Hello birders. This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for
southeast Arizona was made on September 1st. The next update will be made on
September 8th. We are currently in the process of changing the voicemail
system on which birders can leave details of their sightings. As of this
writing, it is not functional. We apologize for this inconvenience. As
always, you can e-mail your reports to keith_kamper@comcast.net.
In the following, 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 Society. Updates regarding changes in access
to sites described in this guide can be found if you point your browser to:
www.tucsonaudubon.org/birding/updates.htm.
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.
Several announcements follow the sightings.
Tucson (Southeast Arizona) RBA: (520) 798-1005
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.
*GLOSSY IBIS (Avra Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant 8/26)
*SHORT-TAILED HAWK (Chiricahua Mountains 8/29)
#SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (Avra Valley wastewater Treatment Plant 8/29; Lake
Cochise 8/28)
#LEAST TERN (Lake Cochise 8/25)
#WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD (Beatty's Guest Ranch)
*BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD (Ramsey Canyon)
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Ash Canyon Bed & B; Barfoot Lookout 8/28)
#ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Patagonia Roadside Rest)
*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER (Montosa Canyon 8/19; Patagonia Lake State Park
8/26)
American Redstart (Pena Blanca Lake 8/28)
#PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (Cave Creek Ranch 9/1)
#LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH (Chiricahua Mountains 8/31)
CONTRIBUTORS are listed in the text. The spelling of names given over the
phone is not guaranteed to be correct. Any omissions are unintentional.
TUCSON
The appearance of an adult *GLOSSY IBIS, a first record for southeast
Arizona, caused much excitement at the Avra Valley Wastewater Treatment
Plant on the 26th (Mark Stevenson, Molly Pollock and Peter Salomon). A
second ibis with some fieldmarks consistent Glossy was also present with the
flock of White-faced Ibises with which it associated. Photos can be viewed
at http://members.cox.net/fgibenesh/azglossyibis.html and
http://azfo.org/gallery/glossyibis.html Subsequent searches after the 26th
have been unsuccessful.
A #SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER continued at the northeast corner of the pond
closest to the main office at the Avra Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant. It
was sighted most recently on the 29th (Shawneen Finnegan).
A TROPICAL KINGBIRD was unusual at Fort Lowell Park in Tucson on the 29th
(Dave Cope and Rick Wright).
CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS
A dark-morph *SHORT-TAILED HAWK was observed on the 29th approximately
one-half mile up Long Park Road, south of Rustler Park in the Chiricahua
Mountains (Rick and Lynne Taylor). The more often sighted light-morph
*SHORT-TAILED HAWKS (2) were noted near the Barfoot Lookout on the 28th
(Tracey McCarthey).
A #PROTHONOTORY WARBLER was a nice find at the Cave Creek Ranch near Portal
on the 31st. It was still present on the 1st. A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was
detected here on the 30th (Scott Kennedy).
A #LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was sighted at a private residence in Whitetail
Canyon on the 31st (Rick Taylor).
A #LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD was noted at Barfoot Lookout on the 28th (Melody
Kehl).
HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS
The *BERYLLINE HUMINGBIRD continued to make sporadic visits to the feeders
in the Ramsey Canyon Preserve during this past week (v.ob.). Ramsey Canyon
is open to the public between the hours of 8 am to 5 pm; parking space is
somewhat limited. General admission is $5 per person. Admission for
residents of Cochise County and members of the Nature Conservancy is $3 per
person.
Multiple #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRDS continue to visit Beatty's Guest Ranch,
with sightings at the Guest Receiving Area and Controlled Access Site (Tom
Beatty Sr.).
Male and juvenile #LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDS continued to frequent the feeders at
Ash Canyon Bed & Breakfast during this past week (Mary Jo Ballator).
PATAGONIA/SONOITA AREA
A male *BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER was observed at Patagonia Lake State Park
on the 26th (Stuart Healy). It was present in the Second Wash. See Taylor's
ABA birdfinding guide for more information on this location. A BROWN PELICAN
continued on the lake though the 26th (Stuart Healy).
The #ROSE-THROATED BECARD pair continued near the nest at the Patagonia
Roadside Rest Stop (m.ob.) Cross the road from the east end of the rest stop
and proceed down the path and turn right. Look for a well worn area on the
left (north side) of the trail. The nest is located in a sycamore near the
creek.
I-19 CORRIDOR
A male AMERICAN REDSTART persisted at Pena Blanca Lake through the 28th
(Clifford Cathers, George and Ellen West). It was observed in the willows
and cottonwoods at the west end of the lake west of the cattail marsh.
WILLCOX
A #LEAST TERN at Lake Cochise on the 25th was an exceptional find at this
season (Garey Harrett). A #SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was present here on the
28th (Stuart Healy).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FORT HUACHUCA ACCESS: The fort still requires the usual valid ID, car
registration and proof of insurance (or rental agreement) to enter. It is
now reported that a new requirement is in place for Foreign Nationals. They
must now be accompanied by a U.S. citizen with a military identification
card in order to gain entry. Any updates regarding this change will be
posted to the AZ/NM Listserv and the RBA.
BAIRD'S SPARROW HILL AND THE VACA RANCH CORRAL: These locations are off
limits to birders. Birding within .25 of a mile of the corral is prohibited.
These sites are located in the San Rafael Valley. Please respect this
unfortunate closure.
HEREFORD BRIDGE: The bridge over the San Pedro River is out, and not
expected to re-open in the near future.
CASA GRANDE SEWAGE PONDS: Due to a construction project, birders will be
able to view the ponds only from outside of the chain link fence.
NOGALES SEWAGE PONDS: The ponds remain closed to birders.
Thanks for reporting,
Keith Kamper
southeast Arizona was made on September 1st. The next update will be made on
September 8th. We are currently in the process of changing the voicemail
system on which birders can leave details of their sightings. As of this
writing, it is not functional. We apologize for this inconvenience. As
always, you can e-mail your reports to keith_kamper@comcast.net.
In the following, 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 Society. Updates regarding changes in access
to sites described in this guide can be found if you point your browser to:
www.tucsonaudubon.org/birding/updates.htm.
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.
Several announcements follow the sightings.
Tucson (Southeast Arizona) RBA: (520) 798-1005
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.
*GLOSSY IBIS (Avra Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant 8/26)
*SHORT-TAILED HAWK (Chiricahua Mountains 8/29)
#SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (Avra Valley wastewater Treatment Plant 8/29; Lake
Cochise 8/28)
#LEAST TERN (Lake Cochise 8/25)
#WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD (Beatty's Guest Ranch)
*BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD (Ramsey Canyon)
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Ash Canyon Bed & B; Barfoot Lookout 8/28)
#ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Patagonia Roadside Rest)
*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER (Montosa Canyon 8/19; Patagonia Lake State Park
8/26)
American Redstart (Pena Blanca Lake 8/28)
#PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (Cave Creek Ranch 9/1)
#LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH (Chiricahua Mountains 8/31)
CONTRIBUTORS are listed in the text. The spelling of names given over the
phone is not guaranteed to be correct. Any omissions are unintentional.
TUCSON
The appearance of an adult *GLOSSY IBIS, a first record for southeast
Arizona, caused much excitement at the Avra Valley Wastewater Treatment
Plant on the 26th (Mark Stevenson, Molly Pollock and Peter Salomon). A
second ibis with some fieldmarks consistent Glossy was also present with the
flock of White-faced Ibises with which it associated. Photos can be viewed
at http://members.cox.net/fgibenesh/azglossyibis.html and
http://azfo.org/gallery/glossyibis.html Subsequent searches after the 26th
have been unsuccessful.
A #SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER continued at the northeast corner of the pond
closest to the main office at the Avra Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant. It
was sighted most recently on the 29th (Shawneen Finnegan).
A TROPICAL KINGBIRD was unusual at Fort Lowell Park in Tucson on the 29th
(Dave Cope and Rick Wright).
CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS
A dark-morph *SHORT-TAILED HAWK was observed on the 29th approximately
one-half mile up Long Park Road, south of Rustler Park in the Chiricahua
Mountains (Rick and Lynne Taylor). The more often sighted light-morph
*SHORT-TAILED HAWKS (2) were noted near the Barfoot Lookout on the 28th
(Tracey McCarthey).
A #PROTHONOTORY WARBLER was a nice find at the Cave Creek Ranch near Portal
on the 31st. It was still present on the 1st. A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was
detected here on the 30th (Scott Kennedy).
A #LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was sighted at a private residence in Whitetail
Canyon on the 31st (Rick Taylor).
A #LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD was noted at Barfoot Lookout on the 28th (Melody
Kehl).
HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS
The *BERYLLINE HUMINGBIRD continued to make sporadic visits to the feeders
in the Ramsey Canyon Preserve during this past week (v.ob.). Ramsey Canyon
is open to the public between the hours of 8 am to 5 pm; parking space is
somewhat limited. General admission is $5 per person. Admission for
residents of Cochise County and members of the Nature Conservancy is $3 per
person.
Multiple #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRDS continue to visit Beatty's Guest Ranch,
with sightings at the Guest Receiving Area and Controlled Access Site (Tom
Beatty Sr.).
Male and juvenile #LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDS continued to frequent the feeders at
Ash Canyon Bed & Breakfast during this past week (Mary Jo Ballator).
PATAGONIA/SONOITA AREA
A male *BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER was observed at Patagonia Lake State Park
on the 26th (Stuart Healy). It was present in the Second Wash. See Taylor's
ABA birdfinding guide for more information on this location. A BROWN PELICAN
continued on the lake though the 26th (Stuart Healy).
The #ROSE-THROATED BECARD pair continued near the nest at the Patagonia
Roadside Rest Stop (m.ob.) Cross the road from the east end of the rest stop
and proceed down the path and turn right. Look for a well worn area on the
left (north side) of the trail. The nest is located in a sycamore near the
creek.
I-19 CORRIDOR
A male AMERICAN REDSTART persisted at Pena Blanca Lake through the 28th
(Clifford Cathers, George and Ellen West). It was observed in the willows
and cottonwoods at the west end of the lake west of the cattail marsh.
WILLCOX
A #LEAST TERN at Lake Cochise on the 25th was an exceptional find at this
season (Garey Harrett). A #SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was present here on the
28th (Stuart Healy).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FORT HUACHUCA ACCESS: The fort still requires the usual valid ID, car
registration and proof of insurance (or rental agreement) to enter. It is
now reported that a new requirement is in place for Foreign Nationals. They
must now be accompanied by a U.S. citizen with a military identification
card in order to gain entry. Any updates regarding this change will be
posted to the AZ/NM Listserv and the RBA.
BAIRD'S SPARROW HILL AND THE VACA RANCH CORRAL: These locations are off
limits to birders. Birding within .25 of a mile of the corral is prohibited.
These sites are located in the San Rafael Valley. Please respect this
unfortunate closure.
HEREFORD BRIDGE: The bridge over the San Pedro River is out, and not
expected to re-open in the near future.
CASA GRANDE SEWAGE PONDS: Due to a construction project, birders will be
able to view the ponds only from outside of the chain link fence.
NOGALES SEWAGE PONDS: The ponds remain closed to birders.
Thanks for reporting,
Keith Kamper