep uphill miles from the parking area. If you are fairly fit and can plod along at a steady pace, it takes about 45-50 minutes without stopping to look at birds.

Not much else seen in the canyon. Best birds for me were a couple of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS in the mixed flock (and a BARN OWL on Hwy 83 during my drive over). The number of HERMIT THRUSHES present along the trail is noticeably less than last month.

<soapbox>I was a little disgruntled that one person chose to use owl calls in an attempt to lure back the flock as it headed away. First, let me state that I regularly imitate owls and use playback in situations where I deem it appropriate. However, this wasn't one of those situations. With people spread out along the narrow trail and conditions being what they were, it's impossible to move quickly from one place to another. If you attract birds to you, you draw them away from others. While I realize that a guide's first obligation is to the client, it's not fair to seriously impact other birders' chances of seeing a bird, especially those with limited mobility. Flame retardant underwear on (but fire away, I really don't care).</soapbox>

Sunday, February 10, 2008
Out today with Jack Stephens from Edmonds, WA who I've birded with on three previous occasions. We visited San Rafael Valley in search of Baird's Sparrow and struck out miserably. After great success so far this season (6 extremely good sightings in 7 visits), I fully expected to be successful again today. Alas, Baird's Sparrow had other ideas. I can't blame the weather (only to say it was too good) -- very mild before sunrise and really warm in the afternoon (close to 80 degrees). Not a cloud in the sky, zero wind.

We began at sunrise at my favorite sparrow watching spot at the west end of the valley -- the ridge on FR 5561 near "lone tree", which is an excellent vantage point to watch the small bushes and fence wires.. After working there for a while we checked a couple of nearby spots before moving to the east end of the valley where cows impacted our search somewhat. We then returned to our initial spot where we learned that other birders had seen Baird's Sparrow. Several more hours weren't productive for us.

In total, we spent 6 very focused and unproductive hours and expended a fair amount of physical effort for absolutely no reward. Very humbling. I'm now 6 for 8 this season which, although way above my average over the last 15 years of about 30%, doesn't mean shit when on the day it's 0 for 1.

We saw lots of SAVANNAH SPARROWS, a few VESPER, 1 GRASSHOPPER and had one potential Baird's candidate. HORNED LARKS were abundant while CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS were just plentiful (many sporting good color). Other species in the valley included WHITE-TAILED KITE, MERLIN and an immature BALD EAGLE.

Could the day get worse? Oh yeah. It was derby day in Manchester and United lost at home to City. Now that just adds insult to injury!

Monday, February 11, 2008
Out today with Eric Dean from Goldsboro, NC (a first time client). In what I thought was a cruel twist of fate (given yesterday's events), I was again scheduled in San Rafael Valley where our only target bird was Baird's Sparrow. Both dates were set up some time ago and that's just the way the cookie crumbles. As I left home this morning, I contemplated what might lie ahead and wondered "what could be that different to bring success"? As it turned out, nothing much was different but the results were staggeringly different.

I visited the same location starting at the same time (just after sunrise) and used my normal strategy that failed so miserably yesterday. However, it has worked well many times in the past as it did again today. Put another way -- if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Yesterday -- six hours worth of effort and zero sightings. Today we had excellent, scope filling views of not one, not two, but three BAIRD'S SPARROWS in pristine plumage and we were done by 8:00am. Go figure!  I was delighted for Eric (as was he) and felt bad all over again for Jack Stephens (sorry Jack!). It just goes to show that no matter how much knowledge, experience and success you have with a particular species, the birds always have the upper hand.

The only difference between the two days was the weather However, it was only a small difference and I don't think it had anything to do with the result. Yesterday was cloudless, very mild at sunrise and warmed up very quickly. Today was partly cloudy, slightly cooler at sunrise and didn't warm up as quickly (but still reached almost 80 degrees in Sierra Vista by early afternoon; well above average both days). Whatever, never look a gift sparrow in the mouth.

After the sparrow we made a token effort for McCown's Longspur where I had seen them last month, this time without success (would have been a state bird for Eric); then moved on to Kino Springs to finish off the morning. Other species in the valley included as many as 8 WHITE-TAILED KITES (5 at the roost site at dawn, 3 seen later); a beautiful PRAIRIE FALCON perched on a fence post, 3+ GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS and many CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS.

The drive down Harshaw Canyon wasn't very birdy and the only bird of note was a male EASTERN BLUEBIRD, perched in the sunlight and singing.

Kino Springs was uninspiring. Fortunately, it was all gravy after the sparrow. The powers that be at Kino have resumed their mission of habitat destruction. All the weedy habitat around the first, club house and sewage ponds has been clinically removed. This is the most pristine sewage pond in the world. The large Eucalyptus tree in the parking lot has been removed. Hey, it's their land and the golfers pay the bills. I'm just happy to be able to bird here.

A pair of HOODED MERGANSERS at the first pond were the best birds for me. A potential Swamp Sparrow seen separately by Eric and myself at the first pond couldn't be confirmed (would have been a new location species for me).

Other species included many AMERICAN WIGEON, a couple of male CINNAMON TEAL, GREEN HERON, 2 GRAY FLYCATCHERS, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, a continuing RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH in the club house pines, PINE SISKIN, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, GREEN-TAILED & SPOTTED TOWHEES, BREWER'S & LARK SPARROWS and a handful of PYRRHULOXIAS. 40 species in all.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
I've been busy commissioning a new laptop computer for the past week (more on that in a future journal entry) and I was happy to be back in the field again today. During this period there's been a bit of everything from a weather standpoint -- fire (San Rafael Valley), snow (measured in feet not inches in some places), high winds, rain and hail. Happily, much better weather has now returned and today was quite warm.

Out today with Phil Henson from Norwalk, CT who I've birded with on two previous occasions. Both of those outings were also in February so our targets are getting a little thin. Baird's Sparrow was our main focus and I was back in San Rafael Valley again today for a third consecutive visit. Fortunately, although the recent fire destroyed lots of habitat very close to the best Baird's Sparrow location, that location was spared and the fire didn't burn south of FR 58.

We arrived at the west end of the valley at 7:05am to find calm conditions and a temperature of 28 degrees. It only took 15 minutes to find our first BAIRD'S SPARROW and over the next 20 minutes or so we enjoyed some wonderful views of at least 4 individuals, probably over 6. After the blips on Jan 1 and Feb 10, I was happy to get back on track and bring my season total to 8 successes in 10 visits. Among the few other species noted in a very brief and focused visit were WHITE-TAILED KITE and several GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS.

The drive down Harshaw Canyon yielded ACORN WOODPECKER, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, EASTERN & WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and SPOTTED TOWHEE. A check of the feeders at the RV park produced AMERICAN and LESSER GOLDFINCHES and a ton of PINE SISKINS.

Our next destination was Las Cienegas to look for Cassin's Sparrow, not an easy bird to raise in winter. We put in two hours of effort working from the south entrance on highway 82 to the north/west entrance on highway 83 without a sniff of success. We focused only on grassland habitat and didn't check riparian areas. VESPER and BREWER'S SPARROWS were the most common species. Others (from a total of only 13 species) included ROADRUNNER, LARK & BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS, CANYON TOWHEE and many HORNED LARKS & EASTERN MEADOWLARKS.

We spent the remainder of the day casual birding at Kino Springs (fair activity level; 40 species) and Patagonia Lake (warm and low activity; 35 species). Highlights were LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES at both locations (2 at Kino, 12 at the lake) for a three goldfinch species day (only the 4th time I've managed that; twice this year, twice in 1997). Other species included GRAY FLYCATCHERS at both locations, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER at the lake, PLUMBEOUS VIREO at Kino and RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW at the lake. Phil saw a pair of BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS at the lake yesterday between the first and second washes.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Out today with Alan and Beryl Turner from the Manchester area in England (fellow United supporters) who I've birded with on two previous occasions. This time our targets were Mountain Plover and Mexican Chickadee. I expected a moderately tough plover and an easy chickadee. As things turned out, we needed to invest plenty of time and be quite persistent to find the plover and we didn't have any time left over for casual birding at Whitewater Draw. We focused all of our efforts in the fields on Central Highway and Davis Road in Sulphur Springs Valley (twice) and along the Pinery Canyon Road in the Chiricahuas. After a sunny and pleasant start, the day became progressively cloudy and windy enough to be a problem.

We began by checking the Davis/Central fields and came up empty on plovers. Two fields in particular looked to have very good habitat -- the "middle" field on Central and the westernmost field on Davis. The Central location has consistently been favored by the birds this winter (and in recent winters). Although both locations had hundreds of KILLDEER (indicating that we were looking in the right places), persistent scanning didn't cause any to magically turn into plovers. We tried again later in the day (after visiting the mountains) and this time we did find a few MOUNTAIN PLOVERS after much scanning. However, due to a combination of distance to the birds, gusty winds and heat shimmer, the views were really poor and it was somewhat of a hollow victory.

FERRUGINOUS HAWKS were easy to see scattered around the various fields and the Davis/Central area is now probably the best location in the valley for this species. The Essary Hay company fields north of Elfrida (formerly the best location) are now producing mostly corn and no longer attract the hawks in numbers. Every action has a consequence (enjoy that Ethanol). SANDHILL CRANES on the other hand are having a field day (pun intended) and it's perhaps not a coincidence that there are more present this winter than ever before (according to the official census conducted in January).

Other species included 12 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, many AMERICAN PIPITS, a huge, swirling flock containing RED-WINGED, YELLOW-HEADED & BREWERS BLACKBIRDS; and EASTERN & WESTERN MEADOWLARKS.

On my last visit to Pinery Canyon Road (January 17) I was able to find MEXICAN CHICKADEES very low (2 miles below the Methodist camp cutoff road). Today we had to venture just a little higher before obtaining excellent views. The road was icy in places and officially closed according to a sign -- however, a couple of vehicles came over the mountain so it must be passable. In the lower section of the road in oak-juniper habitat we saw side by side JUNIPER and BRIDLED TITMICE and look-alike HUTTON'S VIREO and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET for good comparison. Juniper Titmouse is not considered regular in this location so It's worth mentioning that I've seen them here in winter and summer.

Other species included a lone BAND-TAILED PIGEON, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, WESTERN BLUEBIRD and YELLOW-EYED JUNCO.

The best raptors of the day came along the north-south segment of highway 181. On our way to the mountains we saw two immature GOLDEN EAGLES separated by a few miles (perched on poles and visiting road kill). We watched one bird launch itself off the pole, glide down to the blacktop and pick up a meaty morsel without pausing. I tried for what would have been a photo first but ended up with poor flight images and wire obstructed images. I've seen an eagle here on three recent visits. On the return journey, a PRAIRIE FALCON flashed by us at great speed and didn't provide a quality view.

Friday, February 22, 2008
First of two days with Peter Jarzembowski and Laura McClure from White Lake, MI who I've birded with on one previous occasion. Today we spent all of our time in Santa Cruz County looking for target species with mixed success. A mostly cloudy and cool day with increasingly gusty winds as the day progressed.

For the fourth time in the last five birding days, I was in San Rafael Valley looking for that pesky sparrow. What transpired was quite unbelievable. We needed Grasshopper as well as Baird's and I'd told Peter and Laura that Baird's would be tough and Grasshopper relatively easy. We started birding at the west end of the valley at 7:20am and by 7:30am we were enjoying spectacular, scope filling views of a beautiful BAIRD'S SPARROW -- and the bird remained on its elevated perch for several minutes. For the next hour we tramped around in vain looking for that easy Grasshopper. In vain, that is, except for 5 more Baird's Sparrows, all of which perched up for varying lengths of time and gave wonderful views. Absolutely amazing, you can't make this stuff up. Eventually, at 8:35am, we had great looks at a crisp GRASSHOPPER SPARROW perched on a fence wire. We then cruised around for a few minutes looking for Chestnut-collared Longspurs without success. Nevertheless, we left the valley well satisfied. Only one WHITE-TAILED KITE noted today.

At Patagonia Lake State Park, it was a severe case of swings and roundabouts as they say in the old country (what you gain on the swings you lose on the roundabouts). Despite several hours of effort in the mesquite bosque and on the hillsides, I failed to turn up a Black-capped Gnatcatcher. GRAY and ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS were some consolation.

NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS are quite numerous again (well into double figures) and a few DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were present along with the large contingent of COMMON MERGANSERS. By far the best bird for me was the continuing male BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER that I last saw in December. The bird was in the bosque between the second and third washes. I haven't seen many recent reports but the bird was seen on Wednesday by my Tuesday client, Phil Henson.

Birding at Kino Springs was very slow and a hoped for sapsucker didn't materialize. In the end we had to be content with INCA DOVES. They were tough enough to find in the now quite bothersome wind.

Only 6 targets seen on the day seemed like a fairly poor return. However, the Baird's Sparrow extravaganza was certainly a mitigating factor.

Saturday, February 23, 2008
Out again today with Peter and Laura for some more target birding. We spent time in Sulphur Springs Valley and in the Mule and Huachuca Mountains. It was a completely blue sky day, much warmer than yesterday and a little windy in the afternoon.

We began in the valley by checking the fields at the intersection of Davis and Central and made a second visit later in the morning. Both times we failed to find Mountain Plover and Long-billed Curlews. KILLDEER were again present in the hundreds (in multiple fields) along with many FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, SANDHILL CRANES and SNOW GEESE. Other species present included BALD EAGLE, LARK BUNTING and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD.

Moving on, we fared much better with excellent views of BENDIRE'S, CURVE-BILLED and CRISSAL THRASHERS from the same vantage. Among the other species in this location were EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE, ROADRUNNER, GREAT HORNED OWL, BREWER'S & BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS and PYRRHULOXIA.

On the way to Whitewater Draw, Coffman road produced more thrashers and sparrows but nothing new. At the wildlife area we picked up LONG-EARED OWL along with multiple BARN OWLS and a couple more GREAT HORNED OWLS (the Burrowing Owl wasn't visible at the times we checked). In the geese flock that came in around 10:15am, we picked out ROSS'S and GREATER-WHITE FRONTED from the many SNOW GEESE (including one Blue phase). Other species included BALD EAGLE, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS.

A trip to the Mule Mountains was very productive with an excellent showing of star of the show BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS (at least 20). We also had great views of RED--NAPED SAPSUCKER, ROCK WREN and WESTERN SCRUB-JAY. Other species included LINCOLN'S & RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS and CANYON (common) & SPOTTED TOWHEES.

We finished up by working the oaks at the middle picnic area in Garden Canyon. It was fairly quiet in mid afternoon and the wind was problematical. Nevertheless, we were able to find HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, a very secretive HUTTON'S VIREO and a splendid TOWNSEND'S WARBLER to end with a flourish.

Although we dipped on the plover, we otherwise had a decent outing and ended the two day trip with 20 targets seen, which was the goal.

Monday, February 25, 2008
Out today with Jerry Edgerton and Lynn Langway from New York for some casual birding. We had limited time and spent just a few hours at Patagonia Lake then made brief visits to the Paton's yard and Harshaw Canyon Road. The weather continues unseasonably warm, although today was a little cloudy, slightly cooler and not quite as windy. Only a brief report as computer issues consume my time. Sierra Vista public library (with its free high speed internet access) is becoming a second home.

Unfortunately, we didn't have time to walk the creek at the lake so didn't look for the wintering trogon, nor did we look for gnatcatchers. Highlights were excellent close looks at 4 male CINNAMON TEAL; an adult BALD EAGLE in a regular spot on the island at the east end of the lake; several newly returned VERMILION FLYCATCHERS (right about "on time" for this location); GRAY & ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS (the former very elusive today); ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Out today with Bill and Gayle Hill from Glenwood, MD looking for a few target species. We birded in San Rafael Valley (for a change) and at Patagonia Lake State Park. It was a slightly warmer day than yesterday and windy enough to be a problem by mid morning.

Our early start in the valley was very successful despite an initial temperature of 27 degrees and frost on the grass. By 7:15am we were enjoying excellent scope looks at 3 BAIRD'S SPARROWS, all in view at the same time. I recently saw a comment by an out of state birder that sunrise was too early to be here. You be the judge. Ironically, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, that took an hour to find on Friday, was easy to see today (perched up with the Baird's). My birding life is just one kick in the (gr)ass after another. Other species included 4 WHITE-TAILED KITES and a MERLIN.

Sadly, Patagonia Lake wasn't as kind to us and a very focused 3+ hours search for Black-capped Gnatcatcher went unrewarded. However, we did have success with our other targets which included GRAY & ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH and RUFOUS-CROWNED & RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS.

The only hummer seen during a brief stop in Marion Paton's yard was ANNA'S. We also saw male and female LAZULI BUNTINGS.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Out today with Bonnie and Haig Demerjian from Wrangell, AK for general birding. We visited Sulphur Springs Valley, the Mule Mountains and the San Pedro River. The weather continues calm, clear and unseasonably warm (about 10 degrees above average today).

We began in the valley with a check of the fields on Davis Road. Unlike recent visits, we found a few MOUNTAIN PLOVERS along with the regular cast of characters including numerous FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, BENDIRE'S THRASHER and the huge three species blackbird flock, most of which were YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS.

On the way to Whitewater draw, a few minutes along Coffman Road produced SCALED QUAIL, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, a perched and bold as brass GREATER ROADRUNNER that didn't flinch even though we came very close; an assortment of sparrows including BREWER'S & VESPER (very common today); and LARK BUNTING.

As usual, highlights at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area were geese and owls. GREAT HORNED OWL, LONG-EARED OWL and BARN OWL were all easy to see. However, for the second consecutive trip, Burrowing Owl wasn't on duty both times that we checked. After we finished our birding, we decided to wait for the geese flock to take their mid morning break. The birds were a little tardy today and arrived at 10:25am -- and then had the audacity to land a great distance away (receding water levels don't give them much choice). Of course, seeing the lone GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was easy but it took a little time and effort to pick out a ROSS'S GOOSE from the large number of SNOW GEESE given the distance and heat shimmer.

Among the other species that we encountered at the wildlife area were a few CINNAMON TEAL, SANDHILL CRANE, a lone BLACK-NECKED STILT, 11 AMERICAN AVOCETS (at the rate of drying, there might not be enough water for them to breed this year); a heard only GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a few SPOTTED and many LEAST SANDPIPERS (50+); the usual VERMILION FLYCATCHERS, AMERICAN PIPIT, a continuing SPOTTED TOWHEE, a very scarce here DARK-EYED (Pink-sided) JUNCO and both EASTERN & WESTERN MEADOWLARKS.

Shorebird habitat is excellent for the upcoming spring migration -- so get out here and find some birds. Unfortunately, I'll be in California and will miss the entire season. We all have our crosses to bear.

We moved on to the Mule Mountains where BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS continue very common. A beautiful RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER was working the same branch in the same tree as a few days ago. We saw a number of species typical of the environment (oaks on dry, rocky, chaparral covered hillsides) -- four wren species including ROCK & CANYON; a flock of BUSHTITS, several WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS, SPOTTED & CANYON TOWHEES, RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW and PYRRHULOXIA.

A couple of TURKEY VULTURES in Bisbee were likely migrants rather than interlopers from Douglas. The last week in February is typically when they start to move through Cochise County.

In mid afternoon, we finished up with a very brief visit to the San Pedro where it was very warm with minimal activity. Only a very elusive HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER was of note (sitting quite still in a seep willow then nowhere to be seen a few seconds later). NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS are back on territory. My earliest sighting date at this location is February 25 (in 1994 and 2002).

Friday, February 29, 2008
Out today with Phil Ball from England who I've birded with on one previous occasion (for a couple of hard target birding days last July). Today we were at it again (I put in 17 hours and drove almost 700 miles). Initially, we had expected to do this in two days (making life much easier since you can look for key species during the optimum morning hours) and we ultimately had to drop a few targets. In total, we looked for 7 species missing one (Lawrence's Goldfinch). Phil picked up 5 lifers and one U.S. tick. It was a warm day (but not as warm as yesterday's near record setter). A brief report follows:

I left home at 3:45am to pick up Phil at the Airport and shortly after 7:00am we were scoping a couple of BAIRD'S SPARROWS at the west end of San Rafael Valley. Also present: WHITE-TAILED KITE and GRASSHOPPER SPARROW.

Lawrence's Goldfinch was our next target. At Patagonia Lake we checked washes outside the park proper (where I've seen the goldfinches twice recently) and then the campground feeders. About 30 species noted in passing including 2 male BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRDS, BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER, scads of LESSER GOLDFINCHES & PINE SISKINS; and RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW.

We continued on to Kino Springs where we struck out again on Lawrence's. In mitigation, we managed to pick up a target CRISSAL THRASHER that may not have been easy elsewhere later in the day. Other species from 32 seen included PEREGRINE FALCON, GREAT HORNED OWL (occupying the former Raven nest); ROCK WREN and a couple of GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES.

After a fairly rapid drive east, we resumed birding in Sulphur Springs Valley around 1:00pm. Conditions for Mountain Plover scanning were awful and there were times that we couldn't even tell if an object was a bird let alone a plover. We checked five fields in two locations (Davis/Central and Kansas Settlement Road) without a sniff of success. However, we picked up a couple of targets with an easy BENDIRE'S THRASHER then a few LARK BUNTINGS after a struggle. A beautiful PRAIRIE FALCON scattered the birds on Davis, stayed on the ground for a few minutes then headed east at a good clip.

Next came a long drive to the Santa Cruz Flats (damn those plovers). Here we found 44 MOUNTAIN PLOVERS at the first attempt at the Pretzer/Tweedy location. The late afternoon light was very good and we enjoyed excellent views (well earned I might add).

On the way back to Tucson, we indulged ourselves with a trip to Red Rock where we found a lone male RUDDY GROUND-DOVE at the cattle pen location (a whiff that's always a delight). A varying number of doves have been present here for a number of years. Today a bird was perched very close to the fence on Hollis, just west of the house at the west end of the pens. A large flock of (50 or so) LARK SPARROWS were on Sasco Road.

A long, tiring and mostly successful day.

This log is in chronological order and the most recent entries are at the bottom of the page.
The last update was on Friday, February 29, 2008

Feb. Species Seen

Stuart Healy Journal - February, 2008 If you use the contents of my journal for commercial purposes, please acknowledge the source to your clients - thanks.

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