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Tucson Audubon Society
Southeast Arizona Rare Bird Alert
Compiled by John Yerger

Report Sightings
Phone: 520-798-1005 X 1

Directions to Birding Sites
Where directions are not given, they can be found in the newest edition of Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona, published by and available from Tucson Audubon Nature Shop. Changes in site access since the publication of this guide can be found by going to our Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona updates page.

Methodology of this Report
The sequence of sightings in this report is not random. Species are listed by order of overall rarity within locality. The first locality mentioned contains the rarest species seen during the reporting period. Within that locality, species are mentioned in relative-rarity order or in taxonomic order, if relative rarity is the same, within sub-locality. When the sightings for a locality are complete, the rarest remaining species dictates which locality is mentioned next, and so forth. At any point when 2 or more species are of the same relative rarity, taxonomic order then determines the sequence in which the localities are covered. Consequently, the order in which localities are mentioned will vary from one report to the next.

Contributors are listed in the text. The spelling of names given over the phone is not guaranteed to be accurate. Any errors or omissions are unintentional.

Hello Birders,

This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for Southeast Arizona was made on May 9, 2008. The next update will be made on May 16. Phone your reports to 520-798-1005 X 1. Email your reports to rarebirdalert.

In this report, where directions are not given, they can be found in the 2007 edition of "Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona", published by and available from Tucson Audubon. Updates to the 6th edition, including new sites and access changes can be found at: www.tucsonaudubon.org/birding/updates.htm

Several important announcements follow the sightings, including information on temporary closures and rules for access to other important birding areas.

An asterisk (*) preceding a species name in the list indicates that it merits careful, full documentation. A pound sign (#) indicates that brief corroborating details are warranted.

Please send documentation to the Arizona Bird Committee via the online form at http://www.azfo.org/ArizonaBirdCommittee/abc_documentatio.html, via email to ghrosenberg@comcast.net or the ABC, P.O. Box 91856, Tucson, AZ 85720-1856.

SPECIES MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:

*SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
#SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER
*BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD
#WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD
Calliope Hummingbird
*TUFTED FLYCATCHER
Townsend's Solitaire
*FLAME-COLORED TANAGER
#OVENBIRD
American Redstart
#GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW
Clay-colored Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
*YELLOW GROSBEAK

CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS

The big story in Arizona this week is the discovery of what will almost certainly be accepted as the 4th U.S. record of *TUFTED FLYCATCHER, near Herb Martyr Campground in Cave Creek Canyon. Since its discovery by Daniele Mitchell on 5/5, photographs and audio recordings have been obtained (he did not have a camera at the time). The bird was seen at least through 5/8. For a highly detailed description of where the bird was seen, please refer to the end of this report, just prior to the "Announcements." PLEASE obey speed limits in and around Portal, and be mindful of residents and other non-birding recreators (as usual!)

Also from Herb Martyr, a secondhand report of an #OVENBIRD was received on 5/7 (Bill Stocku, fide Jackie Lewis).

At Cave Creek Ranch on 5/5, male and female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were seen, as were a singing adult and immature #GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Tony Godfrey). On 5/7, two male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were seen as well as the adult #GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Mark Stevenson).

TUCSON

A flyover *SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was reported from Sweetwater Wetlands on 5/5 (Jerry Bock). There is only one accepted record of this species in AZ, from Dudleyville (April 2-3, 1980). This overshadowed a less rare transient there, an AMERICAN REDSTART.

Unusual for the middle of Tucson was a NEOTROPIC CORMORANT at Lakeside Park on 5/3 (John Higgins).

DOUGLAS area

A female *YELLOW GROSBEAK was found at Slaughter Ranch on Geronimo Trail, 15 miles east of Douglas on 5/5 (Richard Webster, Rose Ann Rowlett). This bird has not been seen since, despite intensive searching on 5/7. The bird was seen around the main pond ("House Pond") in the north to northeast sector of the Ranch.

HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS

A female *BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD was reported from Ramsey Canyon B & B on 5/6 (Henry Detwiler).

A male #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD was seen at the Controlled Access Site (CAS) of Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon on 5/6 (Tom Beatty). Several CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS (more rare in spring than fall) continued to be seen throughout the week (var obs) at the same location.

#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDS continue to be seen this week at Ash Canyon B & B (var obs). Multiple birds breed in the area each year, and come to the feeders from March-September. Elsewhere in Arizona, this species is quite scarce. A bright male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK showed up at the Ash Canyon B & B feeders on 5/4 (Peter Dedicoat), and both a male and a female were later observed (Mary Jo Ballator).

SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS

The *FLAME-COLORED TANAGER continues at Madera Kubo this week, often seen from the treetops near the road (var obs). As a reminder, PLEASE DO NOT PARK in front of Madera Kubo. It is mandatory that any birder wishing to observe this beautiful bird park at the Ampitheater lot just down the road, and walk the short distance up the road to Madera Kubo.

On 5/6, two #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRDS (one male, one female) were seen coming to the feeders at Santa Rita Lodge (Bev Postmus). They continued at least through 5/7.

A late-ish TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was found at Proctor Rd on 5/4 (Henry Detwiler).

WILLCOX

An unusual number of #SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS (at least 4, up to 7) were found at Willcox Twin Lakes on 5/5 (Chris Benesh, Dave Stejskal). Also present with the usual Least and Western Sandpipers was a single BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. This main lake has also been hosting a few RED-NECKED PHALAROPES this week (var obs) amongst the hundreds of Wilson's Phalaropes feeding there daily.

On 5/8, a MARBLED GODWIT was seen (Laurens Halsey).

BENSON

A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was discovered on 5/2 in the weeds at the NW corner of the south pond at the Benson sewage ponds (Gavin Bieber. I was seen at least through 5/3 (Jake Mohlmann, John Yerger).

TUMACACORI

Two CRESTED CARACARAS were seen on 5/2 in the flooded fields east of I-19 near the Palo Parado exit (Sue Carnahan). This is the same area (south of Tumacacori, accessed from the frontage road) where they were reported in March, and is a bit east of the range where they are normally found in Arizona (and north of where their range ends in Sonora).

PATAGONIA

A male AMERICAN REDSTART was found at the Patagonia Roadside Rest Area on 5/2, about 100 feet south of the picnic table (Mr. & Mrs. Tom Arny).

An interesting sighting on 5/2 was a pair of WESTERN GREBES exhibiting courtship behavior at Patagonia Lake (Darlene Smyth).

SEASONAL NOTES

Many regular but highly localized Arizona specialties are being found in their usual locations, such as:

ELEGANT TROGON
TROPICAL KINGBIRD
THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD
FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW

TUFTED FLYCATCHER EXTRA DETAILS (courtesy Richard Webster)

At Herb Martyr, there are two streams below the parking areas that come together below the lower parking area. The closer stream is barely flowing, comes from the direction of Ash Spring, and is crossed by the trail as it leaves the lower parking area. The other stream ("Middle Fork") is flowing more strongly, and the main trail goes up it to Little Dam and beyond. The bird has been seen at the confluence of the two streams (but relatively infrequently), where the main trail first crosses the Ash Spring drainage immediately below the parking area (often, in the sycamores), up the Ash Spring drainage about 100m (occasionally), and along the Middle Fork stream (often, especially at the signed trail junction where the Ash Spring trail takes off from the main trail). Once it went up Middle Fork past Little Dam to the metal "stile" (zig-zag type, not climb over) near the Basin Trail junction. Most observations were within 100 meters of the confluence on either stream.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

I-10 is under construction in Tucson between 29th Street and Prince Road. See http://www.i10tucsondistrict.com/29toP.html for details.

GREEN VALLEY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: ALL birders in a party must sign in, not just one representative of said party. Also, please DO NOT park on the grass, due to fire danger from hot catalytic converters.

SANTA CRUZ FLATS: Managers at the Evergreen Turf Farm (vicinity of Tweedy and Pretzer Rds) have requested that anyone birding there on the weekends please leave by 5:00 PM. This is due to security issues experienced by the Sod Farm. Birders are still welcome here at other
times.

AVRA VALLEY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: The facility is now closed to birders due to the ongoing construction. Updates will be added as they become available.

BAIRD'S SPARROW HILL AND THE VACA RANCH CORRAL in the San Rafael Valley continues to be off limits to birders due to the thoughtless actions of a few birders. Do not bird within .25 mile of the corrals or enter the property.

NOGALES SEWAGE PONDS: Remain closed to birders. Construction also seems to be ongoing at the Corona de Tucson Ponds, which remain closed to birders due to construction.

An exceptional week, even for SE Arizona!