Southeast Arizona (Tucson Audubon Society) RBA
March 25, 2011
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:29:09 -0700
Reply-To: Andrew Core <tucsonrba@GMAIL.COM>
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From: Andrew Core <tucsonrba@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: [BIRDWEST] RBA Tucson, AZ - 25 March 2011
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Hello Birders,
This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for Southeast
Arizona was made on March 25, 2011. The next update will be made on April 1.
Phone your reports to 520-629-0510 X 3, or email your reports to
rarebirdalert AT tucsonaudubon.org.
SEVERAL IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS follow the sightings, including information
on temporary closures and rules for access to other important birding areas.
Abbreviation "m.ob." = multiple observers. 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. Documentation and photos of review species may be submitted
at http://www.azfo.org/gallery/1main/whatIsABC.html.
Where directions are not given, they can be found in the most recent edition
of Tucson Audubon's "Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona". More infomation
including updates may be found here:
http://tucsonaudubon.org/what-we-do/publications/fbi.html. For additional
sightings in the region, please see the The Arizona-New Mexico Birding
ListServ (http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html)
SPECIES MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT INCLUDE:
*LEAST GREBE
#GREATER SCAUP
Brown Pelican
*SHORT-TAILED HAWK
#"HARLAN'S" RED-TAILED HAWK
#WHIMBREL
GREEN KINGFISHER
#YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER
*WINTER WREN
*SEDGE WREN
#BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER
#RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN
#BROWN THRASHER
TUCSON area
A light morph *SHORT-TAILED HAWK was reported from the Catalina Highway on
Mt. Lemmon along the gated road to the Mt. Bigelow towers on 3/24 (Jean Cook
fide Susan Birky).
The #BROWN THRASHER continued in a yard northwest of Tucson on 3/16 (Andrew
Core). Visitors are welcome from 8-11am; do not block the driveway or walk
on the deck or patio, and please sign the guest sheet. Directions: Turn into
Capilla del Sol Christian Church (3130 W Overton Rd) and take the gravel
driveway in back left corner. Continue past the circular entry and park.
Best viewing of the thrasher was on the north side of the house. The bird is
shy; be patient, and remember that you are a guest.
At Sweetwater Wetlands a Summer Tanager continued on 3/24 (Chris McCreedy).
The Swamp Sparrow continued near the Hidden Pond on 3/24 and the female
Black-and-white Warbler on 3/23 (Andrew Core).
At Kennedy Park the Canada Goose continued on 3/24 (Mark Stevenson); at
Lakeside Park the Greater White-fronted Goose continued on 3/20; and at Reid
Park the Snow Goose and probable Ross’s Goose continued on 3/24 (John
Higgins).
In Sabino Canyon a Violet-crowned Hummingbird was reported from the feeders
just above the dam on 3/22 (Fred Heath) and continued on 3/23 (Mark
Stevenson).
NOGALES area
At Pena Blanca Lake, the *SEDGE WREN was reported again on 3/12 (Mary
Freeman) in the Thumb Rock inlet area, the first report in more than two
weeks. The last few months it has most frequently been seen in the southeast
corner of the lake, near the old boat ramp parking lot and in the small
inlet accessible from the Red Rock picnic area on the east side of the lake
(map: http://bit.ly/PenaBlanca). Four *LEAST GREBES were reported again at
the south end of the lake on 3/21 (Cathy Tobin).
GREEN VALLEY & the SANTA RITAS
In Madera Canyon, a *WINTER WREN was reported again upstream from the
Proctor Road crossing on 3/23 (Laurens Halsey).
In Green Valley a dark-phase #"HARLAN'S" Red-tailed Hawk continued along the
Santa Cruz River at the Continental Rd bridge on 3/25 (Laurens Halsey).
A #BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER was reported again from Florida Canyon on 3/20
and 3/22 (Richard Fray, Chris McCreedy) near the waterfall.
A female #BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER was reported from Montosa Canyon on 3/4
(Laurens Halsey) a few hundred yards past the concrete stream crossing, near
a large culvert. Two were reported on 3/8 (Mark & Farrish Sharon).
SIERRA VISTA & the HUACHUCAS
A female #GREATER SCAUP was reported on the regular 8am Sunday outing at the
Sierra Vista EOP on 3/6 (Erika Wilson).
SANTA CRUZ FLATS
A #WHIMBREL was reported from on the north side of Harmon Rd between
Sunshine and Barrett Rds on 3/22 (Gale Owings).
LAS CIENEGAS NCA
A GREEN KINGFISHER was reported from Empire Gulch on 3/17 (Dana Wheeler). An
adult male #YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was reported on 3/20 (Mark Stevenson).
PATAGONIA & the SAN RAFAEL VALLEY
At Patagonia Lake State Park a pair of #BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS was
reported from the Birding Trail at the east end of the lake, in the 4th
wash, on 3/23 (Stuart Healy). Two Swamp Sparrows were along the trail on
3/24 (Diane Touret). Two BROWN PELICANS were reported on 3/21 (Matt Brown)
and continued on 3/24 (Pat Goltz).
A Lawrence's Goldfinch – one of the few reported this year – was at the
Paton's yard on 3/22 (Anne Geraghty) and continued the next day (m.ob.).
BENSON area
The #RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN was reported again from the Holy Trinity Monastery
in St. David south of Benson on 3/21 (Cathy Tobin) on the west side of the
(drained) main pond.
TUBAC, TUMACACORI and AMADO area
A Crested Caracara continues to roam the upper Santa Cruz River, and was
reported between Tubac and Amado on 3/23 (Kendall Kroesen) and the
agricultural fields south of Tumacacori on 3/24 (Richard Fray).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BENSON - the Benson Birding Trail is no longer accessible as the property is
under new ownership.
PATAGONIA - The Paton's yard remains open to birders.
FORT HUACHUCA - will suspend your driving privileges on Post for 30 days, on
your first offense for talking or using a cell phone/Blackberry while
driving. You MUST use a hands free device.
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.
BAIRD'S SPARROW HILL AND THE VACA RANCH CORRAL in the San Rafael Valley is
off limits to birders due to the thoughtless actions of a few birders. DO
NOT ENTER THE PROPERTY. A sign has been posted previously stating that
"stopping within 0.25 mile of the corral is prohibited."
The Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department is currently revising
security procedures and these rules are subject to change any time. Please
see this link for important information regarding access:
http://www.pima.gov/wwm/about/pdf/birdwatching.pdf. Your cooperation is
greatly appreciated.
SWEETWATER WETLANDS - Mosquito control operations are scheduled from
6:30-8:30am on Mondays. The gate will open when operations are finished.
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. Approach the
gate and follow the directions on the call box there to contact the
operators to open the gate for you.
AVRA VALLEY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: Gates open at 6AM and close PROMPTLY
at 2PM (do not linger, you will be locked inside).
CORONA DE TUCSON WASTEWATER RECLAMATION FACILITY: Access to the ponds here,
about 1.5 miles west of Houghton Rd on Sahuarita Rd, is available from 6:00
A.M to 2:00 P.M daily. List of attendees and group affiliation must be sent
in advance by fax (762-0591) or phone (762-0593). Bring identification with
you.
NOGALES SEWAGE PONDS: Remain closed to birders.
Updates to the 7th edition (2007) of Finding Birds in Arizona can be found
here: http://tucsonaudubon.org/what-we-do/publications/133.html
Good birding!
Andrew Core
SEAZ RBA Compiler - Tucson, AZ
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