Southeast Arizona (Tucson Audubon Society) RBA
March 15, 2008
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:05:36 -0700
Reply-To: John Yerger <john@ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM>
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From: John Yerger <john@ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM>
Subject: [BIRDWEST] Tucson RBA 14 March 2007
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Hello Birders,
This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for Southeast
Arizona was made on March 14th, 2008. The next update will be made on
March 21st. 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
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 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://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:
#ROSS'S GOOSE
HOODED MERGANSER
*NORTHERN JACANA
*SHORT-TAILED HAWK
*RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
#RUDDY GROUND-DOVE
Elegant Trogon
GREEN KINGFISHER
Lewis's Woodpecker
#EASTERN PHOEBE
*WHITE-EYED VIREO
#RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER
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 throughout the week (var obs), and at least through 3/9
(Kris Olson, Melody Kehl). Be cautious of a nesting Killdeer on the dirt
road behind the first pond.
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.
1 #RUDDY GROUND-DOVE was observed in Red Rock again on 3/9, presumably
NW of the feedlot (Melody Kehl).
TUCSON
The immature *Tucson SHORT-TAILED HAWK was seen again on the afternoon
of 3/13 near the intersection of Wilmot and Sunny just south of the
Grant and Wilmot intersection (Dave Stejskal).
A continuing BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER has not been seen sice 3/12,
but was seen by multiple observers prior to that date. The bird was/is
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.
3 HOODED MERGANSERS (1 male, 2 female) were seen from the trail that
runs along the east side of the Santa Cruz River north of Cortaro Rd on
3/10 (Barry Stevenson).
A LEWIS'S WOODPECKER continued near the grassy knolls in the NW corner
of Reid Park on 3/8 (Richard Carlson).
TUBAC/TUMACACORI
After a several weeks without being reported, the *WHITE-EYED VIREO was
again seen along the Anza Trail about 1/2 mile south of Tubac Bridge on
3/7 (Jim Karp), and again on 3/9 (Michael Marsden). On 3/7, it was seen
across from the fence dividing the sewage treatment plant property and
the county park. On 3/9 it was seen where it has more frequently been
reported, 1/4 mile south of the bridge at the first dip in the trail
through a dry wash. Also observed on the Santa Cruz River at Tubac on
3/9 was a Gray Hawk.
An oddity in the fields just south of Tumacacori on 3/12 was a SANDHILL
CRANE (Michael Marsden).
PATAGONIA
A *RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was sitting on the NW side of the Sonoita Creek
from the Paton's yard on 3/11. A Gray Hawk was seen the same day about a
mile southeast of the Paton's along Blue Heaven Road (Melody Kehl).
An ELEGANT TROGON was found in the first mesquite bosque beyond the base
of the stairs on the main trail at Patagonia Lake State Park on 3/12
(Diane Touret). Also on this day, an #EASTERN PHOEBE was seen a brief
walk up Sonoita Creek (Chuck and Elaine Crunkleton).
DOUGLAS
After not being reported for some time, a #RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN was seen
again in a private yard in Douglas on 3/12 (Arnie Moorhouse). It remains
a shy but regular visitor to the yard. The owner of this house has
graciously welcomed visitors to look for it, but it may be a good idea
to let the owner know that birders are present around the house.
The address is 2910 9th Street, not far from the small airport at the
east side of town. It may be found along the chain-link fence separating
the property from 9th Street. Thick shrubs run along this fence, but it
may be possible to see the robin from the road.
RIO RICO
A hike along Sonoita Creek in the Sonoita Creek State Natural Area from
the Rio Rico entrance on 3/8 yielded a GREEN KINGFISHER (Michael
Bissontz). A permit is required to hike here.
Just north of Rio Rico on the Anza Trail, a juvenile CRESTED CARACARA
was seen on 3/12 (Michael Marsden).
SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY
Whitewater Draw still hosted a lone Greater White-fronted Goose, as well
as Snow and #ROSS'S GEESE.
SEASONAL NOTES
This week has seen the arrival of several migrating COMMON BLACK-HAWKS,
as well as early-arriving summer residents like ELF OWL, COMMON
POORWILL, etc. Meanwhile, wintering species like Red Crossbills, Pine
Siskins, and other normally high-elevation species continue to be seen
in multiple lowland locations this week.
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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