Southeast Arizona (Tucson Audubon Society) RBA
May 16, 2008
Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 04:25:33 -0700
Reply-To: John Yerger <john@ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM>
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From: John Yerger <john@ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM>
Subject: [BIRDWEST] Tucson RBA 16 May 2008
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Hello Birders,
This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for Southeast
Arizona was made on May 16, 2008. The next update will be made on May
23. Phone your reports to 520-798-1005 X 1. Email your reports to
rarebirdalert@tucsonaudubon.org
In this report, where directions are not given, they can be found in
the 2007 edition of "Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona", published by
and available from Tucson Audubon. Updates to the 6th edition, 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 temporary closures and rules for access to other
important birding areas.
An asterisk (*) preceding a species name in the list indicates that it
merits careful, full documentation. A pound sign (#) indicates that
brief corroborating details are warranted.
Please send documentation to the Arizona Bird Committee via the online
form at http://azfo.org/ArizonaBirdReview/ABCReview.aspx, via email to
ghrosenberg@comcast.net or the ABC, P.O. Box 91856, Tucson, AZ
85720-1856.
SPECIES MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
MISSISSIPPI KITE
Crested Caracara
#SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER
Baird's Sandpiper
Marbled Godwit
CASPIAN TERN
#LEAST TERN
*BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD
#WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD
*TUFTED FLYCATCHER
*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER
#PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
*FLAME-COLORED TANAGER
#GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS
The *TUFTED FLYCATCHER continues to be seen this week near Herb Martyr
Campground in Cave Creek Canyon, with varying degrees of success. Thus
far, it appears that the bird is easiest to find in the early to
mid-morning hours. For a highly detailed description of where the bird
was seen, please refer to the end of this report, just prior to the
"Announcements."
At the George Walker House on 5/12, a #PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was seen
coming to the water feature there (Mark Smith). It also hovered briefly
at the peanut butter feeder.
At Cave Creek Ranch on 5/10, at least one female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
was seen, as was the adult #GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (var obs).
HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS
A female *BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD continues to be reported from Ramsey
Canyon B & B (var obs).
A male #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD is being seen at the Controlled Access
Site (CAS) of Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon (Tom Beatty).
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDS continue to be seen this week at Ash Canyon B & B
(var obs). Multiple birds breed in the area each year, and come to the
feeders from March-September. Elsewhere in Arizona, this species is
quite scarce.
SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS
The *FLAME-COLORED TANAGER continues at Madera Kubo this week, often
seen from the treetops near the road (var obs). As a reminder, PLEASE DO
NOT PARK in front of Madera Kubo. It is mandatory that any birder
wishing to observe this beautiful bird park at the Ampitheater lot just
down the road, and walk the short distance up the road to Madera Kubo.
#WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRDS are also being seen at the feeders here (var obs).
After a few weeks without reports, the *BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS at
Proctor Road were seen on 5/11 (Melody Kehl). Apparently they were being
followed around a couple youngsters, on the south side of Proctor west
of the creek.
*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS were also seen in Montosa Canyon on 5/11
(Dave Stejskal). From the concrete dip on the road up to the observatory
(past the visitor's center), the bird was up the road another 1/4 mile
or so at the spot where another drainage crosses under the road via a
huge metal culvert (there's a small brown & white "1 mile" marker sign
on the right just before this spot).
WILLCOX
A #LEAST TERN was seen at Willcox Twin Lakes on 5/10 and 5/11 (Troy
Corman et al), and a #SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was reported on 5/10 (Clait
Braun et al). A MARBLED GODWIT continued this week at the same location
(var obs) at least through 5/12. Also, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was seen on
the 5/15 (Scott Schuette).
WHITEWATER DRAW
A #SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was reported from Whitewater Draw WMA on 5/11
(Glenn Klingler).
RIO RICO
A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen over the ponds east of I-19 at the Rio Rico
exit on 5/8 (Keith Kamper, Scott Schuette). Usually a pair or two of
Mississippi Kites nest at St. David or farther along the San Pedro River
near Dudleyville, but this sighting seems a bit outside of the
"expected" locations for AZ.
PATAGONIA
The *BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER pair at Patagonia Lake State Park was
observed in the second wash (accessed from the trail between the lake
and the mesquite bosque) on 5/9 (Kent Nelson).
Also on 5/9, a CASPIAN TERN was observed flying over the Lake (Kent
Nelson). This or another CASPIAN TERN was seen flying over Patagonia
Lake on 5/12 (Gary Rosenberg). This species is a casual migrant in SE AZ.
TUCSON
A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen coming to a water feature in a
private yard in the Houghton Rd/Snyder Rd area of Tucson on 5/16 (Joe
Carpignato).
TUMACACORI
A juvenile CRESTED CARACARA was seen on 5/13 in the flooded fields east
of I-19 near the Palo Parado exit (Michael Marsden). This is the same
area (south of Tumacacori, accessed from the frontage road) where they
have been reported sporadically since March, and is a bit east of the
range where they are normally found in Arizona (and north of where their
range ends in Sonora).
TUFTED FLYCATCHER EXTRA DETAILS (courtesy Richard Webster)
At Herb Martyr, there are two streams below the parking areas that come
together below the lower parking area. The closer stream (Cima Creek) is
barely flowing, comes from the direction of Ash Spring, and is crossed
by the trail as it leaves the lower parking area. The other stream
("Middle Fork" of Cave Creek) is flowing more strongly, and the main
trail goes up it to Little Dam and beyond. The bird has been seen at the
confluence of the two streams (but relatively infrequently), where the
main trail first crosses the Ash Spring drainage immediately below the
parking area (often, in the sycamores), up the Ash Spring drainage about
100m (occasionally), and along the Middle Fork stream (often, especially
at the signed trail junction where the Ash Spring trail takes off from
the main trail). Once it went up Middle Fork past Little Dam to the
metal "stile" (zig-zag type, not climb over) near the Basin Trail
junction. Most observations were within 100 meters of the confluence on
either stream. (Editor's note: Middle Fork is sometimes referred to as
the "Main Fork" of Cave Creek.)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
GREEN VALLEY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: ALL birders in a party must
sign in, not just one representative of said party. Also, please DO NOT
park on the grass, due to fire danger from hot catalytic converters.
SANTA CRUZ FLATS: Managers at the Evergreen Turf Farm (vicinity of
Tweedy and Pretzer Rds) have requested that anyone birding there on the
weekends please leave by 5:00 PM. This is due to security issues
experienced by the Sod Farm. Birders are still welcome here at other times.
I-10 is under construction in Tucson between 29th Street and Prince
Road. See http://www.i10tucsondistrict.com/29toP.html for details.
AVRA VALLEY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: The facility is now closed to
birders due to the ongoing construction. Updates will be added as they
become available.
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. Construction also seems
to be ongoing at the Corona de Tucson Ponds, which remain closed to
birders due to construction.
Good birding,
John Yerger
Tucson, AZ
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