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Updated on Monday, March 15 at 04:27 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.
Cuckoo-Rollers,©BirdQuest

15 Mar 03.13.10 FOS Tempe Black-chinned Hummingbird [Brian Enos ]
15 Mar AZ:03/15/10:Tubac Hawks Today ["Clifford A. Cathers" ]
15 Mar AZ: Sweetwater Wetlands, March 14 [C kirscher ]
15 Mar correction in my post from yesterday at Goldfield Rec. Site (3-14-10) [Tommy DeBardeleben ]
15 Mar NM: The Past Week at Pritzlaff Ranch [Robert Hunt ]
15 Mar NM RBA for 3/15/10 []
15 Mar Visiting from the UK - anyone fancy meeting up. [MATTHEW WILSON ]
15 Mar AZ: Rufous-capped Warbler and Ruby-crowned Kinglet Saga ["Miller, Leo" ]
14 Mar Gilbert area, Salt River area [Tommy DeBardeleben ]
15 Mar AZ: Kearny Lake Common Goldeneye [Doug Jenness ]
14 Mar SEAZ: Santa Cruz Flats, 03/14/10 [Melody Kehl ]
14 Mar NM: FOS Black-necked Stilt - Belen Marsh [Judith E Liddell ]
14 Mar AZ: HAS Trip--Patagonia Lake SP, 14 Mar 2010 [Erika Wilson ]
15 Mar Re: Tubac Black Hawks [CLIFF CATHERS ]
14 Mar Tubac Black Hawks [Richard Carlson ]
14 Mar Whiskered Screech Owl, Portal Area? [Jim Church ]
14 Mar AZ: Phoenix Rio Salado: Blue-Winged Teal, etc. ["Myron L. Scott" ]
14 Mar Sweetwater Wetlands March 13, 2010 [Paul Roisen ]
14 Mar AZ SE Palominas [Gordon Lewis ]
14 Mar Bullock's Oriole, Lawrence's Goldfinches, etc. Hereford, 14 MAR 10 []
14 Mar Santa Cruz Flats - Mt Plover & Horned Lark [Bill & Carla Kirchner ]
14 Mar AZFO - New photos, Red-shouldered Hawks, Green Kingfisher, Intergrade Flicker [Mike Moore ]
14 Mar Evergreen Cemetery, Sweetwater Wetlands March 13, 2010 [Pat ]
14 Mar SE AZ: Patons' Yard, Patagonia - 13 Feb 10 [Michael Marsden ]
13 Mar AZ:03/13/10:Tubac & Santa Gertrudis Lane ["Clifford A. Cathers" ]
13 Mar MAS Field Trip to Flagstaff lakes ["Charles J.Babbitt" ]
13 Mar Re: The Cormorant is Back! March 11, 2010 Reid Park, [CROOK NIGEL ]
13 Mar AZ: Morgan City Wash Area [Troy Corman ]
13 Mar Phoenix Rio Salado B&W warbler et al [Thomas Gaskill ]
13 Mar SE AZ: Tubac Black-Hawk Flight, Santa Cruz R. and Madera/Florida Cyn birds [Steven Tucker ]
13 Mar Agua Caliente, Tucson, AZ 3/13/10 [Robert Payne ]
12 Mar Great Day at Tubac, AZ area [Vic/Donna Fondy ]
12 Mar AZ: Havasu Kittiwake a no-show 3/11-12 [David Stejskal ]
13 Mar SE AZ: Nogales Cemetery - 12 Feb 10 [Michael Marsden ]
12 Mar Hassayampa: Green Kingfisher, Red-shouldered Hawk [Brian Gatlin ]
12 Mar rufous-capped warbler [Phil Norton ]
12 Mar SE AZ: Whitewater Wetlands Walk [Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory ]
12 Mar Fw: AZ: olive warblers - six shooter canyon trail in the pinals [Mark Stevenson ]
12 Mar RBA Tucson, AZ - 12 March 2010 [Andrew Core ]
12 Mar Roosevelt Lake, Gila County- Thursday, Mar 11th (no rarities) [Jeff ]
12 Mar Tubac Bridge Common Black-hawk [James P Karp ]
12 Mar FOS Rufous/Allens [Richard Carlson ]
11 Mar The Cormorant is Back! March 11, 2010 Reid Park, also Lincoln Park, Sam Lena Park [Pat ]
11 Mar Sweetwater Wetlands report, Tucson, Az 3/11/2010 [Jerry Bock ]
11 Mar Volunteer Birders needed for the 2010 Tucson Bird Count! ["Rachel E. McCaffrey" ]
11 Mar Lucy's Warbler in Green Valley [Nina Hansen ]
11 Mar AZ: re "2009-10 Comparison - Huachuca Cyn" [Alan Miller ]
11 Mar AZ: 2009 -10 Comparison - Huachuca Cyn [Alan Miller ]
11 Mar NM RBA for 3/11/10 []
11 Mar AZ SE Palominas [Gordon Lewis ]
11 Mar USFS 5 year plan for Huachucas etc. meeting in Sierra Vista today, THUR-11 March [ ]
11 Mar AZFO - New photos of Red-shouldered Hawk [Mike Moore ]
10 Mar Tubac AZ report [Vic/Donna Fondy ]
10 Mar SE AZ: 03/10/10 - Rufous-capped Warbler - Florida Canyon; McCown's Longspurs - San Rafael Valley [Stuart Healy ]
10 Mar RFI: SE AZ in early April 2010 [Ken Blankenship ]
10 Mar AZ; More "Trogon eats water bug" videos [Matt Brown ]
10 Mar Hassayampa, Wickenburg: GREEN KINGFISHER, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (3-10-10) [Tommy DeBardeleben ]
10 Mar Re: BIRDWG05 Digest - 7 Mar 2010 to 8 Mar 2010 (#2010-68) [Frank Boyle ]
9 Mar Re: BIRDWG05 Digest - 7 Mar 2010 to 8 Mar 2010 (#2010-68) [Helen Snyder ]
9 Mar AZ: Video of Trogon vs. Giant Water Bug at Patagonia Lake, 8March10 [Matt Brown ]
9 Mar AZ:03/09/2010:Benson WWTP ["Clifford A. Cathers" ]
9 Mar Re: Arizona Photos [Jim Morgan ]
9 Mar Arizona Photos [William Higgins ]
9 Mar Sweetwater Wetlands March 9, 2010 no Soras [Pat ]
9 Mar TAS field trip [LAWRENCE LIESE ]
9 Mar Re: Correction on a Wrong Id [Phil Jeffrey ]
9 Mar Correction on a Wrong Id []
9 Mar Common Black-hawk at Tubac [James P Karp ]
9 Mar AZ - Mesa: Rose-breasted Grosbeak [C kirscher ]
9 Mar Glendale Recharge Ponds, 3-9-2010 [Tommy DeBardeleben ]
9 Mar Yuma County, Black & other rails, 8 Mar 2010 [Henry Detwiler ]
9 Mar Tucson AC park Cassin's Finches [Richard Carlson ]
9 Mar FW: Tucson Short Tailed Hawk 03/08/2010 [Stuart Healy ]
9 Mar AZ: Tempe: Kiwanis Park gull and osprey ["Myron L. Scott" ]
9 Mar AZ News: Catalina State Park Temporarily Closed [Mark Stevenson ]
9 Mar AZFO - New photos of Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker [Mike Moore ]

Subject: 03.13.10 FOS Tempe Black-chinned Hummingbird
From: Brian Enos <brian AT BRIANENOS.COM>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:26:46 -0700
I was watching some Anna's with some friends Saturday, and mentioned that
the Black-chinned Hummers should be returning soon. A few minutes later a
male buzzed the yard.

Brian
Subject: AZ:03/15/10:Tubac Hawks Today
From: "Clifford A. Cathers" <azcliffy AT Q.COM>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:43:29 -0700
I was with friends/clients Nina Hansen and Jan Pal from Green Valley 
scoping out the Tubac hawk situation today prior to tomorrow's Tucson 
Audubon Society field trip.  The weather was quite chilly this morning 
behind the cold front which passed to our north and east yesterday and my 
Durango logged 34 F in the pecan groves along Old Nogales Highway.  It 
warmed quickly on the bridge in Tubac and it was nice to see familiar faces 
among the birders present.

Unfortunately, the wind was swirling about the bridge today, still at times 
and then coming from all directions.  The prevailing wind, though, seemed 
to be coming out of the northwest.  One COMMON BLACK-HAWK tried the 
airspace around 9:15 AM, to the east of the river channel.  The bird gained 
altitude and actually drifted off to the south and then east.  A pair of 
CHIHUAHUAN RAVENs and a pair of COMMON RAVENs made for a nice size and 
flight comparison.

A ZONE-TAILED HAWK floated over the eastern end of the river channel a bit 
later giving extended views of its long tapered wings and long narrower 
tail.  This was followed by a RED-TAILED HAWK and then a COMMON BLACK-HAWK 
circled a little more overhead for pictures and excellent viewing.  The 
rounded swept-back wing shape and squat flared tail made for a nice photo 
comparison (http://www.economybirding.com/files/201003Journal5.pdf).

We also saw a COOPER'S HAWK, WILSON'S WARBLER (thanks Dick Palmer!), CEDAR 
WAXWINGs, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, BLACK PHOEBE, WHITE-WINGED DOVEs, SAY'S 
PHOEBE, NORTHERN CARDINAL, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, VERDIN, SONG SPARROW, BEWICK'S 
WREN and some saw a LUCY'S WARBLER from the bridge.  Nina, Jan and I left 
at 10:00 AM with only the two black hawks accounted for.  I'm hoping the 
impending wind change will improve the results tomorrow!

The Tubac Golf Resort had a few brilliant VERMILION FLYCATCHERs.

Clifford A. Cathers
Economy Birding Services, Inc.
"Quality Birding With Your Budget in Mind"
http://www.economybirding.com
Budget Bird guiding for the Desert Southwest
AZCliffy AT Q.com - 520.762.3201
Subject: AZ: Sweetwater Wetlands, March 14
From: C kirscher <antclaudia2008 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:43:18 -0700
On Sunday, 3/14, our DRAS field trip enjoyed three hours of enjoyable (albeit 
windy) birding around the various pond trails yielding 60 species.  We began 
the morning with two Soras, eastern-most pond, feeding out in the open reeds 
and ended with up-close and lingering views of an immature male Vermillion 
Flycatcher, Phainopepla, and the Black-Throated Gray Warbler, all with 15 feet 
of each other and within 20 feet of our group - what a treat !  This was just 
west of the eastern entry bridge, along the stream edge.  Brightly-plumaged 
Wilson's Warbler, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Orange-Crowned Warbler, Blue-Grey 
Gnatcatcher, and Common Yellowthroat were found as well as Marsh and Bewick's 
Wren.  Eleven species of ducks, including those displaying Buffleheads and 
Ruddy Ducks, Green- and Blue-Winged Teal, and Gadwall.  A Peregrine 
Falcon buzzing the ponds and then circling overhead caused  flurries of 
excitement and lots of duck movement.  Three of 

 the young neighborhood Harris' Hawks perched on a snag in the southern 
recharge pond area allowing long scoped views.  A lovely spring day in good 
company.  Thanks to all the sharp-eyed participants. 


Good birding, 
Claudia Kirscher, Field Trip Leader
Desert Rivers Audubon Society 
Subject: correction in my post from yesterday at Goldfield Rec. Site (3-14-10)
From: Tommy DeBardeleben <sunsfan1331 AT AOL.COM>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:50:32 -0400
Hi,

In my post yesterday, I accidently put that I had a Horned Lark at the 
Goldfield Site, when I meant to put LARK SPARROW.  Not the right 
habitat for a Horned Lark at all either!

Tommy (glendale, az)
Subject: NM: The Past Week at Pritzlaff Ranch
From: Robert Hunt <zapata86303 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:38:09 -0700
Hi there non-snowed-under birders,
 
Here at Pritzlaff Ranch near San Ignacio in San Miguel County in the Sapello 
River Valley I learned what it means to live at the base of the Sangre De 
Cristo Mountains in March: a fresh foot of snow on the ground and much more 
coming down... 

 
Just as things were starting to dry out a little up here the bird activity was 
beginning to increase. Many, many more juncos were swarming the ground beneath 
my feeders and out in the fields, quite a few of them were female 
Slate-coloreds. Robins had begun to swarm in as well and were nailing fat 
earthworms everywhere in front of me. The most interesting of these was an 
almost entirely LEUCISTIC AMERICAN ROBIN. A Wild Turkey and a few Canada Geese 
have shown up in the back yard. 

 
Two nights ago as I stepped out in the twilight, I heard a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL 
tooting from a nearby forested slope. Below is the "yard" list for the ranch 
for the past week: 

 
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Wild Turkey
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Lewis's Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Western Bluebird
American Robin
European Starling 
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird (singing)
Cassin's Finch (singing)
American Goldfinch
 
Rob Hunt, the Lost Ecologist
Subject: NM RBA for 3/15/10
From: Pinyonjay AT AOL.COM
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:48:40 EDT
 
-RBA 
New Mexico Bird Report 
March 15, 2010 
NMEX1003.15 
-Transcript 
Hotline New Mexico 
date:  March 15, 2010 
compiler Patricia R. Snider  
Phone:  719-846-3174 
Cell  phone 505-803-1807 
e-mail  address _pinyonjay AT aol.com_ (mailto:pinyonjay AT aol.com)   
This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for  
March 15, 2010, sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological  
Society.  When phone  numbers are given for private property,  
please call before going to ask for permission.  In ranch  
country do not stray off the roads. 
. 
Highlights:  Red-throated Loon, Lawrence’s  Goldfinch. 
See note in Field Trips about the Sandia Hawkwatch  site. 
Predictions are for a great wildflower show on the desert this  
spring. 
ChW reported that GREAT EGRETS have been color banded with red  
leg  bands, from the Great Lakes.  Report  bands if seen to 416- 
739-5846.  
A star is added for new birds to the RBA today. 
. 
. 
Places mentioned and a checklist of N.M. birds are in the N.M.  
Bird Finding Guide.  Check for earlier reports and database  
At _http://www.nmbirds.org_ (http://www.nmbirds.org/)  
or in  the archives of the AZ/NM listserve.  For photos of  
rarities and directions to some birding sites check  
_http://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage_ 
(http://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage) . 
. 
For  the Bird Records Committee and North American Birds and NMOS  
Field  Notes please send reports to Dr. Sartor O. Williams, III,  
1819  Meadowview NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104 or to  
_sunbittern AT earthlink.net_ (mailto:sunbittern AT earthlink.net) . 
. 
. 
Birds  Mentioned and Counties: 
. 
Light  geese (Chaves) 
Common  Goldeneye (Colfax, Chaves, Sandoval) 
Hooded  Merganser (Sierra) 
Common  Merganser (Colfax, Chaves) 
Red-breasted Merganser (Sierra) 
Red-throated Loon (Sierra) 
Neotropic Cormorant (Bernalillo) 
Great  Egret (Socorro) 
Turkey  Vulture (Bernalillo, Grant) 
Northern Harrier (Chaves) 
Harris’s Hawk (Lea) 
Merlin  (Sierra, Chaves) 
Sora  (Sierra) 
Common  Moorhen (Sierra) 
Sandhill Crane (Chaves, Curry) 
Black-necked Stilt (*Valencia) 
Dunlin  (*Socorro) 
Greater Yellowlegs (Hidalgo) 
Great  Horned Owl (Roosevelt, Eddy) 
Barn  Owl (Sierra, Chaves) 
Three-toed Woodpecker (Bernalillo) 
Hammond’s Flycatcher (Sierra) 
Black Phoebe (Doña Ana) 
Eastern Phoebe (Sierra) 
Hutton’s Vireo (Sierra) 
Tree Swallow (Sierra, *Luna) 
Violet-green Swallow (Doña Ana, *Luna) 
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Sierra) 
Cliff Swallow (*Luna) 
Bridled Titmouse (Sierra, *Luna) 
Brown Creeper (Sierra, Bernalillo, Doña Ana) 
Carolina Wren (Guadalupe) 
Mountain Bluebird (Doña Ana) 
Gray  Catbird (Socorro) 
Sage  Thrasher (Sierra) 
Cedar  Waxwing (Socorro) 
Common  Yellowthroat (Sierra) 
Painted Redstart (*Sierra) 
Brewer’s Sparrow (Sierra) 
Field  Sparrow (Lea) 
Harris’s Sparrow (*Sandoval) 
Yellow-eyed Junco (Grant) 
Chestnut-collared Longspur (Lea) 
Pyrrhuloxia (Bernalillo) 
Rosy  Finches (Bernalillo) 
Lawrence’s Goldfinch (*Luna) 
. 
. 
In  Bernalillo County: 
DH on March 4 had a male PYRRHULOXIA by  the 3SE marker, a mile  
south  of Bridge St.  BH found it again on  March 10 on the east side  
of the  Rio and west side of the levee. 
At the Alameda Bridge BH and JP on March  5 saw an adult  
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT south of the bridge near the pump  house. 
CB and NH on March 5 reported two flying  TURKEY VULTURES over  
Cedar  Crest, east of the Sandias, for the first of spring.  
The SNC team is banding ROSY FINCHES on  Sundays at the Crest  
House.  They estimate the flock to be 150  to 200.  On February 28  
they  banded only two BROWN-CAPPED with 124 recaptures.  The road up  
was  clear, but there is ice in walking from the parking lot into  
the  Crest House.      RK on March 5 had up to 75  rosy finches of  
all  three species. 
In hiking south along the Sandia Crest for 1/3 mile they found a  
BROWN  CREEPPER and a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. 
. 
In  Chaves County: 
For the March 4 count at the refuge JSa  reported 19,000 light  
geese,  1342 CRANES, six COMMON GOLDENEYES, one COMMON MERGANSER, 15  
HARRIERS, two BARN OWLS, and two MERLINS, one on Unit 6 and the  
other  on the refuge farm. 
. 
In  Colfax County: 
Springer Lake was still frozen, Stubblefield mostly so, and a  
hole  was on Lake 13 with lots of waterfowl, including many male  
COMMON  GOLDENEYES, and COMMON MERGANSERS. 
. 
In  Curry County: 
JLo at his home in se. county reported  CRANES over his home in  
small  flocks almost daily by March 5. 
. 
In  Doña Ana County: 
At their yard near Radium Springs JZ  reported in early March  
a  BROWN CREEPER, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, and a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD with  
a  BLACK PHOEBE at the pond eating mosquito fish. 
. 
In  Eddy County: 
DZw found a GREAT HORNED OWL at  Rattlesnake Springs on March 5  
by the  stream near the pond. 
. 
In  Grant County: 
EL had the first TURKEY VULTURES over his  Silver City home on  
February 26 and 27. 
KB still had the YELLOW-EYED JUNCO at her  home through February  
28.  It was banded by  DG. 
. 
In  Hidalgo County: 
RS says the pond at the exit of I-10 is full of water.  He had  
three  GREATER YELLOWLEGS at the pond on February 27. 
County Hwy.1 south of Animas crosses the  Diamond A (Gray) Ranch.   
Because of events with thoughtless birders, one must NOT go off  the  
road. 
. 
In  Lea County: 
ChB on March 6 at  Crossroads had three FIELD SPARROWS, six  
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS, and a HARRIS’S  HAWK. 
. 
In  Luna County: 
DH on March 14 at Pancho Villa State Park  near Columbus had four  
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCHES alont the south fence. 
In Deming on March 12 LM had a BRIDLED  TITMOUSE at the Mountain  
view  Cemetery and at the Pecan Park pond there was TREE, VIOLET- 
GREEN,  and CLIFF SWALLOWS. 
. 
In  Otero County: 
One can walk past the gate to Stinky Lake  at the Holloman Lakes,  
but  not drive in and can still bird there, but Lagoon G is still  
off  limits. 
. 
In  Roosevelt County: 
DZw on March 7 had a GREAT HORNED OWL at  the migrant trap 11  
miles  west of Melrose. 
. 
In  Sandoval County: 
DK on March 14 had an immature HARRIS’S  SPARROW at the north end 
Of the  Corrales Bosque with White-crowns at the drain at barrel 6.8  
close  to the north parking lot. 
JL reported on March 4 there was a male  COMMON GOLDENEYE in the  
Corrales ditch near La Entrada. 
. 
In  Sierra County: 
At the hole in the cliff near the  Las Palomas exit two BARN OWLS  
Have  been seen.  DC saw one owl on the  southbound lane a quarter  
mile  from the exit on March 8. 
DC on March 10 below the dam near the  outflow structures seen  
From  above at the NM177 overlook saw six NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS 
And a  pair of HOODED MERGANSERS.  Right  next to the dam he again  
saw  the winter adult RED-THROATED LOON.  There were two male RED- 
BREASTED MERGANSERS at the Dam Site Marina. 
At Paseo del Rio Park below the dam JP  reported a MOORHEN and  
two  HOODED MERGANSERS on March 6.  On  March 9 DC had the moorhen, a  
SAGE  THRASHER, and three BREWER’S SPARROWS. 
At Percha Dam Park on February 20 JP, LL,  and WW saw a  
YELLOWTHROAT, an EASTERN PHOEBE north of the dam, four MOORHENS,  
and a  HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER.  The same day  DG had a TREE SWALLOW  
with  five ROUGH-WINGED, and a MERLIN.  SF  on March 6 had a SORA at  
the  pond in the campground (photos).  JP, LL, and WW on March 6  
found  a HUTTON’S VIREO, BROWN CREEPER, and BRIDLED TITMICE.  DH on  
March  13 had a PAINTED REDSTART in the north woods of the park. 
DC on March 9 at Riverside Park below the Caballo Lake Dam  saw 
ten  ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. 
DC advises that water is being released  from Elephant Butte Lake  
into  Caballo Lake.  DG reports that  Caballo in now quite high. 
. 
In  Socorro County: 
AG on March 2 at the Turtle Bay Park on  the NMTU campus in  
Socorro had two CATBIRDS and a CEDAR WAXWING flock.  JP, WW, and LL  
had  one CATBIRD on March 6. 
At Bosque del Apache Refuge south of San  Antonio JP reported the  
first  GREAT EGRETS on March 6.  DH on  March 14 had the two DUNLINS  
at the  pond along Hwy. 1. 
JSt reports that there is no hiking east  of the Rio Grande at  
the  Bosque del Apache refuge at least thru March for a mountain  
lion  study.  The part of the refuge west  of the rio is still open. 
. 
In  Valencia County: 
JL on March 14 had a BLACK-NECKED STILT  at the marsh behind the  
Taco  Bell in Belen. 
. 
. 
Initials of Observers: 
. 
KB,  Karen Berkenbach;   ChB, Charles Black;  CB, Celestyn Brozek;   
DC,  David Cleary;  SNC, Steve and Nancy  Cox;  SF, Steve Fettig;   
AG,  Ashli Gorbet;  DG, David Griffin;  DH, David Hawksworth;   
NH,  Nancy Hetrick;  BH, Bill Howe;   RK, Rick Koehler;   
DK,  David Krueper;  LL, Lane  Leckman;  EL, Gene Lewis;   
JL,  Judith Liddell; JLo, James Lofton;  JP, John Parmeter;   
JSa,  Jeff Sanchez;  RS, Robert  Shantz;  JSt, James Stuart;   
ChW,  Chip Weselch;  WW, Bill  Wittman;  JZ, Jimmy Zabriskie;  
DZw,  DeAnn Zwight. 
. 
. 
Field  Trips:  
. 
Central Audubon in Albuquerque has Thursday field trips.  All phone  
numbers begin with 505.  On March 18 to the Rio Grande Nature  
Center  with Sei Tokuda, 266-2480; and March 25 the Pueblo Montaño  
Picnic  Area with Gale Owings, 255-8333. 
. 
Mesilla Valley Audubon will bird the Holloman Lakes and White  Sands  
NM on  March 20.  Contact is David Griffin  575-382-2080. 
. 
On  Saturday, March 20 Southwestern Audubon will do Spring Canyon  
near  Deming.  Leader is Larry Malone;  contact is 575-388-3441. 
. 
Central Audubon will have a field trip on Saturday, March 27 to  
Percha  Dam, Caballo Lake, Animas Canyon and Elephant Butte Lake  
with  Cole Wolf, _colejwolf AT gmail.com_ (mailto:colejwolf AT gmail.com) . 
. 
The  Cox banding team will be banding Rosy Finches at the Crest  
House  in the Sandias on Sundays at 9:30.  Check for snowstorms when  
planning to climb the mountain. 
. 
There  will be no formal HawkWatch crew gathering data in the  
Sandias this year.  However Roger Grimshaw plans to make trips up  
to the  site from time to time.  For  information 407-319-0280. 
. 
The  Mesilla Valley Bosque Park will have a Bird Walk on April 3,  
first  Saturdays., beginning at 8:15. 
. 
The  Rio Grande Nature Center has morning bird walks on Sunday and  
Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. 
. 
. 
-End  Transcript_[1]_ (aoldb://mail/write/template.htm#_ftn1)  

 
____________________________________

_[1]_ (aoldb://mail/write/template.htm#_ftnref1)
Subject: Visiting from the UK - anyone fancy meeting up.
From: MATTHEW WILSON <crubbix AT BTINTERNET.COM>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:11:51 +0000
Been monitoring this site for the last few days and starting 
Hi all, 

Been monitoring this site for the last few days and starting drool at the 
thought of the migrants coming through. I'm looking for some companionship for 
a few mornings when we are in the Tucson area when we get there end of next 
week. 


Will be staying in Anthem for 3 nights with friends, then:-

Anyone fancy a walk around Madera Canyon or Florida Wash, or better still 
pointing me towards the Rufous capped Warbler on either the morning of 29th or 
30th March. Were staying at the Madera Kubo B&B (failed to get in at Santa 
Rita...ooops), pleased drop me an email at crubbix AT btinternet.com, or a text on 
00447939270027. 


May be a bit slow responding as I have a week in NYC and Philly first and there 
are a lot of pubs to go to! 


On the morning of the 31st and 01st April I'll be out and about around the 
Beatty's ranch where we have 2 nights and will probably be on the canyon walk 
when it runs. 


Wish list is (in no particular order).

Lawrence's Goldfinch.
Rufous capped W.
Five striped Sparrow.
Fox Sparrow.
Sage Sparrow.
Lark Bunting.
McCown's Longspur.
Chestnut Collared Longspur.
Flammulated Owl.
Saw-whet.
Northern Pygmy Owl.
Ferruginous Pygmy Owl.
Ross's Goose - probably at Whitewater Draw.
Mountain Plover.
Buff-collared Nightjar.
Allen's HB.
Pacific Slope FC.
Plumbeous Vireo.
Rufous-backed Robin.
Sage Thrasher.
Le Conte's Thrasher.

That would clear me out for AZ.


Cheers,

Mat Wilson.
Ely. UK.
Subject: AZ: Rufous-capped Warbler and Ruby-crowned Kinglet Saga
From: "Miller, Leo" <leo AT UIC.EDU>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:12:33 -0500
After rock hopping to cross the creek in Florida Canyon I saw the
Rufous-capped Warbler today(3/14) about 10:45am. Before the warbler
appeared I noticed two inquisitive Ruby-crowned Kinglets that were closely
monitoring the area up- and down-stream of the sycamore tree. Whenever
another bird came into the area they followed it and when I phished or
squeaked they went looking through the dense brush along the creek. I
began thinking that they may spot the warbler before I did. Thats exactly
what happened!

Whenever I noticed them searching through the brush I looked to see if the
warbler was around. About 10:45am they were checking the brush just
up-stream of the sycamore tree and I saw the Rufous-capped Warbler nearby.
The warbler stayed low, often on the ground, and always along the creek. I
followed it along the creek for the next 20-30 min. I lost it at the top
of the dam. For the entire time one or both kinglets followed the warbler!

Initially, I thought it may be fortuitous that I saw the kinglets and
warbler together by the sycamore tree, but after watching them trailing
the warbler for more than 20 min I had to conclude that something else was
going on. They never attacked the warbler and always stayed at least 5 ft
or so away. While the warbler was constantly foraging the kinglets were
not trying to catch insects, they just watched the warbler - like - Wow!
Nice looking bird! Exactly what I was thinking.

I don't know if the kinglets are wintering in that area or just passing
through. In any event the next time you are looking for the Rufous-capped
Warbler in Florida Canyon, keep an eye out for those pesky kinglets, they
may help you locate your target.


Leo Miller
Riverside, IL
Wintering in San Diego
In Tucson to see the Common Black Hawk migration
Subject: Gilbert area, Salt River area
From: Tommy DeBardeleben <sunsfan1331 AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:55:07 -0700
Hi everyone,

Today (14 March 2010) I spent the entire day from sun up to sun down 
birding the areas of Gilbert and the recreation sites along the Salt 
River, which is north of Mesa.  It was an awesome day to be outdoors, and 
was my longest and biggest birding outing this year to date by far. 

I started out in the Gilbert area first, beginning my day at Gilbert Water 
Ranch.  It was very birdy this morning, as I recorded 67 species in a 
little over two hours.  My main highlight here was a female COMMON 
MERGANSER in pond 3, who swam through the pond rather fast, and I didn't 
see her again after the first time I saw her.  The first time I've ever 
seen this species here.  With the Merganser included, I saw 14 different 
species of ducks, with other notable species including GADWALL, AMERCIAN 
WIGEON, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, REDHEAD, and LESSER SCAUP. The RUFOUS-CROWNED 
SPARROW is still present along the 5/6 path, as it feed among many White-
crowned Sparrows.  I got good views of it feeding for a minute or so.  
Other water ranch highlights from the morning included the resident 
PEREGRINE FALCON, a group of 5 WILSON'S SNIPES feeding in pond 7, 
SWALLOWS: Tree, Rough-winged and Cliff, and a single AMERICAN GOLDFINCH 
along the 3/4 path.  

I then stopped at Veteran's Oasis Park for about 45 minutes and took a 
quick walk through the park.  Two BURROWING OWLS where my main highlight 
here.  I also enjoyed seeing many HORNED LARKS and a single SAVANNAH 
SPARROW.

From VOP I went to the ponds along Higley Road, where duck numbers are 
still good.  3 female COMMON MERGANSERS stood out among the other species 
who usually are here.  A NORTHERN HARRIER flew through a nearby field and 
also present was a SPOTTED SANDPIPER.

From the Gilbert locations I spent the rest of my day along the Salt River 
recreation sites.  The Butcher Jones Recreation Area/Sahuaro Lake was my 
first stop.  A single HORNED GREBE continued and that was the only one I 
saw during my time there.  A huge population of distant WESTERN GREBES is 
visable by scanning the lake in the distance, there are probably easily 
three hundred individuals, I'm sure some Clark's are in there as well. 
Also on the lake were was an EARED GREBE and several PIED-BILLED GREBES, 
as well as a few RING-BILLED GULLS.  LUCY'S WARBLERS were singing away at 
this spot (as well as all the other spots along the Salt River) and I got 
many great views of them as well.  Spring is here! 

The next stop was the Goldfield Recreation Site, where I had some awesome 
sightings.  I saw one BALD EAGLE soaring here, as well as a HARRIS'S HAWK 
and an AMERICAN KESTREL.  Many WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS flew overhead, and 
they were joined by a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW.  A BELTED KINGFISHER was 
present along the river for most of the time.  One HORNED LARK and GREATER 
ROADRUNNER were also present.

I then went to Coon Bluff where I had two ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS and a 
GRAY FLYCATCHER.  Swallows and Swifts flew overhead here as well in good 
numbers.  Several male and female VERMILION FLYCATCHERS were very active 
and vocal in the area.

Finally, my last stop was at Granite Reef Recreation Site.  I am almost 
positive I saw some sort of loon in the distance near the dam, but when I 
was on my way to get a better view, the bird left and never came back 
again.  There were many COMMON GOLDENEYES near the dam, as well as 
CANVASBACKS.  Not alot of activity here, wheras it's usually very active.

107 species for the day.  

Good birding,

Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona)
Subject: AZ: Kearny Lake Common Goldeneye
From: Doug Jenness <d_jenness AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:47:52 +0000
3/14/10

 

This morning, birding a few places on the way to Boyce Thompson Arboretum for a 
meeting, I observed a female COMMON GOLDENEYE at Kearny Lake along Hwy 177 in 
Pinal County. There were also 4 female Buffleheads at the lake, as well as the 
expected coots, moorhens, ducks, and 2 Savannah Sparrows. 


 

Doug Jenness

Catalina, AZ
 		 	   		  
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/210850553/direct/01/
Subject: SEAZ: Santa Cruz Flats, 03/14/10
From: Melody Kehl <outdoor1 AT COX.NET>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:44:13 -0700
Birds of note:

 

Crested Caracara along Picacho Road just north of Green Reservoir.

 

Multiple Bendire's Thrasher throughout the area. . . thrashing!

 

Mountain Plovers:  50 plus at Tweedy and Pretzer

 

Harris's Hawk:  1 at Sasco Road at the bend west of the Red Rock Feedlot

 

Mountain Bluebird:  24 at the Western sod farm on Green's Reservoir Road

 

Melody

 

(So Many Birds, So Little Time)

http://www.melodysbirding.com
Subject: NM: FOS Black-necked Stilt - Belen Marsh
From: Judith E Liddell <jliddell AT MSN.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:20:53 -0700
A Black-necked Stilt was working the edges of the marsh in the early 
afternoon, Sun. Mar. 14. 
Judy Liddell
Subject: AZ: HAS Trip--Patagonia Lake SP, 14 Mar 2010
From: Erika Wilson <terika88 AT COX.NET>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:53:50 -0700
Hi, birders,

Five HAS members and two guests had a fine morning at Patagonia Lake State
Park, (14 Mar 10), followed by stops at the Patagonia's Roadside Rest Area
and Paton's Yard. Our final tally was 75 species.

The abundant water in Sonoita Creek, with many channels flowing in what have
been foot paths, limited us somewhat, and we failed to see the Elegant
Trogon anywhere along the creek. 

Highlights are Patagonia Lake State Park were: a pair of Wood Ducks flying
down Sonoita Creek, 16 female Common Mergansers, and over a dozen
Double-crested Cormorants. We did not find any Neotropic Cormorants today.
An immature Black-crowned Night-Heron, a pair of adult Common Moorhens, and
two Wilson's Snipe were also good finds along the lake edge.

Best raptor was an immature Golden Eagle soaring high over the park at
lunch, being harassed by a Common Raven. At least 18 White-throated Swifts
were darting among the many Tree and Violet-green Swallows. Lingering winter
birds included a male Red-naped Sapsucker and eight Am. Robins. Warblers,
besides the ubiquitous Yellow-rumped Warblers, were Lucy's Warbler,
Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Painted Redstart.

At the Patagonia Roadside Rest Area a pair of Black-tailed Gnatcatcher were
fun to watch. At Paton's Yard we saw Broad-billed, Violet-Crowned, Anna's,
and Rufous Hummingbirds. A male Hooded Oriole put in a brief appearance for
FOS there.

Cheers, Erika Wilson (Sierra Vista, AZ)
Subject: Re: Tubac Black Hawks
From: CLIFF CATHERS <azcliffy AT Q.COM>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:43:01 +0000
Richard, I'm no expert, and I had considered going down today, but the weather 
system slipping to our north and east around our high pressure and through New 
Mexico has raked a cooler northerly component to the breeze across our area 
today. 


 

I'm guessing today was a "backup" day where black hawks are moving but not 
migrating, hiding out in the Santa Cruz drainage for a southerly wind component 
day (which looks likely tomorrow). I'm guessing the show will be much better 
tomorrow morning and Tuesday (for the Tucson Audubon field trip - shameless 
plug!). 


 

Then again, I could be full of it...

 

Clifford A. Cathers

Economy Birding Servics, Inc.

"Quality Birding With Your Budget in Mind"

http://www.economybirding.com

Budget Bird Guiding for the Desert Southwest

AZCliffy AT q.com - 520.762.3201
 
> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:31:02 -0700
> From: rccarl AT PACBELL.NET
> Subject: [BIRDWG05] Tubac Black Hawks
> To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
> 
> We were too late for the 9:30 am fly by of 3 Black Hawks. We did see 1 at 
about 11 doing a legs down display flight. Does that mean he might stay 
nearby??? 100's of Violet Green Swallows coming by. 

> 
> Sta. Getrudis lane had several Wilson's Warblers.
> 
> 
> RCC
> 
> Richard Carlson
> Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian
> Part-time Economist
> Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA
> rccarl AT pacbell.net
> Tucson 520-760-4935
> Tahoe 530-581-0624
> Kirkland 425-828-3819
> Cell 650-280-2965
Subject: Tubac Black Hawks
From: Richard Carlson <rccarl AT PACBELL.NET>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:31:02 -0700
We were too late for the 9:30 am fly by of 3 Black Hawks. We did see 1 at about 
11 doing a legs down display flight. Does that mean he might stay nearby??? 
100's of Violet Green Swallows coming by. 


Sta. Getrudis lane had several Wilson's Warblers.

 
RCC

Richard Carlson
Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian
Part-time Economist
Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA
rccarl AT pacbell.net
Tucson 520-760-4935
Tahoe 530-581-0624
Kirkland 425-828-3819
Cell 650-280-2965
Subject: Whiskered Screech Owl, Portal Area?
From: Jim Church <Jim.Church AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:21:43 -0600
We plan to visit Portal, AZ the week of April 5, and would like to find 
a Whiskered Screech Owl.  Has anyone seen one in that area  recently?  
If so, where?
Thanks, Jim Church
Subject: AZ: Phoenix Rio Salado: Blue-Winged Teal, etc.
From: "Myron L. Scott" <gaia_3 AT NETZERO.NET>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:40:31 GMT
RIO SALADO, Phoenix, March 15th:

Central Avenue:

     I didn't get the often-reported Black and White Warbler and
Creeper at the Central Ave. "Waterfall" this morning, probably 
through lack of perseverance.  Several good folk doing good 
work cleaning up trash and clearing out (presumably
invasive) brush necessarily made some noise, and most of the 
trees still were in deep shade from the usual benches when I 
was there.  Anyway, there were few birds from that vantage 
point, and I moved on after a little while.  The light was better 
and the same trees birdier to the east, from the paved path to
the overlook. From there, I spotted a both a(n early?)WARBLING and a BELL'S 
VIREO (a FOS for me) and a HERMIT THRUSH. There was a COMMON MOORHEN on the 
Demonstration Pond. A female KESTREL sortied from 

the bridge.

Central to 7th Ave.:

     This stretch (south side) was the best for ducks and waders.
Under the Central Ave. bridge, I was surprised by the sighting
of the day when 5 - count 'em, 5! - BLUE-WINGED TEAL (st least 3
males) flew upriver from near the south bank.  Nothing else out
of the norm, but a nice walk.  A MOURNING CLOAK (butterfly) near
7th Avenue seemed a harbinger of spring, as did a nearby 
TURKEY VULTURE. (There was another TV at 16th Street.) A COMMON RAVEN buzzed 
the 7th Ave. parking lot. 


Cliff Swallows:

 Just about every bridge had some, with the most at 7th Street and the best 
views of them over the old sand and gravel pit at 16th Street. (I spotted no 
owls at the pit.) 


Myron Scott
Tempe
Subject: Sweetwater Wetlands March 13, 2010
From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:07:50 -0700
Was fortunate enough to see a Black-throated Gray and several Black-chinned 
Hummingbirds while attending the TAS outing at Sweetwater Wetlands this 
morning.  Jon Dunn did a tremendous job providing insights into bird habits, 
differentiation between subspecies, and general tips on identifying various 
species that may resemble each other (like hummingbirds, swallows, and 
cormorants). Soras were calling and the Common Moorhens were not shy. 
 Peregrine and Prairie Falcons made appearances on cue from Jon showing off 
their distinguishing characteristics. 

Any suggestions for additional places to go would be greatly appreciated 
(Tucson area). 


Thanks to all.

God Bless,



Paul RoisenSioux City, IA

Woodbury County

712-276-0371(H)

712-301-2817(C)

--- On Sun, 3/14/10, Pat  wrote:

From: Pat 
Subject: [BIRDWG05] Evergreen Cemetery, Sweetwater Wetlands March 13, 2010
To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Date: Sunday, March 14, 2010, 7:48 AM

Folks,

Today I decided to try out Evergreen Cemetery. As I feared, most of the birds 
were in the trees, and I couldn't see them to identify them. At first, I didn't 
see or hear anybody, but when I went toward Oracle, I could hear various birds, 
and then I saw the Vermilion Flycatcher on a tombstone, and I noticed that 
birds were feeding across the "street", so I just sat down and watched. 
Unfortunately, they were really too far away for good pictures, so I moved 
closer, and they stopped coming! Very shy. 



I saw:

Vermilion Flycatchers (2 or more) The most STUNNING individuals I have ever 
seen! 

House Finches (at least 3)
House Sparrow
Yellow Warbler (or something else; body and head totally lemon yellow, no 
streaks) 

Lesser Goldfinches

I heard:

Mockingbird
Gila Woodpecker
House Sparrow
Verdin
possibly a couple of other woodpeckers I can't identify

I also saw:
Painted Lady Butterfly
Pipevine Swallowtail
Dandelions
London Rocket
Another plant with tiny purple flowers, and I have to figure out what it is!

I stayed about an hour, and then went to Sweetwater Wetlands. Nothing terribly 
unusual there, except possibly I saw more than one kind of Swallow. I have 
learned a trick to catch them in flight. Hey, most shots are still garbage, but 
I got one really good one, and one out of 20 isn't bad! I stayed two hours, and 
it got downright noisy before I left. No Soras, unfortunately. The ducks are 
definitely thinning out. 


I saw:
Mourning Doves
Mallards
Yellow-rumped Warblers
Black Phoebes
Vermilion Flycatcher
Red-winged Blackbirds
Yellow-headed Blackbirds
Great-tailed Grackles
Northern Shovelers
American Wigeons
Gadwalls (6)
Buffleheads
American Coots
Common Moorhens
Ring-necked Ducks
Green-winged Teals (2 or 3)
Curve-billed Thrasher
Neotropic Cormorants (2)
Harris's Hawks (4 sitting on the top of the white building to the east, at 
least one in flight, one sitting on a dead branch.) 

Ruddy Ducks
Pied-billed Grebe
Black-necked Stilts (4)
Violet-green Swallow (lifer)
Northern Rough-winged Swallows (they sure like to line up on the electric wire 
at night; I must have seen 15 when I left) 

Cactus Wren
Song Sparrow

I heard:
probably the Anna's Hummingbird

I also saw:

Red-eared Sliders
Cottontail Rabbits
Ground Squirrels (I am now persuaded that this is what I have been seeing 
instead of Prairie Dogs) 

Bat in flight


A couple of birders from New Jersey said they saw a Loggerhead Shrike in a 
tree, looking down on one of the recharge basins, but I didn't see him. Another 
birder reported that the White-winged Doves are back, but I didn't see any of 
those, either. 


Happy Birding,
Pat Goltz
Subject: AZ SE Palominas
From: Gordon Lewis <Ranchogulag AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:28:19 -0700
FOS BULLOCKS ORIOLE this am at the house so the warm must be doing
something. Fruit tress are beginning to bloom down here about one week after
Sierra Vista. BURROWING OWLS are tooting up a storm but still only four on
the sites. 
Bird walk 8am Monday, 10663 Hwy 92 in Palominas. Should be much better
conditions than last week.
Subject: Bullock's Oriole, Lawrence's Goldfinches, etc. Hereford, 14 MAR 10
From: rbehrstock AT COX.NET
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:21:18 -0400
Dear All,

The yard flock of 80+ Chipping Sparrows has dwindled, which signals the arrival 
of other species. This morning produced a splendid male Bullock's Oriole that 
came into the yard chattering away and was quickly at the suet, suggesting a 
returning bird. Later it was seen foraging on insects in oaks surrounding the 
yard. Also present briefly were two Lawrence's Goldfinches, which we see but a 
few times each year. Lingering birds include an American Goldfinch, Pine 
Siskins, and a Townsend's Solitaire that visits Pyracantha and seems to have 
become decidedly squeaky of late. 


Best to all,
RAB

--
Robert A. Behrstock 
10359 S. Thicket Pl. 
Hereford, AZ 85615 
Phone/FAX:  (520) 378-3262  
N31° 22' 49.75"  W110° 13' 41.08",  5,012' elev. 
Naturewide Images 
http://www.naturewideimages.com/ 
Birdlife of Houston, Galveston, and the Upper Texas Coast 
http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2006/eubanks.htm 
Finding Birds on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail 
http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2008/eubanks.htm 
Dragonflies & Damselflies of the Southwest 
http://www.rionuevo.com/book.php?book_isbn=9781933855141
Subject: Santa Cruz Flats - Mt Plover & Horned Lark
From: Bill & Carla Kirchner <kirchner6 AT COX.NET>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:40:04 -0700
A quick trip to the Santa Cruz Flats before the Picacho Peak Civil War 
reenactment early Saturday morning (7am) disclosed a dozen or more 
MOUNTAIN PLOVERS in the circle NW of Tweedy & Pretzer, and the circle 
west of that.  HORNED LARKS scrambled alongside the roads as well, 
reluctantly allowing a few photographs.  Raptors were few to none.  
Loved the larks, though!

:-)

Bill
Subject: AZFO - New photos, Red-shouldered Hawks, Green Kingfisher, Intergrade Flicker
From: Mike Moore <mcmoore32 AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:23:02 -0700
Field Ornithologists,
   
Jeff Ritz contributed photos of a Red-shouldered Hawk from Tres Rios in
October 2009.  Brendon Grice contributed additional photos of the Wickenberg
Red-shouldered Hawk(s) (including documentation of likely nest building
behavior) and the Green Kingfisher which have been added to those pages. 
Tom Martin contributed photos of an intergrade Flicker from Tumacacori (look
under Hybrids)  Thanks Jeff, Brendon and Tom!

Thanks to all who use the online form below to submit photos.  It makes my
job a lot easier and ensures your photos will be posted more quickly.  

Photos posted at:
 
http://www.azfo.org
click on "Photo Documentation"
   
Arizona Field Ornithologists welcomes Arizona rarity photo contributions
from all photographers throughout the state.  

Use our online form to submit photos:
http://www.azfo.org/gallery/PhotoContribution.html

If you enjoy the photo web site, please consider joining AZFO and supporting
our other activities.  Details on the web site.

We strive for accuracy.  Please email any corrections to postings to me.

Mike Moore
AZFO Photo Editor
Subject: Evergreen Cemetery, Sweetwater Wetlands March 13, 2010
From: Pat <pgoltz AT SEGHEA.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:48:04 -0700
Folks,

Today I decided to try out Evergreen Cemetery. As I feared, most of the 
birds were in the trees, and I couldn't see them to identify them. At 
first, I didn't see or hear anybody, but when I went toward Oracle, I 
could hear various birds, and then I saw the Vermilion Flycatcher on a 
tombstone, and I noticed that birds were feeding across the "street", so 
I just sat down and watched. Unfortunately, they were really too far 
away for good pictures, so I moved closer, and they stopped coming! Very 
shy.


I saw:

Vermilion Flycatchers (2 or more) The most STUNNING individuals I have 
ever seen!
House Finches (at least 3)
House Sparrow
Yellow Warbler (or something else; body and head totally lemon yellow, 
no streaks)
Lesser Goldfinches

I heard:

Mockingbird
Gila Woodpecker
House Sparrow
Verdin
possibly a couple of other woodpeckers I can't identify

I also saw:
Painted Lady Butterfly
Pipevine Swallowtail
Dandelions
London Rocket
Another plant with tiny purple flowers, and I have to figure out what it is!

I stayed about an hour, and then went to Sweetwater Wetlands. Nothing 
terribly unusual there, except possibly I saw more than one kind of 
Swallow. I have learned a trick to catch them in flight. Hey, most shots 
are still garbage, but I got one really good one, and one out of 20 
isn't bad! I stayed two hours, and it got downright noisy before I left. 
No Soras, unfortunately. The ducks are definitely thinning out.

I saw:
Mourning Doves
Mallards
Yellow-rumped Warblers
Black Phoebes
Vermilion Flycatcher
Red-winged Blackbirds
Yellow-headed Blackbirds
Great-tailed Grackles
Northern Shovelers
American Wigeons
Gadwalls (6)
Buffleheads
American Coots
Common Moorhens
Ring-necked Ducks
Green-winged Teals (2 or 3)
Curve-billed Thrasher
Neotropic Cormorants (2)
Harris's Hawks (4 sitting on the top of the white building to the east, 
at least one in flight, one sitting on a dead branch.)
Ruddy Ducks
Pied-billed Grebe
Black-necked Stilts (4)
Violet-green Swallow (lifer)
Northern Rough-winged Swallows (they sure like to line up on the 
electric wire at night; I must have seen 15 when I left)
Cactus Wren
Song Sparrow

I heard:
probably the Anna's Hummingbird

I also saw:

Red-eared Sliders
Cottontail Rabbits
Ground Squirrels (I am now persuaded that this is what I have been 
seeing instead of Prairie Dogs)
Bat in flight


A couple of birders from New Jersey said they saw a Loggerhead Shrike in 
a tree, looking down on one of the recharge basins, but I didn't see 
him. Another birder reported that the White-winged Doves are back, but I 
didn't see any of those, either.

Happy Birding,
Pat Goltz
Subject: SE AZ: Patons' Yard, Patagonia - 13 Feb 10
From: Michael Marsden <birdanza AT Q.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:34:07 +0000
An enyoyable visit at the Patons' this afternoon by members of the group 
Birders who Blog, Tweet and Chirp, during which they saw a couple-of-dozen 
species including Anna's, Broad-tailed, Rufous & Violet-crowned Hummingbirds. 


I wanted to thank whoever it was who left the Hummers Galore feeder while I was 
away this morning. I think it's the answer to our woodpecker problem! We do, of 
course, have a box for cash donations towards the cost of sugar and seed, but 
things like this (suet blocks, oranges or small packages of higher quality 
seed, for instance) are always particularly welcome. 

 

Michael Marsden
520-394-2340
Patagonia, AZ
Subject: AZ:03/13/10:Tubac & Santa Gertrudis Lane
From: "Clifford A. Cathers" <azcliffy AT Q.COM>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:40:17 -0700
I was out this glorious later winter day with friend and client Marcee 
Sherrill of Tucson and her dog Sneffles on a mid-day walk along the Santa 
Cruz River at Tubac and later at Santa Gertrudis Lane.  Birding was a bit 
slow, owing to the late hour (noon to 3:30 PM or so) and warm temperatures 
(75 F), but spring is definitely in the air and the cottonwood leaves are 
well advanced.

The first birds we saw out of the car at the Anza trail parking near Bridge 
Road in Tubac were a pair or spiraling COMMON RAVENs with a pair of COMMON 
BLACK-HAWKs mixed in.  They gave us excellent looks at they spiraled upward 
and then headed north.  It appears the annual black-hawk migration event at 
the Tubac Bridge is well underway.

We later had another COMMON BLACK-HAWK (journal picture) head out to a 
group of spiraling BLACK VULTUREs west of the river but the group soon 
separated with the hawk heading north and the vultures heading south.  
Other decent birds along the river included a BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD, a 
DUSKY FLYCATCHER, a WESTERN BLUEBIRD, RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWs, CLIFF 
SWALLOWs and lots of VERMILION FLYCATCHERs including several males doing 
their flying chicken display flight.  Lots of CHIPPING SPARROWs are moving 
through now.  We had a Connie Lyons and Karen Zipser sighting at the bridge.

Along the river north of Santa Gertrudis Lane, things were even quieter in 
the afternoon heat but we managed a lingering SPOTTED TOWHEE along the 
lane, a bright yellowish ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and a few other normal 
things.

The start of a wonderful spring in Tucson, Arizona...?

Clifford A. Cathers
Economy Birding Services, Inc.
"Quality Birding With Your Budget in Mind"
http://www.economybirding.com
Budget Bird Guiding for the Desert Southwest
AZCliffy AT q.com - 520.762.3201
Subject: MAS Field Trip to Flagstaff lakes
From: "Charles J.Babbitt" <cjbabbitt AT COX.NET>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:22:03 -0500
14 people birded the lakes south of Flagstaff today. The highlight was a 
Three-toed Woodpecker at Mormon Lake Lodge. 


The snow is still very deep throughout the area and piled 4-5 feet high in 
places along the roadway. What is usually a great waterfowl trip was a virtual 
strikeout this year. Lake beds still dry from the drought are covered with 
un-melted snow. Upper Lake Mary ( the only one with water) is still frozen over 
with the exception of one small area near the dam which had a small but nice 
collection of ducks including :Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Redhead, 
Bufflehead, Ring-necked and Green-winged Teal. 


There were very few Bald Eagles (not much place to fish). We did manage to see 
one adult and got good looks at a soaring immature. The group also got nice 
looks at two Lewis’s Woodpeckers at a Flagstaff city park. We called it a day 
about 2 P.M. just as it looked like another snow storm was about to move 
through. 


Charles Babbitt
Phoenix
Subject: Re: The Cormorant is Back! March 11, 2010 Reid Park,
From: CROOK NIGEL <nigelcrook AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:54:33 -0800
Hi Pat and Everyone

Just to add to Pats list for Reid Park on Thursday evening. There was also a 
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD, at least 3 OREGON JUNCO and 2 WESTERN BLUEBIRD hanging 
around. A PEREGRINE was soaring high overhead. The BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS 
are regular with 5 on view the next night. The CANVASBACKS seem to have 
departed except for a single female but 3 REDHEADS have taken their place. The 
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT was ridicously tame on Thursday afternoon! I sat less than 
3 yards from it. ...and I still messed the photos up! ...slight over exposure. 

 
NIGEL CROOK  Bird Guide, Personal Guiding and
 Tours
Specializing in South East Asia;  Britain, Europe and the Western
 Palearctic;  North America, especially Arizona
Current Phone Number Arizona 520 358 9687  Nigelcrook AT yahoo.com


--- On Thu, 3/11/10, Pat  wrote:

Still disappointed, I headed for Reid Park, and went to the two main
 ponds. I saw the usual suspects: American Wigeons, Ring-necked Ducks, 
Mallards, domestic ducks, including Indian Runner Ducks, geese, American Coots, 
Rock Doves, Great-tailed Grackles, a couple of Redheads, and a House Sparrow. I 
met a birder with camera, originally from England, who said he saw some ravens. 
No Mergansers. 


But I also saw:
Neotropic Cormorant. He was hanging around on the north shore of the south 
lake, close to the west end. 

Black-crowned Night-Herons (2) and got a really good picture of one of them. 
It's the first time I had seen any in the park, not in the zoo. He was hanging 
out in a tree on the northwest "corner" of the big pond. The fellow from 
England said he's there every evening (late afternoon).
Subject: AZ: Morgan City Wash Area
From: Troy Corman <aplomado AT COX.NET>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:53:01 -0700
Tommy DeBardeleben and I spent 4.5 hrs. exploring the Morgan City Wash area 
northwest of Phoenix this morning (13 March). It was good to finally get in the 
field to see a few early migrants, hear the resident birds singing and just 
enjoy the lush and blooming Sonoran Desert after several weekends of rain. We 
encountered several first of season (FOS) birds and for me these included 1 
WARBLING and 1 BELL'S VIREO (both singing), at least 7 different LUCY'S 
WARBLERS (many singing) and 4 ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS. We also found our FOS 
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER which sang vigorously. Other migrants included 4 
LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, at least a dozen YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (including 1 
Myrtle), 12 AMERICAN ROBINS, and 2 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH. Wintering hold-overs 
at this location included a HUTTON'S VIREO, a SPOTTED TOWHEE, 2 N. FLICKERS and 
several HERMIT THRUSHES. We noted a big influx of courting and singing LESSER 
GOLDFINCHES, nest building ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS and the resident COOPER'S HAWKS 
have constructed a new nest well downstream of where they nested the past few 
years. 


Hope to see you in the field...

Troy Corman
Phoenix, AZ
Subject: Phoenix Rio Salado B&W warbler et al
From: Thomas Gaskill <gaskillthomas AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:33:11 -0700
Hi all,

The continuing black & white warbler was with the brown creeper this morning
at about 9:00 near the waterfall (below the Central Ave parking area). Both
were fairly high in the willows.

Also of note at the Rio this morning were a female myrtle warbler (among the
large numbers of Audubon's) and a broad-tailed hummingbird (near the demo
wetland at about 9:50).

All of the other usual suspects were also present. The leaves are out on the
cottonwoods and emerging on the willows. The river level is very high and
some trails are under water, so exercise caution in the lower areas.

Good birding,
Tom Gaskill
Subject: SE AZ: Tubac Black-Hawk Flight, Santa Cruz R. and Madera/Florida Cyn birds
From: Steven Tucker <talkingtrees80 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:10:08 -0800
Wow.  Today I saw a mind-boggling 7-8(!) Common Black-Hawks moving north in 
Tubac from Bridge Rd. and adjacent park over the course of a few hours this 
morning.  Also had a Cooper's, 5 Red-taileds and a few dozen Turkey 
Vultures.  I didnt put in a whole lot of time looking, so who knows what other 
raptors flew over in the morning.  Both Zone-tailed Hawk and Gray Hawk (near 
Santa Gertrudis Lane) were mentioned being seen by other birders when I wasnt 
around.  I left at 12:15, as the last two black-hawks I saw cruised high 
overhed. 


Other birds on the Santa Cruz River today (or in Tubac) included Western and 
Mountain Bluebirds, Cassin's Kingbird, Black-throated Gray, Lucy's, Wilson's, 
Yellow-rumped and Townsend's Warblers, lots of Brewer's, Chipping 
and Rufous-winged Sparrows, some Lawrence's Goldfinches, etc.  


Yesterday there was a big push of hummingbirds here in Florida Canyon 
(well....comparitively), with about 6 new individuals visiting my lonely feeder 
besides the usual two Broad-billeds.  These were 2 Anna's, 1 Costa's, 2 Rufous, 
and another Broad-bill. 


Also worth mentioning were 2 male Williamson's Sapsuckers in Madera Canyon seen 
last Wednesday, one on each side of Josephine Saddle (Nate Turner saw one of 
the birds Thursday as well). 


Last but certainly not least, a Golden Eagle was flying around upper Madera 
Canyon early Wednesday morning. 


I highly advise looking up these days, it can lead to good things.

Steve Tucker
Florida Canyon
Subject: Agua Caliente, Tucson, AZ 3/13/10
From: Robert Payne <vermillion233 AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:10:23 -0700
I spent a few hours this morning at Agua Caliente Park looking for any 
continuing rarities. Right off the bat I had the Northern "Yellow-Shafted" 
Flicker at his dead snag before my truck crossed the entrance gate. By the time 
I had parked and walked back I found that he had not moved. I snapped a couple 
of pics and short movie before he took off. In the next half an hour 5 Northern 
"Red-Shafted" Flickers and 1 Gilded Flicker landed on the same snag. Just south 
of the restrooms in the grass was a Vesper Sparrow, which is a first for me at 
that location. 

At the northern edge of the park where the flocks of winter birds are being 
seen. In addition to the multitude of American Robins and Cedar Waxwings. One 
female Cassin's Finch was in a Mesquite in the maintenance yard. The Northern 
Beardless-Tyrranulet was feeding all around the dirt road with the big "AC" 
gate, it sang once before I lost track of it. The most unusual thing I saw near 
there was at the southern face of the last house to the north. A singe Sage 
Thrasher was foraging with the American Robins on the edge of that house's 
roof. I have never heard of a Sage Thrasher at Agua Caliente, but anything is 
possible. The American Goldfinches and Pine Siskens continue to put on a show. 
In the previously reported area I counted at least two dozen this morning. Some 
of the males are starting to molt, I saw a couple really yellowish ones and one 
with the black lores. On my way out I was stopped by a gentlemen for a second 
hand report of a Yellow-Rumped "Myrtle's" Warbler near the parking lot. 


Good Birding, 
Rob Payne
 		 	   		  
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/210850552/direct/01/
Subject: Great Day at Tubac, AZ area
From: Vic/Donna Fondy <treasurecreek AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:13:56 -0700
We birded Amado, Amado Road, Tubac, and Santa Gertrudis Lane today with 
Kay/Mike Fagan from Tucson. 70 species for the day. FOS sightings included 
Dusky-capped Flycatcher and Cassin's Kingbird at the bridge, and Dusky 
Flycatcher above Santa Gertrudis on Anza Trail. Other sightings of interest 
included Wood Ducks, Killdeer, and Spotted Sandpiper (winter plumage) at Amado 
Lagoon, Rufous-winged-Chipping-Brewer's-Vesper-Lark-Black-throated-Song 
Sparrows, (most along Amado Road), Anna's-Broad-billed and Rufous (Amado Rd 
plum tree) Hummingbirds, Inca Doves again on Amado Rd, and one American Crow 
flying down the Santa Cruz near Tubac. Western and Mountain Bluebirds also near 
Tubac and Lawrence's Goldfinch. 


We searched hard all day for the Common Black Hawk. Our final try was at the 
Santa Gertrudis Lane river crossing around 5:30 PM and there is was perched 
above the river just downstream from the crossing! A great day. 


Vic/Donna Fondy-Green Valley
520-398-5153
Subject: AZ: Havasu Kittiwake a no-show 3/11-12
From: David Stejskal <dstejskal AT COX.NET>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:06:27 -0500
Hi birders,

I spent the better part of the afternoon yesterday and most of the morning 
today birding Lake Havasu, with the main intent of seeing the Black-legged 
Kittiwake that was hanging around Site Six at Pittsburgh Point. No luck with it 
either day, I'm afraid, so it looks like Rich Hoyer's report from the 7th may 
be the last report of that rarity. If it's seen again, I don't want to hear 
about it! (just kidding) 


Not much else to report from Lake Havasu otherwise. The single NEOTROPIC 
CORMORANT at the Bill Williams Delta was still there this morning, there were 
four flyby adult male RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS at Site Six yesterday afternoon, 
and there were about 15+ COMMON LOONS around at various spots on the lake. No 
scoters of any kind, no other loons of any kind that I could i.d. (there were 
some out in the middle of the lake that were just too far to i.d.), and no 
grebes other than the usual WESTERN, CLARK'S, EARED, & PIED-BILLED. The only 
gulls around were RING-BILLED and smaller numbers of CALIFORNIA'S. The numbers 
of GREATER SCAUP at the Bill Williams Delta were fairly impressive, with 40-50 
being what I could safely i.d. 


BTW, the wildflower show on the drive there, especially between Bouse and 
Parker, was well along. Don't miss it if you head that way (especially the Ajo 
Lilies just east of Parker). 


Cheers,
Dave Stejskal
Subject: SE AZ: Nogales Cemetery - 12 Feb 10
From: Michael Marsden <birdanza AT Q.COM>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:11:02 +0000
I came across just 21 species this afternoon at Nogales Cemetery (rapidly 
becoming one of my favorite quick birding stops), but they included: 


  7 Black Vultures

  2 Northern Beardless-Tyrannulets

  2 female Vermilion Flycatchers

  1 Warbling Vireo &

  1 Wilson's Warbler.


 

Michael Marsden

520-394-2340
Patagonia, AZ
Subject: Hassayampa: Green Kingfisher, Red-shouldered Hawk
From: Brian Gatlin <brianpgatlin AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:07:17 -0700
Today, Friday, 12 March 2010, at the Hassayampa River Preserve, the Green 
Kingfisher was seen by me and many others at the pool (off the main river) 
located along the River Ramble trail. If you take the River Ramble trail from 
where it splits from the Lion Trail, take a right where the Ramble splits into 
a loop, and the pool is on the right. The kingfisher was present sporadically, 
often for long periods of time, from 815 am to about 11 am. After that, I do 
not think it had been seen again when I left at 130 pm. Among the others 
present were a Lucy's and a Wilson's Warbler. 

From the KFC parking lot in Wickenburg, a Red-shouldered Hawk was seen after a 
brief wait in the cottonwoods down by the river. Good flight views were easily 
had with binoculars, but a scope (thanks to John Saba), helped with the distant 
perched views. 

A couple great AZ birds.
Brian GatlinGrand Canyon, AZ
Subject: rufous-capped warbler
From: Phil Norton <philnorton AT COX.NET>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:07:37 -0500
I arrived at the dam in Florida Canyon at 7:50 and worked the area consistently 
for the next three hours. At 11:00 the rufous-capped warbler appeared. It was 
about halfway from the dam to the sycamores. It hopped up to a height of ten to 
twelve feet in one of the trees growing at the stream's edge, staying in full 
view for a minute or two. Then it dropped down and away, probably downstream 
toward the dam. 


There was very little other bird activity at the site--one male magnificent 
hummingbird was interesting. Returning northward, a gray hawk sailing over 
Green Valley was a nice bonus. 

 Phil Norton 

 Mesa, Az
Subject: SE AZ: Whitewater Wetlands Walk
From: Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory <sabo AT SABO.ORG>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:50:53 -0700
Greetings, neighbors,

Seven birders, including five fellow members of the Facebook group Birders who 
Blog, Tweet and Chirp, joined me at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area this lovely 
morning for SABO's regular Friday walk. Highlights included:

* a ROCK WREN in its usual spot around the old corral south of the barn
* CRISSAL, BENDIRE'S, and CURVE-BILLED THRASHERS
* TREE, CLIFF, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED, and BANK SWALLOWS (but only one or two of 

each - need a few more to make a summer, I think)
* a flyover by three male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS
* the pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS in the barn, the female on her nest
* a cheeky pair of HOUSE FINCHES harassing the male Great Horned Owl
* an adult GOLDEN EAGLE soaring over the west side of the lake
* 15 species of waterfowl, including the drake GREATER SCAUP, flock of 180+ 
SNOW 

and ROSS'S GEESE, and a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL
* AMERICAN AVOCETS in full breeding plumage
* close views of SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL
* several handsome but furtive WILSON'S SNIPE
* the continuing GREAT EGRET eating small (nonnative) catfish
* howling COYOTES
* close to a thousand SANDHILL CRANES.

Our final tally was 62 species. No sign of last week's adult Bald Eagle and not 

quite as much rail activity as in recent weeks, but the weather was so perfect 
and the company so enjoyable that we didn't want the morning to end. Thanks to 
my companions for their enthusiasm, spotting skills, and teamwork.

Hope to see some of you at the Tucson Festival of Books this weekend.

Good birding,

Sheri Williamson
Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory
Bisbee, Arizona
sabo AT sabo.org
520/432-1388
http://www.sabo.org
Subject: Fw: AZ: olive warblers - six shooter canyon trail in the pinals
From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT ATT.NET>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:36:12 -0700
> OLIVE WARBLERS, GOLDEN EAGLE -- PINAL MOUNTAINS FRIDAY
> From: paul wolterbeek
> Date: friday march 12
> Crossed paths with a pair of OLIVE WARBLERS friday morning about 20
> minutes up the six-shooter canyon trail in the pinal mountains (accessed
> from the ice house canyon road -- trail #197 starts just past the iron
> bridge) they were gleaning in the ponderosa pine trees just below the snow
> line. The creek is running strong and other birds along the trail included
> Stellar's Jay, Bridled Titmouse, Bewick's Wren, Acorn Woodpecker -- and a
> very vocal Hutton's Vireo. A Golden Eagle soared down the canyon as i was
> heading up; and a male Anna's Hummingbird which scolded me on the ascent
> flew dramatic courtship flights near the same perch a couple hours later
> on the descent. Great morning to be in the pinals -- but the #197 trail is
> blocked by fallen trees about a mile uphill, once you pass the snow line.
> _______
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Subject: RBA Tucson, AZ - 12 March 2010
From: Andrew Core <tucsonrba AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:10:02 -0700
Hello Birders,

This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for Southeast
Arizona was made on March 12, 2010. The next update will be made on March
19. Phone your reports to 520-798-1005 X 1, 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.

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:

 American X Eurasian Wigeon (hybrid)
#GREATER SCAUP
 Common Goldeneye
 Hooded Merganser
 Common Merganser
*SHORT-TAILED HAWK
 Violet-crowned Hummingbird
 Elegant Trogon
#"YELLOW-SHAFTED" NORTHERN FLICKER
 Western Scrub-Jay
 Pinyon Jay
#RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN
 Black-and-white Warbler
 Wilson's Warbler
*RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER
 Swamp Sparrow
#GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW
#MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
 Cassin's Finch
 American Goldfinch


TUCSON and vicinity

The light morph *SHORT-TAILED HAWK continued in the area of the intersection
of Seneca and Ridgeway streets, southwest of Grant and Wilmot through 3/12
(Bill Scott). Birders are asked to respect the privacy of homeowners.  The
hawk also made a surprise appearance about 2.5 miles to the southwest over
backyard at Broadway and Swan on 3/7, where it was photographed (Moez Ali).

In NE Tucson, the male #YELLOW-SHAFTED NORTHERN FLICKER was seen at Agua
Caliente Park through 3/10 (m.ob.).  It favors the tall snags near the
entrance, but be aware of Gilded and “Red-shafted” Flickers in the area.
AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and CASSIN’S FINCHES have been seen this week (m.ob.)
with the PINE SISKIN flock in the picnic area north of the main building.
Several CASSIN'S FINCHES were also present in a nearby residence on 3/7
(Clait Braun).

A #RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN was reported from Sabino Canyon Recreation Area on
3/7. It was feeding in a mistletoe clump in a tree along the Esperero Trail
near where the trail crosses the paved road (Andrea Malone).  It has not
been reported since.

At Sweetwater Wetlands there were reports this week of continuing
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and WILSON'S WARBLER (m.ob.).  The intermittent
SWAMP SPARROW and 3 CASSIN’S FINCHES were present on 3/11 (Jerry Bock).  On
3/12 there was a second-hand report of a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK but no
other details were available.

On 3/5 a female COMMON GOLDENEYE was behind the Hardesty Building at
Randolph Park (Clive Green) at 22nd and Alvernon.  At nearby Reid Park on
3/6, three female HOODED MERGANSERS were on the smaller pond (m.ob.).


SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS

A *RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER was seen on 3/10 in Florida Canyon just above the
dam near the first sycamore tree (Stuart Healy).


BENSON and ST. DAVID area

An apparent male #GREATER SCAUP was present at the Benson WWTP on 3/9
(Clifford Cathers).  A hybrid male AMERICAN x EURASIAN WIGEON was on the
first pond on Curtis Flat Road south of St. David on 3/6, along with four
COMMON MERGANSERS (Erika Wilson).


NOGALES

A female #GREATER SCAUP first found in February continued at Estralada Pond
on the west side of Walmart in Nogales on 3/5 (Michael Marsden).

SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY

The male #GREATER SCAUP was seen again at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area near
McNeal on 3/5.  An early WESTERN SANDPIPER was also present (Stuart Healy).


TUMACACORI

The #RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN was spotted again on 3/8 along the De Anza Trail
about 80 yards north of Santa Gertrudis Lane in Tumacacori (Stuart Healy).

NOTE: Santa Gertrudis Lane is a private road, but birders are currently
welcome to park along the I-19 Frontage Rd just outside the lane's entrance
and walk in.  Please respect private property.


SIERRA VISTA AREA

The PINYON JAY and #GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continued at Battiste's B&B in
Hereford at least through 3/5 (Tony Battiste). Please phone ahead before
visiting (520)-803-6908.


SAN RAFAEL VALLEY

A flock of more than 20 #MCCOWN'S LONGSPURS were seen in the San Rafael
Valley along FR58 on 3/8 (Stuart Healy).


PATAGONIA

At Patagonia Lake State Park the continuing ELEGANT TROGON was seen on 3/8
along Sonoita Creek upstream from the lake (Matt Brown).  A VIOLET-CROWNED
HUMMINGBIRD returned to the Paton’s yard on 3/6 ((Michael Marsden).  The
yard is open to visiting birders throughout the day as usual.  Of local
interest, a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY has been frequenting the area around 1st and
Pennsylvania Avenues in Patagonia (Matt Brown).



ANNOUNCEMENTS

PATAGONIA - The Paton's yard remains open to birders.

MADERA CANYON - Road work is ongoing at multiple areas in Madera Canyon and
some spots may be inaccessible.

CARR CANYON - The road into Carr Canyon has been closed due to winter
weather.  Entry into restricted areas can result in a fine up to $5,000 or
imprisonment.  For more information visit www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado.

SIERRA VISTA - Construction continues on State Route 92 on the east side of
the Huachuca Mountains. Be prepared for delays.

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."

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. Recent access
change: you must now 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: has now reopened! Gates now open at
6AM and close PROMPTLY at 2PM (do not linger, you will be locked inside).
Please see this link for important information regarding access:
http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0908a&L=birdwg05&T=0&O=A&P=4747
.

NOGALES SEWAGE PONDS: Remain closed to birders.

CORONA DE TUCSON WASTEWATER RECLAMATION FACILITY: Access to the ponds here,
about 1.5 miles west of Houghton Rd on Sahuarita Rd, has been granted
strictly under the following conditions:

    * Site visitation MUST be prearranged. Normal hours are 6AM-4PM. All
visitors must be off site before 4:00 pm. DUE TO UNFORESEEN WORK
CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU MAY FIND THE FACILITY CLOSED PERIODICALLY EVEN IF YOU
HAVE MADE PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS. RESPECT ANY CLOSURES!
    * A list with names and contact information of the persons/group that
will be on site needs to faxed or emailed one day prior to arrival, to the
Corona de Tucson WRF (Fax: 520-762-0591; Email: coronadetucson AT
wwm.pima.gov).
    * ALL visitors must check in at the Facility office before they start
roaming the site and again when they depart.

The Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department is currently revising
security procedures and these rules are subject to change any time. Your
cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Good birding!


Andrew Core
SEAZ RBA Compiler - Tucson, AZ
Subject: Roosevelt Lake, Gila County- Thursday, Mar 11th (no rarities)
From: Jeff <birddogstwo AT MSN.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:59:54 -0700
The usual suspects at the lake yesterday, but a beautiful day to get out,
enjoy the warmth,  and relieve the cabin fever as the result of a very long
& snowy winter in the Rim Country.......The lake is over 100% now and the
highest either my brother or I have ever seen it......If you're in the area,
go to the overlook at the lower side of the dam to check out the water being
released --- neat to see and yesterday there were plenty of D-c Cormorants
and C. Mergansers (50+) feeding directly below the overlook.....both species
appeared to be in pristine breeding plumage......At the main gate to the dam
(workers entrance), we saw a few N. R-winged Swallows hunting insects and
one entered  one of the small drainage tubes in the rock wall directly
across the road from the entrance (perhaps a nest site?)... Also had first
of season Lucy's Warbler, and nice to see and hear Black-chinned Sparrows
singing....
 
Best regards,
Jeff Estis
Pine, AZ 85544
Subject: Tubac Bridge Common Black-hawk
From: James P Karp <jkarp AT SYR.EDU>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:43:23 -0500
Between 9:45 and 10:30 Peter Collins and I saw 3 Common Black-hawks from the 
Tubac bridge. Also seen were many Turkey Vultures, 1 Black Vulture, 2 Cooper's 
, and 2 Red-tails Hawks. 


Jim Karp
Subject: FOS Rufous/Allens
From: Richard Carlson <rccarl AT PACBELL.NET>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:55:31 -0800
Here in NE Tucson we had our first Rufous/Allens ( female) yesterday. They're 
on their way!! 


 Richard Carlson
Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian
Part-time Economist
Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA
rccarl AT pacbell.net
Tucson 520-760-4935
Tahoe 530-581-0624
Kirkland 425-828-3819
Cell 650-280-2965
Subject: The Cormorant is Back! March 11, 2010 Reid Park, also Lincoln Park, Sam Lena Park
From: Pat <pgoltz AT SEGHEA.COM>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:29:25 -0700
Folks,

I decided to see if I could try a new place, so I went first to Lincoln 
Park. Downright NOT birdy! I got there about 2:45, and I'm sure it's the 
wrong time of day, not to mention the wrong time of year. I had seen a 
small lake on a map, but I didn't find it. The creek was dry. I walked 
the trail. It's very nicely done.

What I saw:
Anna's Hummingbird
Gambel's Quail
Great-tailed Grackles
Mourning Doves

There were some small birds (songbirds) on the playing field, but they 
were too far away and I couldn't get decent pictures of them. Some were 
possibly sparrows, or might have been warblers, and one might have been 
a House Finch. Unfortunately, a runner scared them away before I could 
get closer.

I looked for the Great Horned Owl, or any owl, for that matter, but 
didn't find anybody. I don't seem to be able to see owls, no matter how 
hard I try.

Cottontail Rabbits
Prairie Dogs
Painted Lady Butterfly
And some "birds" that belong to the Air Force base. Oh, except for the 
Medivac.

I heard a very high pitched clear tone, somewhat like a hummingbird, but 
seemingly much louder. I have no idea what it was. It kept moving 
around, even though I didn't see anything flying. Must have been a ghost.

So, I headed on over to Sam Lena Park. It wasn't very birdy, either.

What I saw:

Anna's Hummingbird (I always see him in the same place, it seems)
Great Egret
Mallards
American Coot
Great-tailed Grackles
Pied-billed Grebe
Black-crowned Night-Heron

I saw a hawk in flight, but I didn't get a picture, and I didn't have 
long enough to look at him. The wings had a lot of white underneath. 
Wingspan was about 3 feet. The wings had a definite pattern to them, and 
there wasn't much color on wings or body, at least not that I saw. So it 
could have been one of several different things.

I also heard an owl, very loud and distinct. Evenly spaced notes, no 
rhythm. It sounded most like a Great Horned Owl, I imagine, but none of 
the recorded sounds in the database quite matched it. I didn't see it.

Still disappointed, I headed for Reid Park, and went to the two main 
ponds. I saw the usual suspects: American Wigeons, Ring-necked Ducks, 
Mallards, domestic ducks, including Indian Runner Ducks, geese, American 
Coots, Rock Doves, Great-tailed Grackles, a couple of Redheads, and a 
House Sparrow. I met a birder with camera, originally from England, who 
said he saw some ravens. No Mergansers.

But I also saw:
Neotropic Cormorant. He was hanging around on the north shore of the 
south lake, close to the west end.
Black-crowned Night-Herons (2) and got a really good picture of one of 
them. It's the first time I had seen any in the park, not in the zoo. He 
was hanging out in a tree on the northwest "corner" of the big pond. The 
fellow from England said he's there every evening (late afternoon).

Good birding,
Pat Goltz
Subject: Sweetwater Wetlands report, Tucson, Az 3/11/2010
From: Jerry Bock <wditch AT DAKOTACOM.NET>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:42:22 -0700
Greetings Avianfans,

I spent the late morning / early afternoon at the recently burned Sweetwater 
Wetlands in search of early spring migrants. Among the 87 species, I concidered 
8 of them to be migrants. 


5 species of swallows were present. In order of numbers present they were 
Northern Rough-Winged, Tree, Cliff, Violet-Green, and Barn. In all about 60 or 
so individuals. 3 Turkey Vultures soared overhead. A Broad-Tailed Hummingbird 
was considerably lower in altitude. An Ash-Throated Flycatcher called from the 
mesquites. 


Both Double-Crested and Neotropic Cormorants were present. Curiously, I didn't 
detect a single heron species today. Stars of the day were the best 
Bufflehead's displays I've encountered here to date. Some of the dapper males 
were so enthused they actually lept out of the water. Other than much dashing 
about the most interesting aspect of the display is something that looks a lot 
like a domestic cat getting rid of furballs. Very amusing, I couldn't help 
watching these antics for at least a half an hour. It's great performance art 
at the best price, absolutely free. 


The burn a week ago didn't seem to dislodge any of the rarer winter warblers, a 
Yellow, the female Black-And-White, and the Wilson's Warblers were all present 
in their usual haunts. 


Latched on to a new species for me for the area. Not sure if they were migrants 
or just local winter wanderers. 3 Cassin's Finches were in the northwest corner 
in the company of some House Finches and Lesser Goldfinches. One adult male and 
a couple of females. 

Also had a Swamp Sparrow at the Hidden Pond. I wonder if I've missing it all 
winter at this spot. Could've been displaced from one of the more heavily 
burned areas too. 


My favorite march fenom was happening today too. Having to look up into the 
trees to observe Common Moorhens. Several were 20 feet or more above the ground 
enjoying those delicious willow catkins that they get acrobatic about. Was 
hoping for some more migrants like Common Black-Hawk, Lucy's Warblers or an 
oriole or two. They'll have to wait until the next trip. 


Wallowing galore
Jerry Bock
Colognia Bolognia
Tucson, Az
Subject: Volunteer Birders needed for the 2010 Tucson Bird Count!
From: "Rachel E. McCaffrey" <rachmcc AT EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:21:29 -0700
We need volunteers for the upcoming spring survey which runs from April 15 -
May 15.
Participating is easy - you adopt a route and survey the sites along that
route on the morning of your
choice during the survey period (April 15 - May 15), then submit your data.
There are survey sites available all over the city and surrounding areas
(you can check out the map of available routes at
http://www.tucsonbirds.org/current/Route%20map.asp),
so if you can identify most of our Tucson-area birds, please consider
joining the TBC!
To find out more about the Tucson Bird Count, register to participate, or
view the results so far, visit us on the web
at www.tucsonbirds.org, or contact me (rachmcc AT email.arizona.edu).

The Tucson Bird Count (TBC) is an ongoing volunteer-based project that
collects data on the abundances and distributions of birds in and around
the Tucson area.  Since its start in 2001, TBC volunteers have surveyed
birds at thousands of sites, gathering high quality data on birds in urban
areas. The TBC is performed by volunteer birders from the Tucson community,
and these
citizen scientists are the backbone that makes the TBC work!

Thanks, Rachel

-- 
Rachel McCaffrey, PhD
University Associate, Research
School of Natural Resources
The University of Arizona
www.tucsonbirds.org
email: rachmcc AT email.arizona.edu
cell: 520-730-3218
Subject: Lucy's Warbler in Green Valley
From: Nina Hansen <ninahansen2008 AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:00:15 -0700
I just added a new bird to my Yard List when a perky male Lucy's Warbler 
sipped nectar from my Honeysuckle.  Nice bird!  Rusty cap and rump were 
clearly visible.
Subject: AZ: re "2009-10 Comparison - Huachuca Cyn"
From: Alan Miller <tyrannulet AT MSN.COM>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:38:08 -0700
Regarding our recent posting titled "2009-10 Comparison - Huachuca Cyn", 
the columns are understandable but nonlinear on our BIRDWGO5 e-mail.We 
don't know how they appear on anyone else's e-mail.

If you desire to see perfectly linear columns as originally sent, please 
go to the archives. They look just fine there. Another computer mystery.

Ann & Alan Miller
Sierra Vista
Subject: AZ: 2009 -10 Comparison - Huachuca Cyn
From: Alan Miller <tyrannulet AT MSN.COM>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:18:34 -0700
Yesterday, March 10, 2010, we re-started our weekly census of birds in 
Huachuca Canyon. The survey area begins at the last picnic site (1.7 miles 
up the graded road from the yellow entrance gate) and goes 1.25 miles up 
the jeep track to the old fire road. What was astonishing about this 
initial count was how poorly it compared to the March 10, 2009 survey, 
precisely one year ago. The results of both counts are entered below, in 
adjacent columns, for comparison:

………………………………………..........2009……...2010
Montezuma Quail ……………………..(7)………..(0)
White-throated Swift ...(+25)………..(0)
Elegant Trogon …….………………….(1)………..(0)
Acorn Woodpecker……………………..(4)………..(0)
Northern Flicker……………………….(3)………..(1)
Williamson’s Sapsucker…………(1)………..(0)
Red-naped Sapsucker……………….(0)………..(2) 
Arizona Woodpecker………………….(1)………..(0)
Hutton’s Vireo………………………..(22)………..(0)
Cassin’s Vireo…………………………..(1)………..(0)
Mexican Jay…………………………...(+20)…….(+15)
Raven…………………………………........(4)………..(2)
Bridled Titmouse……………………(+20)………..(1)
Bushtit…………………………………......(4)………..(0)
White-breasted Nuthatch………(6)………..(4)
Brown Creeper………………………...…(2)………..(0)
Canyon Wren………………………….....(3)………..(0)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet……….(+80)……..(+6)
Townsend’s Solitaire…………. (0)………..(1)
Hermit Thrush…………………………...(3)…….(+10)
American Robin…………………………..(0)…….(+10) 
Yellow-rumped Warbler………(+60)………..(0)
Townsend’s Warbler……………………(7)………..(0)
Painted Redstart……………………(+10)………..(0)
Spotted Towhee……………………….(+10)……...(0)
Grey-headed Junco…………………(+25)……...(+5)

We are going to let these numbers speak for themselves and avoid analysis. 
The comparisons we find most spooky are for Vireos, Kinglets, and the 
Warblers.

Ann & Alan Miller
Sierra Vista
Subject: NM RBA for 3/11/10
From: Pinyonjay AT AOL.COM
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:35:48 EST
 
-RBA 
New Mexico Bird Report 
March 11, 2010 
NMEX1003.11 
-Transcript 
Hotline New Mexico 
date:  March 11, 2010 
compiler Patricia R. Snider  
Phone:  719-846-3174 
Cell  phone 505-803-1807 
e-mail  address _pinyonjay AT aol.com_ (mailto:pinyonjay AT aol.com)   
This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for  
March 11, 2010, sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological  
Society.  When phone  numbers are given for private property,  
please call before going to ask for permission.  In ranch  
country do not stray off the roads. 
. 
Highlights: White-tailed Kite, Trumpeter Swan, late report of  Crested 
Caracara, Red-throated Loon. 
See note in Field Trips about the Sandia Hawkwatch  site. 
Predictions are for a great wildflower show on the desert this  
spring. 
ChW reported that GREAT EGRETS have been color banded with red  
leg  bands, from the Great Lakes.  Report  bands if seen to 416- 
739-5846.  
A star is added for new birds to the RBA today. 
. 
. 
Places mentioned and a checklist of N.M. birds are in the N.M.  
Bird Finding Guide.  Check for earlier reports and database  
At _http://www.nmbirds.org_ (http://www.nmbirds.org/)  
or in  the archives of the AZ/NM listserve.  For photos of  
rarities and directions to some birding sites check  
_http://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage_ 
(http://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage) . 
. 
For  the Bird Records Committee and North American Birds and NMOS  
Field  Notes please send reports to Dr. Sartor O. Williams, III,  
1819  Meadowview NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104 or to  
_sunbittern AT earthlink.net_ (mailto:sunbittern AT earthlink.net) . 
. 
. 
Birds  Mentioned and Counties: 
. 
Light  geese (Chaves) 
Trumpeter Swan (Socorro) 
Cinnamon Teal (Sierra, Bernalillo, Chaves) 
Common  Goldeneye (Sierra, Bernalillo, Colfax, Chaves, Sandoval) 
Hooded  Merganser (Colfax, *Sierra) 
Common  Merganser (Colfax, Chaves) 
Red-breasted Merganser (*Sierra) 
Red-throated Loon (*Sierra) 
Neotropic Cormorant (Bernalillo, *Sierra) 
Great  Egret (Socorro) 
Turkey  Vulture (Bernalillo, Grant) 
Osprey  (Sierra) 
Northern Harrier (Chaves) 
Bald  Eagle (Colfax, San Miguel) 
Harris’s Hawk (Lea) 
Ferruginous Hawk (Colfax, Luna) 
Rough-legged Hawk (Colfax) 
Golden  Eagle (Luna) 
Crested Caracara (*Luna) 
Aplomado Falcon (Doña Ana) 
Merlin  (Sierra, Colfax, Chaves) 
Prairie Falcon (Luna) 
Montezuma Quail (Grant) 
Sora  (Sierra) 
Common  Moorhen (*Sierra, Luna) 
Sandhill Crane (Chaves, Curry) 
Greater Yellowlegs (Hidalgo) 
Long-billed Curlew (Luna) 
Peeps  (Chaves) 
Ring-billed Gull (Bernalillo, Sierra) 
California Gull (, Bernalillo) 
Great  Horned Owl (Roosevelt, Eddy) 
Barn  Owl (*Sierra, Chaves) 
Short-eared Owl (Socorro) 
Anna’s Hummingbird (Doña Ana) 
Williamson’s Sapsucker (Sierra) 
Red-naped Sapsucker (Sierra) 
Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers (Sierra, Luna) 
Three-toed Woodpecker (*Bernalillo) 
Hammond’s Flycatcher (Sierra) 
Black Phoebe (*Doña Ana) 
Eastern Phoebe (Sierra) 
Hutton’s Vireo (Sierra) 
Tree Swallow (Socorro, Sierra, Hidalgo) 
Violet-green Swallow (*Doña Ana) 
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (*Sierra) 
Cave Swallow (Doña Ana) 
Bridled Titmouse (Sierra) 
Brown Creeper (Sierra, *Bernalillo,*Doña Ana) 
Carolina Wren (Guadalupe) 
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Sierra) 
Eastern Bluebird (Sierra)  
Mountain Bluebird (*Doña Ana) 
Gray  Catbird (Socorro) 
Sage  Thrasher (*Sierra) 
Cedar  Waxwing (Socorro) 
Common  Yellowthroat (Sierra) 
American Tree Sparrow (Colfax) 
Brewer’s Sparrow (*Sierra) 
Field  Sparrow (Lea) 
Black-chinned Sparrow (Sierra) 
Black-throated Sparrow (Sierra) 
Swamp  Sparrow (Sierra) 
White-throated Sparrow (Grant) 
Yellow-eyed Junco (Grant) 
Chestnut-collared Longspur (Luna, Lea) 
Northern Cardinal (Guadalupe) 
Pyrrhuloxia (*Bernalillo) 
Rosy  Finches (*Bernalillo) 
American Goldfinch (Curry) 
. 
. 
In  Bernalillo County: 
DH on March 4 had a male PYRRHULOXIA in  eastside bosque levee by  
the  3SE marker, a mile south of Bridge St.  It was seen by JP, WW,  
and LL  on March 6.  BH found it again on  March 10 on the east side  
of the  Rio and west side of the levee near the good red chili at El  
Modelo. 
At the Alameda Bridge on February 26 JJ  had two female COMMON  
GOLDENEYES between the dam and the bridge.  BH on February 28 had  
an  adult CALIFORNIA GULL with 270 RING-BILLS.  BH and JP on March 5  
saw an  adult NEOTROPIC CORMORANT south of the bridge near the pump  
house  with six CINNAMON TEAL. 
CB and NH on March 5 reported two flying  TURKEY VULTURES over  
Cedar  Crest, east of the Sandias, for the first of spring.  
The SNC team is banding ROSY FINCHES on  Sundays at the Crest  
House.  They estimate the flock to be 150  to 200.  On February 28  
they  banded only two BROWN-CAPPED with 124 recaptures.  The road up  
was  clear, but there is ice in walking from the parking lot into  
the  Crest House. 
RK on March 5 had up to 75 rosy finches  of all three species.   
In  hiking along the Sandia Crest for 1/3 mile they found a BROWN  
CREEPPER and a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. 
. 
In  Chaves County: 
For the March 4 count at the refuge JSa  reported 19,000 light  
geese,  1342 CRANES (with 1670 off refuge), 24 CINNAMON TEAL, six  
COMMON  GOLDENEYES, one COMMON MERGANSER, 15 PEEPS, 15 HARRIERS, two  
BARN  OWLS, and two MERLINS, one on Unit 6 and the other on the  
refuge  farm. 
. 
In  Colfax County: 
NH and CB on February 27 had a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK south of  
Springer near mile marker 396 on I-25.  In the area were four  
FERRUGINOUS HAWKS (one dark morph), adult and immature BALD  EAGLES,  
and a  MERLIN. 
Springer Lake was still frozen, Stubblefield mostly so, and a  
hole  was on Lake 13 with lots of waterfowl, including a HOODED  
MERGANSER, many male COMMON GOLDENEYES, and COMMON  MERGANSERS. 
There  also was two TREE SPARROWS at Springer Lake. 
. 
In  Curry County: 
JLo at his home in se. county reported  CRANES over his home in  
small  flocks almost daily by March 5.  He  had a dozen AMERICAN  
GOLDFINCHES. 
. 
In  Doña Ana County: 
On February 26 DG, AT, CJG and others saw  an unbanded adult male 
APLOMADO FALCON at the Mesilla Valley Bosque Park and East Levee  
Road  south of Mesilla, but its source is unknown (photos).  RC saw  
it  early on February 28 when crows apparently chased it and it has  
not  been seen again. 
The nesting ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD in Las  Cruces fledged one young. 
At their yard near Radium Springs JZ  reported one CAVE SWALLOW  
(photo) on February 25.  In early March there was a BROWN CREEPER,  
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, and a MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD with a BLACK PHOEBE  
at the  pond eating mosquito fish. 
. 
In  Eddy County: 
DZw found a GREAT HORNED OWL at  Rattlesnake Springs on March 5  
by the  stream near the pond. 
. 
In  Grant County: 
EL had the first TURKEY VULTURES over his  Silver City home on  
February 26 and 27. 
DZ had a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at his  home on 20 to 28  
February. 
KB still had the YELLOW-EYED JUNCO at her  home through February  
28.  It was banded by  DG. 
RSh reports that MONTEZUMA QUAIL have  been more common in the  
Silver  City area this past year. 
. 
In  Guadalupe County: 
DH on February 17 again saw the CAROLINA  WREN singing at the  
Pecos  River bridge in Santa Rosa. Also seen were two CARDINALS. 
. 
In  Hidalgo County: 
TG on March 2 at the Rancho Hidalgo, seven miles west of  
Animas, had two TREE SWALLOWS. 
RS says the pond at the exit of I-10 is full of water.  He had  
two  GREATER YELLOWLEGS at the pond on February 27. 
County Hwy.1 south of Animas crosses the  Diamond A (Gray) Ranch.   
Because of events with thoughtless birders, one must NOT go off  the  
road. 
. 
In  Lea County: 
ChB on March 6 at  Crossroads had three FIELD SPARROWS, six  
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS, and a HARRIS’S  HAWK. 
. 
In  Luna County: 
On February 24 RS had a GOLDEN EAGLE  along NM9 east of Hachita  
with a  PRAIRIE FALCON and FERRUGINOUS HAWK at the Muir Road. 
On February 26 JP and WW had 11  LONG-BILLED CURLEWS and many  
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS on the Hermanas Grade Road south of  
Deming.  There was the  MOORHEN at Pecan Park and a HAIRY WOODPECKER  
at the  Mountain View Cemetery in Deming. 
An interesting late report came from TS  of a CARACARA on  
December 20 and 23 at a cow carcass on Hwy. 549 ten miles east of  
Deming  (which runs parallel to I-10 (photos). 
. 
In  Otero County: 
One can walk past the gate to Stinky Lake  at the Holloman Lakes,  
but  not drive in and can still bird there, but Lagoon G is still  
off  limits. 
. 
In  Roosevelt County: 
DZw on March 7 had a GREAT HORNED OWL at  the migrant trap 11  
miles  west of Melrose. 
. 
In San  Miguel County: 
RHu on March 1 had a BALD EAGLE at an elk  carcass north of hwy.  
266 a  mile west of Las Tusas. 
. 
In  Sandoval County: 
JL reported on March 4 there was a male  COMMON GOLDENEYE in the  
Corrales ditch near La Entrada. 
. 
In  Sierra County: 
DC on February 24 along the Rio south of  Williamsburg saw 19  
female  type COMMON GOLDENEYES, and four male CINNAMON TEALS. 
DG at the Palomas Marsh on February 20 saw ROUGH-WINGED  
SWALLOWS and a HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER.  At the hole in the cliff  
near  the Las Palomas exit two BARN OWLS were seen.  JP saw them  
again  on February 20.  DC saw the owl on  the southbound lane .5  
mile  from the exit on March 8. 
At Elephant Butte Lake DC found an OSPREY  at North Monticello  
Point,  and a WILLIAMSON’S SAPSUCKER at a small playground above  
the  Dam Site.  He reported the  BLACK-CHINNED with two BLACK- 
THROATED SPARROWS on February 20 at the dam site. 
DC on March 10 below the dam near the  outflow structures seen  
From  above at the NM177 overlook saw six NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS 
And a  pair of HOODED MERGANSERS.  Right  next to the dam he again  
saw  the winter adult RED-THROATED LOON.  There were two male RED- 
BREASTED MERGANSERS at the Dam Site Marina. 
At Paseo del Rio Park below the dam JP  reported a MOORHEN and  
two  HOODED MERGANSERS on March 6.  On  March 9 DC had the moorhen, a  
SAGE  THRASHER, and three BREWER’S SPARROWS. 
At the South Highlands at the lake JP,  WW, and LL had two BLACK- 
TAILED  GNATCATCHERS. 
At the Rock Canyon Marina on Elephant  Butte Lake JP reported  
only  RING-BILLED GULLS on March 6. 
At Percha Dam Park on February 20 JP, LL,  and WW saw a  
YELLOWTHROAT, an EASTERN PHOEBE north of the dam, four MOORHENS,  
two  HAIRY and a DOWNY WOODPECKER, and a HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER.  The  
same  day DG had a TREE SWALLOW with five ROUGH-WINGED, EASTERN  
BLUEBIRD, and a MERLIN.  SF on March 6 had a SORA at the pond in  
the  campground (photos).  JP, LL, and WW  on March 6 found a RED- 
NAPED  SAPSUCKER, HUTTON’S VIREO, BROWN CREEPER, BRIDLED TITMICE. 
DC on March 9 at Riverside Park below the Caballo Lake Dam  saw 
ten  ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. 
DC advises that water is being released  from Elephant Butte Lake  
into  Caballo Lake.  DG reports that  Caballo in now quite high. 
. 
In  Socorro County: 
AG on March 2 at the Turtle Bay Park on  the NMTU campus in  
Socorro had two CATBIRDS and a CEDAR WAXWING flock.  JP, WW, and LL  
had  one CATBIRD on March 6. 
At Bosque del Apache Refuge south of San  Antonio SH on February  
18 saw  the TRUMPETER SWAN.  JSt on the  18th saw a flying swan  
(species?) near the Chupadera Deck.  JP reported eight  
TREE  SWALLOWS on February 20.  JP  reported the first GREAT EGRETS  
on  March 6. 
RV on February 17 had a flying  SHORT-EARED OWL a half mile south  
of the  JO home on Farm to Market Road near Luis Lopez. 
JSt reports that there is no hiking east  of the Rio Grande at  
the  Bosque del Apache refuge at least thru March for a mountain  
lion  study.  The part of the refuge west  of the rio is still open. 
. 
. 
. 
Initials of Observers: 
. 
KB,  Karen Berkenbach;   ChB, Charles Black;  CB, Celestyn Brozek;   
RC,  Rick Castetter;  DC, David  Cleary;  SNC, Steve and Nancy  Cox;   
SF,  Steve Fettig;  CJG, C.J. Goin;  TG, Tony Godfrey;   
AG,  Ashli Gorbet;  DG, David Griffin;  SH, Sherry Hagen;   
DH,  David Hawksworth;  NH, Nancy  Hetrick;  BH, Bill Howe;   
RHu,  Rob Hunt;  JJ, Jim Joseph;  RK, Rick Koehler;   
LL,  Lane Leckman;  EL, Gene Lewis;  JL, Judith Liddell;  
JLo,  James Lofton;  JO, Jerry  Oldenettel;  JP, John Parmeter;   
JSa,  Jeff Sanchez;  TS, Tanner  Schaub;  RS, Robert Shantz;   
RSh,  Roland Shook;  JSt, James  Stuart;  AT, Al Trompler;   
RV,  Raymond VanBuskirk;  ChW, Chip  Weselch;  WW, Bill  Wittman; 
JZ,  Jimmy Zabriskie; DZ, Dale Zimmerman;  DZw, DeAnn Zwight. 
. 
. 
Field  Trips:  
. 
Central Audubon in Albuquerque has Thursday field trips.  All phone  
numbers begin with 505.  On March 18 to the Rio Grande Nature  
Center  with Sei Tokuda, 266-2480; and March 25 the Pueblo Montaño  
Picnic  Area with Gale Owings, 255-8333. 
. 
Mesilla Valley Audubon will bird the Holloman Lakes and White  Sands  
NM on  March 20.  Contact is David Griffin  575-382-2080. 
. 
On  Saturday, March 20 Southwestern Audubon will do Spring Canyon  
near  Deming.  Leader is Larry Malone;  contact is 575-388-3441. 
. 
Central Audubon will have a field trip on Saturday, March 27 to  
Percha  Dam, Caballo Lake, Animas Canyon and Elephant Butte Lake  
with  Cole Wolf, _colejwolf AT gmail.com_ (mailto:colejwolf AT gmail.com) . 
. 
The  Cox banding team will be banding Rosy Finches at the Crest  
House  in the Sandias on Sundays at 9:30.  Check for snowstorms when  
planning to climb the mountain. 
. 
There  will be no formal HawkWatch crew gathering data in the  
Sandias this year.  However Roger Grimshaw plans to make trips up  
to the  site from time to time.  For  information 407-319-0280. 
. 
The  Mesilla Valley Bosque Park will have a Bird Walk on April 3,  
first  Saturdays., beginning at 8:15. 
. 
The  Rio Grande Nature Center has morning bird walks on Sunday and  
Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. 
. 
. 
-End  Transcript_[1]_ (aoldb://mail/write/template.htm#_ftn1)  

 
____________________________________

_[1]_ (aoldb://mail/write/template.htm#_ftnref1)
Subject: AZ SE Palominas
From: Gordon Lewis <Ranchogulag AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:17:46 -0700
Insectivores continue to show up as the cottonwoods go from tassels to
leaves on the San Pedro river. Still below freezing each night but birds
keep coming. FOS GRAY FLYCATCHER on Monday.  AMERICAN ROBIN numbers are
decreasing. Bird walks Monday 8am at 10663 Hwy 92 in Palominas.
Subject: USFS 5 year plan for Huachucas etc. meeting in Sierra Vista today, THUR-11 March
From: "Tom Beatty Sr AT Beatty's Guest Ranch" <beattysguestranch@WILDBLUE.NET>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:53:26 -0700
The US Forest Service is holding an open house, 5 year plan for the Huachucas
and other parts of the Coronado Nat. Forest, from 4-7 PM Thur-11 March, Today 
at the 

Windemere Hotel in Sierra Vista, AZ.

Meeting like this are important for Birders to attend,

Received about an inch of snow this morning to add to the 1.5 inches of rain
that we got over the last couple of days. Cheers Tom Beatty Sr.
Subject: AZFO - New photos of Red-shouldered Hawk
From: Mike Moore <mcmoore32 AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:09:25 -0700
Field Ornithologists,
   
Tommy DeBardeleben contributed photos of the Wickenberg Red-shouldered Hawk.
 Thanks Tommy!

Thanks to all who use the online form below to submit photos.  It makes my
job a lot easier and ensures your photos will be posted more quickly.  

Photos posted at:
 
http://www.azfo.org
click on "Photo Documentation"
   
Arizona Field Ornithologists welcomes Arizona rarity photo contributions
from all photographers throughout the state.  

Use our online form to submit photos:
http://www.azfo.org/gallery/PhotoContribution.html

If you enjoy the photo web site, please consider joining AZFO and supporting
our other activities.  Details on the web site.

We strive for accuracy.  Please email any corrections to postings to me.

Mike Moore
AZFO Photo Editor
Subject: Tubac AZ report
From: Vic/Donna Fondy <treasurecreek AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:14:32 -0700
We birded Tubac area today and walked part of the Anza Trail looking for the 
Black Hawk. No luck there, but 55 species and migration in progress. Highlights 
included Anna's and Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Northern Rough-winged and Cliff 
(Tubac Golf Course) Swallows, Bewicks and House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 
lots of Mountain and Western Bluebirds near Tubac State Park, Orange 
Crowned-Yellow Rumped-Wilson's Warblers, Chipping-Brewers-Vesper-Lark-Lark 
Bunting-Savannah-Song-White Crowned Sparrows, and one small flock of Lawrence's 
Goldfinches also near Tubac State Park. 


Vic/Donna Fondy-Green Valley
520-398-5153
Subject: SE AZ: 03/10/10 - Rufous-capped Warbler - Florida Canyon; McCown's Longspurs - San Rafael Valley
From: Stuart Healy <stuarthealy AT COX.NET>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:21:09 -0700
Wednesday, March 10, 2010

On a gorgeous blue sky day, I was out with Mike Smith of Anchorage, AK
looking for a couple of target species.

Although there's still lots of running water in Florida Canyon, the streambed 
was certainly easier to navigate today than on Monday. We arrived at the dam 
at 9:00am and located the continuing RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER at 10:00am. 

The bird was first seen about 20 yards above the sycamores on the
west side of the streambed. Almost always low, of course, the
warbler stayed particular low today; working mostly on the ground and
never more than 6 inches off the ground as it moved slowly down canyon.
No calls or song heard..

The unpaved section of Harshaw Canyon Road leading to San Rafael Valley 
was in much better shape than the muddy mess of Monday and FR58 was easily
passable in a small rental vehicle.

McCOWN'S LONGSPURS were fairly plentiful at the Vaca Ranch Corral. 
I estimated at least 20 birds; mostly females with perhaps 6 males in various
stages of breeding plumage. All males had black breast bands of some
sort but only a couple had black caps.

Stuart

Stuart Healy, Western U.S. Bird Guide,
Specializing in SE Arizona and the White Mountains.
Personal Guiding and Custom Tours; 
220 Stardust St., Sierra Vista, AZ 85635.
(520) 458-7603 stuarthealy AT cox.net
http://www.aztrogon.com
Birding journal: http://www.aztrogon.com/journal/Main.htm
I'd rather be birding (and I usually am)
Subject: RFI: SE AZ in early April 2010
From: Ken Blankenship <kenhblankenship AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:21:24 -0700
Hi, folks. I will be in SE AZ from April 5-10. I don’t want to clutter up 
your ListServ with a big tourist-birder RFI so I’ll keep it short. I love 
doing things on my own using ABA guides when birding out west, but I know 
how invaluable and friendly local information can be to make a trip all 
the more successful. Here is a wish list:

Northern Goshawk
Common Black-Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk
Ruddy Ground-Dove *
Western Screech-Owl **
Whiskered Screech-Owl **
Northern Pygmy-Owl **
Spotted Owl **
Buff-breasted Flycatcher
Sinaloa Wren *
Black-capped Gnatcatcher
Rufous-backed Robin *
Bendire’s Thrasher *
Crissal Thrasher *
Rufous-capped Warbler *
Flame-colored Tanager
Baird’s Sparrow

* I have pretty good details, but if updated status, tips on timing due to 
behavior at that time of year, etc. is available please let me know.
** I do NOT use audio for nocturnal species, legal or not. I happily put 
owls and nightjars on my life list for the enjoyment of finding them and 
hearing them, though I carry a small flashlight just in case.

I left off mega-rarity type stuff as I assume it would hit the ListServ if 
it pops up.

Thanks in advance for your help,
Ken Blankenship
Marietta, Georgia
Subject: AZ; More "Trogon eats water bug" videos
From: Matt Brown <mattbrownbirds AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:16:50 -0700
Thanks to all who sent notes of appreciation for the Trogon videos and
photos...I'll try to reply individually as soon as I can. In the mean time,
I have added all seven minutes or so in 8 clips to my YouTube account. I
still can't edit them, so they are rife with imperfections, and Parts 1&2
are in lower resolution, but I think all eight parts are fun to watch (I
can't blend them together, currently, either). The link is to my whole video
collection so, depending on how they are arranged when they come up, just
scroll around or search for "Elegant Trogon eats Giant Water Bug, Parts
1-8." Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/user/mattbrownbirds

By the way, a Bewick's Wren is the loud persistent singer nearby
("Towhee-like"), and a Black Phoebe is more quietly chirping in the background.

Matt Brown
The Patagonia Birding & Butterfly Co.
520-604-6300
mattbrownbirdsATgmailDOTcom
www.lifebirds.com
Subject: Hassayampa, Wickenburg: GREEN KINGFISHER, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (3-10-10)
From: Tommy DeBardeleben <sunsfan1331 AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:54:27 -0700
Hey everyone,

Today (10 March 2010) I ventured out to the Wickenburg area again to the 
Hassayampa River Preserve.  I had fun birding with Jay Miller and Jim 
Kopitzke during the morning and early afternoon, and it was also nice to 
meet Donna and Carol along the trail.  

The female GREEN KINGFISHER continued.  I saw her at about 9 am towards 
the end of the River Ramble trail, over a very small pond, more ideal for 
this species than the raging river.  She wasn't along the main river 
today, but the opposite side, at a separate part of the river that 
branched off and is more narrow, slow flowing, and quiet (the side of the 
river which you have to cross by using the small bridge).  At one point, 
it formed a nice pond, in which I was very shocked to see the Green 
Kingfisher just because she usually isn't over this way.  To reach this 
point, it is off to the right after you walk down the steps from the 
visitor center area to access the trails.  Cross the small bridge placed 
in the narrow part of the river and follow the River Ramble trail until 
the end where this pond is and is a much slower, quieter side of the 
river.  I believe she hasn't been over this way much at least from what 
birders have observed, so when visiting, it's another good place to check 
for this bird.  Many birders got great views of it today and I was able to 
tell the crowd of people were it was.  It vocalized some, I still haven't 
gotten the oppurtunity to see it catch it's prey of some sort, which would 
be amazing as well.

Also present today where SHARP-SHINNED and COOPER'S HAWKS, a female ANNA'S 
HUMMINGBIRD feeding her young, many VERMILION FLYCATCHERS, BRIDLED 
TITMOUSE, a very nice male WILSON'S WARBLER, and LINCOLN'S SPARROW.

Towards the end of the day, Jim, Jay and I made an attempt to find the RED-
SHOULDERED HAWK which was reported by Melanie Herring on friday.  We 
weren't able to find it at the preserve, but we tried the classic place 
behind the car dealership and KFC in Wickenburg (thanks also to the 
volunteer for suggesting to us coming here to look) and we were rewarded 
with great perched and in flight views of a single Red-shouldered Hawk.  
The bird was also very vocal the entire time we observed it, and at one 
time had something in it's talons, in which looked alot likely to be a 
snake, but it was hard to tell for sure.  The hawk flew back and fourth 
among the many cottonwoods and would perch on dead branches from time to 
time.  Towards the end, it soared high and continued soaring until we lost 
sight of it.  Truely a beautiful raptor and a great addition to our 
Arizona lists, which was a state bird for Jim, Jay and I.  Diagnostic 
photos were taken of the hawk.  Thank you to Melanie for reporting the 
bird, which was my main target for today!

Good birding,

Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona)
Subject: Re: BIRDWG05 Digest - 7 Mar 2010 to 8 Mar 2010 (#2010-68)
From: Frank Boyle <ravenfrank AT EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:32:10 -0500
I heard it too!  I'll ask my brother, who is a 1st Sgt in the Vermont
National Guard leaving soon for Afghanistan to keep his birding ears on.

Frank Boyle
Rohrersville, MD (and sometimes SE AZ)
ravenfrank AT earthlink.net



-----Original Message-----
From: NBHC AZ/NM Birds [mailto:BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of
Helen Snyder
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 11:22 PM
To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Subject: Re: [BIRDWG05] BIRDWG05 Digest - 7 Mar 2010 to 8 Mar 2010
(#2010-68)

On All Things Considered tonight at about 10 after the hour (5 here), there
was an interview with Sec'y of Defense Gates in progress in Afghanistan.
Singing loudly and very near the mike was a lovely-voiced mimid; did anyone
happen to recognize this bird by song?


Helen Snyder, Sales Agent & Portal Specialist
Everett J Jones Real Estate, Inc.
http://www.PortalAZRealEstate.com
Subject: Re: BIRDWG05 Digest - 7 Mar 2010 to 8 Mar 2010 (#2010-68)
From: Helen Snyder <chickcharney2001 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 20:21:43 -0800
On All Things Considered tonight at about 10 after the hour (5 here), there was 
an interview with Sec'y of Defense Gates in progress in Afghanistan. Singing 
loudly and very near the mike was a lovely-voiced mimid; did anyone happen to 
recognize this bird by song? 



Helen Snyder, Sales Agent & Portal Specialist
Everett J Jones Real Estate, Inc.
http://www.PortalAZRealEstate.com
Subject: AZ: Video of Trogon vs. Giant Water Bug at Patagonia Lake, 8March10
From: Matt Brown <mattbrownbirds AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:20:54 -0700
While birding yesterday morning at Patagonia Lake with Jeff Bolsinger and
his lovely wife Carol, and after fortuitously meeting up with Mary Gustafson
down there too, we found the 11-and-a-half year old male ELEGANT TROGON
pretty far upstream and on the opposite side of the swollen main channel. I,
having my Wellies on, had been maneuvering up the other side and was able to
get fairly close when, to my utter surprise, he flew straight towards me and
landed within feet of my boots on the muddy ground.

A Giant Water Bug, whose genus I haven't nailed down yet, was the Trogon's
focus of attention and became its slow and juicy victim over the next 10
minutes as I watched. At one point, the old guy hopped within 12 inches of
my toe, chasing after the increasingly flattened ex-bug as it was tossed
around like a chew-toy! I guess that's why it wasn't brought up to a perch,
but rather eaten on the ground: so it could be picked up and put back down
like a huge slice of Chicago-style pizza.

The best part is, I got a lot of it on tape, along with a few pictures, as
documentation of how an Elegant Trogon can: a) Hop-walk around on crooked,
long-toed feet wearing red-and-white shorts, and: b) Enjoy a meal so much he
doesn't even care that a green-and-tan monster with one giant eye is staring
down from six feet over his head. Well, I do feel like I've gotten to know
him pretty well over these hundreds of visits to his winter haunts for
almost a dozen years...maybe he feels the same way. Anyway, here's the link
to the Flickr Set they're all in...hope you enjoy it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38376251 AT N07/sets/72157623589729990/

There's actually a lot more video I'll put up to YouTube, once I figure out
how to get the format right to put them in iMovie. It was a really cool
experience, and I wanted to share what I could of the sense of the moment.
Oh, and congrats to Carol on the lifer!

Matt Brown
The Patagonia Birding & Butterfly Co.
520-604-6300
mattbrownbirdsATgmailDOTcom
www.lifebirds.com
Subject: AZ:03/09/2010:Benson WWTP
From: "Clifford A. Cathers" <azcliffy AT Q.COM>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 19:21:45 -0700
I checked the Benson, AZ WWTP this afternoon right as the latest sotrm was 
crashing over the hill at J-6 Ranch to find all of the regular puddle ducks 
but one on the south pond was a likely candidate for a male GREATER SCAUP.  
It had a nice green head and very white sides.  I'm about 98% certain, but 
with binoculars only, the wind and waves, and constant diving by the duck, 
I can't rule out human error.  Looked pretty good though.

On the way to south Texas on Sunday February 28, 2010, I checked Benson 
just as the storm before the last one was hitting, to find a large nervous 
flock of GREEN-WINGED TEAL (over 300) which took off ahead of the snow 
showers.  Willcox had a flock of REDHEADs but nothing else on very choppy 
water.

On my way back from Texas this past Sunday March 7, 2010 I stopped at 
Willcox just ahead of the previous storm to find almost nothing except ice 
sheets washed up on the south shore.

Not getting much luck on visiting water holes right before storms.  Oh 
well, gotta kiss a few frogs I suppose.  Anyone interested in my recent 
Texas trip can read the details with pictures in my journal at:

http://www.economybirding.com/Journal02.html

Tonights rainfall added to the last two storms have pushed Vail over 5.8 
inches for the year, already beating last year's annual rainfall of 5.4 
inches.  Incredible!

Clifford A. Cathers
Economy Birding Services, Inc.
"Quality Birding With Your Budget in Mind"
http://www.economybirding.com
Budget Bird Guiding for the Desert Southwest
AZCliffy AT q.com - 520.762.3201
Subject: Re: Arizona Photos
From: Jim Morgan <fundador AT CABLEONE.NET>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:23:07 -0700
Very nice photographs Bill, thanks for sharing.

Jim Morgan
Prescott

On Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 5:44 PM, William Higgins  wrote:
> Here is a link to some photos that I've taken since arriving in Tucson end
> of November, 2009.  It has been fun seeing many western birds since I spend
> most of the year in Virginia and am about to return - not great timing for
> AZ birds but the VA's should be warming up soon.  I've enjoyed meeting many
> AZ birders and have closely followed their helpful reports on the listserv.
> I probably misidentified some of the birds in the gallery and won't be
> offended it anyone corrects me - offline is preferred.  The dates and
> locations for the photos are in the keywords for the photos.
>
>
>
> http://bill3sarah.smugmug.com/Birds/Tucson-birds-2009-2010/10587323_M3vYi#73
> 5765126_7YVny
>
>
>
>
>
> Best Wishes,
>
>
>
> Bill Higgins
>
>
>
Subject: Arizona Photos
From: William Higgins <whiggins11 AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 17:44:59 -0700
Here is a link to some photos that I've taken since arriving in Tucson end
of November, 2009.  It has been fun seeing many western birds since I spend
most of the year in Virginia and am about to return - not great timing for
AZ birds but the VA's should be warming up soon.  I've enjoyed meeting many
AZ birders and have closely followed their helpful reports on the listserv.
I probably misidentified some of the birds in the gallery and won't be
offended it anyone corrects me - offline is preferred.  The dates and
locations for the photos are in the keywords for the photos.

 

http://bill3sarah.smugmug.com/Birds/Tucson-birds-2009-2010/10587323_M3vYi#73
5765126_7YVny

 

 

Best Wishes,

 

Bill Higgins
Subject: Sweetwater Wetlands March 9, 2010 no Soras
From: Pat <pgoltz AT SEGHEA.COM>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 17:31:36 -0700
Folks,

I went to the Sweetwater Wetlands today, looking for Soras. No luck. I 
was there from about 11:45 to 1:15. I didn't see anything shockingly 
new, but I did see a number of good species, and enjoyed myself, as always.

What I did see:

Harris's Hawks (4 in one location, 2 in another)
House Finch
Neotropic Cormorant (in one of the westernmost ponds)
Anna's Hummingbird (in two locations; might be the same one, an immature 
male)
Song Sparrows
Yellow-rumped Warblers (of course)
Black Phoebes
Mourning Doves
Ruddy Ducks
Ring-necked Ducks
Lesser Scaup
Northern Shovelers
Great-tailed Grackles (lots)
American Coots
Cinnamon Teal
Swallows (probably Rough-winged) in flight
American Wigeons
Mallards

I heard
Red-winged Blackbirds
unidentified species

And I saw:
Red-eared Sliders

Happy Birding,
Pat Goltz
Subject: TAS field trip
From: LAWRENCE LIESE <larryliese AT PRODIGY.NET>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 15:34:46 -0800
Seventeen adventurous birders helped prove the weatherman spot-on as we enjoyed 
a beautiful morning birding in Honeybee Canyon.  Our stated destination of 
Catalina State Park was thwarted when the ranger there alerted us that two feet 
of mud covers the first wash crossing on the main road through the park, so off 
to Honeybee we went. 

The canyon was gorgeous with all the plants green and healthy from the rains.  
Weather was great being sunny and windless until after lunch.  Migrant birds 
hadn't shown up yet, but we enjoyed the resident ones, with beautiful scope 
views of a number of male Costa's Hummers, Abert's Towhee, Curve-billed 
Thrasher, Phainopepla, Gilded Flicker, Pyrrhuloxia, and other expected 
species.  We hiked up the canyon to the petroglyphs with firm sand underfoot 
(luckily) as the flow of water was fairly generous.  A truly enjoyable morning! 
- Larry Liese
Subject: Re: Correction on a Wrong Id
From: Phil Jeffrey <phil.jeffrey AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:08:11 -0500
To quote the top of the birdingonthe.net Tough Birds page:
"BE CAREFUL: Mentioned does NOT necessarily mean reported or seen. E.
g. "14 species of Wood Warbler were seen" is a mention of Wood
Warbler, a bird on the ABA list."

But this particular post exemplifies the perfect grammatical and
typographical storm that causes glitches like this:

On Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 5:52 PM,   wrote:
> Birding on the Net has goofed and picked up a Redwing Blackbird as a
> Redwing Thrush.  There ain't no such critter in NM.

You have *both* these birds names wrong, and in particular the one in
the RBA is causing the problem.

Redwing, (Turdus iliacus)  a member of the thrush family just like the
misnomer American Robin but also including Clay-colored Thrush and
White-throated Thrush to name other ABA birds.  There is NO "Thrush"
in its name.  It is a vagrant to the East Coast.
Red-winged Blackbird - everyone knows the correct name of this one.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton
Subject: Correction on a Wrong Id
From: Pinyonjay AT AOL.COM
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 17:52:19 EST
Birding on the Net has goofed and picked up a Redwing Blackbird as a  
Redwing Thrush.  There ain't no such critter in NM.
 
Pat Snider
NM RBA
Subject: Common Black-hawk at Tubac
From: James P Karp <jkarp AT SYR.EDU>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 17:05:33 -0500
The Tuesday morning birding group from Tubac spotted a Common Black-hawk doing 
aerial combat with a pair of ravens near the sewage treatment plant. It freed 
itself from the ravens attack and headed north. Perhaps it was the same bird 
seen roosting near Santa Gertrudis Lane yesterday. We also spotted a Warbling 
Vireo while birding from the Bridge Rd. bridge. We had a total of 63 species. 
The list of birds seen during the week along the Anza Trail is reported on the 
Anza Trail Coalition site each Monday morning. Also, two Bullock's Orioles were 
seen just north of Clark's Crossing yesterday. 


Jim Karp
Subject: AZ - Mesa: Rose-breasted Grosbeak
From: C kirscher <antclaudia2008 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 14:03:57 -0800
Subject: 
Posting for Alison Kocek (having problems logging in).  

Subject: Mesa: Rose-breasted Grosbeak
We've had an adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak visiting our feeder off and
on all morning amongst the Inca Doves, House Finch, Abert's Towhees,
Curve-billed Thrasher, and the single Rose-faced Lovebird. We've had
Black-headed Grosbeak visit us a couple times each year but this is
definitely a first for the Rose-breasted.



Alison Kocek
Lead Wildlife Biologist
Research & Conservation Department
Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation
c602-402-2284
alisonk AT libertywildlife.org
www.libertywildlife.org
Subject: Glendale Recharge Ponds, 3-9-2010
From: Tommy DeBardeleben <sunsfan1331 AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 13:22:54 -0500
Hi everyone,

This morning (9 March), I had a few hours to stop at the Glendale Recharge 
Ponds. Ducks are showing signs of decreasing as numbers are noticably dropping 
here as well, but I still managed 11 different species-GADWALL, MALLARD, 
CINNAMON TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 
RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE and RUDDY DUCK. I 
also had good luck with raptors, as 6 different species were present. The best 
was my morning highlight MERLIN, which flew over the ponds just minutes after I 
got out of my truck and started to bird, the first Merlin I've ever seen at 
this location. One of the young BALD EAGLES flew overhead, and an OSPREY 
perched on a sign along one of the ponds. Other raptors were NORTHERN HARRIER, 
COOPER'S HAWK and RED-TAILED HAWK. The Cooper's and Red-tailed Hawks went at it 
for awhile in flight. Shorebird wise, I found one DUNLIN and a few AMERICAN 
AVOCETS have returned. Many NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS flew over the ponds 
with a few TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS also mixed in. 


42 species for the morning.

Good birding,

Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona)
Subject: Yuma County, Black & other rails, 8 Mar 2010
From: Henry Detwiler <henrydetwiler AT EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 11:00:08 -0700
Greetings Birders,

Yesterday afternoon & evening (8 Mar) Phil and I went on an extended Black Rail 
hunt north of Yuma. 


We started at West Pond (Imperial County), generally the most reliable spot. 
Virginia Rails were quite vocal, and a Clapper Rail called from the distance. 
But no Black Rail. A Peregrine whipped by as we left the spot, no doubt also 
hunting for our target. 


So we moved to the marsh just south and east of Hidden Shores RV Park (Yuma 
County). Here we got a couple of Virginia Rails, but nothing small and black. 


Along S-24 we had a Clapper Rail calling loudly about 5 feet from the road's 
edge, but there was too much standing water for our little friends. 


From the overlook north of the Mittry Lake dregde launch we had Clapper and 
Virginia Rails, and a variety of swallows. 


Farther south along Mittry Lake we met with similar results at other 
spots--nice birds to watch and beautiful lighting as the sun dropped below the 
cloud layer--but no Black Rail. 


So then we started back north again, reversing our route. Finally, just before 
the sun set around 6:45, we got a short response north of the dredge launch! A 
few minutes later the Black Rail started calling in earnest--a great end to the 
day! 


We tried once more for a California "tic" at West Pond, but the only winners 
were the mosquitoes, who were quite voracious. 


In the end we heard or saw the following marsh denizens:
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Black-crowned Night Heron
- Great & Snowy Egrets
- Common Moorhen
- American Coot
- Sora
- Black Rail
- Virginia Rail
- Clapper Rail
- Marsh Wren
- Orange-crowned Warbler
- Common Yellowthroat


Good Birding!
Henry Detwiler
Yuma, AZ
www.SouthwestBirders.com
928-210-6474
Subject: Tucson AC park Cassin's Finches
From: Richard Carlson <rccarl AT PACBELL.NET>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 09:42:51 -0800
The American Goldfinches disappeared this morning but we now have at least 6 
Cassin's Finches in the far NE corner near the maint. area. 

 Richard Carlson
Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian
Part-time Economist
Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA
rccarl AT pacbell.net
Tucson 520-760-4935
Tahoe 530-581-0624
Kirkland 425-828-3819
Cell 650-280-2965
Subject: FW: Tucson Short Tailed Hawk 03/08/2010
From: Stuart Healy <stuarthealy AT COX.NET>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 09:52:39 -0700
Monday, March 8, 2010

Neil Davis saw the Short-tailed Hawk soaring between
Ridgeway and Wilmot, 3 blocks south of Seneca.
I don't know the exact time but it would have been
late afternoon.

Stuart

Stuart Healy, Western U.S. Bird Guide,
Specializing in SE Arizona and the White Mountains.
Personal Guiding and Custom Tours; 
220 Stardust St., Sierra Vista, AZ 85635.
(520) 458-7603 stuarthealy AT cox.net
http://www.aztrogon.com
Birding journal: http://www.aztrogon.com/journal/Main.htm
I'd rather be birding (and I usually am)
Subject: AZ: Tempe: Kiwanis Park gull and osprey
From: "Myron L. Scott" <gaia_3 AT NETZERO.NET>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 15:30:16 GMT
Ring-billed gull aloft on east side of Kiwanis Park lake, Mill Avenue
and Baseline, Tempe at around 7 A.M. today, March 9th.  Also, the
osprey is still present.  Ducks numbers seem a bit down, except for
ring-necks and lesser scaup.  7 Canada geese, one neck-banded.

Myron Scott
Tempe
Subject: AZ News: Catalina State Park Temporarily Closed
From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT ATT.NET>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 06:29:58 -0700
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/CATA/index.html

According to the AZ State Parks web page, Catalina SP is temporarily closed due 
to flooding. 

Check the web page above for updates.

Mark Stevenson
Tucson, AZ
Subject: AZFO - New photos of Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker
From: Mike Moore <mcmoore32 AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 05:04:36 -0700
Field Ornithologists,
   
Andrew Core contributed photos of the Tucson Yellow-shafted Northern
Flicker.  Thanks Andrew!

Thanks to all who use the online form below to submit photos.  It makes my
job a lot easier and ensures your photos will be posted more quickly.  

Photos posted at:
 
http://www.azfo.org
click on "Photo Documentation"
   
Arizona Field Ornithologists welcomes Arizona rarity photo contributions
from all photographers throughout the state.  

Use our online form to submit photos:
http://www.azfo.org/gallery/PhotoContribution.html

If you enjoy the photo web site, please consider joining AZFO and supporting
our other activities.  Details on the web site.

We strive for accuracy.  Please email any corrections to postings to me.

Mike Moore
AZFO Photo Editor