Hello Birders,
This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for southeast
Arizona was made on March 30th, 2007. The next update will be made on April
6th. 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 including information
on the closure of Avra Valley Wastewater Treatment plant in Tucson.
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
BISBEE
The *PINE WARBLER continued at the Banning Creek Station in Bisbee through
the 24th (Sheri Williamson). See http://www.sabo.org/index.htm or call
520-432-1388for more details on the station.
PATAGONIA-SONOITA AREA
At Patagonia Lake State Park along the Sonoita Creek Trail, *BLACK-CAPPED
GNATCATCHERS are being seen between the bench on the first part of the
trail, near the stairs that lead down to lake level and in nearby washes and
mesquite bosque. (m.ob.). The male ELEGANT TROGON was last reported along
the Sonoita Creek on the "on the far (northwest) side of the creek, a
hundred yards upstream from a babbling little s-curve through a willow
tangle, not too far upstream from the rusty weather station (Matt Brown). A
MARBLED GODWIT was observed in flight over the north end of the lake on the
28th (Dave and Sondra Porter). A PAINTED REDSTART was detected on the 26th
(Stuart Healy).
The overwintering RED_FACED WARBLER and ELEGANT TROGON were observed once
again on the 26th in Humboldt canyon in the Patagonia Mts (FR4685, off Flux
Canyon Road) in the vicinity of where FR4685 terminates into a small
campground/turnaround.
SAN PEDRO RIVER VALLEY
A *BROAD-WINGED HAWK was observed on the 24th "along the San Pedro river, at
the 'first' bench (now missing) spot, down from the San Pedro House (Rick
Romero, Peter Walsh et al). Another, or perhaps the same individual, was
observed on the 26th from the Casa de San Pedro access off of Waters Road
and Palominas (Wezil Walraven).
A #LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD was present at the Ash Canyon B &B on the 29th (Maty
Jo Ballator). The public is welcome; donations are appreciated.
CIENEGA CREEK/LAS CIENEGAS
The #EASTERN PHOEBE continued at Cienega Creek through the 27th 200 meters
upstream from Davidson Canyon (Moez Ali). Three PAINTED REDSTARTS were also
present. A free permit is required from Pima County Parks and Rec for entry.
15 - 20 Long-eared Owls roosting in the mesquite along the wash upstream
from Empire Cienega Ranch this morning. They were up-wash from the area with
cottonwoods, just above the pipeline crossing (Brenda Hausser fide Matt
Brooks).
TUCSON
A PAINTED REDSTART continued at Sweetwater Wetlands this week (m.ob.). An
interesting warbler, though to be a Hooded Warbler or, perhaps, a Hermit x
Townsends Warbler was also observed at the wetlands this week.
A GRAY VIREO (possibly two) was/were observed at Pima Canyon on the 26th
"quite a bit up the trail from the canyon mouth" (Diane Touret).
The NEOTROPIC CORMORANT continued at Kennedy Park through the 24th (John
Higgins).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
*NEW* Arivaca Cienega at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge will be
closed through
February and into March, except for guided Saturday morning bird walks.
*NEW* AVRA VALLEY WATEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: The facility is now closed to
birders due to the ongoing construction and might be closed until May 1st.
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
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
Vail, AZ
This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for southeast
Arizona was made on March 30th, 2007. The next update will be made on April
6th. 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 including information
on the closure of Avra Valley Wastewater Treatment plant in Tucson.
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
BISBEE
The *PINE WARBLER continued at the Banning Creek Station in Bisbee through
the 24th (Sheri Williamson). See http://www.sabo.org/index.htm or call
520-432-1388for more details on the station.
PATAGONIA-SONOITA AREA
At Patagonia Lake State Park along the Sonoita Creek Trail, *BLACK-CAPPED
GNATCATCHERS are being seen between the bench on the first part of the
trail, near the stairs that lead down to lake level and in nearby washes and
mesquite bosque. (m.ob.). The male ELEGANT TROGON was last reported along
the Sonoita Creek on the "on the far (northwest) side of the creek, a
hundred yards upstream from a babbling little s-curve through a willow
tangle, not too far upstream from the rusty weather station (Matt Brown). A
MARBLED GODWIT was observed in flight over the north end of the lake on the
28th (Dave and Sondra Porter). A PAINTED REDSTART was detected on the 26th
(Stuart Healy).
The overwintering RED_FACED WARBLER and ELEGANT TROGON were observed once
again on the 26th in Humboldt canyon in the Patagonia Mts (FR4685, off Flux
Canyon Road) in the vicinity of where FR4685 terminates into a small
campground/turnaround.
SAN PEDRO RIVER VALLEY
A *BROAD-WINGED HAWK was observed on the 24th "along the San Pedro river, at
the 'first' bench (now missing) spot, down from the San Pedro House (Rick
Romero, Peter Walsh et al). Another, or perhaps the same individual, was
observed on the 26th from the Casa de San Pedro access off of Waters Road
and Palominas (Wezil Walraven).
A #LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD was present at the Ash Canyon B &B on the 29th (Maty
Jo Ballator). The public is welcome; donations are appreciated.
CIENEGA CREEK/LAS CIENEGAS
The #EASTERN PHOEBE continued at Cienega Creek through the 27th 200 meters
upstream from Davidson Canyon (Moez Ali). Three PAINTED REDSTARTS were also
present. A free permit is required from Pima County Parks and Rec for entry.
15 - 20 Long-eared Owls roosting in the mesquite along the wash upstream
from Empire Cienega Ranch this morning. They were up-wash from the area with
cottonwoods, just above the pipeline crossing (Brenda Hausser fide Matt
Brooks).
TUCSON
A PAINTED REDSTART continued at Sweetwater Wetlands this week (m.ob.). An
interesting warbler, though to be a Hooded Warbler or, perhaps, a Hermit x
Townsends Warbler was also observed at the wetlands this week.
A GRAY VIREO (possibly two) was/were observed at Pima Canyon on the 26th
"quite a bit up the trail from the canyon mouth" (Diane Touret).
The NEOTROPIC CORMORANT continued at Kennedy Park through the 24th (John
Higgins).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
*NEW* Arivaca Cienega at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge will be
closed through
February and into March, except for guided Saturday morning bird walks.
*NEW* AVRA VALLEY WATEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: The facility is now closed to
birders due to the ongoing construction and might be closed until May 1st.
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
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
Vail, AZ