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Recent Postings from
The Arizona-New Mexico Birding List

Updated on Tuesday, November 20 at 07:37 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

Old Baldy Trail, Madera Canyon; Tuesday, November 20, 2007

A single AZTEC THRUSH was present this morning about 200 yards
up canyon from the previously described "X" drainage.

Details
http://www.aztrogon.com/Journal/Main-J.htm?../Logs/2007/ml0711.htm#20

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
 stuarthealy AT earthlink.net
http://www.aztrogon.com
Birding journal: http://www.aztrogon.com/journal/Main.htm
I'd rather be birding (and I usually am)

This morning some visiting friends and I birded Sweetwater Wetlands
and were rewarded with a low-flying CRESTED CARACARA over the parking
lot, headed west while being mobbed by several grackles and red-winged
blackbirds. The resident HARRIS'S HAWKS put on a great show as always,
perched atop power poles and bare snags offering great close looks. A
distant PEREGRINE FALCON was atop the metal towers in the river. At
the keyhole pond, a GREAT EGRET and an apparent fully albino N.
SHOVELER added much white to the good mix of ducks. Several HORNED
LARKS and AMERICAN PIPITS foraged in the dry southernmost basin and on
the trails was a lone BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER.  An AMERICAN ROBIN
flushed from the willows close to the Hidden Pond. Nearby, Roger Road
WWTP yielded three SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, a few RING-NECKED DUCKS and
more Harris's Hawks.

After lunch we stopped by the Evergreen Cemetery on Oracle Road and
despite the warm afternoon it was still quite birdy. A PRAIRIE FALCON
zipping through was a nice addition and other birds included
Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, Cooper's Hawk, Kestrel,
several Dark-eyed Juncos, Chipping Sparrows, lots of Yellow-rumpeds, a
couple of HUTTON'S VIREOS, about a dozen CEDAR WAXWINGS and some
flyover PINE SISKINS.


Good Birding!

Moez Ali
Tucson Az/Kenya
www.tropicalbirding.com
www.birding-america.com

Birders,

I went to the Water Ranch this morning and did see the Tennessee Warbler
amongst several Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers along the trail
between ponds 1 and 7. It was a little south of the second bench in
Cottonwoods. Also seen were the Yellow Warbler near the first bench and a
Myrtle Warbler. I think I had a quick look at the Nashville and it seemed to
be missing a tail. There is an island in pond 7 that has salt cedars and
there was a Black-throated Gray Warbler there.  

Steve Ganley
Mesa, Arizona 

Hello everyone!
   
 This morning 12 intrepid birders joined me to explore Molino Basin along the 
Mt. Lemmon Highway. We started early and it was a little chilly, so the birds 
were quiet. That being said, we did manage a couple interesting sightings I 
thought I'd mention here. As soon as we got out of the cars at the Molino Basin 
campground, a couple RED CROSSBILLS flew overhead. This is the second 
out-of-habitat sighting I've had of these guys in a week. We hiked up the 
Arizona Trail aways from the campground, and came upon a very cooperative male 
ARIZONA WOODPECKER on an oak in the wash. Once again, this wasn't a bird I 
expected to encounter this low and in scrub oak habitat. This was an unexpected 
treat, and everyone got great looks at what was a lifer for many in the group. 
A RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW was another treat. The sighting highlight for many 
(including me) was a Roadrunner perched majestically on the top of the cliff 
face way, way above our heads. It was sunning itself in a 

 location that you'd normally see a raptor. 
   
 The various mixed flocks along the trail and in the campground provided great 
looks at many of the typical inhabitants of oak woodland, including juncos 
(both pink-sided and gray-headed), titmice, 3 species of wrens, kinglets, WB 
nuthatches, etc. The stars of the show for most people were the Canyon and 
Spotted Towhees. As we were returning to the vehicles, a male Red-naped 
Sapsucker came in, followed by another ARIZONA WOODPECKER. It's possible that 
it was the same one as earlier, though that one was quite a ways up the trail. 

   
 A stop at Agua Caliente added some nice birds to our list, including Say's 
Phoebe. A flyby Harris's Hawk was spotted by people in one of the vehicles on 
the drive. We dipped on Rufous-winged Sparrow, unfortunately. 

   
 The morning was a real joy, especially since there were so many keen and 
interested birders from out-of-area. Thanks to everyone who attended. I'll get 
a full list of the day's species up on Ebird.com sometime tonight (under the 
appropriate sections). 

   
  Happy Birding!
  -Matt! Brooks
  Tucson, AZ
  glacierbirder AT yahoo.com
   


<") 
   ( \
   / |`` 
   
 "A venturesome minority will always be eager to get off on their own... let 
them take risks, for godsake, let them get lost, sunburnt, stranded, drowned, 
eaten by bears, buried under avalanches --- that is the right and privilege of 
any free American." -- Edward Abbey, Desert Solitare 


       
---------------------------------
Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Yahoo Mobile. Try it 
now. 

Before a Cooper's Hawk shut it down, I spent a pleasant 40 minutes  
this morning on the back porch watching the feeders.  Seen were

Cooper's Hawk
Gambel's Quail
Wild Turkey
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Acorn Woodpecker
Gila Woodpecker
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Arizona Woodpecker
Red-shafted N. Flicker
Mexican Jay
Chihuahuan Raven (I think --it was a fly-by)
Bridled Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Cactus Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Curve-billed Thrasher
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pyrrhuloxia
Spotted Towhee
Canyon Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch

and
White-tailed Deer in the Cienega below, where the yellow Arizona Ash  
leaves were falling.

The yard is open from first light to last light every day.
Donations are requested and deeply appreciated.

Mary Jo Ballator, Host
Ash Canyon Bed & Breakfast
5255 E. Spring Road
Hereford, AZ  /
Web page:http://AshCanyonBandB.com
Mail to: info AT AshCanyonBandB.com

Sorry about that. It's all too easy to get wrapped up in you own little 
world. I
live about a quarter of a miles from the University of Arizona campus 
in Tucson.

Quoting Steve London :

> Could you folks please include the name of the city in postings like this,
> preferably in the Subject line ?
>
> Not everyone lives in Phoenix or Tucson.
>
> Thanks
>
> mcknight AT EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU wrote:
>> Today, while my wife and I were eating lunch in our back yard near the
>> university, a Red-breasted Nuthatch flew down and fed not six feet 
>> away at the
>> base of an Aleppo Pine, while we continued to talk. I had heard that 
>> there was
>> something of an irruption of the species but never expected to see 
>> one in the
>> middle of the city, and so amazingly fearless.
>>

11/17/07
 
I forgot to mention that on sat. at the first pond at Kino Springs, the one 
closest to the freeway, I had a late adult Gray Hawk. 

 
Noah Gaines
Tucson, AZ
_________________________________________________________________
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Rob Lane and I spent Sunday birding with visiting
friends from Tennessee.
Highlights include:

Casa Grande: 
Northern Jacana - easily seen from dirt area at 7:00
am.  
Harris's Hawks - four were in a vacant field adjacent
to Pinal Ave south of Rodeo Drive.  
Monk Parakeets - a dozen were easy to find on McMurray
Drive.

Santa Cruz Flats:
Rough-legged Hawk - Sunland Gin Road, just south of
Pretzer.
Prairie Falcon - three light poles south of the
Rough-legged.
Crested Caracara - Four in front of the pecan grove on
Pretzer
Chihuahuan Raven - 25+ kettling around the pecan grove
on Pretzer.
Horned Larks, Western Meadowlarks, American Pipits
covered the sod farm on Pretzer.  No Mountain Plovers
were seen.  The pond north of Pretzer on Tweedy held
Greater Yellowlegs, Least Sandpipers, and a few
Ring-necked Ducks.
Lark Sparrows and Eurasian Collared-Doves were found
easily on Tweedy, around the farm house south of
Pretzer.  A bright yellow-phase Budgerigar was out of
place among the doves.
Lark Bunting flocks and Vesper Sparrows were seen at
several locations along Sunland Gin, Pretzer and
Tweedy Road.

Red Rock Feed Lot - we were unable to relocate the
Ruddy Ground-Doves, but were treated to hundreds of
Brewer's, Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds.

Nothing unusual in and around the Desert Museum, but
we were able to easily locate Rufous-winged and
Brewer's Sparrows along with Pyrrhuloxias north of the
National Park Visitor's Center on Kinney Road. 
Phainopeplas were numerous many locations in the park.

Jon Mann
Chandler, AZ


 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Be a better pen pal. 
Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. 
http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/ 

All credence to Moez Ali.  By happenstance at 5:30 p.m. Saturday night 
November 17 as dusk gathered I was on my back porch when I heard the 
distinctive calls of an Elf Owl in the sycamores over the roof of my 
home in Whitetail Canyon.  It shut-up a few minutes later and was not 
calling last night, even though I tried to prod it into giggling with 
playbacks on my iPod.  November 17 is by far the latest record of Elf 
Owl in Arizona I of which I have knowledge, except for the observation 
from Bog Springs in the Santa Rita Mountains by Moez Ali, Wes Fritz, 
and Cher Hollingworth  on November 9.

--Rick Taylor
--

Explore the Living Museums of the World

BORDERLAND TOURS
2550 W. Calle Padilla, Tucson, AZ� 85745
Phone:� FAX:

http://www.borderland-tours.com

Today, while my wife and I were eating lunch in our back yard near the
university, a Red-breasted Nuthatch flew down and fed not six feet away at the
base of an Aleppo Pine, while we continued to talk. I had heard that there was
something of an irruption of the species but never expected to see one in the
middle of the city, and so amazingly fearless.

Sorry about the delay on this one. The hawk is probably well into Sonora by 
now. 

Two days ago Sally Johnsen and I spent a couple of hours walking the Anza Trail
north from the bridge at Tubac. We rounded up the usual list of suspects,
except for a very late juvenile Black Hawk which we flushed at the point where
the woods give way to grass south of the golf club.  The bird flew away south.
I would not ordinarily post such a late notice but I know some people like to
keep track of late (or early) birds.

Hi, birders,

Beautiful morning at Whitewater Draw WMA, with the immature Crested Carcara
the best bird. 
When we arrived at 8:30 a.m. it was standing on one of the large gravel
piles near the parking lot and barn. As we watched, a Greater Roadrunner
appeared over the crest, about ten feet away from the caracara. An immature
Red-tailed Hawk swooped down and grabbed at the roadrunner, but missed. The
two immature raptors stared at each other a bit, then the caracara stepped
forward and the red-tail took off. Soon after, so did the caracara, and then
the roadrunner re-appeared on the gravel pile briefly.

Other birds of interest: Eared Grebe (20), Sandhill Crane (120), Greater
Yellowlegs (3), Spotted Sandpiper (3), Long-billed Dowitcher (13), Barn Owl
(4), and Great Horned Owl (1).  Two Ferruginous Hawks were soaring over the
fields north of Davis Road.

Cheers, Erika Wilson (Sierra Vista, AZ)

About 20 minutes ago a single VAUX'S SWIFT flew over my neighborhood
and prompted me to look at the updated bar graphs in the TAS bird
finding guide, which currently show no dots for the swifts in
November. On 11/10 when Wes Fritz and Cher Hollingworth were in town,
we also saw a single Vaux's Swift pass over my place but noted the
more frequent glides of the bird which perhaps suggested Chimney
Swift, although it was a little distant for body features
identification and was most likely a Vaux's anyway. Aside from the
summer dots of Chimney Swifts in the bar graphs, have they been
encountered outside those months elsewhere in Arizona?

A large female PEREGRINE FALCON has been hanging out in the Broadway
and Swan neighborhood on and off for about two weeks now. Last winter
I had a similar bird stick around for several weeks, probably feasting
on the many Rock Doves all over the place. Cooper's Hawks and Kestrels
continue to patrol the small Linden Park just down the road.


Good Birding!

Moez Ali
Tucson Az/Kenya
www.tropicalbirding.com
www.birding-america.com

Following up on Judy Ulreich's Sunday posting, I went to the location described 
in her excellent directions. Sunday was probably a better day to be there as 
several large, noisy construction vehicles went past during the 20 minutes I 
was on site. The AMERICAN GOLDFINCH was feeding with numerous Lawrence's and 
Lesser Goldfinchs in a weedy patch just behind a stand of Mesquite trees where 
the road forks. The right hand branch is definitely posted No trespassing and 
the sign may apply to the left hand road as well. Some of you may remember this 
spot as the place a Harris's Sparrow spent part of the  winter; east 
of the tracks across from the Maintenance Yard. 


Reid Freeman
Green Valley

Yesterday 11/18 while visiting friends in Prescott, I encountered a
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in the residential City Lights neighborhood off
S. Senator Highway a few miles south of E. Gurley St. It was in a
flock mostly containing White-crowned Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos
foraging in a small dense brushy ravine. Other birds present were 9
CASSIN'S FINCHES, several Pine Siskins, Juniper Titmice, bushtits and
chickadees, Hermit Thrush, American Robins, kinglets etc.


Good Birding!

Moez Ali
Tucson Az/Kenya
www.tropicalbirding.com
www.birding-america.com

Greetings,

Only time for a quick partial check of the Water Ranch this morning, but I
did manage to see the continuing TENNESSEE WARBLER and continuing BELL'S
VIREO (very late, but one wintered in this same spot last year).  Both birds
were in the mesquite over the third bench (one past the Mason Bly bench) on
path between ponds 1 and 7 as you are walking down from the parking lot. 

Mike Moore
Gilbert, AZ

As several folks have noted, 12 team members from AZ Field Ornithologists 
(AZFO) converged in Yuma from different regions of the state for the latest 
Field Expedition this past weekend. The Expedition was well planned by Henry 
Detwiler and John Jerger and pulled in folks from the Flagstaff, Phoenix, 
Tucson, and Yuma areas. 


On Saturday morning (17 Nov.), we split into two survey teams with a team of 3 
heading into the Kofa Mountains and the remainder to locations within the lower 
Colorado River Valley. The Kofa Queen Canyon hikers encountered a BLACK-CHINNED 
SPARROW, which is a very local breeding species in Yuma Co. with few if any 
November records. At the end of the day, this team also visited Martinez Lake 
area with highlights including both Western and Clark's Grebes, 1 HOODED 
MERGANSER, 2 Least Bitterns, and a bighorn sheep! 


The other team surveyed the Yuma East Wetlands, Cottonwood Island, and Gateway 
Park in the morning with highlights including a late NASHVILLE WARBLER (few if 
any November records in the County) and a YELLOW WARBLER (rare this late in 
season) among so many Yellow-rumped Warblers. After lunch, this team broke into 
two separate teams and thoroughly surveyed the impressive linear stand of 
cottonwoods at the Yuma West Wetlands where they encountered PINE SISKIN, and 1 
each of CASSIN'S and PLUMBEOUS VIREO. A survey of active agricultural fields 
west of San Luis revealed one alfalfa field containing an impressive 
concentration of 25-30 raptors including 10 FERRUGINOUS, 1 adult GOLDEN EAGLE, 
2 PRAIRIE FALCONS, and numerous Red-tailed Hawks in many different plumages. A 
small flock of Tree Swallow also passed over. We ended the day in south Yuma 
along the Yuma Main Drain where we relocated the imm. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and 
the wintering THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD noted by Dave Powell the day before. Also, 
a fly-by Peregrine Falcon made it a 12 raptor day! 


Sunday morning found us all at Betty's Kitchen surveying the riparian 
revegetation sites and then off to nearby Mittry Lake where among approximately 
2000 American Coots, we picked out a few ducks including Redhead, American 
Wigeon, and Ruddy Duck. A briefly calling Clapper Rail and a few Least Bitterns 
added to the mix. By far the star of the area was a totally unexpected 
dark-morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK soaring over and photo-documented well by many 
team members. One team headed to the Welton area along the Gila River, while 
the remaining group continued surveying more sites in the nearby area. At the 
Dredge Launch they discovered an AMERICAN BITTERN. In the Golden Shores area, a 
few team members found a late VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW among N. Rough-winged 
Swallows and the sixth warbler of the Expedition, an AMERICAN REDSTART. 


By early afternoon, the remaining teams ended up at Quigley Wildlife Management 
Area near Tacna within the Gila River Valley. Highlights there included a 
WHITE-TAILED KITE, 16 SANDHILL CRANES, and 2 SNOW GEESE. As Henry noted, the 
raptors were the biggest hit over the weekend with a final total of 14 species, 
including a few rarities for the area. 


I want to thank the AZFO Field Expedition team members who assisted in 
exploring and collecting data in this unique corner of the state. They were 
Carol Beardmore, Troy Corman, Henry Detwiler, John Grahame, Richard Lasky, 
Tracy McCarthey, Jake Mohlmann, Elaine Morrall, Liz Payne, Dave Powell, Daniela 
Yellan, and John Yerger. A more detailed summary of this Expedition will be 
found at www.AZFO.org in the near future. 


Good Birding,

Troy Corman
Phoenix, AZ

JACANA - Last Saturday morning, crack of dawn, I followed the excellent 
directions to the site. 

Rodeo rd.,  AT  1 mile. Park in curb cut. Find the western road along the 
northwest pond. Did that. 

Finding a spot to look out over the pond was/is difficult, but there is one. 
After about 5 minutes, a 

bird flew out from the brush on my side,over to the bank on the other side. 
Thought it was a sandpiper. 

much smaller than the nearby Coots, Canvasback and Widgeons. But it was the 
Jacana. If it hadn't flown 

over there, I'd still be there. Saw it at 6:45

MONK PARAKEETS - Drove down Pinal rd. a couple of more miles to the school at 
McMurray rd. 

Found the palm tree at the East side , in the first yard. Could hear some 
squaks. Two birds flew out. 

A couple of minutes later , two more flew out. I could see the parrot like head 
and beak, but they appeared 

very dark. 5 minutes later, 2 more flew out. This time, I watched where they 
went. One landed in a tree, in 

front of the school. There were a group of birds already there on a wire and 
several more in trees. Got in my 

car and drove over, leaned out the window. All the birds (8) were the 
parakeets. I was  AT  30 feet away and 

they stayed there as I drove off. 7:15 a.m. If I'd stayed at the palm tree, I 
might still be there. 


Every once in a while, good luck comes your way.

Drove to Gilbert Water Rance, for a nice outing with the Sonoran Audubon group.

Jed Fulkerson

All,

 

In my post last night about the Red-shouldered Hawk, I mistyped Troy
Corman's name as Troy Corbin.  I clearly should write messages when I am
awake and not half asleep.  My apologies to Troy for typing him name in
wrong.

 

Dave

 

David Powell

Phoenix, AZ

vireo AT vireos.com

 

Greetings AZ birders!
I noticed no mention of the Northern Jacana for the past couple of days
either yay or nay.  Does anyone know if it is still being seen?  We are
planning a possible Friday trip to the area from Southern California.
Thanks!
Regards,
Ed
Ed Stonick
Pasadena, CA
edstonick AT earthlink.net  
 

I have a Plumbeous Vireo wintering for the second year in a row in the 
Siberian Elms and Aleppo Pines of my apt. complex along the Rillito River at 
the end of Via Entrada. It's quite vocal, which I think must be related to 
defending a winter territory. I've noticed that the Plumbeous Vireo at 
Sweetwater also often sings, especially early in the morning.       Diane 
Touret     (Tucson,AZ) 



________________________________________________________________
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Visit www.spamsubtract.com for more information.

John and I traveled to Sahuarita today in search of the Red-shouldered 
Hawk. It was absent from the previously reported site at about 1:30 so we 
continued on to the Green Valley WWTP where, in addition to a Loggerhead 
Shrike on the entry road and 2 Black Phoebes, we saw numerous American 
Widgeon, Mallards, Ring-necked Ducks (30+), Northern Shovelers, Green-
winged Teal, Bufflehead (10),Ruddy Ducks, Killdeer and the Chen sp. goose.

Leaving the WWTP, we went south to the first left turn to check the Quail 
Creek golf course pond. Among the usual suspects, we had an American Pipit 
working its way along the grass next to the road. Continuing south, the 
dirt road along the pecan grove was quiet. When we U-turned to go north on 
Old Nogales Highway, we were rewarded with a number of species in the 
trees on the east side of the road, including the usually present 
vermillion flycatcher. 

At the far north edge of the pecan grove south of the WWTP, we turned east 
across the railroad tracks. We heard a lot of commotion and followed it 
until we could turn left into a large dirt lot across from the "Do Not 
Trespass" sign marking a new development to the right. We were rewarded 
with a "weed patch Finch Fest" with a mixed flock of 30+ Lawrence's 
Goldfinches, 1 beautiful male American Goldfinch, and several Lesser 
Goldfinches, along with Pine Siskins. They posed for us for half an hour. 
In the nearby trees were numerous Lark Sparrows and a Western Meadowlark 
among others. 

Going north again on old Nogales Highway to try once more for the Red-
shouldered Hawk, we saw many Red-tailed Hawks  interspersed with American 
Kestrels on the telephone poles. Imagine our surprise at 4:45 when we saw 
the Red-shouldered hawk sitting atop a telephone pole south of Sahuarita 
Road, about 1.2 miles south of where it was reported on Thursday, Friday 
and Saturday. It was on the west side of the road on the 4th pole south of 
Sahuarita Road, perhaps driven out of its original location by 
the "mayhem" earlier in the day reported by Clifford. We pulled off on the 
shoulder directly opposite the pole and had long excellent looks when it 
suddenly and loudly stooped to the ground behind some bushes, followed 
immediately by the egress from the spot of an immature Cooper's Hawk that 
flew up and posed in a nearby tree, perhaps having just relinquished its 
prey. The Chihuahuan Ravens continued at the Cemex Plant 3.4 miles north 
of Sahuarita Road.

Perfect weather and 2 new state birds.
Judy Ulreich

Greetings Birders,

Thanks to all the participants on the AZFO Field Trip to the Lower Colorado and 
Gila River Valleys this weekend: Troy, John Y., Jake, John G., Dave, Tracy, 
Liz, Carol, Elaine, Richard, and Daniela. 


Dave already mentioned some of the fine birds we had. Here's my list of the 
best birds we saw/heard this weekend. 


Snow Goose (2)
Hooded Merganser (1)
Clapper Rail (1)
American Bittern (1)
Least Bittern (6)
Sandhill Crane (16)
Red-shouldered Hawk (1)
Ferruginous Hawk (10+)
Rough-legged Hawk (1)
Golden Eagle (2)
White-tailed Kite (1)
Prairie Falcon (1)
Thick-billed Kingbird (1)
Nashville Warbler (1)
Yellow Warbler (1)
American Redstart (1)
Black-chinned Sparrow (1)
Pine Siskin (6+)

All in all, the raptors stole the show. Thanks to Jake for getting me my first 
Yuma County Rough-legged Hawk! 


For more information on the Arizona Field Ornithologists, please visit AZFO.org

Although we missed it on Sunday, Al Borgardt reported a Red-necked Grebe from 
the Mittry Lake overlook on Saturday during a Yuma Audubon Society Field Trip. 


Good Birding,
Henry Detwiler
Yuma, AZ
www.southwestbirders.com

Birders,

Once again, we are planning weekday counts for Elfrida and St David to 
avoid conflicts with the many counts in the area. The dates are Monday 
Dec 17 for Elfrida and Friday Dec 21 for St David.  Drop me an e-mail at 
tom AT sabo.org  if you would like to help.



Tom Wood
Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory
tom AT sabo.org

Again, I'm just forwarding information for those listed below -- I guess I 
should've stayed one more day: 



We're not the ones who relocated the bird; we didn't get his name.
He was about 50 yards up the draw/wash with the 'X' & found the
bird high up the hill. By the time we got there the flock was moving
downstream & we lost it. By then there were about 8 of us, so we
fanned out going up the main trail. About 10 minutes later the flock
was rediscovered on the ridge that forms the left wall of the draw when
you face the draw. It stayed the about 4-5 minutes & moved on.
There were maybe 6 birds in the flock, including an Olive Warbler &
Red-breasted Nuthatch, all mostly silent. So far as we know neither the quetzal 
nor thrush were seen 

 today.   Michael Tarachow & Merce Dostale  Rockport, TX
 
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On Friday, 11/16/07, while participating in the AZFO Expedition to Yuma, I
found an immature Red-shouldered Hawk in a tamarisk grove along the Yuma
Main Drain to the east of Sumerton Rd., just N of CO 13th St.  The bird was
seen perched in a tamarisk and was heard calling.  This was about 5:00 PM.

 

On Saturday, the bird was seen again at the same location (about 4:40) by a
group of us on the expedition.  It was not as cooperative, but was seen well
in flight as it flushed out of the tamarisk and flew into a neighborhood to
the N of the drain.  

 

Other birds of interest seen on the expedition included a dark morph
Rough-legged Hawk at Mittry Lake, a Golden Eagle just north of the Mexican
border, a late Nashville Warbler (Troy Corbin and others), an American
Redstart (John Yerger, Jake ?), and the wintering Thick-billed Kingbird (6
years in a row).

 

Good birding,

Dave

 

David Powell

Phoenix, AZ

vireo AT vireos.com

 

Date/Time:  Sunday 11/18/07 1:30 pm
Location:  Second switchback along the trail above the "X" [Old Baldy
Trail, upper Madera Canyon].  This where the old abandoned trail leaves
or joins (depends on which way your going) the existing (current) trail.
Then up hill about 200 feet crawling. 
 
This location overlooks the "X" ravine/drainage.  Seen for several
minutes by a number of birders (at least one from out of town, two that
live in the canyon, several others).  I attempted to photograph, success
unknown.
 
The Crescent-chested Warbler was in loose association with only about 6
birds, all tits.  No great mega-flock this time.
 
 
Laurens R. Halsey
Green Valley, AZ
 

18 November 2007

Scott Schuette and I birded the Santa Cruz River at Tumacacori. From the 
frontage road we walked along Santa Gertrudis Lane to the river and headed 
north. One of the first mixed feeding flocks (Yellow-rumpeds, Orange-crowns, 
Bridled Titmice, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, White-breasted Nuthatches, etc.) 
contained a Painted Redstart, perhaps the same individual that overwintered 
here the past couple years.. The mid-sized flock seemed to split and we soon 
found a Northern Parula about 300 yards north of the Santa Gertrudis crossing. 
New additions included Wilson's Warbler, Plumbeous Vireos, Black-throated Gray 
Warblers, Red-naped Sapsuckers and Dark-eyed Juncos. Open areas produced a fair 
number of sparrows with White-crowned, Chipping and Lincoln's Sparrows being 
the most abundant; lesser numbers of Song and Lark Sparrows were also noted. 
Several Lawrence's Goldfinches called as they passed over the river. 


A brief stop further south along the Santa Cruz at Rio Rico produced more 
Lawrence's Goldfinches. 


The Pine Warbler was amazingly easy to find at Pena Blanca Lake. It was feeding 
high up in the same area where Rick and Darlene found it yesterday. (Thanks 
Rick and Dalene!) A calling Common Yellowthroat was the eighth warbler species 
of the day. 


Cheers!
Keith Kamper
Vail, Az

Hi all--

I tried for the Red-shouldered Hawk this afternoon
from 1:45 to 2:45. Though it was much quieter (other
than traffic) than when Clifford was there, I too
struck out. 

While I was sitting there, I was surprised by a
flyover group of 4 RED CROSSBILLS. 

Happy Birding. 
-Matt! Brooks
Tucson, AZ 
glacierbirder AT yahoo.com


--- "Clifford A. Cathers"  wrote:

> I tried for the Sahuarita Red-shouldered Hawk at
> 8:30, 9:10 and 10:25 AM 
> amid shopping in Green Valley this Sunday morning. 
> Nada.  Nothing.
> 
> In a fateful twist of karma, the Santa Cruz Pecan
> Company decided 
> to "clean" the pecan grove at the exact spot the
> bird is being seen.  
> There were 30-40 workers, several ATV's, trucks,
> carts, dust, mayhem, 
> chaos and bedlam.  Needless to say, there was no
> Red-shouldered Hawk.
> 
> There were several RED-TAILED HAWKs and a pair of
> AMERICAN KESTRELs nearby.
> 
> Clifford A. Cathers
> Vail, AZ
> liquidgumby AT triconet.org
> 


<") 
   ( \
   / |`` 
   
 "A venturesome minority will always be eager to get off on their own... let 
them take risks, for godsake, let them get lost, sunburnt, stranded, drowned, 
eaten by bears, buried under avalanches --- that is the right and privilege of 
any free American." -- Edward Abbey, Desert Solitare 




 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

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- RBA
* New Mexico Bird Report
* November 18, 2007
*  NMEX0711.18
 

- Transcript
 

hotline: New Mexico
date: November 18, 2007
compiler Patricia R.  Snider
Phone:
Cell phone 
e-mail address _pinyonjay AT aol.com_ (mailto:pinyonjay AT aol.com) 
 

This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for November 18,  2007, 
sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society.  When phone  numbers are 
given for private property, please call before going.
 
Highlights:  Surf Scoters, Northern Shrikes.  Highland species  seem to be 
appearing in numbers in the lowlands.
 
Places mentioned and a checklist of N.M. birds are in the N.M. Bird Finding  
Guide.  Area code 575 will be added to the 505 for N.M. phone  numbers.  There 
will apparently be a year for users to get used to the new  numbers.
 
Check _www.birder.com_ (http://www.birder.com)  and _www.nmbirds.org_ 
(http://www.nmbirds.org) . for earlier reports.   For photos of rarities and 
directions to some birding sites check  hometown.aol.com/borealowl.
 
For the Bird Records Committee and both 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:
 
Pacific Loon (Colfax)
Common Loon (Colfax, Mora, Rio Arriba,  Sandoval)
Horned Grebe (Colfax)
Neotropic Cormorant (Do�a Ana)
Great  and Snowy Egrets (Do�a Ana)
Cattle Egret (Do�a Ana)
Greater White-fronted  Goose (Colfax, Rio Arriba)
Snow Goose (Do�a Ana)
Cackling Goose (Colfax,  Bernalillo)
Greater Scaup and Canvasback (Bernalillo)
Surf Scoter (Mora,  Colfax)
Hooded Merganser (Bernalillo, Colfax, Chaves)
Red-breasted  Merganser (Colfax)
Ferruginous Hawk (Colfax)
Rough-legged Hawk (San  Miguel, DeBaca)
Golden Eagle (Colfax)
introduced Aplomado Falcon  (Socorro)
Merlin (Chaves)
Wild Turkey (Colfax)
Black-bellied and Snowy  Plovers (Chaves)
Black-necked Stilt (Do�a Ana)
Wilson's Snipe (Do�a  Ana
Bonaparte's Gull (Colfax)
California and Herring Gulls (Colfax, Rio  Arriba)
Long-eared Owl (Roosevelt, Colfax)
Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Do�a  Ana)
Lewis's Woodpecker (Colfax)
Acorn Woodpecker (Lincoln, Otero,  Colfax)
Williamson's Sapsucker (Cibola)
Hairy Woodpecker  (Bernalillo)
Hammond's Flycatcher (Sierra)
Eastern Phoebe (Do�a  Ana)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Do�a Ana)
NORTHERN SHRIKE (Colfax)
Steller's  Jay (Grant, Torrance, Socorro)
Pinyon Jay (Catron, Cibola)
Black-billed  Magpie (Sandoval)
Mountain Chickadee (Eddy, Sandoval)
Red-breasted  Nuthatch (Socorro)
House Wren (Sierra)
Marsh Wren (Do�a Ana)
American  Dipper (Grant)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Grant, Do�a Ana)
Gray Catbird  (Chaves)
White-throated Sparrow (Sierra, Lincoln, Socorro)
Slate-colored  Dark-eyed Junco (Sandoval, Santa Fe)
Chestnut-collared Longspur (Do�a  Ana)
Bronzed Cowbird (Do�a Ana)
Rosy Finches (Bernalillo)
Red Crossbill  (Bernalillo)
Cassin's Finch (Cibola, Lincoln, Rio Arriba)
Lawrence's  Goldfinch (Do�a Ana)
Evening Grosbeak (Cibola)
 

In Rio Arriba County:
 
MB and NP on November 10 at Abiquiu Dam had CASSIN'S FINCHES.
At Heron  Lake there was six COMMON LOONS with up to six HERRING GULLS. On 
the way to  Heron there was a single WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE with Canadas.
 
In Sandoval County:
JR and DK on November 4 in a hike in the Corrales  Bosque found a 
BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, a MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, and a SLATE-COLORED  JUNCO.
At Cochiti Lake BH on November 10 found only two COMMON LOONS.
 
In Santa Fe County:
PN on November 14 at his home just inside the  county line north of Edgewood 
had two SLATE-COLORED JUNCOS.
 
In San Miguel County:
At the Las Vegas Refuge on November 6 JO had a  ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.
 
In Mora County:
MH on November 5 had a female-plumaged SURF SCOTER and a  COMMON LOON on the 
Charette Lakes near the Colmar exit of I-25.
 
In Colfax County:
On Eagle Nest Lake on November 5 MH saw 2 COMMON  LOONS, three HORNED GREBES, 
only one CALIFORNIA GULL, and two HERRING  GULLS.
At Springer Lake MH on November 5 had two loons and horned  grebes.  There 
were a few CACKLING GEESE on the lake for JP and WW on  November 10.  DC on 
November 8 saw a horned grebe, with an immature  NORTHERN SHRIKE present.
On Stubblefield Lake MH on November 5 had a  female-plumaged SURF SCOTER, 
nine loons and horned grebes. DC on November 7 had eight loons. JP and WW on 

November 10 had two more immature Surf  Scoters, ten COMMON LOONS, and two 
BONAPARTE'S GULLS. DC had on November 9 the two scoters, seven loons, and one 

grebe.  JP, BP and WW on November 16  saw the scoter and a PACIFIC LOON on 
Stubblefield with eight loons.
At the  Maxwell Refuge on Lake 13 November 7 DC reported one loon, two HORNED 
GREBES,  and two WHITE-FRONTED GEESE.  JP and WW on November 10 had the 
scoter, ten HOODED MERGANSERS, and three HORNED GREBES. Northwest of the lake 

there  was a NORTHERN SHRIKE and a LONG-EARED OWL.  MB and NP found the  
female-plumaged SURF SCOTER on Lake 13 at dusk on November 10.  On Lake 13  on 
November 9 DC found the two geese, and two grebes. JP, BP, and WW on November 
16 

saw up to eight RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS on Lake 13.
DC on  November 3 near mile post 424 on I-25 south of Maxwell had a GOLDEN 
EAGLE where  one stayed last winter.  Near mile post 422 there were two 
FERRUGINOUS HAWKS. He saw the eagle again November 9 with the two Ferruginous 
Hawks 

in  the area.  There is a large prairie dog colony here.
At Sugarite SP near  Raton on November 6 DC had only two of the ACORN 
WOODPECKERS at the Lake Alice Dam. Later on a drive into Yankee Canyon he found 
30 

TURKEYS, and a  LEWIS'S WOODPECKER.
 
In Cibola County:
CJG on November 4 reported at the El Morro NM many  CASSIN'S FINCHES and 
flocks of PINYON JAYS. At the park on November 13 there was up to ten EVENING 

GROSBEAKS, a female WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER, and  still good numbers of the 
finches. 
 
In Bernalillo County:
BH on November 11 biked along the Rio Grande from  the Alameda bridge to the 
Rio Grande Nature Center and back.  Reported were  a HAIRY WOODPECKER at the 
bridge, nine RED CROSSBILLS flying over north of the  Monta�o bridge.
JP saw the GREATER SCAUP at the parking lot pond on November  11 when he 
counted 202 CACKLING GEESE present. BH on the 11th saw the HOODED MERGANSER and 

on both ponds three CANVASBACKS).
KS reports that the  Crest House on Sandia Crest is up for sale.  October 31 
is the earliest  ever date for them to appear.  NC recorded four BROWN-CAPPED, 
a  GRAY-CROWNED, and 18 BLACKS on November 10.  BH on November 17 recorded 70 
 finches at the Crest, 60 Blacks, six Gray-crowned (no Hepburn's), and two or 
 three Brown-capped.
 
In Torrance County:
ES at his home in rural country south of Edgewood in  northeastern Torrance 
Co. had STELLER'S JAYS..
 
In Lincoln County:
CR and BN on November 3 in Corona off NM 42 at the  new Simpson Sloan Park 
located several CASSIN'S FINCHES and a WHITE-THROATED  SPARROW.
There were more CASSIN'S FINCHES at White Oaks near Carrizozo.   And at 
Bonita Lake there were ACORN WOODPECKERS.
 
In Roosevelt County:
At the Melrose Trap west of Melrose JO on November  4 found a LONG-EARED OWL.
 
In Curry County:
At the Clovis Sewage Ponds be sure to tell them that  you are there to bird.
 
In Socorro County:
At the Bosque del Apache Refuge near San Antonio JP,  WW, and LL on November 
9 had two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS with one of the adult  introduced APLOMADO 
FALCONS at the main display pond.  The LS group on  November 10 recorded the 
sparrow and the falcon.  JP, BP, and WW saw the  falcon on November 17.
JS had a STELLER'S JAY at his feeder in Socorro on  November 9.  Also JSm had 
another in Veguita southeast of Belen (east side  of the Rio Grande) on 
November 11, present for about a week.
 
In Chaves County:
At the Bitter Lake Refuge near Roswell JH on November  10 had a CATBIRD on 
the Hunter Oxbow Trail, in a salt cedar thicket at the north end of the oxbow. 

Also seen was a MERLIN.  On November 14 he reported  HOODED MERGANSERS ON 
Bitter Lake and Units 3 and 5, and two BLACK-BELLIED  PLOVERS and still three 
SNOWY PLOVERS on Bitter Lake.
 
In Sierra County:
At Percha Dam Park JP, WW, and LL on November 9 found  the HAMMOND'S 
FLYCATCHER and two HOUSE WRENS.
 
In Catron County:
JH camped in the Gila NF southeast of Pelona Peak off  Hwy. 163 (which goes 
west from Hwy. 52 south of the Very Large Array. He reported about 200 PINYON 

JAYS.
 
In Grant County:
CL hiked the upper Gila River east of Gila on October  27 at Turkey Creek.  
He had a DIPPER, four GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, and six  STELLER'S JAYS.
The Grey Feathers Lodge has new owners and is now  called Breathe Inn.
 
In Hidalgo County:
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 Do�a Ana County:
At the Border Patrol playa on November 12 CL  recorded two late CATTLE 
EGRETS.  The playa is west of Las Cruces visible  from the shoulder of I-10.
CL on November 16 had 12 BRONZED COWBIRDS at the  NMSU livestock pens.
JN had a male VERMILION FLYCATCHER along the Rio Grande  north of the calle 
del Norte bridge on November 17.
CL on November 17  saw about 12 CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS on the sod farm 
near Santa Teresa. At the Anapra Brick Plant on the Rio Grande near the state 

line  there was 12 GREAT EGRETS, two SNOWY EGRETS, and five NEOTROPIC  
CORMORANTS. Five BLACK-NECKED STILTS were at the bridge near the racetrack, and 
at 

the track's pond there was a SNOW GOOSE.
CL on November 17  had many SNIPES at the Swan Pond.  There was an EASTERN 
PHOEBE at the  cottonwood grove near the Hwy. 154 bridge on November 11
In their yard near  Radium Springs MS was surprised to see a MARSH WREN on a 
square foot potted  cattail in their pond on November 9.
DG on October 31 had a female  BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD at his home.  It was 
still seen on November 9 with  singing GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS.  And on 
November 10 there was a male  LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH at his home.
 
In Otero County:
At Timberon CR and BN found on November 4 about 24 RED  CROSSBILLS with two 
ACORN WOODPECKERS four miles north of town.
At the  Holloman Lakes near Alamogordo the "no access" signs are for hunters 
only. The  entire shore is open to birding.
 
In Eddy County:
RN had his first ever MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE in his Carlsbad  yard on November 4.
 

Initials of Observers:
 
MB, Matt Baumann;  DC, David Cleary;  NC, Nancy Cox;  DG,  David Griffin;  
CJG, C.J. Grimes; MH. Michael Hilchey; BH, Bill Howe; JH, Jeff Howland; DK, 

David Krueper; LL,  Lane Leckman;  CL,  Carl Lundblad;  JN, Josh Nemeth;  BN, 
Bruce Neville;   RN, Bob Nieman;  PN, Paul Noble;  JO, Jerry Oldenettel;  BP, 
Ben  Parmeter;  JP, John Parmeter;  NP, Nick Pederson;  CR, Chris  Rustay;  
JR, Janet Ruth; KS, Ken Schneider; LS, Lorraine Schulte; MS, Marcy Scott; 

JS, John Shipman;  JSm, Jeff  Smith;  ES, Ed Stephens;  WW, Bill Wittman;  
JZ, Jimmy  Zabriskie.
 

Field Trips:
 
Central Audubon in Albuquerque has Thursday field trips. On November 29  they 
go to the Elena Gallegos Open Space in the western Sandia Mts. with Tom  
Cartledge, . On December 6 they are at the Rio Grande Nature Center 
with 

Sara Marthews, ; December 15 a hike in Embudo Canyon with  Judy 
Liddell, ; December 20 to look for the longspurs east of San Antonio 
with 

Rebecca Gracey, ; and on December 27 to the Corrales Bosque  with 
Rebecca.
 
On Saturday, November 24, Mesilla Valley Audubon will bird to La Cueva and  
Fillmore Canyon in the western Organ Mts.  Contact is David Griffin at  
.
 
On the weekend of November 22 to 24 Sangre de Cristo Audubon birds Bosque  
del Apache Refuge.  The leader is Mary Ristow,  for a Thanksgiving  on 
the Bosque.
 
The Las Vegas Refuge will open up their back roads on Sundays in  November.  
For details .  Sunday program will be Nov. 25 a  Live Raptor 
Presentation by the Santa Fe Raptor Center.
 
On Friday, November 30, the Lincoln County Bird Club will travel to the  
Bitter Lakes Refuge.  Meet at the Beall's Parking lot at 8 a.m.
 
The banding team will begin banding Rosy Finches on Sandia Crest on  December 
2 and 9 and will band most Sundays (except around Christmas) till March  23.
 
Christmas Counts are listed on 
_http://www.audubon.org/chapter/nm/nm/rdac/index.html_ 
(http://www.audubon.org/chapter/nm/nm/rdac/index.html) for this 

year but the headers are still there for last year.
 

- End transcript.
 





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I tried for the Sahuarita Red-shouldered Hawk at 8:30, 9:10 and 10:25 AM 
amid shopping in Green Valley this Sunday morning.  Nada.  Nothing.

In a fateful twist of karma, the Santa Cruz Pecan Company decided 
to "clean" the pecan grove at the exact spot the bird is being seen.  
There were 30-40 workers, several ATV's, trucks, carts, dust, mayhem, 
chaos and bedlam.  Needless to say, there was no Red-shouldered Hawk.

There were several RED-TAILED HAWKs and a pair of AMERICAN KESTRELs nearby.

Clifford A. Cathers
Vail, AZ
liquidgumby AT triconet.org

On Thursday this past week, stopped by Gilbert ponds ca. noon-2pm where we saw 
both the Tennessee and the Magnolia warbler in a mesquite between pond # 1 and 
#7. Also had a flyover of a Peregrine falcon plus saw many of the other more 
common species. Next stopped at Boyce Thompson Arboretum which was fairly quiet 
for birds but did get nice view of both Gilded and Red-shafted Northern 
Flickers plus a Broadbill hummingbird and Hermit thrush. Nighttime at Lake 
Roosevelt had good view of Holmes Comet. On Friday after an educational visit 
to the Zane Grey facsimile cabin in Payson, we had another Peregrine flyover, 
this time it had just come out of a dive about 20 feet overhead while it was 
trying to catch another bird (?Townsends solitaire). It came from behind as we 
sere starting down the trail toward Fossil Creek, near Strawberry, AZ and 
surprised us so much that we didn't get a good fix on the prey. Also saw lots 
of Juncos, several Ruby crowned kinglets and a large flock of Bushtits along 
the trail (only descended about 2 miles as it was late in the day. Another good 
view of the comet on Saturday night while north of Payson. On Saturday, hiked 
into Dripping Spring near Pine AZ. Highlights there were Pinyon, Scrub, and 
Stellar Jays, a Red-naped sapsucker, many Juncos, Cassin's finches, Ruby crown 
kinglets, and Pygmy nuthatches. Returned home via the Crook "Trail" where we 
saw a Northern goshawk in the Ponderosa forest, and south from Camp Verde. Nice 
little trip. Peg and Rich 

On a walk this morning in our neighborhood, a song caught my ear. It was a
Plumbeous Vireo. The location was on Edison Street (which is a block south
of Grant), a block or two east of Park. A first for me in this part of town.

 

Kendall Kroesen

Tucson, AZ

A prairie falcon has been hanging out on the buttes west of Galvin Parkway
in Papago Park.  We first saw it 3 november and assumed it was a passage,
but as of yesterday morning, it is still there, working the airspace between
the large butte south of McDowell and the smaller set of buttes closer to
the golf course.  We have seen it in the morning after sunrise, usually
between 6.30 and 8.00am, when we walk (although of course it may be there
other times!). A good point to look for it is from Elliot Ramada, the
starting point for the orienteering trail around the smaller set of buttes,
where it sometimes can be seen perched and preening in the early morning
sunlight.  When airborne, it is often fairly low, giving good looks at black
"wingpits" and spry flight.
Here is a link to a Papago Park map; the bird was last seen on the small
butte by the word "Drive" in "West Park Drive".
http://phoenix.gov/parks/hikpagud.html
Not the rarest of birds, but how nice if it lurked there for the season...

Greetings,

Today at the Gilbert Water Ranch:

LUCY'S WARBLER:  OK not quite as exciting as an eastern vagrant, but still
very rare after September in AZ.  It was an adult in the small group of
cottonwoods where the path between Ponds 1 and 7 turns S toward the
restrooms.  This is the same tree I discovered the Tennessee in.  Clearly
these cottonwoods are having some kind of insect outbreak that is attracting
warblers.  The small flock of Orange-crowns and Kinglets was also in this
tree accompanied by the also late Yellow Warbler. No sign of either the
Magnolia or Tennessee and I did not hear of any sightings.

Merlin:  An adult male of the Tiaga form flushed a flock of grackles in the
houses S of the ranch and then streaked low across Pond 4 heading N with one
of the Peregrines chasing it.   

Good numbers of raptors today.  Besides the Merlin there were 2 Peregrines,
2 Northern Harriers (m and f), Sharp-shinned Hawk, Osprey, Kestrel and 
Red-tail. 


Other notables:

Gadwalls are in
9 flyover Neotropic Cormorants
Lesser Yellowlegs with 6 Greaters
4 Peach-faced Lovebirds
Grey Go-Away Bird (N end of Pond 4)
29 Wilson's Snipe
5 American Pipits
30 Savannah Sparrows
A few Brewer's and Lincoln's Sparrows
Marsh Wren

Mike Moore
Gilbert, AZ

Yesterday, 17 NOV, while hiking to Wasson Peak in the Tucson Mountains I 
observed a lone "SOOTY" FOX SPARROW near the summit. This was a first for me in 
the Tucson Mountains. Nothing else unusual.Larry L. Norris Tucson, Arizona 

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In the hopes of helping Cliff find the hawk, I saw it yesterday at around 
4:15pm. 


Philip Kline


 
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http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

A hunter in the Patagonia Mts. (Santa Cruz Co., AZ) had a very painful
encounter with a caterpillar today. The creature responsible appears to
be the "Puss Caterpillar", the larva of the Flannel Moth (Megalopyge
opercularis). You can check it out here:

http://www.bugsinthenews.com/puss_caterpillar_092602.htm

These guys look very soft and cuddly, but the hairy spines contain a
toxin that causes severe pain. You don't want to touch them even if
they're dead.

---
John Saba
Tucson, Arizona
Nature Study is a Grand Adventure!

11/17/07
Late this afternoon I went over to the E. Rio de Flag off of the 
Townsend-Winona Rd (east of Flagstaff). The coolest sighting was a 
Sharp-shinned Hawk that landed on a branch about 5 ft. away from me. I also 
think I saw a Cooper's Hawk flying by (it seemed a lot larger, so maybe a 
female Cooper's). There were TONS of American Robins flying around, too. There 
were also 3 small flocks of ducks that flew over, but with the poor lighting I 
could not tell any colors on them. The ducks were heading west-southwest. Here 
is the full list:
[duck sp.]
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1)
Cooper's Hawk (1)
Northern Flicker (several)
Western Scrub-Jay (2)
Common Raven
Mountain Chickadee
Juniper Titmouse (2)
Townsend's Solitaire (several)
American Robin (150+)
Cedar Waxwing (I think I heard a few)
Spotted Towhee (2)
Song Sparrow (1)
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco (Pink-sided, Oregon, Gray-headed)
Cassin's Finch (10+)
Red Crossbill
Lesser Goldfinch (2)

On the way back on the Cosnino Rd., I saw some Western Bluebirds and Western 
Scrub-Jays.

Good birding!!!
Eric Hough
erh36 AT nau.edu 

11/17/07
 
I got a late start today. At my first stop, I too could not relocate the 
Red-shoudered Hawk. The ponds at Rio Rico did not have much, highlights were 
two Sora, Great Egret, and a Pyrruloxia. The lower pond at Kino Springs had 
about 10 Lawrence's Goldfinches. The trail up the creek at Patagonia Lake State 
Park had a few nice birds. The best bird for me was my state Louisiana 
Waterthush! This bird was about 100 yards upstream from where the creek splits. 
It was a little skittish and flushed easily into dense thickets where it would 
sit for about 15 min just bobbing its rear. The bird showed lots of nice field 
marks: Bubblegum pink legs, white throat, widening eyeline, and "U" shaped bob. 
Other nice birds were Hammond's Flycatcher, Gray Flycatcher, and Common 
Moorhen. I could not relocate the Red-breasted Sapsucker. I stopped by the 
roadside rest as the sun set but it was pretty quiet. On the way back into 
Nogales, a few roosting Black Vultures were a nice close to the day. 

 
Noah Gaines
Tucson AZ
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Speaking of Crows, I forgot to mention in my earlier post that I saw and heard 
one near where I relocated the Merlin today in Reid Park. I forgot about it, 
since at the time I was trying my hardest to screw up a photo-opp of the 
Merlin. 

 
Jeremy Medina
Tucson, AZ  
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It probably ought to be said with reference to the Sahuarita Red-
shouldered Hawk that timing is everything.  As with the Green Valley Red-
shouldered Hawk a year or two back, either you're lucky or you ain't.  I 
tried 9 times for the previous one and never saw it.  Others saw it within 
seconds of arriving.  It's definitely NOT there and observable all of the 
time (as I proved again today!).

I drove by the current Sahuarita Red-shouldered Hawk sight four times 
today in the normal course of my day and didn't see the bird.  In the 
early morning there was a stunning PEREGRINE FALCON and several AMERICAN 
KESTRELs in the area.  Later in the day, all the area featured was about a 
dozen RED-TAILED HAWKs from Pima Mine Road south to the Madera Canyon 
turnoff.  The CHIHUAHUAN RAVENs have also invaded from points further east 
for the winter and several EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVEs continue in this area.

Anyway, I'll try again tomorrow and good luck to everyone else who tries.  
I'll venture to guess that some will miss it in the normal course of 
birding or just passing by.

Clifford A. Cathers
Vail, AZ
email:  AZCliffy AT q.com
photos: www.azcliffy.smugmug.com

Field Ornithologists,
   
  Andrew Core has contributed photos of the Sahuarita Red-shouldered Hawk.
   
  http://www.azfo.org/gallery/photos.html
   
  Thanks to Andrew for the photos and to Diane Touret for reporting it.
   
  Kurt Radamaker
  Fountain Hills, AZ
   
   

A Golden-crowned sparrow continues to show up at my feeder in Yuma at 
least a couple of times a day.
Mickey McLean
________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - 
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This url depicts a relationship between a crow and a kitten. The crow is shown 
feeding and playing with the kitten. Note that in my opinion there is too much 
dialog but some of the bests shots of this bazaar yet adorable behavior is 
shown near the end of the clip, so I recommend you stick with it to the end. 


I hope you enjoy it.

Jim


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JiJzqXxgxo 

Yesterday (Friday) morning about 10:30 a flock of five sandhill cranes flew 
over the Pima County Fairgrounds on south Houghton Road headed southeast. Seen 
by Jack Allen and me. 


Donna Allen

Just passing on a sighting (I missed it by 15 minutes): John Janowski (I hope I 
got that right) found an Aztec Thrush this morning along the Old Baldy Trail in 
Madera Canyon. It was in the fruiting madrone tree mentioned by Jim Hays 
yesterday, about a 5 minute hike up the trail from the "X". Four other birders 
saw it as well. 


If looking for this bird, I would suggest getting there before noon. The tree 
is in shade after this, and bird activity drops to practically nothing. 


No Crescent-chested Warbler sightings today of which I'm aware. I found a flock 
of warblers around 11 AM just down the canyon from the "X" with several Olive 
Warblers, Townsend's, and a Grace's Warbler, but no sign of the 
Crescent-chested. Some other sightings included a male Williamson's Sapsucker 
at the previously-mentioned madrone and three male Cassin's Finches in another 
madrone about halfway between the start of the trail and the "X". 


John Puschock
San Diego, CA
g_g_allin AT hotmail.com
http://www.birdtreks.com

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This morning around 10:00 I happened upon a probable adult COMMON BLACK-HAWK. 
This was on the east side of Country Club Rd. just north of Grant Rd. It was 
perched about 10 feet off the ground in a eucalyptus tree right along the 
sidewalk. As I drove slowly closer to it, the jet-black color contrasting with 
the bright white tip on the tail stood out. I also noticed its longish yellow 
legs. Gorgeous! By the time I turned around and rocovered from the shock, it 
was gone. Darn, I had my camera with me too! I was hesitant to report this bird 
since I didn't get a picture, a Zonie would be more likely, and because I don't 
want to be Mr. Briefer's replacement. Hopefully someone will see it. I keep 
visualizing that bright white tip on the tail... 

 
Earlier this morning at Reid Park I relocated the MERLIN. This time it was just 
northwest of Hi Corbet field along Via Campestre in a eucalyptus. Maybe later 
it will be more west where I saw it yesterday at its sunset view perch. A 
juvenile accipiter was perched nearby and provided a nice comparison. I also 
saw a nice male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER at the backstop of the ballfield in 
"cork oak hill". Also there were some AMERICAN ROBINS, Gila Woodpeckers, and a 
Red-Shafted Flicker getting a drink in some puddles. A few CANVASBACKS and 
REDHEADS were the at the ponds. 

 
Good urban birding!
Jeremy Medina
Tucson, AZ  
 
     
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I took my boys today and I checked on Diane's Red-shouldered Hawk in
Sahuarita today and they admired the really cool "breakdown" trains parked
nearby.  I took I-19 to Sahuarita Rd (exit 75), drove east a couple miles to
Nogales Highway, then turned north.

I missed the hawk the first time I drove by, and ended up turning around at
the Cemex Plant about 4 miles north of Sahuarita Road.  At this spot were
40+ Chihuahuan Ravens - or, to follow up on Philip's "rafter of turkeys", an
"unkindness of ravens," although I think that term originally described
Common Ravens.  Since they are intermediate in size between Common Ravens
and crows, it follows that they should be intermediate between an unkindness
of ravens and a murder of crows.  Perhaps a serious injury of Chihuahuan
Ravens.

Anyway, after I turned around I spotted the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK perched on
the lowest telephone wire about where Philip spotted it yesterday.  I had my
camera ready to go and managed three shots before it took off - this bird is
definitely skittish, and I was pretty cautious.  It returned about 15
minutes later to the same spot but again flushed, so I left it alone and
went to the Green Valley WWTP.  To repeat directions, it was about a mile
north of Sahuarita Rd on Nogales Highway.  There was a pink "X" and a pink
"134" painted on the shoulder pavement, and this is just a little north of
milepost 49.  The shoulder is not wide and the cars are fast.

Map link:

http://maps.google.com/?q=,%20(Red-shouldered%20Hawk) 


Green Valley WWTP had about 10 Bufflehead, the odd Chen sp. goose, 4 Eared
Grebes, and an exaltation of Horned Larks.


giving thanks a little early,
Andrew


-- 


Andrew Core
Tucson, AZ

Darlene Smyth and I observed a first-winter female PINE WARBLER this
morning from 10:45 to nearly 11:00 at Pena Blanca Lake. The bird was
feeding in willows and poison ivy, occasionally quite high in the
trees, sometimes nice and low; it eventually flew off when pushed too
hard by a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

To reach the site where we saw the bird, walk to the end of the boat
ramp, then turn right onto the walking trail. Carefully cross the
damaged bridge and continue along the trail until the water runs out
and the trail turns left.

A documentation, including poor but diagnostic photographs, will be
submitted to the ABC.

-- 
Rick Wright
http://www.birdaz.com
http://www.birdaz.com/blog

Editor, Winging It
Department Editor, Birding

I had my second purely random encounter of the season with the Streak- 
backed Oriole this morning at 7:44 AM, along the hedge on the east  
side of Pond 2, about 30 yards north of where Wizzing Duck Way meets  
the blacktop path along canal.

A pair of female Hooded Mergansers was at the south end of the  
"fisherman's" pond by the library at 6:30 AM, and later moved into  
Pond 6 just south of there, where one wintered a year ago.

Rich Ditch
Phoenix, AZ

Hello Birders,

This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for Southeast 
Arizona was made on November 17th, 2007. The next update will be made on 
November 31st. Phone your reports to  X 1. Email your 
reports to rarebirdalert AT tucsonaudubon.org.

In this report, where directions are not given, they can be found in the 
brand new 2007 edition of "Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona", 
published by and available from Tucson Audubon. Updates to the 6th 
edition, including new sites and access changes can be found at: 
www.tucsonaudubon.org/birding/updates.htm

Several important announcements follow the sightings, including 
information on the temporary closure of the Avra Valley Wastewater 
Treatment Plant and rules for access to other important birding areas.

An asterisk (*) preceding a species name in the list indicates that it 
merits careful, full documentation. A pound sign (#) indicates that 
brief corroborating details are warranted.

Please send documentation to the Arizona Bird Committee via the online 
form at http://www.azfo.org/ArizonaBirdCommittee/abc_documentatio.html, 
via email to ghrosenberg AT comcast.net or the ABC, P.O. Box 91856, Tucson, 
AZ .


SPECIES MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT:

#PACIFIC LOON
#GREATER SCAUP
#SURF SCOTER
  HOODED MERGANSER (female)
  Cattle Egret (flock of 17)
*RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
  Crested Caracara
*NORTHERN JACANA
#HERRING GULL
  CALIFORNIA GULL
#RUDDY GROUND-DOVE
  Lewis's Woodpecker
*EARED QUETZAL
  WINTER WREN
*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER
#BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER
*CRESCENT-CHESTED WARBLER



CASA GRANDE

A *NORTHERN JACANA continues at the northwesternmost pond of the Dave 
White Municipal Golf Course in Casa Grande. It was seen on various days 
this week from the dirt parking lot at the west end of Rodeo Rd. A #SURF 
SCOTER continues here as well (var obs).

 From Tucson, take I-10 west to I-8. Take I-8 west to the Thornton Road 
exit (exit 172). Take Thornton north about 5.5 miles to Korsten Road. 
Turn right/east, and drive one mile to Pinal Ave. Turn left/north on 
Pinal Ave about a mile to Rodeo Road. Turn left/west on Rodeo Road and 
drive nearly to the end of the pavement. On your left will be a break in 
the curb for a future driveway. Drive in the dirt road toward the golf 
course and park north of the course.

PLEASE bird only from this dirt parking lot! Any violation of this rule 
may result in complete loss of access to this site.


SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS and area:

The continuing *EARED QUETZAL in Madera Canyon was reported several 
times this week, through at least 11/14. On 11/9, it was apparently 
heard a couple of hundred yards above the Old Baldy/Vault Mine trail 
junction (Larry Norris). On 11/10, it was heard at the area of the 
original sighting, between Josephine Saddle and the Carrie Nation trail 
(which is now marked with a cairn). Patience and luck seems to be the 
key for this bird.

The continuing *CRESCENT-CHESTED WARBLER has been seen at least through 
11/13. Directions are as follows: in Madera Canyon, take the Old Baldy 
trail from the upper parking lot and hike up about 1.5 miles to a very 
prominent hairpin curve in the trail that has a well-defined drainage 
crossing the trail, now marked with two large burnt logs making an "X" 
just above the trail. The bird has also recently been seen above and 
below this area.

For a map of the reported observations, visit Andrew Core's helpful 
blog: http://azbirding.blogspot.com/2007/11/madera-canyon-update.html


A possible *RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was seen about 1 mile north of Sahuarita 
along the Old Nogales Hwy (Diane Touret). Further sightings of this 
bird, and documentation for the ABC, would be greatly appreciated.

*BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER through 11/10 (Moez Ali, Melody Kehl). Proctor 
Road along the main trail about 50 yards from the parking lot, as well 
as at the stream crossing.

A WINTER WREN was seen in Madera Canyon on 11/9 (Sally Johnson, Brian 
McKnight). It was along the Carrie Nation Mine Trail, above the turn off 
for the Old Baldy Trail and below the turn-off for the Vault Mine Trail.

A CALIFORNIA GULL was reported from Green Valley Wastewater Treatment 
Plant on 11/9 (Moez Ali). Please see the announcement about access to 
this location below.


HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS

An adult male #BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was found in Carr Canyon on 11/9 
(Dave Beuadette).


RED ROCK

2 #RUDDY GROUND-DOVES 11/13 (Moez Ali) at the Red Rock feedlot, amongst 
Inca Doves in a palo verde tree in the front yard of 'the brick house.'

NOTE: There have been problems with poor behavior by birders here in the 
past, so anyone looking for the GROUND-DOVES must be extremely cautious 
around residential areas and cattle. There is a laundry list of 
considerations: do not block the road or driveways, walk in yards, look 
towards windows, etc etc. The Red Rock Feed Lot is accessed via the Red 
Rock exit 226; then head west about 2.5 miles.


TUCSON AREA

A #PACIFIC LOON is currently under car of the Forever Wild wildlife 
rehab center. It was found last week at I-19 and Irvington Rd (Rich Fray).

Two #HERRING GULLS were reported 11/13 at Lakeside Park in SE Tucson. 
One appeared to be a winter adult, the other some type of immature. At 
least the adult continued through 11/15 (Andrew Core).

Rare for Tucson was a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in the same area it was 
observed extensively last winter, which is near Reid Park on Via 
Campestre. The bird was actually seen in the neighborhood just north of 
here, but a search of it's old stomping grounds in the park proper may 
prove fruitful as well. From Randolph, turn east onto Via Campestre. 
 From the second parking lot on the right, investigate the palm and 
eucalyptus trees between Via Campestre and the baseball fields.


SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY

A CRESTED CARACARA is being seen this week at Whitewater Draw (var obs), 
an area of the state that is quite unusual for this species. Also 
present, a #GREATER SCAUP (Rick Taylor); a female HOODED MERGANSER from 
11/10 through at least 11/13 (Carl Lundblad, var obs); and a flock of 17 
CATTLE EGRETS was very interesting. An immature #SURF SCOTER was 
reported from here on 11/13 (Dave Beaudette).


BENSON

Another somewhat out-of-range CRESTED CARACARA was observed flying south 
over the Benson Sewage Ponds on 11/11 (Jake Mohlmann, et al).


CHIRICAHUA MTS

A WINTER WREN was observed on 11/12 (Carl Lundblad), 2 miles up South 
Fork Cave Creek at the streambed crossing below Maple Camp (#6, or the 
4th wet crossing).



ANNOUNCEMENTS

GREEN VALLY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: It was recently clarified that 
ALL birders in a party must sign in, not just one representative of said 
party. Also, please DO NOT park on the grass, due to fire danger from 
hot catalytic converters.

SANTA CRUZ FLATS: Managers at the Evergreen Turf Farm (vicinity of 
Tweedy and Pretzer Rds) have requested that anyone birding there on the 
weekends please leave by 5:00 PM. This is due to security issues 
experienced by the Sod Farm. Birders are still welcome here at other times.

FORT HUACHUCA: Construction began on Christy Ave on Monday, October 
29th. Information on how this will affect access to Huachuca Canyon may 
be obtained by calling . It is expected that the road will 
be closed until late December.

I-10 is under construction in Tucson between 29th Street and Prince 
Road. See http://www.i10tucsondistrict.com/29toP.html for details.

AVRA VALLEY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: The facility is now closed to 
birders due to the ongoing construction. Updates will be added as they 
become available.

BAIRD'S SPARROW HILL AND THE VACA RANCH CORRAL in the San Rafael Valley 
continues to be off limits to birders due to the thoughtless actions of 
a few birders. Do not bird within .25 mile of the corrals or enter the 
property.

NOGALES SEWAGE PONDS: Remain closed to birders. Cranes are visible 
on-site; construction seems to have begun at last Corona de Tucson Ponds 
remain closed to birders due to construction.

Good birding!
John Yerger
Tucson, AZ