Hello birders. This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for
southeast Arizona was made on September 23rd. The next update will be made
on September 29th. 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.
#TRICOLORED HERON (Lakeside Park 9/21)
#SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (Avra Valley wastewater Treatment Plant 9/15)
*BUFFF-COLLARED NIGHTJAR (Brown Canyon 9/17-not accessible to the general
public)
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Ash Canyon Bed & B)
Gray Vireo (Mesquital Migrant Trap 9/16)
Northern Parula (Sweetwater Wetlands 9/22)
American Redstart (Tubac 9/22; Brown Canyon 9/18)
#LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH (Patagonia Lake State Park 9/16)
#DICKCISSEL (Tucson 9/16)
*BOBOLINK (Sweetwater Wetlands 9/22)
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
A *BOBOLINK was reported at Sweetwater wetlands south of the Gazebo Pond on
the 22nd (Mark Anderson). The NORTHERN PARULA continued at Sweetwater
through the 22nd (Dick Palmer). It is usually observed near the Hidden Pond.
To reach this spot take the concrete path to the area encircled by the
circular portion of the concrete path.
A #TRICOLORED HERON was a nice find at Lakeside Park on the 18th. It was
still present on the 21st (David West).
A #DICKCISSEL was detected in Tucson on the 16th (Shawneen Finnegan). From
the Shawneen provides the following directions and information: " from the
intersection of Broadway and Craycroft, go north on Craycroft and turn left
(west) on 10th. At the end of 10th (it dead ends at N Beverly Avenue, turn
right, or north and you will see a big open patch of dirt south of a big
lawn/soccer field and a small building at the south end of the grass field.
Look for the relatively lush habitat between the small building and the
arroyo behind Target.
A juvenile #SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER was present at the Avra Valley wastewater
Treatment Plant there on the 20th (Philip Kline) .Please note that the
plant is open from 7 am to 2 pm daily; please sign-in at the office.
A GRAY VIREO, always a good find in migration in our area, was noted on the
16th west of Tucson at the Mesquital Migrant Trap (Alison Beringer, Darlene
Smyth and Rick Wright).
A juvenile GRAY HAWK was unusual along the Santa Cruz River south of the Ina
Road Bridge on the 22nd (Philip Kline).
BROWN CANYON
Although not accessible to the public, 1-2 calling *BUFF-COLLARED NIGHTJARS
on the 17th in Brown Canyon was of interest. On the 18th an AMERICAN
REDSTART was observed in the canyon (Larry Liese).
PATAGONIA AREA/I-19 CORRIDOR
A #LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was along Sonoita Creek at the east end of
Patagonia Lake State Park on the 16th (Stuart Healy). The bird was near
where the creek flows into the lake. The creek can be accessed from the
Sonoita Creek Trail.
A female AMERICAN REDSTART was observed on the 22nd at the county park in
Tubac. It was feeding in a mesquite (Brian McKnight and Diane Touret).
HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS/SIERRA VISTA
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDS continued to frequent the feeders at Ash Canyon Bed
& Breakfast during this past week. The yard is open to the public; donations
are appreciated. For more information on this site see
http://AshCanyonBandB.com
PINAL COUNTY
The six MOUNTAIN PLOVERS on the 17th at the sod farm on Tweedy Road (Santa
Cruz Flats) were early (Shawneen Finnegan and Molly Pollock).
WILLCOX
One GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE remained at Lake Cochise in Willcox through
the 20th (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 23rd. The next update will be made
on September 29th. 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.
#TRICOLORED HERON (Lakeside Park 9/21)
#SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (Avra Valley wastewater Treatment Plant 9/15)
*BUFFF-COLLARED NIGHTJAR (Brown Canyon 9/17-not accessible to the general
public)
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Ash Canyon Bed & B)
Gray Vireo (Mesquital Migrant Trap 9/16)
Northern Parula (Sweetwater Wetlands 9/22)
American Redstart (Tubac 9/22; Brown Canyon 9/18)
#LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH (Patagonia Lake State Park 9/16)
#DICKCISSEL (Tucson 9/16)
*BOBOLINK (Sweetwater Wetlands 9/22)
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
A *BOBOLINK was reported at Sweetwater wetlands south of the Gazebo Pond on
the 22nd (Mark Anderson). The NORTHERN PARULA continued at Sweetwater
through the 22nd (Dick Palmer). It is usually observed near the Hidden Pond.
To reach this spot take the concrete path to the area encircled by the
circular portion of the concrete path.
A #TRICOLORED HERON was a nice find at Lakeside Park on the 18th. It was
still present on the 21st (David West).
A #DICKCISSEL was detected in Tucson on the 16th (Shawneen Finnegan). From
the Shawneen provides the following directions and information: " from the
intersection of Broadway and Craycroft, go north on Craycroft and turn left
(west) on 10th. At the end of 10th (it dead ends at N Beverly Avenue, turn
right, or north and you will see a big open patch of dirt south of a big
lawn/soccer field and a small building at the south end of the grass field.
Look for the relatively lush habitat between the small building and the
arroyo behind Target.
A juvenile #SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER was present at the Avra Valley wastewater
Treatment Plant there on the 20th (Philip Kline) .Please note that the
plant is open from 7 am to 2 pm daily; please sign-in at the office.
A GRAY VIREO, always a good find in migration in our area, was noted on the
16th west of Tucson at the Mesquital Migrant Trap (Alison Beringer, Darlene
Smyth and Rick Wright).
A juvenile GRAY HAWK was unusual along the Santa Cruz River south of the Ina
Road Bridge on the 22nd (Philip Kline).
BROWN CANYON
Although not accessible to the public, 1-2 calling *BUFF-COLLARED NIGHTJARS
on the 17th in Brown Canyon was of interest. On the 18th an AMERICAN
REDSTART was observed in the canyon (Larry Liese).
PATAGONIA AREA/I-19 CORRIDOR
A #LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was along Sonoita Creek at the east end of
Patagonia Lake State Park on the 16th (Stuart Healy). The bird was near
where the creek flows into the lake. The creek can be accessed from the
Sonoita Creek Trail.
A female AMERICAN REDSTART was observed on the 22nd at the county park in
Tubac. It was feeding in a mesquite (Brian McKnight and Diane Touret).
HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS/SIERRA VISTA
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDS continued to frequent the feeders at Ash Canyon Bed
& Breakfast during this past week. The yard is open to the public; donations
are appreciated. For more information on this site see
http://AshCanyonBandB.com
PINAL COUNTY
The six MOUNTAIN PLOVERS on the 17th at the sod farm on Tweedy Road (Santa
Cruz Flats) were early (Shawneen Finnegan and Molly Pollock).
WILLCOX
One GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE remained at Lake Cochise in Willcox through
the 20th (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