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Tucson Audubon Society
Tucson Audubon Afield: June – July 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 July – August 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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For most people, summer in southeast Arizona is a time to escape to cooler environs or stay inside. Birders, however, realize that this is a prime season to be afield. The months of June and July actually contain two seasons: dry summer in June and wet summer, or the monsoon, usually begins in July. Braving temperatures exceeding the century mark, birders are treated to some of the best birding our country affords. Monsoon breeders become conspicuous and hummingbird numbers increase dramatically. This is also one of the best times to look for wanderers from Mexico.
While many birders scheduled trips to southeast Arizona this summer, a good number were compelled to log onto Hotwire and other discount travel websites to obtain last-minute airline tickets and motel reservations. The cause: Aztec Thrushes! Single birds appeared in Hereford and Garden Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains in early July, but this was just a precursor for the real spectacle. On July 24, an Aztec Thrush was discovered up the Vault Mine/Carrie Nation Mine Trail in Madera Canyon. The news quickly spread, and birders massed in the canyon. By that evening seven of these rare thrushes entertained the fortunate birders! A peak of nine birds was observed hover-feeding on choke cherries. The continuing Flame-colored Tanager, sporadic sightings of Lucifer and White-eared Hummingbirds, and a single Rose-throated Becard gave one the impression that they were no longer in the United States, but rather in Mexico! An additional sighting of Aztec Thrush occurred at the Ramsey Canyon Inn, which makes one wonder how many of these birds went undiscovered in the sky islands.
Sycamore Canyon hosted several Mexican vagrants. The long-staying Rufous-capped Warbler moved ever closer to the parking area. The highly-sought after Yellow Grosbeak was discovered on June 12 and dazzled lucky observers for the next several days. Less cooperative, but no less exciting, were Tropical Parula on July 15 and a Yellow-green Vireo on June 15. Another Tropical Parula made sporadic appearances in Portal in mid-June.
While rarities make for exciting birding, it is the great variety of regularly- occurring species that makes southeast Arizona the hotspot that it is. Tucson Audubon members were out in force this summer, both in the lowlands and in the mountains. Diane Touret’s trip along the Highway 77 corridor on June 6 produced the interesting juxtaposition of Gray Vireo and Juniper Titmouse with Common Black-Hawk and Mississippi Kite. The cool Santa Catalina Mountains proved popular in June and July. John Higgins’ trip up the Catalina Highway on June 17 produced great views of Magnificent and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, busy Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Zone-tailed Hawk. Clait Braun and Barbara Bickel’s trip drew 28(!) birders who were treated to 50 species of birds. The bird of the day was Red-faced Warbler, of which multiple birds were observed at multiple locations. Other trip favorites were Brown Creeper, House Wren and Hooded Oriole. Great views of Peregrine Flacon were also afforded atop Mount Lemmon.
The Huachuca Mountains, with the abundance of hummingbirds and southeast Arizona “specialties,” we birded intensely during June and July. John Higgins’ July 17 “Hummingbirds for Beginners” trip proved helpful even to the more experienced birders. Twelve species of hummingbirds were found and identification tips and natural history information were shared. Erika Wilson’s June 13 trip to Huachuca Canyon found seven Elegant Trogons, the very local Buff-breasted Flycatcher, and Grace’s Warbler among the 47 species tallied. Elegant Trogons were also enjoyed on Scott Schuette’s outing to Garden Canyon. The squeaky calls of Sulpher-bellied Flycatchers entertained the participants, who were lucky, indeed, to also discover the very rare Red-eyed Vireo. Rounding out a very good summer for vireos was the White-eyed Vireo detected at the Patagonia Roadside Rest in Patagonia. The lone male Rose-throated Becard here apparently went mate less, despite constructing a fine nest near last year’s nest.
Gavin Bieber’s trip to the Santa Cruz River and the Patagonia area on July 8 proved that while hot, the lowland riparian strips were extremely productive. The local Tropical Kingbird entertained the group at the Tubac Bridge. Good views of Zone-tailed Hawk were obtained. Colorful Varied Buntings, vocal Gray Hawks and Yellow-billed Cuckoo were enjoyed by the group at Kino Springs Golf Course. They ended the day at the Paton’s home in Patagonia where they were treated to Violet-crowned and Costa’s Hummingbirds. Dick Palmer’s trip to California Gulch on July 22 afforded 23 birders with excellent views of Five-striped Sparrows. At nearby Arivaca Cienega, a Groove-billed Ani captured birder’s attention in early June. Buff-collared Nightjars continued at Oro Blanco Mine, just down the road from California Gulch.
A number of unusual summering species were noted. A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher’s interactions with a Western Kingbird on the Pinal-Pima County line in June caused some birders to wonder if an interspecies pairing would occur. Another of this elegant species was observed at Willcox on July 17. Ruddy Ground-Doves were finally confirmed as a breeding species for southeast Arizona, with a nest with young discovered near Red Rock. A Least Grebe was discovered at the Avra Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant in Tucson on June 27; two additional Least Grebes continued in town at Sam Lena Park and Sweetwater Wetlands. A Wood Thrush was exceptional on July 2 at the later location. Short-tailed Hawks continued in the Chiricahua Mountains; a single was noted in the Pinaleno Mountains, a first for this range, on June 3.
Several interesting water-associated birds were discovered in June and July. A Red Knot spent several days at Lake Cochise in Willcox at the end of July. At the end of June and early July, a Laughing Gull was observed by many. An adult Purple Gallinule was discovered at Sweetwater Wetlands, occasionally coming out in the open, but mostly skulking in the dense aquatic vegetation.
September is a great month to look for migrants and the occasional vagrant. Mixed species flocks mass in the mountains, while migration is apparent in the riparian corridors. Ponds should be checked for terns and shorebirds. Nearly as enticing, heat and humidity begin to moderate, with conditions that can downright comfortable. Good birds and good weather, what more can we want?
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This page was updated on 08/22/06