Jan Species Seen

Stuart Healy Journal - January, 2011 If you use the contents of my journal for commercial purposes, please acknowledge the source to your clients - thanks.

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This log is in chronological order and the most recent entries are at the bottom of the page.
The last update was on Monday, January 31, 2011

Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year everyone. I hope your 2011 is filled with good birding experiences.

I was out again today Pete and JoAnn Moroz from Lee's Summit, Missouri. The original plan for the day was to look for Northern Pygmy-Owl and Mexican Chickadee in the Chiricahua Mountains. However, following the winter storm and snowfall, we decided to head to the Santa Cruz Flats instead to look for Mountain Plover. It was a chilly morning to get the new year underway -- 19 degrees when we left Sierra Vista, balmy in the mid 30s out on the flats.

My first bird of 2011 was a PYRRHULOXIA braving the cold as I as left home. That was quickly followed by ROCK PIGEON, GREAT TAILED GRACKLE and many CHIHUAHUAN RAVENS cruising French Fry Boulevard.

With the demise of Sulphur Springs Valley as a regular wintering location for the plovers, the Santa Cruz Flats northwest of Tucson is now the most reliable place in southeastern Arizona to find them. So far this winter, almost 100 birds have been reported in a single location, although most reports are of less than this. We viewed a small group of 20-ish MOUNTAIN PLOVERS from Pretzer Road about 1/4 mile west of Tweedy at 10:15am (not super close to the road, but well within scope distance without taking any of the roads to the north towards private property. (50 birds were reported later in the day.)

Some of the fields being used by the plovers had enough water to attract a few MALLARDS and AMERICAN WIGEON. The only bird of note in the immediate area was a PRAIRIE FALCON on Pretzer 1 mile west of Curry. Elsewhere we saw GREATER ROADRUNNER, GAMBEL'S QUAIL and plenty of RED-TAILED HAWKS, HORNED LARKS, SAVANNAH SPARROWS, LARK BUNTINGS and WESTERN MEADOWLARKS.

After leaving the plovers we did a little casual birding on the flats southeast of the intersection of Sunland Gin and Harmon, a location that I've found to be consistently reliable for SAGE SPARROWS. It took a little while to find the first one (in finger numbing cold) but we saw perhaps a half dozen by the time we were done. I was also hoping for Sage Thrasher but none were forthcoming.

Of interest was a calling but unseen ROCK WREN (I've found them here in winter before in this unlikely, out-of-habitat patch of scrub). Other species at this location were SAY'S PHOEBE (common throughout), a few elusive VERDINS, a pair of BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHERS, a single BREWER'S SPARROW, several BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS and a small flock of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS.

Before heading back south, we checked the lake at Arizona City where the only birds of note were 4 COMMON MERGANSERS.

A check of the area around Marana Pecan Grove (which we did not visit) produced a probable BURROWING OWL east of Trico Road opposite the entrance road to the Pecan Grove. Unfortunately, the bird disappeared before I could get the scope on it and I didn't count it for the day even though it was almost certainly an owl (alongside an irrigation ditch in typical fashion).

As yesterday, we finished up in Garden Canyon where SPOTTED OWL was much easier to see compared to the snowy visit yesterday. The bird was perched on the outside of its roost cavity and provided a much better photo opportunity.

Birds driving through the grasslands were few and far between and included an immature COOPER'S HAWK, KESTREL, SAY'S PHOEBE and a pair of PHAINOPEPLAS.

A brief (20 minute) stop at the fishing ponds was fairly productive. The best birds were 4 COMMON MERGANSERS, a new bird for me in the Huachuca Mountains. In most years there hasn't been enough water to support them. There was no sign of the Greater Yellowlegs that I saw on Dec 21 (others have since reported two birds). A single WILSON'S SNIPE was the only shorebird.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Nothing of real note to report, this is just an update to let you know that I'm in the land of the living - barely. I've been seriously under the weather with something that I contracted from my recent client. I'm hacking and wheezing and my lungs are making noises like cats in heat. I was extremely bummed to miss the first EOP outing of 2011 on Sunday and since then I've had three more days when getting out into the field has been the last thing on my mind. Even worse, I had to cancel on a client. Note to future clients: if you are sick with something potentially contagious, please cancel.

I've occupied my time doing grunt work planning for various upcoming trips and I've had to be content seeing just yard birds. My 2011 yard list so far consists of 7 species -- MOURNING DOVE, GILA & LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS, CURVE-BILLED THRASHER. PYRRHULOXIA, GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE and BLACK-THROATED BROWN (HOUSE) SPARROW.

Oh, and I also had to replace a washing machine that died over Christmas. The damn thing only lasted 20 years! Yesterday I noticed that the antenna on my car is gone -- completely broken off (I haven't used the radio since I was in California last month so it probably happened there). Happy New Year to me. I'm hoping to be well enough to get out tomorrow but it may not happen until Friday.

Monday, January 10, 2011
It's taking way longer than I envisaged to shake off whatever the hell it is that I'm suffering from and I've managed very little birding in the first ten days of 2011. Although I'm still not 100% fit, I'm certainly much better and today I made a brief foray into the field with a visit to Garden Canyon fishing ponds. I didn't see anything rare or even unusual but I was sure glad to be outside and seeing birds again.

Both ponds still have a decent amount of water even though the surrounding boggy areas have dried up considerably. The best birds were a continuing female COMMON MERGANSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, present since at least January 1 and December 21 respectively.

There was a good showing of ducks and in addition to the Merganser I noted 10+ GADWALL, 1 CANVASBACK, 10 RING-NECKED DUCKS and a few RUDDY DUCKS along with PIED-BILLED GREBE, GREAT BLUE HERON and a SORA seen scurrying into hiding shortly after I arrived.

Apart from CHIPPING, WHITE-CROWNED and a few LINCOLN'S & SONG SPARROWS, sparrows were very hard to find. This may have been due to the presence of a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (about as common as Cooper's at the ponds at this time of year).

Other species present included a male BELTED KINGFISHER, both regular Phoebes; several HOUSE WRENS (quite common this winter); COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011
This morning I made my first visit of 2011 to Patagonia Lake State Park. It was a typical winter day in SE AZ --- blue sky, quite chilly when I left Sierra Vista then pleasantly warm by late morning at the lake.

I started by scanning the west end of the lake where I found most of the continuing waterfowl including a male COMMON GOLDENEYE,  1 COMMON and 2 PACIFIC LOONS and 2 WESTERN GREBES. Also present were a handful of duck species, GREAT EGRET and RING-BILLED GULL.

At the east end of the lake I focused in the mesquite bosque where I found a RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN back on December 31 (joined by a second bird during the past week). I had great difficulty locating the birds initially but by late morning both birds were quite accommodating. The first brief sighting came as I was stalking the continuing lowland RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH hoping for a documentary image - to no avail. In fact, I lugged my heavy lens around all morning and didn't manage to shoot a single of image of anything!

I recorded 48 species at the lake covering very limited habitat. GRAY FLYCATCHERS were common and vocal along the trail and in the bosque. Birds in the marsh were mostly inactive. I was hoping for a Swamp Sparrow but saw only VIRGINIA RAIL, SORA and MARSH WREN. In fact, Robins excepted, the birding was fairly mediocre.

51 species recorded:
Gadwall, Mallard, N. Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Pacific & Common Loons; Pied-billed, Eared & Western Grebes; Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Red-tailed Hawk, Am. Kestrel, Virginia Rail, Sora, Am. Coot, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Gila & Ladder-backed Woodpeckers; N. Flicker, Gray Flycatcher, Black & Say's Phoebes; Chihuahuan & Common Ravens; Bridled Titmouse, Verdin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's & Marsh Wrens; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Rufous-backed Robin, N. Mockingbird, Phainopepla, Orange-crowned & Yellow-rumped Warblers; Common Yellowthroat, Chipping, Song & White-crowned Sparrows; Great-tailed Grackle, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch and House Sparrow.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Today I made a disappointing visit to Carr Canyon. I wasn't expecting to find much at high elevation but there's usually a few goodies up there (Williamson's Sapsucker and perhaps Evening Grosbeak and Cassin's Finch).

Unfortunately, the road is closed at the barrier just above Carr House, presumably due to icy conditions. Disgusted, I swiftly returned home and spent the day at the keyboard. I saw only 15 species including GREATER ROADRUNNER, PHAINOPEPLA and RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW.

Thursday, January 13, 2011
Today I visited Sulphur Springs Valley, ostensibly to look for thrashers. I traversed perhaps 28-30 miles of back roads on the east and west sides of Highway 191 from about 2 miles south of McNeal to about 2 miles north of Rucker Canyon Road. Although I found the expected species, I saw far less individuals than I expected and I'd have to say that the thrasher breeding season is not yet in full swing.

Apart from numerous CURVE-BILLED THRASHERS, I found only 3 CRISSAL THRASHERS (all on Coffman between Davis and Grants) and 2 BENDIRE'S THRASHERS on Mormon Road (one at Jefferson, one at Thompson). I managed an image of BENDIRE'S but the angle is a little steep because the bird was atop a Pine tree. Note the relatively small and straight bill, distinct breast spots and "peach" ventral area.

I did some scanning wherever I found Mountain Plover habitat but there's precious little in the area that I covered. Former grassy fields are now dominated by Corn and Cotton. Also lacking today was wet habitat -- I found only one irrigation rig operational on Moore Road north of Courtland Road. Weedy habitat abounds and LARK BUNTINGS and BREWER'S SPARROWS were abundant and fairly common respectively. VESPER SPARROWS were also common but I dipped on Savannah. Other sparrows included a few BLACK-THROATED and SAGE.

Highlights were an adult GOLDEN EAGLE soaring over the Pecan Grove on Moore Road about a mile north of Courtland Road (this is not far from the Dragoon Mountains); and a single FERRUGINOUS HAWK in one of the few remaining patches of suitable habitat on Mormon near Webb. Like Mountain Plovers, Ferruginous Hawks have declined dramatically in Sulphur Springs Valley due to land use changes.

Webb and Bell Roads had tons of SANDHILL CRANES in the corn stubble. At least one species is benefiting due to the demand for ethanol.

36 species recorded:
Gambel's Quail, N. Harrier, Red-tailed & Ferruginous Hawks; Golden Eagle, Am. Kestrel, Sandhill Crane, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Gila & Ladder-backed Woodpeckers; Say's Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, Chihuahuan Raven, Horned Lark, Cactus Wren, Bendire's, Curve-billed & Crissal Thrashers; Yellow-rumped Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Brewer's, Vesper, Black-throated, Sage, Lincoln's & White-crowned Sparrows; Lark Bunting, Pyrrhuloxia, Red-winged & Brewer's Blackbirds; Eastern & Western Meadowlarks; Great-tailed Grackle, House Finch and House Sparrow.

Sunday, January 16, 2011
Today I made my first visit of the year to Sierra Vista EOP where a total of eight folks (3 visitors) walked the dikes for what can only be described as uninspiring birding.

The best bird was a continuing GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, present for over two months. Otherwise, it was pretty slow and many "regulars" were missed. For example, not a single falcon was seen. Rock Wren was also AWOL.

Scanning through the RING-NECKED DUCKS produced a lone female LESSER SCAUP. At least 10 male CINNAMON TEAL and 3 male BUFFLEHEADS brightened up the proceedings along with close up views of many YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. A single LEAST SANDPIPER and a WILSON'S SNIPE (missed by me) were the only shorebirds.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011
As is usual at this time of year, the WHITE-WINGED DOVES on my street have started to sing, no doubt prompted by the warm days (mid to high 70s in Sierra Vista). EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES and MOURNING DOVES are also singing.

Today I made my first routine visit of the year to Sawmill Canyon. There aren't many species on offer at this time of year but this is one of my favorite places and I was happy to be here. Due to the closure of upper Garden Canyon for several months at the end of last year, I haven't visited the canyon since mid September.

Despite several days with above average temperatures, upper Garden Canyon Road still has some serious sheet ice in the usual spots near the pictograph site and the rappel cliffs. Otherwise, the road (while rough in places) is in relatively decent condition and is probably passable in all but the smallest of vehicles. The ground in Sawmill Canyon is mostly open with a few isolated patches of snow and ice. It was chilly when I started birding; soon turning to Phil Collins weather by 9:00am. Early activity was surprisingly high then diminished dramatically after 9:30am.

Several months ago I made the decision to do most of my birding without carrying a camera. When I'm not out with clients, my time in the field is usually spent "research birding", i.e. keeping tabs on when birds come and go (and stay); and generally taking inventory of the birds present in various locations. Unfortunately, when I carry a camera, the temptation to look for photo opportunities is always there and it's difficult to maintain the discipline needed to "bird every bird". I can resist anything except temptation.

Today I paid the price big time when I had excellent views of a calling NORTHERN (MOUNTAIN) PYGMY-OWL perched low and in the open in a juniper. The owl was being mobbed by a handful of species including at least 4 OLIVE WARBLERS. Two great photo opportunities missed for the price of one. I carried a camera for the next couple of hours to no avail.

Apart from plenty of STELLER'S & MEXICAN JAYS, woodpeckers were the most conspicuous species. I saw 4 ACORN and 2 ARIZONA WOODPECKERS; 2-3 WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKERS (1-2 males; 1 female); 4 RED-NAPED SAPSUCKERS and a handful of NORTHERN FLICKERS.

Madrone fruit isn't plentiful in the canyon this year and I found only a few HERMIT THRUSHES.

A brief, late morning stop at Garden Canyon fishing ponds on my way home was unproductive for waterfowl for the first time in a while. I noted about a dozen species including SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, a male BELTED KINGFISHER and a displaying male ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD back on a regular territory.

Thursday, January 20, 2011
This morning I spent a few hours on the SPRNCA walking the trails in the vicinity of the San Pedro House. It's been a little over two months since I visited here and I was struck by how austere the habitat seems compared to the habitat 50 miles to the west in Patagonia. Very little in the way of greenery. This is normal, by the way, but it seemed much more obvious today since I hadn't been here in while. Kind of like the frog in boiling water example.

Most of the activity was around the San Pedro House and the surrounding grasslands. My walk along the river yielded very little and I think that I saw more deer than birds. Sparrows are usually the most abundant species here in winter and they were certainly plentiful today. In decreasing order of abundance I saw WHITE-CROWNED (abundant), VESPER, BREWER'S, 20+ BLACK-THROATED, 10+ LINCOLN'S, SONG and a few SAVANNAH SPARROWS. I was surprised to see so many Black-throated Sparrows immediately adjacent to the river. Normally, they are well to the west in the mesquite areas.

GREEN-TAILED and ABERT'S TOWHEES were both common and several pairs of the latter were exhibiting courtship behavior. LESSER GOLDFINCHES were common and very vocal but hard to see at the top of cottonwoods.

I saw a large flock of WHITE-WINGED DOVES in the cottonwoods at the the San Pedro House (regular here in winter) along with many PYRRHULOXIAS and a handful of GILA WOODPECKERS.

Raptors were generally scarce (4 species, 4 individuals) with MERLIN being the highlight (seen in flight carrying a small bird).

The least common location species was a lone male NORTHERN PINTAIL at Kingfisher pond. I've recorded this species in only 6 of the 19 years that I've been birding here. They are quite common in SE AZ in winter; and fairly common and annual at Sierra Vista EOP just a few miles away. Kingfisher pond is obviously not to their liking.

Sunday, January 23, 2011
First of two days with Ellen and Jay Vancura from New Ulm, MN. We visited Patagonia Lake State Park and Paton's Yard. Ellen and Jay are here to escape the Minnesota winter and we didn't have any target species -- our objective was to enjoy whatever we saw (particularly waterfowl) and to find a few photo opportunities. We didn't stumble into the wintering Elegant Trogon or Rufous-backed Robins at the lake and none of the folks who we met had seen them either. However, we spent an enjoyable 5+ hours and recorded 50+ species.

At least one PACIFIC LOON continues (seen today near the dam) but we didn't see any Western Grebes nor the Common Goldeneye; perhaps due to Sunday boat traffic. EARED GREBES were plentiful and easy to see. PEREGRINE FALCON perched near the spillway was of note (a fairly scarce visitor to the lake by my records see bar graph). Other species viewed from the overlook west of the marina and from the visitor center included CINNAMON TEAL, 3 LESSER SCAUP, GREAT EGRET and 2 adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS.

The feeders at the visitor center are operational again. Among the customers today were ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, GILA WOODPECKER, NORTHERN CARDINAL and PYRRHULOXIA. A few WHITE-WINGED DOVES were present in the adjacent cottonwoods. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT both foraged in a pine near the boat ramp. A lone immature  DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (no Neotropic) and couple of RING-BILLED GULLS were a little further east, seen from Boulder Beach.

Waterfowl at the east end of the lake included "Mexican" MALLARD, CINNAMON & GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, the usual gang of COMMON MERGANSERS (mostly females with at least one male) and lots of RUDDY DUCKS. The only shorebird was a single WILSON'S SNIPE in the muddy area between the mouth of the third and fourth wash. No rails seen or heard in the marsh but we did get good looks at MARSH WREN.

Landbird activity wasn't high and the best bird that we came across was a PLUMBEOUS VIREO in a mixed flock at the mouth of Nutting's Wash. The vireo is rare but regular at the lake in winter. Other birds in the flock included BRIDLED TITMOUSE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BEWICK'S WREN and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (the latter two were common throughout). Also seen were several LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKERS, multiple GRAY FLYCATCHERS, HERMIT THRUSH and many YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.

Among the visitors to the Paton's feeders were several INCA DOVES, multiple ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS (Violet-crowned had been seen earlier in the day); GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, LARK SPARROW, several LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, PYRRHULOXIA, male and female LAZULI BUNTINGS; PINE SISKIN and scads of LESSER GOLDFINCHES.

63 species recorded:
Mallard, Cinnamon & Green-winged Teal; N. Shoveler, Lesser Scaup, Common Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Pacific Loon, Pied-billed & Eared Grebes; Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, N. Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Am. Coot, Wilson's Snipe, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Pigeon, White-winged, Mourning & Inca Doves; Anna's Hummingbird, Gila & Ladder-backed Woodpeckers; N. Flicker, Gray Flycatcher, Black & Say's Phoebes; Plumbeous Vireo, Chihuahuan & Common Ravens; Bridled Titmouse, Verdin, White-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's, House & Marsh Wrens; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, N. Mockingbird, Curve-billed Thrasher, Phainopepla, Orange-crowned & Yellow-rumped Warblers; Common Yellowthroat, Green-tailed Towhee, Chipping, Lark, Song, Lincoln's & White-crowned Sparrows; N. Cardinal, Pyrrhuloxia, Lazuli Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Finch, Pine Siskin, Lesser Goldfinch and House Sparrow.

Monday, January 24, 2011
Out again today with Ellen and Jay. On another fine winter day (30-60 degrees), we visited Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in Sulphur Springs Valley and lower Carr Canyon in the Huachucas. Once again, we didn't look for anything in particular and just enjoyed whatever we saw (along with a surprising number of other folks for a school day).

The drive along Coffman Road from Davis Road to Whitewater Draw was a little less productive than normal at 8:00am. Highlights were a small flock of SCALED QUAIL and excellent close up looks at a couple of male PYRRHULOXIAS and a flock of LARK BUNTINGS. Oh, and skein after skein of SANDHILL CRANES heading north into the valley weren't too shabby either.

We stayed at Whitewater until noon and enjoyed the return of the cranes. The flock of SNOW GEESE came in at 10:30am and Cranes gradually increased in numbers starting around 11:00am. Lots of circling birds made for a wonderful sight and a cacophony of sound by 11:30am. At least one ROSS'S GOOSE was present and ducks were plentiful.

Highlight of the visit for me was a small flock of early returning TREE SWALLOWS. This is the first time that I've seen them at this location in January. Most years they start arriving here during the second week in February. A single AMERICAN AVOCET was another early returnee (although I have seen them here earlier in the month). The typical arrival date of this breeding species is about the same as the migrant swallows.

Other species included several BUFFLEHEADS (2 males), a crowd pleasing immature male VERMILION FLYCATCHER, CRISSAL THRASHER (south dike) and 2 SWAMP SPARROWS in the pond with the pump (closest pond to the parking area).

In mid afternoon, we had work a little to find birds in lower Carr Canyon (at the picnic area above the second stream crossing). By the way, the road to the upper canyon is still closed. We persevered and eventually turned up ARIZONA WOODPECKER, a spiffy TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and 2 OLIVE WARBLERS among the more common species.

Thursday, January 27, 2011
Out today with Jay and Barbara Hudson from Ogden, UT. We made a successful visit to Sulphur Springs Valley for thrashers then dipped on Spotted Owl in Scheelite Canyon.

We started with an early cruise down Coffman Road where it was initially cold (29 degrees) and far from "thrashery". Eventually we came across several CURVE-BILLED THRASHERS and briefly saw SAGE THRASHER (regularly more common here as northbound migrants in late January and February even in years when they don't winter in the area). We also noted 10+ BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS and a large flock of LARK BUNTINGS. It took almost two hours to find our targets -- a pair of CRISSAL THRASHERS on Bagby Road midway between Coffman and Central Highway; and a BENDIRE'S THRASHER on Central opposite the house at mile 15, between Lee and Davis.

We then indulged in a brief visit to Whitewater Draw. The only species noted that I didn't see here on Monday were a pair of CANVASBACKS, a few RING-NECKED DUCKS and 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Continuing species included SNOW and ROSS'S GEESE, 6+ very smart looking CINNAMON TEAL, several BUFFLEHEADS, the small flock of TREE SWALLOWS and 2 SWAMP SPARROWS. The sparrows were foraging in the open and easily seen on this day from midway along the north dike of the "pump pond".  SANDHILL CRANES were gathering as we left at 11:15.

We finished up in Scheelite Canyon where I was unable to find Spotted Owl after a thorough search of the lower roosting area. Unfortunately, my clients didn't want to continue higher up the canyon so we had to accept defeat. However, since a group we met in the canyon had continued on further and didn't see an owl, I may have dipped there as well! It's interesting (and sobering) to note that although my Spotted Owl success rate over the years is 93%, my success rate in January and February is only 75%.

Our only consolation was a very confiding ARIZONA WOODPECKER seen foraging close to the trail. Otherwise, the canyon was quiet with just a handful of species including CANYON WREN and a few RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES.

Monday, January 31, 2011
Today I checked a couple of locations in Sulphur Springs Valley. I started in the Granite foothills in the Swisshelm Mountains east of Elfrida in the southern section of the valley then I headed north to the agricultural fields on the east side of Kansas Settlement Road. My main objectives were Black-chinned Sparrow (seen) and Mountain Plover (not seen). I picked a poor day for this type of endeavor (the worst weather day for quite some time) and I saw some light snow, freezing rain and high winds (and some sunshine!).
 
It was just starting to snow as I reached the Granites at 8:30am and birds were at a premium. This scenic area of chaparral, oaks and serious rocks is never bird rich (I've been coming here a few times a year since 1994 and have only seen 60 species) and today I struggled to come up with 20 species. However, since I found 2 BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS, I have to say my visit was successful.
 
Also of note were a couple of GRAY FLYCATCHERS, perhaps wintering here since I saw them late last year. Also present were HUTTON'S VIREO, ROCK & CANYON WRENS, lots (40+) of BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS and a number of common species. The image is a context shot showing the south end of a north facing Black-throated Sparrow perched on a cholla. How on earth can they fly to a cholla at speed and perch safely?
 
As I continued north, I noted FERRUGINOUS HAWK on Mormon Road at Webb and a MERLIN on Webb at Highway 191.
 
My next stop was at Faria Dairy where I noted many of the previously reported birds including ROSS'S GOOSE, several CANADA GEESE, 6+ COMMON MERGANSERS and 3 WESTERN GREBES. One of the grebes has a slight orange cast to the bill but other features are definitely Western and not Clark's. Over the past couple of months, up to four have been reported as 2 Western and 2 Clark's with Clark's being rescinded of late.
 
With the decline of Mountain Plovers in the southern half of the valley, it's been quite a while since I saw Mountain Plovers in Cochise County (March 1, 2008 was my last sighting). Recent sightings in the Kansas Settlement area (where the habitat is still reasonable) offered some promise and I was hopeful of success today. That didn't work out and I spent over an hour on Kimzey Road looking in vain. Unfortunately, it was very windy here and the only things moving were dust and tumbleweed. Difficult conditions to be scanning for plovers. I saw a couple of FERRUGINOUS HAWKS and lots of HORNED LARKS and LARK BUNTINGS.
 
I had better success on Arzberger Road where I saw the continuing ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. The bird was immediately south of milepost 2, initially hunting about 200-300 yards south of the road. The hawk then moved to within 100 yards of the road and perched on low vegetation. Another birder was trying for photos and by the time it was my turn the weather had closed in and I ended up with nothing useful (even with reduced "photo first" standards). In a matter of minutes, sunshine turned to ground level clouds and horizontal freezing rain. The hawk eventually dropped into long grass in a ditch and was instantly invisible.

I enjoyed seeing the Rough-Legged Hawk which is a scarce and irregular winter visitor to southeast Arizona. This was a regular bird for me when I lived in Bellingham, WA; now not so much. I've only seen them in Cochise County in 5 of the 19 years that I've birded here. I also have a few sightings in two other counties.
 
I headed south, dodging high speed tumbleweed the entire journey.  Scads of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS were working below an irrigation rig in the Essary Hay fields on Hwy 191. The wind was blowing hard when I reached Whitewater Draw at 2:00pm. and I bailed out after 15 minutes deciding that the conditions wouldn't be improving soon. Thousands of SANDHILL CRANES were in the second pond to the north along with the WHITE GEESE flock (all quite close to the benches on the north dike where one hardy soul was sitting). I felt sorry for the TREE SWALLOWS foraging very low over the water.

This log is in chronological order and the most recent entries are at the bottom of the page.
The last update was on Monday, January 31, 2011

Jan Species Seen

Stuart Healy Journal - January, 2011 If you use the contents of my journal for commercial purposes, please acknowledge the source to your clients - thanks.

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