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Tucson Audubon Society
Tucson Audubon Afield: February 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 April 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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February in southeast Arizona is a time of transition, with wintering birds mingling with fresh spring arrivals. We bid a fond farewell to some species for a time, and welcome back others like old friends who have returned from a long vacation. A comforting sense of order is afforded those who are attuned to this ebb and flow. For our avian jewels, it is often a perilous time fraught with many dangers. Though difficult is the ancient journey, countless individuals return at the prescribed time to the locations where other members of their species lived before them. We have learned when to expect these arrivals and departures. In rare instances our expectations are exceeded by occurrences well beyond that which we could imagine. Such was the case on the morning of February 3 at Patagonia Lake State Park.
The day started like any other in a birder’s life. Binoculars, scopes and bird books were gathered for an early morning trek to the popular park. But the normalcy of the day was soon shattered for members of the Saddlebrook Bird Club and their expert guide, Rick Wright. While birding the marina, a large martin caught Rick’s attention. For the next two hours it held the group captive as it fed on-the-wing and preened atop dead twigs above and near the boat launch. This was not Arizona’s expected Purple Martin; it was a once-in-a-lifetime discovery. This was a Brown-chested Martin! This represents the first occurrence for Arizona and the western United States, and a third record north of the Mexican border. This species occurs in South America from Colombia to northern Argentina. The southern subspecies fusca is an austral migrant to northern South America. That is, it migrates north in autumn and south in spring. This martin apparently went the wrong direction! A slightly bemused passerby graciously allowed Rick the use of his camera to document this stunning find.
Another exciting first for Arizona, an apparent Royal Tern was photographed by visiting birder Matt Victoria. It made several graceful passes over Lake Cochise in the Sulphur Springs Valley before departing. The Tucson Audubon fieldtrip to the Sulphur Springs Valley, led by John Higgins, found thousands of bugling Sandhill Cranes, many Red-tailed and Ferruginous Hawks, a Golden Eagle, and many Northern Harriers. Raptors were also numerous on Denis Wright’s trip to the Santa Cruz Flats. Twenty-eight birders observed many Red-tailed Hawks including dark-morphs, and the rare "Harlan’s" form. A Crested Caracara and Bendire’s Thrashers also entertained the group. A pair of stately White-tailed Kites graced the San Pedro River Inn throughout the month; Ruddy Ground-Doves and a Harlan’s (Red-tailed) Hawk were also sighted here.
Rare and unusual wintering species continued to delight fortunate birders. Arizona’s third Carolina Wren persisted at the Southwest Research Station in the Chiricahua Mountains. A Rufous-capped Warbler—sometimes furtive and sometimes confiding—remained in Sycamore Canyon. Gracious residents of the Sonora Co-housing development in Tucson afforded birders the opportunity to observe the beautiful male Orchard Oriole which adorned their residence. Least Grebes continued at Sam Lena Park and Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson. Ruddy Ground Doves continued to make a great showing at multiple locations including two sites in Tucson. Black-capped Gnatcatchers seem to be well-established at Patagonia Lake State Park. Also sighted at the park were Fox Sparrow and Greater Scaup. Common Goldeneye was observed at the Avra Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant. A Green Kingfisher and Louisiana Waterthrush were present at the San Pedro Riparian Conservation Area. A female elegant Trogon graced the Ash Canyon Bed and Breakfast.
Two Tucson Audubon trips to the Santa Catalina Mountains afforded birders numerous interesting sights. Dick Sauer’s outing to Honeybee Canyon included highpoints of Black-chinned Sparrow and ancient petroglyphs. A few intrepid members of the group ventured to the lower part of the canyon through a hole in the dam to a small cave which had many honeybees. Jim Hayes’ trip to Catalina State Park found many beautiful Green-tailed Towhees. Certainly a highlight for many was Lark, Vesper, Brewer’s and Chipping Sparrows all in one binocular field!
April is one of the most exciting times in southeast Arizona for birders. New migrants seem to appear daily; many of the specialties such as Buff-breasted Flycatcher are conspicuous in the proper habitat. Shorebirds grace ponds and lakes, while Elf and Western Screech-Owls are heard in the lowlands. Flammulated and Whiskered Screech-Owls are active in pine-oak woodlands. Hummingbird numbers and diversity increase dramatically. Elegant Trogons are once again present along sycamore-lined streams. In addition to looking for the expected species, April is a fine time to watch closely for the unusual or unexpected. With much luck, you might be the next birder who finds your bird-of-a-lifetime!
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This page was updated on 05/09/06