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Tucson Audubon Society
Tucson Audubon Afield: March 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 May-June 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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Signs of spring were everywhere during the month of March. Stately Swainson’s Hawks returned, trailed by Gary Hawks. Fortunate observers were treated to Common Black-Hawks transiting to their nesting grounds to the north. Swarms of swallows enlivened visits to ponds and reservoirs. The sounds of Lucy’s Warblers and the surprisingly elusive Bell’s Vireos were heard once again in the mesquite bosques. Spring had arrived, but we were still treated to wintering sparrows and ducks, though reduced in number. Several long-staying rarities remained, and a few new surprises were uncovered. While one might need to travel for the staked-out rarities, one need not go far from home to experience this ancient procession. We are fortunate indeed to live near so many fascinating and productive natural areas. An early morning trip to Sweetwater Wetlands or Reid Park can be highly productive. Sometimes one doesn’t even need to get up early to have a great trip.
Larry Liese’s "hit the snooze trip" to the David Yetman Trail began at a positively luxurious 9:30 a.m. Twenty-three late-risers joined Larry, including seven who had never enjoyed a Tucson Audubon fieldtrip. Highpoints included great views of Peregrine Falcon, Canyon and Rock Wren, and the handsome Black-chinned Sparrow. Remind me again, why do I rise so early to bird? In contrast, birders on Vivian MacKinnon’s "Wake up with the birds" at Agua Caliente Park were treated to sights of Painted Redstart, Northern-beardless Tyranulet, and Scott’s Orioles.
Signs of spring were evident on John Higgins’ March 25 trip to the Santa Cruz River and Patagonia. Gray Hawks and an early Dusky-capped Flycatcher were tallied along the Santa Cruz at Tumacacorri; brightly colored Bullock’s Orioles dazzled at Marian Paton’s home in Patagonia. The interesting juxtapositions of spring arrivals, such as Lazuli Bunting with wintering species including Green-tailed Towhee, were enjoyed on Bev Postmus’ trip to Madera Canyon on March 21. Even wintering species began to show their acceptance of spring: Eared Grebes, transitioning from drab winter plumage to the much more colorful breeding garb, were enjoyed on David Dunford’s Tucson Audubon trip to Patagonia Lake State Park. Yellow Warblers and omnipresent Vermilion Flycatchers provided additional color. And if Arizona’s many typical colorful species were not enough, the rare and aptly named Flame-colored Tanager returned to Madera Canyon on the 31st.
While the trip to the Gilbert Water Ranch did not produce some of the rarities that had wintered, Bob Bates’ Tucson Audubon trip did find 50 species, including up-close looks at the diurnal Burrowing Owls. Back in Tucson, Kendall Kroesen’s monthly trip to Kino Environmental Restoration Project turned up birding celebrity Kenn Kaufman and the rare Least Grebe. Swallows of several flavors whizzed overhead; a Red-tailed Hawk was seen carrying nest material. At the Sonora Co-Housing Development in town, the male Orchard Oriole continued. Andrew Core found a rare Palm Warbler there while searching for the oriole. To the south of Tucson, Darlene Smyth and Scott Schuette’s trip to the Elephant Head Pond and Madera Canyon afforded the 41(!) birders with sights such as Western Screech-Owl, hundreds of wintering Lark Buntings, and migrant Rufous Hummingbirds.
A number of rarities continued. Some were close to home like the Least Grebe at Sweetwater Wetlands; others like the Carolina Wren, were more distant, spending the last several months at the Southwest Research Station in the Chiricahua Mountains. Ruddy Ground-Doves and Black-capped Gnatcatchers continue to gain a foothold in southeast Arizona. The singleton Rufous-capped Warbler was seen by many in rugged Sycamore Canyon. Louisiana Waterthrushes persisted at Patagonia Lake State Park and near the San Pedro River. New discoveries include an adult Sabine’s Gull—the first record for March—at Lake Cochise in Willcox, and an exceptionally early and rare Red-eyed Vireo in Tubac. A Fox Sparrow was discovered in the Catalina Mountains at Pima Canyon; another rare sparrow, the Harris’s, was noted at the Fairbanks historic town site along the San Pedro River. A Golden-crowned Sparrow delighted many observers at Proctor Road in Madera Canyon.
While some are apprehensive about the approach of warm weather, associated with the months of May and June, birders look forward to this time. All of our breeding species are back, among them Mississippi Kite, Buff-collared Nightjar, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Willow and Cordilleran Flycatchers, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, and Varied Bunting. Late May through early June is a particularly good time to look for rare vagrants from south of the border. So get an early start to beat the intense mid-day heat; and then escape to one of our sky islands after the mercury has climbed. With much water, sunscreen, and visions of Yellow Grosbeaks in your head, get out there and enjoy the Arizona summer!
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This page was updated on 05/09/06