Southeast Arizona (Tucson Audubon Society) RBA
July 11, 2008
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:26:57 -0400
Reply-To: John Yerger <john@ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM>
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From: John Yerger <john@ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM>
Subject: [BIRDWEST] Tucson RBA 11 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 11, 2008. The next update will be made on July
18. Phone your reports to 520-798-1005 X 1. Email your reports to
rarebirdalert AT tucsonaudubon.org.
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
NORTHERN PARULA
*FLAME-COLORED TANAGER
*YELLOW GROSBEAK (gone)
#PAINTED BUNTING
*BALTIMORE ORIOLE (lack of)
CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS
A *YELLOW GROSBEAK was seen at a private residence in Portal from
7/3-7/6 (Richard Webster & Rose Ann Rowlett), but has not been seen
since and the yard is now closed to visitors. Should it be found again,
the owners may be kind enough to allow visitors again.
A male #PAINTED BUNTING has been visiting the feeders at the Jensen's
house (a private residence not far from the Portal store) this week
(fide Dave Stejskal).
SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS and vicinity
Continuing at the Madera Kubo feeders this week: male and female
*BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRDS; male #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD. Upcanyon at the
Chuparosa Inn this week, *BERYLLINE and #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRDS
continued there as well, apparently being joined by a female #LUCIFER
HUMMINGBIRD on 7/4 (Melody Kehl).
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 seen on 7/4 by the bat boxes on the
paved loop above Proctor Road (Melody Kehl) and on 7/9 on the same trail
where it meets Proctor Rd (Michael Marsden).
A male *BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD was seen along the trail to Kent Springs
on 7/6, hawking insects along the main trail uphill about 70 hiking
yards from the spur that leads to Bog Springs (Laurens Halsey).
On the Carrie Nation Trail on 7/4, and early NASHVILLE WARBLER was seen
(Melody Kehl).
TUBAC
No sign of the *BALTIMORE ORIOLE this week. It may have absconded, or it
may simply be wandering farther than usual and/or is singing much less
or not at all. If you'd still like to give it a try:
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
#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.
No birders specifically reported it this week, but a male #WHITE-EARED
HUMMINGBIRD traditionally continues at the Controlled Access Site (CAS)
of Beatty's Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon throughout the summer.
PATAGONIA
A NORTHERN PARULA was found along Blue Haven Road downstream from the
Patons' residence on 7/10 (Mark Stevenson, Dave Stejskal). Specifically,
it was located where the upstream-direction traffic sees a "Road
Narrows" sign.
WILLCOX
On 7/4 at Willcox Twin Lakes: the continuing trio of AMERICAN WHITE
PELICANS, a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL, a single WILLET, about 5-6 LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, a single female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, and the continuing
female NORTHERN PINTAIL and male REDHEAD were all seen (Dave Stejskal).
SANTA CRUZ FLATS
A BLUE-WINGED TEAL (casual in July) was found on 7/6 in at a small pond
in the Santa Cruz Flats as well. Also, one CRESTED CARACARA was spotted
south of Greene Reservoir Rd. between Picacho Hwy. and Fast Track Rd
(Doug Jenness).
TUCSON
At Sweetwater Wetlands on 7/7, 6 early YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS and yet
another pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL were spotted (Andrew Core).
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 remains 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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