Southeast Arizona (Tucson Audubon Society) RBA
February 22, 2008
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:54:27 -0700
Reply-To: John Yerger <john@ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM>
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From: John Yerger <john@ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM>
Subject: [BIRDWEST] Tucson RBA 22 February 2008
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Hello Birders,
This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for Southeast
Arizona was made on February 22nd, 2008. The next update will be made on
February 29th. 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
brand new 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 the temporary closure of the Avra Valley Wastewater
Treatment Plant 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://www.azfo.org/ArizonaBirdCommittee/abc_documentatio.html,
via email to ghrosenberg@comcast.net or the ABC, P.O. Box 91856, Tucson,
AZ 85720-1856.
SPECIES MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:
HOODED MERGANSER
CATTLE EGRET
*RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
*SHORT-TAILED HAWK
ZONE-TAILED HAWK
Merlin
*NORTHERN JACANA
American Avocet
#RUDDY GROUND-DOVE
VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD
Magnificent Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Lewis's Woodpecker
*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER
Townsend's Warbler
Summer Tanager
TUCSON
The immature *SHORT-TAILED HAWK photographed last week was probably seen
on 2/17 and 2/18 near Gold's Gym on Wilmot Rd between Speedway Blvd and
Craycroft Rd (David Dunford, Mark Stevenson).
A continuing BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was seen at least through 2/15
(var obs). The bird can be found along the bike path that parallels
Bonita Rd, between Congress St and St. Mary's Rd. Specifically, the bird
has been seen in a grove of mesquite trees - and sometimes tamarisk
trees - just north of (and on the opposite side of the street from) N.
Commerce Park Loop. On the bike path, a "Bike Path Narrows" sign as well
as a huge powerline tower mark the general vicinity.
A VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD, rare in Tucson/in winter, reappeared at a
feeder about 1 mile north of River Road between 1st Ave and Campbell Ave
on 2/20 (Michael Bissontz).
A female SUMMER TANAGER continues at Sweetwater Wetlands on 2/17 (Jerry
Bock).
A MERLIN was seen near that Catalina High School on Winstel Blvd between
Pima and Seneca on 2/18 (Vivian Mackinnon). A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was seen
at 22nd St/Swan Rd on 2/21 (John Higgins). A HOODED MERGANSER continued
at Fort Lowell Park on 2/18 (Mark Stevenson). A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was
reported from a private yard near Fort Lowell Rd and Columbus Blvd on
2/17 (Jenise Porter).
CASA GRANDE & THE SANTA CRUZ FLATS
The *NORTHERN JACANA continues at the northwestern-most ponds of the
Dave White Municipal Golf Course in Casa Grande. Birders are NOT ALLOWED
onto the golf course to look for the bird, but can view the ponds from
the surrounding desert; please be quiet for concentrating golfers. The
bird was seen at least through 2/18 at the pond closest to the parking
area (var obs).
From Tucson, take I-10 west to I-8. Take I-8 west to the Thornton Road
exit (exit 172). Take Thornton north about 5.5 miles to Korsten Road.
Turn right/east, and drive one mile to Pinal Ave. Turn left/north on
Pinal Ave about a mile to Rodeo Road. Turn left/west on Rodeo Road and
drive nearly to the end of the pavement. On your left will be a break in
the curb for a future driveway. Drive in the dirt road toward the golf
course and park north of the course.
From the south side of the feedlot at Red Rock, a female #RUDDY
GROUND-DOVE was reported on 2/16 (Dennis Vollmar). It has also been seen
around the house on the SE corner of Coachway and Hollis Rds, at the NW
corner of the feedlot. Please exercise caution regarding private
property here.
BENSON/ST. DAVID
A *RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was photographed north of the Holy Trinity
Monastery in St. David on 2/20. Take Highway 80 out of Benson heading to
and through St. David. Exactly one mile south of the Express Stop
convenience store on Highway 80 is a small private lane on the left
(east) called Calle del Oro. The bird was initially perched atop a
telephone pole near this intersection (Clifford Cathers).
A LEWIS'S WOODPECKER continued at the school in Pomerene on 2/18 (Lainie
Epstein).
SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS
A pair of *BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS was seen again in Montosa Canyon on
2/17, at the concrete water crossing just past the Whipple Observatory
on Mt. Hopkins Rd.
The Crescent-chested Warbler in Madera Canyon was not reported this
week, despite searching by many interested parties.
A wintering MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD was seen at the Chuparosa Inn
feeders on 2/17 (Moez Ali).
PATAGONIA
At Patagonia Lake State Park, a pair of *BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERs was
found on 2/21 in the mesquite bosque at the east end of the lake
(Clifford Cathers).
SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY
3 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen at Whitewater Draw on 2/18 (Glenn Klingler).
SIERRA VISTA
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was seen on 2/16 at Soldier Creek Park near the
intersection of Taylor and Garden just outside Fort Huachuca (Rick and
Ricki Thompson).
NOGALES and vicinity
A TOWNSEND'S WARBLER was seen in Sycamore Canyon on 2/17 (John Yerger).
DOUGLAS
2 female-type HOODED MERGANSERS and a female COMMON GOLDENEYE were
reported on 2/18 from the house at San Bernardino National Wildlife
Refuge east of Douglas, AZ (Jeri Hill).
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.
FORT HUACHUCA: Construction is still ongoing on parts of Christy Ave.
Information on how this affects access to Huachuca Canyon may be
obtained by calling 520-533-1443. The signage for detours is good.
FORT HUACHUCA MAIN GATE CONSTRUCTION: In the next few weeks, the Main
Gate and East Gate will be undergoing construction with the installation
of pop-up gate barriers. Work will begin on the out-bound lanes at the
Main Gate on 19 February. In-bound lane work will follow upon completion
of the out-bound lane construction. During the construction period,
"out-bound traffic" will be re-directed to Wilcox Road. Construction is
expected to take four weeks. Motorists are requested to use caution.
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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