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Tucson Audubon Society
Southeast Arizona Rare Bird Alert
Compiled by Keith Kamper

Report Sightings
The RBA phone line is currently down. To report rare birds call the Tucson Audubon Nature Shop during business hours (10-4 Monday to Saturday) at 520-629-0510.or e-mail keith_kamper@comcast.net.

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.

February 1, 2007

Hello birders. This update of Tucson Audubon Society’s Rare Bird Alert for southeast Arizona was made on February 1st, 2007 . The next update will be made on Thursday, February 8th.

An asterisk * preceding a species name below indicates that the species warrants careful review by the Arizona Bird Committee (ABC). A pound sign # indicates that sketch details are warranted. Please send documentation of these birds to: Arizona Bird Committee, P.O. Box 91856, Tucson, AZ 85752.

SPECIES MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT
marginally rare/uncommon species mentioned are not listed

Clark ’s Grebe
#”KRIDER’S” RED-TAILED HAWK
Lewis’s Woodpecker
*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER
*PINE WARBLER
# LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH
#CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
*COMMON GRACKLE

The *PINE WARBLER continued at SABO's Banning Creek Field Station in Bisbee through the 1^st (Erika Wilson et al). The station is open to the public. For more information see sabo@sabo.org or call 520-432-1388.

The *COMMON GRACKLE continued at a private yard in Bisbee through the 26^th.

Two *BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER and the continuing #LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH were observed along the Sonoita Creek Trail at the east end of Patagonia Lake State Park on the 27^th (Will Russell). Two female ELEGANT TROGONS were observed along the creek on the 31^st (Melody Kehl). A CLARK ’S GREBE persisted on the lake through the 1^st (various observers).

A male ELEGANT TROGON was observed at the mouth of Madera Canyon where the creek crosses Proctor Road on the 28^th (Gary Jue).

Two CRESTED CARACARAS were observed along de Anza trail, midway between Tubac and Tumacacori, on the 28^th (Jim Karp).

A female WILLIAMSON’S SAPSUCKER was observed at Middle Bear Canyon Picnic Area near the restrooms on the 26^th (Rick Wright).

The LEWIS'S WOODPECKER continued at the grassy knolls in Reid Park thru the 1^st (various observers). This area is along Camino Campestre east of Country Club Road just east of the west-most baseball field. Check for it in the palm, oak and eucalyptus trees.

The female SUMMER TANAGER remained at Roger Road Treatment plant through the 1^st (Larry and Kathy Pratt).

At least one #CLAY-COLORED SPARROW persisted through the 1^st along the north trail at the San Pedro River Inn (Michael Marsden).

A #”KRIDER’S” RED-TAILED HAWK was observed at Curry and Pretzer Roads on the 27^th (Scott Schuette, Darlene Smyth and John Yerger). Twnty CRESTED CARACARAS and two WHITE-TAILED KITES were observed over the flats on the same date (arious observers).

*NEW* AVRA VALLEY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: The facility is now closed to birders due to the ongoing construction and might be closed until May 1^st. Updates will be added as they become available.

FORT HUACHUCA ACCESS: A photo ID, vehicle registration and proof of insurance is again required for entry to the Army base. Foreign Nationals must now be sponsored by someone with a valid military ID card. Direct questions to the U.S. Army at Fort Huachuca http://Huachuca-www.army.mil/sites/local/ Visitors are reminded not to stop in the middle of roads or to park on grassy shoulders where fires may be started.

BAIRD'S SPARROW HILL AND THE VACA RANCH CORRAL in the San Rafael Valley continue 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.

CORONA DE TUCSON SEWAGE PONDS: Closed due to ongoing construction, perhaps until spring 2007.