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Tucson Audubon Society
Tucson Audubon Afield: January 2006
Recent Field Trips and Sightings in
Southeast Arizona
by Keith
Kamper See also Tucson Audubon Afield home page
(This article first appeared in the March 2006 Vermilion Flycatcher, the newsletter of the Tucson Audubon Society. To receive the Vermilion Flycatcher in the mail, become a Friend of Tucson Audubon.)
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As we were afforded abundant sunshine and warm temperatures during January, it was hard for a former Midwesterner like me to call what we experienced, winter. While many of our winter residents—avian and human— remained, spring was but around the corner. Indeed, desertscrub and grasslands were alive with activity. Curve-billed Thrashers and Northern Mockingbirds in full song; Anna’s Hummingbirds performing impressive aerial displays. Fremont cottonwoods were beginning to sprout new leaves in warmer spots, as Harris’s Hawks started to lay eggs. These signs of spring coincided with the rafts of wintering ducks, swarming flocks of sparrows, and impressive numbers of raptors from the north.
The discovery of a Trumpeter Swan family (2 adults, 4 juveniles) caused much excitement. The rare visitors were found at the Kino Springs Golf Course by Rick Thompson on January 6. While of interest due to their rarity—a third record for southeast Arizona—perhaps even more unusual was their rediscovery many miles to the northwest. Bill Howard also spotted the birds resting on the Corona de Tucson Sewage Treatment Plant on the 15th! Considering that this is a seldom-birded area (birder access has been gained through the efforts of Tucson Audubon), the odds of rediscovery here were astronomically low.
Additional unusual waterfowl were sighted during the month of January. Common Goldeneye and Hooded Mergansers persisted at Reid Park in Tucson. The Mergansers were also seen in town at the Orange Grove ponds. Greater Scaup occurred at both Patagonia Lake State Park and the Corona de Tucson ponds; Hooded Mergansers were again noted at the latter site. Other interesting water associated species include a Heermann’s Gull that alighted on Parker Canyon Lake on January 15, and the solitary Least Grebes that continue to grace Sweetwater Wetlands and Kino Environmental Restoration Project, both of which are in Tucson.
Species more often seen south of the international border also made birding news. A rare Streak-backed Oriole was discovered on January 12 at the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve by Todd Watkins. The same, or possibly another, Streak-backed Oriole was noted at the Patons’ yard several days later. A Rufous-capped Warbler was detected once again in Sycamore Canyon. A Rufous-backed Robin was first noted at Ramsey Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains on January 12 by Rick Romea. An animated American Dipper also delighted birders at Ramsey. Another Rufous-backed Robin was enjoyed by participants on Darlene Smyth’s Tuscon Audubon fieldtrip to Boyce-Thompson Arboretum. Two unusual White-throated Sparrows and an impressive group of 15 Black-throated Sparrows were among the 45 species tallied there. One, or possibly two, Rose-throated Becard(s) continued to capture the attention of birders at Patagonia Lake State Park. Formerly ultra-rare Black-capped Gnatcatchers are now thriving at the park. Ruddy Ground-Doves continue to make an impressive showing at a variety of locations in southeast Arizona.
A not-so-eastern Eastern Towhee was discovered in Miller Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains on January 26 by Ben Feltner. This will represent the second record for this species in southeast Arizona. The Carolina Wren persisted at the Southwest Research Station through the month. Eastern Phoebes were observed at the San Pedro River Inn and Patagonia Lake State Park. A Rose-breasted Grosbeak in Scheelite Canyon rounds out the list of eastern species logged during January.
For raptor aficionados, Sulphur Springs Valley is hard to beat. Ned Harris’s Tucson Audubon trip to the valley produced impressive raptor totals including 19 Ferruginous Hawks and 46 Red-tailed Hawks. Both Bald and Golden Eagles were also tallied. Erika Wilson’s trip to Sulphur Springs also found many raptors, including a Bald Eagle that stirred up 105 Snow and 5 Ross’s Geese. Thousands of Sandhill Cranes and a roosting Barn Owl were additional highpoints. Twenty-four birders (including a couple from Ohio) joined John Higgins for his always-popular and successful journey to Bosque Del Apache in New Mexico. An impressive 9 Bald Eagles were counted along with the incomparable sight of thousands upon thousands of Snow Geese. Many Sandhill Cranes as well as Prairie Falcons and Golden Eagles rounded out the avian highpoints. A large group of pronghorns was an additional treat. A raptor survey of the Santa Cruz flats, northwest of Tucson, was coordinated by Doug Jenness. Highpoints tallied by the three teams include 198 Red-tailed Hawks, including 5 "Harlan’s" Red-tails, Crested Caracaras, and White-tailed Kites. Unprecedented at this season was the report of a Short-tailed Hawk in the Chiricahua Mountains on January 17.
During March we become reacquainted with returning avian treats and bid farewell to others. Turkey Vultures and Swainson’s Hawks reappear; waterfowl and crane numbers dwindle. The songs of Bell’s Vireos and Lucy’s Warblers abound. Many of our wintering sparrows are moving north. Desert nesting species are now busy launching new broods. It is a great time, with binoculars in hand, to be in the field. And who knows, maybe you will discover the next exciting find!
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This page was updated on 05/09/06