Hello birders. This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for
southeast Arizona was made on September 8th. The next update will be made on
September 15th. To report rare birds call (520) 798-1005 and press #2.
Please note that this is now the same number at which you can listen to the
pre-recorded RBA. You can also 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.
Greater White-fronted Goose (Avra Valley wastewater Treatment Plant 9/7)
#SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (Avra Valley wastewater Treatment Plant 9/7)
#WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD (Beatty's Guest Ranch; Madera Canyon 9/3)
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Ash Canyon Bed & B; Coronado National Monument 9/5)
#ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Patagonia Roadside Rest)
Northern Parula (Sweetwater Wetlands 9/8)
Northern Waterthrush (Sweetwater Wetlands 9/8)
#PAINTED BUNTING (Kino Springs Golf Course 9/3; Ina Road Bridge 9/2)
CONTRIBUTORS are listed in the text. The spelling of names given over the
phone is not guaranteed to be correct. Any omissions are unintentional.
PATAGONIA/SONOITA AREA
The #ROSE-THROATED BECARD pair, now joined by young, continued 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. Before the young
emerged, the becards could be observed at their nest from the well worn area
on the left (north side) of the trail. The birds are now more prone to
wander about the area.
TUCSON
A NORTHERN PARULA was a nice find at Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson on the
3rd. It was present "between the gazebo itself and the hidden pond. This
area is easily found by taking the concrete path to the area encircled by
the circular portion of the concrete path (Mark Stevenson). It was reported
most recently on the 8th at the hidden pond (Alison Beringer, Darlene Smyth,
and Rick Wright). A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was detected on the 8th at the
hidden pond (Philip Kline).
Thirteen WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were present at the Avra Valley Wastewater
Treatment Plant on the 7th (Philip Kline). Most of the regularly occurring
southeast Arizona shorebirds have been sighted at the plant during this past
week. The rarest was a #SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, usually present at the
northeast corner of the pond closest to the main office. It was most
recently reported on the 7th (Philip Kline). BLACK TERNS made several brief
appearances (v.ob.). Two male ORANGE BISHOPS were a surprise in the
westernmost dry pond on the 2nd (Janine McCabe). Please note that the plant
is open from 7 am to 2 pm daily; please sign-in at the office.
A male #PAINTED BUNTING was present about 300 yards south of the Ina Road
Bridge in Marana on the east side of the Santa Cruz River on the 2nd (Gavin
Bieber and Keith Kamper).
HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS
At least one #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD continued to visit Beatty's Guest
Ranch, with sightings at the Controlled Access Site (fee required) (Tom
Beatty Sr.).
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDS continued to frequent the feeders at Ash Canyon Bed &
Breakfast during this past week (Mary Jo Ballator). The yard is open to the
public; donations are appreciated.
I-19 CORRIDOR
A #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD was sighted at the Chuparosa Inn at Madera Canyon
on the 3rd (Luis Calvo and Al Tozier).
A hatch-year #PAINTED BUNTING was observed on the 2nd at the first pond at
Kino Springs Golf Course (Kitty and Dave Eveans, Rick Wright).
CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS
A #LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD was observed at the Chiricahua National Monument on
the 5th (Erika Wilson).
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 8th. The next update will be made on
September 15th. To report rare birds call (520) 798-1005 and press #2.
Please note that this is now the same number at which you can listen to the
pre-recorded RBA. You can also 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.
Greater White-fronted Goose (Avra Valley wastewater Treatment Plant 9/7)
#SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (Avra Valley wastewater Treatment Plant 9/7)
#WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD (Beatty's Guest Ranch; Madera Canyon 9/3)
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Ash Canyon Bed & B; Coronado National Monument 9/5)
#ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Patagonia Roadside Rest)
Northern Parula (Sweetwater Wetlands 9/8)
Northern Waterthrush (Sweetwater Wetlands 9/8)
#PAINTED BUNTING (Kino Springs Golf Course 9/3; Ina Road Bridge 9/2)
CONTRIBUTORS are listed in the text. The spelling of names given over the
phone is not guaranteed to be correct. Any omissions are unintentional.
PATAGONIA/SONOITA AREA
The #ROSE-THROATED BECARD pair, now joined by young, continued 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. Before the young
emerged, the becards could be observed at their nest from the well worn area
on the left (north side) of the trail. The birds are now more prone to
wander about the area.
TUCSON
A NORTHERN PARULA was a nice find at Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson on the
3rd. It was present "between the gazebo itself and the hidden pond. This
area is easily found by taking the concrete path to the area encircled by
the circular portion of the concrete path (Mark Stevenson). It was reported
most recently on the 8th at the hidden pond (Alison Beringer, Darlene Smyth,
and Rick Wright). A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was detected on the 8th at the
hidden pond (Philip Kline).
Thirteen WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were present at the Avra Valley Wastewater
Treatment Plant on the 7th (Philip Kline). Most of the regularly occurring
southeast Arizona shorebirds have been sighted at the plant during this past
week. The rarest was a #SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, usually present at the
northeast corner of the pond closest to the main office. It was most
recently reported on the 7th (Philip Kline). BLACK TERNS made several brief
appearances (v.ob.). Two male ORANGE BISHOPS were a surprise in the
westernmost dry pond on the 2nd (Janine McCabe). Please note that the plant
is open from 7 am to 2 pm daily; please sign-in at the office.
A male #PAINTED BUNTING was present about 300 yards south of the Ina Road
Bridge in Marana on the east side of the Santa Cruz River on the 2nd (Gavin
Bieber and Keith Kamper).
HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS
At least one #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD continued to visit Beatty's Guest
Ranch, with sightings at the Controlled Access Site (fee required) (Tom
Beatty Sr.).
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDS continued to frequent the feeders at Ash Canyon Bed &
Breakfast during this past week (Mary Jo Ballator). The yard is open to the
public; donations are appreciated.
I-19 CORRIDOR
A #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD was sighted at the Chuparosa Inn at Madera Canyon
on the 3rd (Luis Calvo and Al Tozier).
A hatch-year #PAINTED BUNTING was observed on the 2nd at the first pond at
Kino Springs Golf Course (Kitty and Dave Eveans, Rick Wright).
CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS
A #LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD was observed at the Chiricahua National Monument on
the 5th (Erika Wilson).
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