Hello Birders,
This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for southeast
Arizona was made on January 4th , 2006. The next update will be made on
January 11th. 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 email your reports to Keith Kamper at
keith_kamper@comcast.net
In this report, where directions are not given they can be found in the
newest edition of Tucson Audubon's "Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona".
Updates, including new sites and access changes, can be found at:
www.tucsonaudubon.org/birding/updates.htm
Several important announcements follow the sightings.
Tucson (Southeast Arizona) RBA: (520) 798-1005 X 0 (Temporarily
out-of-service)
An asterisk (*) preceding a species name below indicates that the species
warrants careful documentation. A pound sign (#) indicates that brief
corroborative details are warranted.
Please send your reports to the AZ Bird Committee at: P.O. Box 91856 Tucson,
AZ 85752-1856 or to ghrosenberg@Comcast.net or use the on-line form at
http://www.javaswift.com/ABCReports/mailer.aspx
SPECIES MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT
marginally rare/uncommon species mentioned are not listed
#TUNDRA SWAN
*LEAST GREBE
#ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER
*LONG-BILLED THRASHER (Potential first state record!)
*PINE WARBLER
#BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER
*WORM-EATING WARBLER
#FOX SPARROW
CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS
An apparent *LONG-BILLED THRASHER was discovered and photographed in East
Whitetail Canyon, Chiricahua Mountains, on the 1st (Rick and Lynne Taylor).
If accepted this will represent a first state record. A photo can be viewed
at the Arizona Field Ornithologists' website:
http://www.azfo.org/gallery/LBTH.html To reach this location take "I-10,
take the San Simon exit (382) for Portal. Go south approximately 18 miles
on the San Simon-Portal Road, take the right hand fork toward Paradise, go
0.5 miles and make a right turn to East Whitetail Canyon (also known as
Hilltop Road). Proceed 4.3 miles to the west up this road -- the thrasher
was seen in this area. [The road up East Whitetail Canyon is shown on the
map on the inside back cover of Rick Taylor's Birder's Guide to SE Arizona
-- it is the dotted line shown north of Paradise, going west toward
Chiricahua Natl. Monument.] All but the first 7.5 miles south of I-10 are
unpaved." At least two #'SLATE-COLORED FOX SPARROWS, a #'RED' FOX SPARROW
were observed in this same vicinity on the 2nd (Rich Hoyer et al).
I-19 CORRIDOR/PATAGONIA AREA
A *PINE WARBLER was reported from the Washington camp in the Patagonia
Mountains on the 1st (Josh Stewart). The bird was with a mixed flock of
Bridled Titmice, Bushtits, and 1 Townsend's Warbler. Washington Camp is
east of Nogales up above Kino Springs roughly over 10 miles. The bird was
on Duquesne Rd, half mile west of the junction of Duquesne and Harshaw Roads
going toward Kino Springs. Updates on this rare warbler will be appreciated.
A *LEAST GREBE was reported at Patagonia Lake State Park on the 1st at the
north east end of the lake. It was in the shallow area where the old creek
mouth was in the area where the cattails were washed out (John Kugler).
*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS were observed in the fourth wash along the
Sonoita Creek Trail at the east end of the park on the 30th (Stuart Healy).
The *WORM-EATING WARBLER continued along the Santa Cruz River's de Anza
Trail north of Bridge Street in Tubac through the 2nd (Bill Higgins). It was
loosely associating with a mixed species flock that contained a
#BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, a lingering GREATER PEWEE, BRIDLED TITMICE,
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, PLUMBEOUS VIREO, etc. The Worm-eating Warbler is not
always with the Pewee and Black-and White Warbler. Other unusual species
present in this general area include #YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER, BLUE GROSBEAK,
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and LAZULI BUNTING (v.ob.). To reach this location, Take
the Tubac exit off of I-19. Go north on the EAST side frontage road to
Bridge Street Go EAST on Bridge until you reach the bridge over the Santa
Cruz River. Park off the road and walk the path thru the gate north of the
bridge on the west side of the river or head south on the west side of the
river if you do not find any feeding flocks.
TUCSON
Two #HORNED GREBES continued at Kennedy Park Lake through the 1st (John
Higgins).
A light-morph #ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was observed east of the Ina Road Bridge in
Marana on the 1st (Larry and Matt Norris).
A BALD EAGLE was observed over Tucson Mountain Park on the 30th (Rob
Yaksich).
The LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was present in the grassy knolls area at the nw
corner of Reid Park through the 1st (John Higgins). Country Club Rd forms
the western border of the park. The north boundary at Country Club is E
Camino Campestre. From Country Club, take Camino Campestre east. Turn in to
the first parking lot on the south side of Camino Campestre. Grassy knolls
is at the east end of that parking lot.
BENSON
A #TUNDRA SWAN has made sporadic visits to the Benson Sewage Ponds(early
afternoon might be best) through the 31st (Katy Taylor, Denis Wright and
Rick Wright). Two BARN SWALLOWS continued at the pond through the 2nd (Gavin
Bieber et al).
SYCAMORE CANYON
A GREEN KINGFISHER was observed at Sycamore Canyon on the 30th (David
Kahrs). David provides the following information: the bird was approximately
1.6 - 2 miles into the canyon. At 1.6 miles, there is a very large pool, the
largest in the canyon, which was the furthest upstream I saw the bird. It
was also active downstream for the next 1/4 - 1/3 mile. The pool UTMs, NAD
27, are 481403, 3475608 for the upstream one and 481461, 3475141 for the
lower one.
SIERRA VISTA AREA
At least four #CLAY-COLORED SPARROW were observed along the trails at the
San Pedro River Inn on the 2nd (Erika Wilson).
SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY
60 MOUNTAIN PLOVERS were observed on Davis Road in the first field east of
Coffman Road on the 29th (Stuart Healy).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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
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 due to security concerns.
CORONA DE TUCSON SEWAGE PONDS: Closed due to ongoing construction, perhaps
until spring 2007.
Thanks for your reports!
Keith Kamper
This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for southeast
Arizona was made on January 4th , 2006. The next update will be made on
January 11th. 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 email your reports to Keith Kamper at
keith_kamper@comcast.net
In this report, where directions are not given they can be found in the
newest edition of Tucson Audubon's "Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona".
Updates, including new sites and access changes, can be found at:
www.tucsonaudubon.org/birding/updates.htm
Several important announcements follow the sightings.
Tucson (Southeast Arizona) RBA: (520) 798-1005 X 0 (Temporarily
out-of-service)
An asterisk (*) preceding a species name below indicates that the species
warrants careful documentation. A pound sign (#) indicates that brief
corroborative details are warranted.
Please send your reports to the AZ Bird Committee at: P.O. Box 91856 Tucson,
AZ 85752-1856 or to ghrosenberg@Comcast.net or use the on-line form at
http://www.javaswift.com/ABCReports/mailer.aspx
SPECIES MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT
marginally rare/uncommon species mentioned are not listed
#TUNDRA SWAN
*LEAST GREBE
#ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER
*LONG-BILLED THRASHER (Potential first state record!)
*PINE WARBLER
#BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER
*WORM-EATING WARBLER
#FOX SPARROW
CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS
An apparent *LONG-BILLED THRASHER was discovered and photographed in East
Whitetail Canyon, Chiricahua Mountains, on the 1st (Rick and Lynne Taylor).
If accepted this will represent a first state record. A photo can be viewed
at the Arizona Field Ornithologists' website:
http://www.azfo.org/gallery/LBTH.html To reach this location take "I-10,
take the San Simon exit (382) for Portal. Go south approximately 18 miles
on the San Simon-Portal Road, take the right hand fork toward Paradise, go
0.5 miles and make a right turn to East Whitetail Canyon (also known as
Hilltop Road). Proceed 4.3 miles to the west up this road -- the thrasher
was seen in this area. [The road up East Whitetail Canyon is shown on the
map on the inside back cover of Rick Taylor's Birder's Guide to SE Arizona
-- it is the dotted line shown north of Paradise, going west toward
Chiricahua Natl. Monument.] All but the first 7.5 miles south of I-10 are
unpaved." At least two #'SLATE-COLORED FOX SPARROWS, a #'RED' FOX SPARROW
were observed in this same vicinity on the 2nd (Rich Hoyer et al).
I-19 CORRIDOR/PATAGONIA AREA
A *PINE WARBLER was reported from the Washington camp in the Patagonia
Mountains on the 1st (Josh Stewart). The bird was with a mixed flock of
Bridled Titmice, Bushtits, and 1 Townsend's Warbler. Washington Camp is
east of Nogales up above Kino Springs roughly over 10 miles. The bird was
on Duquesne Rd, half mile west of the junction of Duquesne and Harshaw Roads
going toward Kino Springs. Updates on this rare warbler will be appreciated.
A *LEAST GREBE was reported at Patagonia Lake State Park on the 1st at the
north east end of the lake. It was in the shallow area where the old creek
mouth was in the area where the cattails were washed out (John Kugler).
*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS were observed in the fourth wash along the
Sonoita Creek Trail at the east end of the park on the 30th (Stuart Healy).
The *WORM-EATING WARBLER continued along the Santa Cruz River's de Anza
Trail north of Bridge Street in Tubac through the 2nd (Bill Higgins). It was
loosely associating with a mixed species flock that contained a
#BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, a lingering GREATER PEWEE, BRIDLED TITMICE,
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, PLUMBEOUS VIREO, etc. The Worm-eating Warbler is not
always with the Pewee and Black-and White Warbler. Other unusual species
present in this general area include #YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER, BLUE GROSBEAK,
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and LAZULI BUNTING (v.ob.). To reach this location, Take
the Tubac exit off of I-19. Go north on the EAST side frontage road to
Bridge Street Go EAST on Bridge until you reach the bridge over the Santa
Cruz River. Park off the road and walk the path thru the gate north of the
bridge on the west side of the river or head south on the west side of the
river if you do not find any feeding flocks.
TUCSON
Two #HORNED GREBES continued at Kennedy Park Lake through the 1st (John
Higgins).
A light-morph #ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was observed east of the Ina Road Bridge in
Marana on the 1st (Larry and Matt Norris).
A BALD EAGLE was observed over Tucson Mountain Park on the 30th (Rob
Yaksich).
The LEWIS'S WOODPECKER was present in the grassy knolls area at the nw
corner of Reid Park through the 1st (John Higgins). Country Club Rd forms
the western border of the park. The north boundary at Country Club is E
Camino Campestre. From Country Club, take Camino Campestre east. Turn in to
the first parking lot on the south side of Camino Campestre. Grassy knolls
is at the east end of that parking lot.
BENSON
A #TUNDRA SWAN has made sporadic visits to the Benson Sewage Ponds(early
afternoon might be best) through the 31st (Katy Taylor, Denis Wright and
Rick Wright). Two BARN SWALLOWS continued at the pond through the 2nd (Gavin
Bieber et al).
SYCAMORE CANYON
A GREEN KINGFISHER was observed at Sycamore Canyon on the 30th (David
Kahrs). David provides the following information: the bird was approximately
1.6 - 2 miles into the canyon. At 1.6 miles, there is a very large pool, the
largest in the canyon, which was the furthest upstream I saw the bird. It
was also active downstream for the next 1/4 - 1/3 mile. The pool UTMs, NAD
27, are 481403, 3475608 for the upstream one and 481461, 3475141 for the
lower one.
SIERRA VISTA AREA
At least four #CLAY-COLORED SPARROW were observed along the trails at the
San Pedro River Inn on the 2nd (Erika Wilson).
SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY
60 MOUNTAIN PLOVERS were observed on Davis Road in the first field east of
Coffman Road on the 29th (Stuart Healy).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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
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 due to security concerns.
CORONA DE TUCSON SEWAGE PONDS: Closed due to ongoing construction, perhaps
until spring 2007.
Thanks for your reports!
Keith Kamper