Southeast Arizona (Tucson Audubon Society) RBA
July 4, 2008
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 16:37:00 -0700
Reply-To: John Yerger <john@ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM>
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From: John Yerger <john@ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM>
Subject: [BIRDWEST] Tucson RBA 4 July 2008
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Hello Birders,
This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for Southeast
Arizona was made on July 4, 2008. The next update will be made on July
11. Phone your reports to 520-798-1005 X 1. Email your reports to
rarebirdalert.
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. Abbreviation "var obs" = various 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.
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:
*BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD
#WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD
*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER
*YELLOW-GREEN VIREO
#RED-EYED VIREO
*FLAME-COLORED TANAGER
*BALTIMORE ORIOLE
other less rare birds of local interest
SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS and vicinity
A *YELLOW-GREEN VIREO was reported near Proctor Road in Madera Canyon on
6/28 (Nigel Crook). This was below the waterfall that is just downstream
from Proctor Road. Please note that there are no official trails that
reach this specific locale, so avoidance of vegetation-trampling is
mandatory. (Rock-hopping in the stream for the more athletic birders is
a good option.) As it turns out, the bird was also reported upstream
from Proctor Rd where the paved path forks, so it may not even be
worthwhile to attempt to reach the waterfall.
Complicating matters even further, a #RED-EYED VIREO was seen on the
path upstream from Proctor Rd on 7/2 (Michael Marsden). This bird
appeared to be a duller individual, while the Yellow-green Vireo
appeared to be a rather bright individual, but very careful observation
should still be used to separate the two.
Continuing at the Madera Kubo feeders this week: male and female
*BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRDS; male #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD. Upcanyon at the
Chuparosa Inn on 6/30, *BERYLLINE and #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRDS
continued there as well.
The *FLAME-COLORED TANAGER continues at Madera Kubo this week, often
seen from the treetops near the road (var obs). Occasionally it visits
the oranges or feeders there as well. As a reminder, PLEASE DO NOT PARK
in front of Madera Kubo. Any birder wishing to observe the fine birds at
these feeders MUST park at the Amphitheater lot just down the road, and
walk the short distance up the road to Madera Kubo.
*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS were also seen on 6/29 on the paved loop
above Proctor Road near the Wait-A-Minute Bush sign (Jerry Bock).
The previously reported *Crescent-chested Warbler was not reported from
Kent Springs this week, despite searching by several parties this week.
However, there is apparently a #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD nest in the same
area at the Springs (Dave Smith fide Ken Kertell). At Bog Springs, which
can be accessed long before reaching Bog Springs by the same trail, a
*BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD was seen not far above the cement tank on 6/28
(Ken Kertell) and again on 6/29 where the trail forks to either Bog
Springs or Kent Springs (Laurens Halsey).
TUBAC
While the continuing *BALTIMORE ORIOLE is apparently becoming more
difficult to locate at times, it was seen around 11:15AM on 6/29 (Jerry
Bock). To reach this area, take Bridge Rd from the I-19 Frontage Rd.
Turn left where Bridge Rd reaches a T-intersection, go past the
municipal police station, and park just before the maintenance yard for
the course. Follow the paved path north from here, staying east of the
golf course fence. Continue across two wooden bridges and onto the golf
course; the bird was being seen in a large cottonwood tree across from a
brick restroom facility.
OR...
Various birders have taken this shorter route without incident: Starting
at the Tubac Golf Course parking lot, go east to the business complex
and wind your way through this mini mall (restaurants, gift shops, real
estate offices) out the east side towards the golf course. You should
end up on the broad, paved golf cart path that connects the west and
east units of the Tubac Golf Course. This path reaches a bridge that
crosses the Santa Cruz River in approximately 250 yards. A brick
outhouse can be seen perhaps 150 yards away, almost due east from the
bridge. The bird has favored the largest cottonwood here, but is often
detectable by it's song. PLEASE respect golfers first and foremost, this
is their "turf" (so to speak).
CALIFORNIA GULCH
If you're in this area seeking the resident FIVE-STRIPED SPARROWS, you
may keep in mind that there are a pair of *BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS now
being reported here as well. At the south end of the "old road" through
California Gulch, a male of this species was audio recorded and
photographed, and was accompanied by a female on 7/4 (Keith Kamper, John
Yerger). This is the same area where a male was heard/seen/photographed
on 6/24.
*BUFF-COLLARED NIGHTJAR is still being repoted in the adjacent Oro
Blanco mine site, but is usually only being heard.
HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS
A male #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD continues to be seen at the Controlled
Access Site (CAS) of Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon (Melody Kehl).
#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.
WHITEWATER DRAW
2 MARBLED GODWITS were reported from Whitewater Draw on 6/30 (Glenn
Klingler).
WILLCOX
Early shorebird numbers are on the incremental increase at Willcox Twin
Lakes. A few surprises on 6/30 included: a pair of adult BAIRD'S
SANDPIPERS near the old "pier" on the north shore, a pair of adult
SOLITARY SANDPIPERS. Less surprising but still good: a few LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, WILLET, LONG-BILLED CURLEW, 3 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS,
REDHEAD, NORTHERN PINTAIL (Dave Stejskal et al).
TUCSON
At Lakeside Park, the immature NEOTROPIC CORMORANT continued on 6/30
(Dave Stejskal).
SEASONAL NOTE
Two different semi-early reports of RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD were received
this week, both from Cochise County.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
I-10 is under construction in Tucson between 29th Street and Prince
Road. See http://www.i10tucsondistrict.com/29toP.html for details.
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.
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.
Happy 4th of July!
John Yerger
Tucson, AZ
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