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Tucson Audubon Society
Tucson Audubon Afield: September 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 November 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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September is a great month to bird southeast Arizona. While many of the locally breeding species depart by month’s end, migrant species in mixed feeding flocks mass in the mountains and lowlands, particularly where water is present. The potential for rare shorebirds, gulls and terns increases and wintering sparrow numbers rise dramatically. Birders check local migrant traps with hopes of finding eastern vagrant warblers. Boldly patterned Swainson’s Hawks push south as several of the more cryptic empidonax flycatchers arrive. Tucson Audubon field trip leaders executed outings to take advantage of the avian bounty that fall migration affords.
For the fortunate folks who live in the Tucson area, long-distance travel is not required for excellent birding opportunities. Liz Payne’s September 2nd trip to Sabino Canyon produced great views of Hairy Woodpecker and a Prairie Falcon peering back at the group from its cliffside perch. At Sweetwater Wetlands, June Scroggin’s September 5 trip tallied Great Egret, Belted Kingfisher, a white tern (most likely Forster’s), and the always exciting Northern Waterthrush. Sweetwater is extremely popular with birders, and with good reason; many unusual sightings occur here. A Hooded Warbler was discovered on the 10th and a Dickcissel on the 14th.
From the saguaro-dotted hillsides at the base, to the mixed conifer forest at the summit, Mount Lemmon affords great scenery and remarkably diverse birding. Diane Touret’s September 12th trip up the mountain, while cool and wet, produced numerous mixed species flocks which contained Mountain Chickadees, Grace’s, Red-faced, Townsend’s and Hermit Warblers, the latter of which was even observed feeding near the ground! Great views of Zone-tailed Hawk were also enjoyed by the group. Migrant warbler flocks were also noted on Doug Jenness’s trip to the under-birded Peppersauce Canyon. Painted Redstart, Nashville, Blackthroated Gray, Townsend’s and Wilson’s Warblers were in abundance; five vireo species were also logged. Highlights included American Redstart, a lifebird for several of the group, Olive-sided Flycatcher and obliging Zone-tailed Hawks. A desert tortoise was enjoyed by a lucky few.
Madera Canyon was the location for David Dunford’s September 19th trip. The group hiked the Bog Springs trail, noting several flocks along the way, with many animated Bridled Titmice, Brown Creepers and White-breasted Nuthatches. Colorful denizens sighted on the trip included Elegant Trogon and Varied Bunting, while more subtly-plumaged Cassin’s and Botteri’s Sparrows delighted the group in the grasslands. Exciting species continuing in the canyon during the month include Aztec Thrush and Berylline and White eared Hummingbirds.
Philip Kline led a highly-successful and diverse trip to Sells, Kitt Peak and the Avra Valley Sewage Treatment Plant. Crested Caracaras were the target in Sells, and this interesting species did not disappoint, with two separate sightings. A very rare Tennessee Warbler was discovered at Kitt Peak; Townsend’s Solitaire, Mexican Jays and Plumbeous Vireos were also observed. A stop at the sewage ponds produced a group of four Ring-billed Gulls that, like many gulls that visit our area, departed soon after arriving. The highly-sought-after Sabine’s Gull appeared at Whitewater Draw on September 26th.
Several unusual water-associated birds delighted fortunate birders. Most exciting and most odd was the dark-morph Parasitic Jaeger over Fort Huachuca on September 4th.A Roseate Spoonbill continued at a cattle pond at Las Cienegas. Common Terns were sighted at Whitewater Draw and Lake Cochise, and a Whimbrel made a stop at the Green Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The White-eyed Vireo continued at the Patagonia Roadside Rest through September 3rd. Also continuing, were the Rufous-capped Warblers in Sycamore Canyon. New discoveries included Eastern Kingbird in the Picacho area and two interesting species at Tumacacori: Rosethroated Becard and Black-throated Green Warbler.
November is a great time to observe the many Sandhill Cranes, raptors and sparrows in the Sulpher Springs Valley. Large lakes could harbor grebes, diving ducks and, with much luck, a loon. Mountain Plovers are possible at the sod farms in the Santa Cruz flats. Late wanderers and vagrants are possible. Lawrence’s Goldfinches, Sage Thrashers and Sage Sparrows may be present during this time. Of course, Tucson Audubon fieldtrip leaders will be guiding trips to local hotspots and under-birded gems. Won’t you join us on one of these great outings?
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This page was updated on 01/08/09