Southeast Arizona (Tucson Audubon Society) RBA
March 22, 2008
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2008 01:08:44 -0700
Reply-To: John Yerger <john@ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM>
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From: John Yerger <john@ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM>
Subject: [BIRDWEST] Tucson RBA 21 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:
#GREATER SCAUP
*NORTHERN JACANA
*RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
#ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (probable)
#RUDDY GROUND-DOVE
GREEN KINGFISHER
Lewis's Woodpecker
(#Rufous-backed Robin?)
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER
#LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH
FOX SPARROW ("Slate-colored")
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 3/16 (Marcy Gray). 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.
Also on 3/16, 3 #RUDDY GROUND-DOVES were reported from an unspecified
location at the Red Rock feedlot (Marcy Gray).
TUCSON
A male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER continued on 3/19 (Jason Douglas).
For an aerial map of the location, please refer to
http://tinyurl.com/25mw2k. 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.
Two different LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS were present in the northwest corner
of Reid Park on 3/15 (Mark Stevenson). One was seen on the lights on the
east side of Hi Corbett Field, the other from the palms near the grassy
knolls (as usual).
A probable #ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was reported from the vicinity of Rincon
Creek at Old Spanish Trail on 3/19 (Carla Danforth).
PATAGONIA
An immature *RED-SHOULDERED HAWK continued near Paton's in Patagonia on
3/15 (Matt Brown, Robin Baxter). Specifically, it was in the trees on
the far bank of Sonoita Creek about 150 yards upstream from the crossing
there.
TUBAC
A continuing #LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was videotaped from the Anza Trail
on the Santa Cruz River at Tubac on 3/20 (Brad Waggoner). Specifically,
it was on the east side of river 1/4 mile north of where some power
lines cross the river.
SAN PEDRO RIVER
A continuing #LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was found at its usual spot on the
San Pedro River on 3/15, due east of Black Phoebe Pond, south of Garden
Wash (Erika Wilson). Also present was a PAINTED REDSTART.
A #GREATER SCAUP was seen and photographed in Dudleyville on 3/15, at
Liz's Grove (Michael Moore). See www.lizsgrove.com for details on the
location.
RIO RICO
A female GREEN KINGFISHER was seen again along Sonoita Creek on 3/19,
about 4 miles from the trailhead along the Sonoita Creek accessed from
Rio Rico (Dominic Sherony, Matt Brown). Permit required, available from
the visitor's center at Patagonia Lake State Park.
ARIVACA CIENEGA
Two "Slate-colored" FOX SPARROWS were found at Arivaca Cienega, in a
hackberry next to the trail in the NW corner of the preserve, just
before the brown end-of-trail sign (Michael Marsden).
DOUGLAS
NOT reported this week (but possibly still present) is a #RUFOUS-BACKED
ROBIN that was last reported from 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.
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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