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Bird Trip

Updated on Thursday, August 23 at 10:18 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

Hi, all!

Finally got this last trip to  southeast Arizona up on the website (I forgot 
the power cord to my computer, so  I was without e-mail access the whole 
time...)!  The direct link  is:

http://miriameaglemon.com/Trip%20Reports/Arizona%202007/Arizona%202007%20Index
.htm

or  you can go to the main page (below), click on "Trip Reports", then click 
on  "Southeast Arizona" (be sure it's the one for August of 2007).  There are 
a  lot of butterflies and unidentified critters on these pages, so if I've 
made any glaring errors, please feel free to correct me (and PLEASE tell me why 

it's not  a so-and-so so I can correctly identify one the next time!)! Thanks 
a  bunch!

Enjoy!

Mary Beth Stowe
San Diego,  CA
www.miriameaglemon.com  




************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at 
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Hi, all!
 
Finally got the April Hill Country/Storm-Chasing trip up on the website;  the 
direct link is
 
_http://miriameaglemon.com/Trip%20Reports/Hill%20Country/Hill%20Country.htm_ 
(http://miriameaglemon.com/Trip%20Reports/Hill%20Country/Hill%20Country.htm) 
 
or you can go to the home page (below), click on Trip Reports, then scroll  
down to Texas Hill Country.  I have several mystery moths and bugs, and as  
always, please feel free to correct me on any mis-identified leps!
 
Enjoy!   

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 





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7 - 8 MAY 07
 
After the big storms over the weekend, David really felt the show was over  
for the most part, but there were some possibilities in western Texas, so since 

 everyone was dead tired, we spent Monday driving from Childress to Lubbock 
and  declared it a "hard down day" to give the group time to recoup.  
Bird-wise, the most interesting thing on the drive was a Chihuahuan Raven, and 

surprisingly, the Kestrel turned out to be a new trip bird! Mississippi Kites 

seemed to be all over, hunting in pairs.
 
Yesterday David didn't seem too hopeful, but there was a possibility for  
some activity off the Davis Mountains and even as far south as Big Bend (!), so 

we headed south but ended up exploring a squall line developing around  
Seminole. Gene needed some flash flood pictures :-) so we decided to ride out 
the 

storm, and experiencing that gust front with torrential rail and zero  
visibility was really something! (We were sitting in a parking lot, not 
driving, as 

were most people on the road!)  We were expecting substantial  hail, though, 
and that never materialized.  But flooding there was: most of  the streets 
became rivers very quickly, and our British friends were especially awestruck, 

never having seen anything like it in London!  (David mentioned  in passing 
that he and Bill Gargan almost died in a flood, and when he left it  at that 
everyone in our van begged for the details...)
 
Their drainage system was good, however, so we were soon on our way.   During 
a snack and potty stop, however, they noticed that some supercells were  
forming along the leading edge of the thing, so off we went, barreling east on 
US 

180 and north past Fort Griffin State Park, tracking what turned out to be a  
beautiful little supercell (that DID form a tornado 30 minutes previously, we 
 found out...), so we enjoyed that until it started to fall apart (along with 
 singing Grasshopper Sparrows and Eastern Meadowlarks--that we enjoyed--they  
weren't falling apart).  Then we headed south a little and experienced this  
giant shelf cloud rolling over our heads (colloquially known as "The Whale's  
Mouth"), and when the gust front stole my hat it was time to jump into the 
vans  and head east!
 
Meanwhile, the cell we had given up on was re-forming again (figures--that  
happens a lot...), but we weren't in a position to chase it.  But cells  were 
forming left and right, although there was nothing tornadic.  As we  raced 
ahead of the shelf cloud that had overtaken us (almost running over a Turkey in 

the process), another Harrier hunted unconcernedly (they must like  these 
storms), and when we stopped again to admire the storm structure, a large flock 
of 

Black Vultures were taking advantage of the turbulence and circling in  the 
distance, gradually making their way overhead (David said it wasn't a  thermal 
as such, which we normally associate with circling raptors).  Some  Turkey 
Vultures were circling closer to the ground.  On the way to Wichita  Falls, we 
ended up driving right through The Beast (as David called it) and  again 
experienced torrential rain and heavy winds (some of the gusts were in excess 
of 70 

mph, they were saying).  No major hail to speak of,  though...
 
We wheeled into Wichita Falls (my friend Karen, whom I had visited weekend  
before last, was thrilled to hear a major storm was bearing down on them :-P), 

had dinner at a great Chinese buffet, then called it a night.  We may be  
heading up into the Dakotas today, so we may get a longspur yet! :-)
 
Bird List:
 
  Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Mississippi  Kite                       Ictinia mississippiensis
Northern Harrier
AMERICAN  KESTREL                       Falco sparverius
Wild Turkey
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles minor
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Northern Mockingbird
Chihuahuan  Raven                       Corvus cryptoleucus
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
House Finch
Grasshopper  Sparrow                    Ammodramus savannarum
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

21 SPECIES
So far: 177 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



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5-6 MAY 07
 
Whew!  Finally got some breathing room (but not much)!  After  Saturday's 
excitement yesterday was more of a rest, as we targeted a storm in  western 
Oklahoma that looked promising but ultimately just looked nastier than it 
really 

was (and this is where I can see that the radar comes in handy: looking at all 

that ugly scud and wall clouds would have made me nervous, but  according to 
the radar it had lost its punch...).  The place was still full  of chasers, 
though, which really reminded me of what happens when a rare bird  shows up 
somewhere: it's a zoo! I also forgot to mention the other new trip bird I had 

while we were racing through the environs of Quivera NWR: we scared up a flock 

of songbirds and one of them made me think, "Wait a  minute!  They don't have 
Hooded Orioles up here!!"  But with a little  thought the only other candidate 
that would have even a remotely similar pattern  at a glance would be a 
Bobolink...
 
Yesterday turned out to be surprisingly birdy (and it was fun chatting with  
veteran storm-chaser Gene Roden at breakfast about the Painted Buntings he 
gets at his feeders!): we would stop periodically to watch the developing 
storm, 

and  stepping away from the noise of the vans allowed one to hear the 
cacophony of birdsong, even in mid-afternoon! Some of the highlights included 

Dickcissel, Cassin's and Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobwhites, Turkeys, Great Crested 

Flycatcher (kind of west of their range, I thought, but I need to check the 
book  on that...), and what surprisingly turned out to be a new trip bird: 
Northern Flicker! On a "Decision Stop" (where we pull over so the guys can 
confer 

and decide which direction to chase), a pair of Mississippi Kites glided 
around  that even caught the attention of our British driver/cinematographer 
Alistair, a gorgeous Bullock's Oriole that flew in, and a displaying 
Mockingbird 

that I didn't pay too much attention to, but that another British participant, 

Lisa,  wanted to see!  (Their reputation precedes them across the Pond, I  
guess...)
 
We're in Texas now, and things are indeed calming down, so who knows what  
the coming days will bring!  The bird list below reflects the last two  days.
 
  Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Mallard                                Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Mississippi  Kite                       Ictinia mississippiensis
Swainson's  Hawk                        Buteo swainsoni
Wild  Turkey                            Meleagris gallopavo
Northern  Bobwhite                      Colinus virginianus
RING-NECKED  PHEASANT                   Phasianus colchicus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
LONG-BILLED  DOWITCHER                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles minor
Chimney  Swift                          Chaetura pelagica
NORTHERN  FLICKER                       Colaptes auratus
Great Crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus crinitus
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Eastern  Kingbird                       Tyrannus tyrannus
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Blue  Jay                               Cyanocitta cristata
American  Crow                          Corvus brachyrhynchos
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Grasshopper  Sparrow                    Ammodramus savannarum
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Dickcissel                             Spiza americana
BOBOLINK                               Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Common  Grackle                         Quiscalus quiscula
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Bullock's  Oriole                       Icterus bullockii

43 SPECIES
So far: 176 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



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Hi, all!
 
Just a quick note to let everyone know I'm still alive (and there's a  
thunderstorm raging right now so I can't stay on-line long); but we were only 
an 

hour north of the devestating Greensburg tornado that hit Friday night, and saw 

up close and personal the huge wedge tornado that went through the same 
general  area yesterday; it was a true outbreak yesterday, and altogether we 
witnessed SIX tornadoes on the ground, the last one reminding me of that famous 

"Underpass Tornado" footage where the guys were racing away from this thing and 

the  photographer was admonishing, "You gotta really go, buddy!"  At one point 
 we were witnessing three simultaneously!
 
Bird-wise (just to stay honest :-) ) it was quite productive as not only  
were we close to Quivera NWR but many things were utilizing the flooded fields 

in the wake of the Greensburg storm: lots of Mallards, Blue-winged Teal, and  
Shovelers were about, and while there were shorebirds, the only ones I could ID 

 on the fly were dowitchers.  Roger pointed out some pheasants (new trip  
bird) to me that we almost ran down chasing the storm, and a Harrier was also  
new, lazily hunting while a tornado tried to form behind him!  I'll send an  
updated bird list when I get the chance, but mainly wanted to let everyone know 

that we're okay.
 
Should be another mini-outbreak in the Texas Panhandle today!  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



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3 MAY 07
 
We must have driven over 1000 miles yesterday (rather, poor Roger did :-P),  
from Oklahoma City where the tour started to the only even remotely promising  
storm system along the front range of the Rockies!  The bird list was  short, 
naturally, as we stopped only for snack and potty breaks, but getting  into 
new territory added three new trip birds to the list, the best being a  flock 
of Franklin's Gulls over a field!  One of the participants (Lisa from  London) 
showed an interest in the hawks so I showed her what was possible from  my 
Sibley's, and a little later a picture perfect Swainson's soared  overhead!
 
After analyzing the data all day, David decided the most action was going  to 
be northeast of Denver, so we wound up north of Fort Morgan (I knew Greely  
would get your attention, Carla... :-) ), where interesting the Storm 
Prediction Center (SPC herewith) was issuing multiple tornado warnings when the 
radar 

images and data WE were getting (to say nothing of looking at said storm in 
the flesh) said nothing of the sort! This was further complicated by the fact 

 that spotters were evidently actually reporting tornadoes on the ground!   
There WERE several "gustnadoes" (dust "swirlies" kicked up by the storm's  
outflow) and multiple thin rain shafts that kinda looked like tornadoes if you 

used your imagination, so we concluded that their spotters were seeing  
"beer-nadoes"... :-) The storm was really pretty, though, especially with the 
sunset! 

 
The models for today (Friday) and Saturday, however, are predicting MAJOR  
tornado outbreaks for northwest Kansas and eastern Colorado, so we'll see what 

plays out (I wish I had written down all of David's colorful metaphors, such 
as "Black Hole," "Death and Destruction," "Armageddon," and "There won't BE a 

Kansas any more!")  The main thing he's worried about on Saturday will be  
the fact that the "chaser convergeon" will be the equivalent of a Harpy Eagle  
showing up at Santa Ana: it'll be bumper to bumper traffic, probably, and that 

mostly storm-chasers!
 
Unfortunately my allergies (or crud, or whatever this is) has settled in my  
voice box so I'm unable to talk (gee, maybe that's good news for David and 
Roger  :-) --just kidding!), but hopefully that won't damper (no pun intended) 
the rest of the trip! (Who knows--if we end up going back to northern Colorado 

we  may pick up McCown's Longspur for the trip! :-) )
 
Bird List:
 
  Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Mallard                                Anas platyrhynchos
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
SWAINSON’S  HAWK                        Buteo swainsoni
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Wild  Turkey                            Meleagris gallopavo
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
FRANKLIN’S  GULL                        Larus pipixcan
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
American  Crow                          Corvus brachyrhynchos
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
WESTERN  MEADOWLARK                     Sturnella neglecta
Common  Grackle                         Quiscalus quiscula
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

21 SPECIES
So far: 171 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



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1 MAY 07
 
Well, Lee and his crew did a lot better than I did! :-)  He didn't  mention 
what a lousy day it was weather-wise (at least it wasn't a downpour), but that 

kept me from hiking and doing much exploring, especially after almost  
getting stuck twice (those roads are nasty when they get wet)!! But the 
highlight 

was the pair of Surf Scoters in a pond on the way to the Visitor's  Center; at 
first I only saw a female (fit Sibley's illustration of a  first-spring 
female perfectly) and was desperately trying to digiscope her for 
documentation, 

when I saw a MALE swim into view!!  No mistaking him!   So I shot him as well 
(with the camera), and when I swung into the parking lot  and saw a bunch of 
birders gathering, I excitedly told one of the guys, "Did you  know about the 
scoters?!" to which he replied, "Oh, yeah; we know everything!" :-) Turns out 

the birds (at least the male) have been there for several  weeks, so I guess 
the novelty has worn off...  After getting a map I  chatted with the guys for 
awhile and Lee introduced himself by saying, "It's  'Lemmon' with two M's, 
meaning I'm twice as sweet as a regular lemon!" :-D
 
So I headed off doing the BBS protocol, enjoying the Dickcissels singing  
every two feet, a flock of Long-billed Dowitchers flying overhead (which was  
new), and several herons and Blue-winged Teal.  A peek into the lake at the  
picnic area had a dead tree full of young cormorants, and a Killdeer allowed  
close approach on the road. I started down the road to the boat launch to check 

it out, but when Jip started sliding down the hill at a 45 degree angle I  
changed my mind post haste (thankfully we were able to back out of there...)! 

The other iffy spot was heading down the road to Crow Hill: the  road looked 
fine, but on one of my "get-out-and-listen" stops I couldn't take  two steps 
without having about two inches worth of mud cling to my boots!   Naturally it 
was building on Jip's tires as well, so since I couldn't turn around, I headed 

with great trepidation to the Crow Hill parking lot, swung  around, and very 
gingerly crawled back up that slimy hill!  (I was too  nervous about getting 
out of there that I didn't even hike the trail!)
 
Bird-wise, other highlights included a pair of Bank Swallows chattering and  
flirting with each other, a rattling Belted Kingfisher (new for the trip), and 
 gurgling Marsh Wrens (also new for the trip), that really DO sound different 
 than ours!  Headed on up to Oklahoma City after that, picking up a singing  
Swainson's Thrush for the trip at a rest stop!
 
(To my Texbird friends: this will be the last post to Texbirds, but the  rest 
of the trip - the storm-chasing [and birding] portion - will be posted  daily 
on Birdchat.  If you're not subscribed to Birdchat and would like to  
continue getting the posts, please e-mail me and I'll put you on my own  list!)
 
Bird List:
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Mallard                                Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
SURF  SCOTER                            Melanitta perspicillata
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Wild  Turkey                            Meleagris gallopavo
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferous
Spotted Sandpiper
LONG-BILLED  DOWITCHER                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
BELTED  KINGFISHER                      Ceryle alcyon
Red-bellied  Woodpecker                 Melanerpes carolinus
Great Crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus crinitus
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Bank  Swallow                           Riparia riparia
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cedar  Waxwing                          Bombycilla cedrorum
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
MARSH  WREN                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Eastern  Bluebird                       Sialia sialis
SWAINSON’S  THRUSH                      Catharus ustulatus
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Carolina  Chickadee                     Poecile carolinensis
Tufted  Titmouse                        Baeolophus bicolor
Blue  Jay                               Cyanocitta cristata
American  Crow                          Corvus brachyrhynchos
European Starling
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Black-and-white  Warbler                Mniotilta varia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
White-crowned  Sparrow                  Zonotrichia leucophrys
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Indigo  Bunting                         Passerina cyanea
Painted  Bunting                        Passerina ciris
Dickcissel                             Spiza americana
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Common  Grackle                         Quiscalus quiscula
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Orchard  Oriole                         Icterus spurius

58 SPECIES
So far: 168 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



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30 APR 07
 
I thought it was gonna be the end of the birding after seeing the forecast  
for Wichita Falls all week! But there was a break in the rain this morning so 

I decided to go ahead and take a look at Lake Arrowhead, and it was really  
quite birdy starting out: Eastern Bluebirds were at the entrance station, and  
driving north four hours sure made a difference in the bird list: Common  
Grackles were all over, a Dickcissel sang from the top of a tree, and an oriole 

chattered that, according to the map, is most likely Baltimore around  here.  
It DID start to spit again (pretty hard at times), so I didn't get  to hike, 
but I poked around as many roads as I could.  At the lake there  was some nice 
marshland habitat where I added Forster's Tern to the trip list,  and a 
cooperative Yellow-headed Blackbird fed in the grass! I was surprised that I 
hadn't 

had Great Egret for the trip yet (there were plenty of  them), but also had a 
Little Blue Heron sail by, which I KNEW was new!  A  family of Canada Geese 
was real cute with their goslings, and a daddy grackle  had a nose full of 
grass while he gave his rusty gate call!
 
Headed over to LBJ National Grasslands after that, and it actually cleared  
up quite nicely!  Found the headquarters building near Decatur where I  bought 
a map, and that was indispensable; even WITH the map I got turned around  back 
there!  But for a "grassland" it was really quite forested and  beautiful:  
had a lot of old friends such as Painted and Indigo Buntings, Summer Tanagers, 

Carolina Chickadees, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, but Tufted  Titmice replaced 
the Black-crested (although I guess they also get up this far  north)!  I 
also heard a towhee singing a perfect "Drink-your-TEEE!" song,  but apparently 
only the Spotted occurs here.
 
I basically road-birded the actual NG tracts (there was a lot of leased  land 
back there), and where there WAS actual grassland had Grasshopper,  Field, 
and Lark Sparrows, and Eastern Meadowlarks singing.  I stopped  at a couple of 
the lakes, and had a woodpecker bonanza at Black Creek Lake with  Red-bellied, 
Downy, and Hairy, all new for the trip!  Also picked up  Eastern Kingbird for 
the trip there, but Scissortails were all over.  They  also had a Chimney 
Swift roost site, which was very interesting (and speaking of which, I got to 
see 

a pair in display flight, which was really neat)!
 
The other lake I was able to get to was Clear Lake, but it was rather  quiet; 
a handful of people were fishing there, but still picked up Great Blue  Heron 
for the day.  Pulling out, I spotted a fabulous, pearly Mississippi  Kite 
perched on a dead branch!
 
The butterfly show was incredible: they were all over the roads!  Most  of 
them were Buckeyes, American Ladies, Variegated Frits, and Question Marks, but 

also had several Hackberry Emperors, and a crescent I thought was a Pearl at  
first, but now I'm not sure what it was (and unfortunately I wasn't able to 
get a good shot of the underwings). I also saw (but was unable to photograph) 

what may have been a Zebulon Skipper, as it had a big yellow patch  
underneath. The usual sulphurs were bouncing around, and of the big guys, had 
great 

looks at Pipevine and Black Swallowtail, and found what I thought at first was 

a dead Pipevine (the ants were starting on it), but when I went to  turn it 
over, it jerked its wings!  I did manage to flip it and his legs  were still 
barely moving, but he was definitely on his way out.  I walked  away feeling 
sorry for it, but what I didn't realize until I looked at the photos later was 

that it was the coveted Red-spotted Purple!
 
I wanted to head to Gainesville around three, so when the beeper went off I  
turned around, but just happened to look up, and there high in the sky was a  
"tornado" of White Pelicans!  What a show!
 
More thunderstorms predicted for tomorrow, but hopefully we'll make it to  
Hagerman NWR okay... Bird List:
 
  AMERICAN WHITE  PELICAN                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
DOUBLE-CRESTED  CORMORANT               Phalacrocorax auritus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
GREAT  EGRET                            Ardea alba
LITTLE BLUE  HERON                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Canada  Goose                           Branta canadensis
Mallard                                Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
MISSISSIPPI  KITE                       Ictinia mississippiensis
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
FORSTER’S  TERN                         Sterna forsteri
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Common  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles minor
Chimney  Swift                          Chaetura pelagica
RED-BELLIED  WOODPECKER                 Melanerpes carolinus
DOWNY  WOODPECKER                       Picoides pubescens
HAIRY  WOODPECKER                       Picoides villosus
Great Crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus crinitus
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
EASTERN  KINGBIRD                       Tyrannus tyrannus
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cedar  Waxwing                          Bombycilla cedrorum
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Eastern  Bluebird                       Sialia sialis
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Carolina  Chickadee                     Poecile carolinensis
TUFTED  TITMOUSE                        Baeolophus bicolor
Blue  Jay                               Cyanocitta cristata
American  Crow                          Corvus brachyrhynchos
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Red-eyed  Vireo                         Vireo olivaceus
Black-and-white  Warbler                Mniotilta varia
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Spotted  Towhee                         Pipilo maculatus
Field  Sparrow                          Spizella pusilla
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Grasshopper  Sparrow                    Ammodramus savannarum
White-crowned  Sparrow                  Zonotrichia leucophrys
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Indigo  Bunting                         Passerina cyanea
Painted  Bunting                        Passerina ciris
DICKCISSEL                             Spiza americana
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
EASTERN  MEADOWLARK                     Sturnella magna
Yellow-headed  Blackbird                Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
COMMON  GRACKLE                         Quiscalus quiscula
Great-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
BALTIMORE  ORIOLE                       Icterus galbula
Orchard  Oriole                         Icterus spurius

67 SPECIES
So far: 163 SPECIES  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

27 APR 07
 
Since Pedernales Falls SP was only nine miles away from the motel, I got  
there well before dawn and was able to pick up a couple of night birds: lots of 

Chucks were singing at several stops, and a Common Nighthawk beented overhead 
at  one point.  I love road-birding pre-dawn because the dawn chorus is just  
magical:even though they were "old friends" by now, it was fun listening to  
Field and Rufous-crowned Sparrows, battling Black-crested Titmice with their  
monotone songs, Cardinals and Carolina Wrens sounding similar at times, Purple 

Martins gurgling overhead, and distant Bewick's Wrens fooling me into 
thinking I might have Golden-cheeked Warblers! Interestingly, never did hear or 
see 

 any this time; this place has been pretty reliable in the past, but then 
again, I only had time to road bird and check the blind real quick before 
making 

a  quick stop at Balcones NWR and then heading on to Wichita Falls, which was 
a  four-hour drive.  I really wished I had had time to hike at least one of  
the trails, but even listening at the trailheads was able to add lots of 
Painted Buntings, a singing Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a White-eyed Vireo tricking 
me 

into  thinking I was hearing a Great Crested Flycatcher at first (heard a real 
one  later), and wobbly-sounding Nashville Warblers.  
 
The blind was new since I was there last, so I spent 15 minutes there,  
enjoying great looks at both Black-chinned and Ruby-throated Hummers (and they 

confirmed my suspicions: they DO sound identical--even the chase notes!), a  
Cardinal that kept "climbing" the glass trying to drive away his reflection, 
and 

a cooperative Lincoln's Sparrow.  A new trip bird, a White-throated  Sparrow, 
sang a wobbly "Poor Sam Peabody-Peabody-Peabody" from the brush along  with 
the "rrrRRRrrr" of a Spotted Towhee.  Inside the blind, several Red  Admirals 
were waiting for some warmth (in fact, I had no clue that that's what they were 

until I "petted" them a little and got them to show me their  upperside...)!  
Outside the blind was another example of how easily one can  be fooled: I 
heard a song that certainly did not match the classic Goldencheek  song, but I 
had no clue what it was: it resembled the "Three Blind Mice" song of  our 
Mountain Chickadees, but in between each high note was a buzz, so in essence it 

said, "SEE, bzzSEEE, bzzSEEE," each "see" descending in pitch. When I finally 

found the culprit it was what I suspected, although I had never heard a  
recording of this particular song--it WAS a Carolina Chickadee! Between him and 

the Bewick's Wrens that could sound awfully buzzy at times, I was sure  on my 
toes!
 
Headed up to Balcones NWR after that, primarily to look for butterflies,  but 
it was surprisingly cool and a bit breezy, so by the time I got to the Shin  
Oak Overlook things were pretty quiet.  Joined a couple of other birders  who 
were sharing their Texas adventures so far, and one of them just happened to  
be an ex San Diegan named John Kellam!  So we had fun bantering a bit; I  
think we (myself and the guy from Georgia whose name I never got) sold him on 
Big 

Bend!  Birdwise there was nothing at the overlook except a skylarking  chat, 
which was kinda neat.
 
I was in dire need of a restroom so I raced out to Doeskin Ranch, which was  
a lovely little area with three loop trails.  I only had time for one, so I  
took the Creek Trail, which was good for a few new day birds (Blue Grosbeak,  
both goldfinches, Bell's Vireo, Lark Sparrow, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, 
Eastern Bluebird, and crow interestingly). I took a little bit of the Pond and 

Prairie Trail because there was some butterfly activity, but all I could pin  
down was a couple of Gray Hairstreaks and a cooperative Variegated Fritillary  
(unlike the ones yesterday). Ran into John again at the parking area and told 

him about Kerr WMA (best Black-capped Vireo spot *I* personally know of),  
traded complaints about San Diego getting too big :-) (he moved to Florida and 

I'm moving to Texas), and headed our separate ways.  
 
Had a nice, uneventful drive up to Wichita Falls (except I ate too much at  
the Dairy Queen--those Moolattes are hard to pass up...).  It's starting to  
remind me more of Michigan with Robins and Bluejays on the way up!  Bird  list:
 
  Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged Dove
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
Yellow-billed  Cuckoo                   Coccyzus americanus
COMMON  NIGHTHAWK                       Chordeiles minor
Chuck-will's-widow                     Caprimulgus carolinensis
Ruby-throated  Hummingbird              Archilochus colubris
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
Great Crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus crinitus
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Purple  Martin                          Progne subis
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Eastern  Bluebird                       Sialia sialis
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Carolina  Chickadee                     Poecile carolinensis
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Blue  Jay                               Cyanocitta cristata
Western  Scrub-Jay                      Aphelocoma californica
American  Crow                          Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House Sparrow
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
American  Goldfinch                     Carduelis tristis
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Nashville  Warbler                      Vermivora ruficapilla
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Yellow-breasted  Chat                   Icteria virens
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Spotted  Towhee                         Pipilo maculatus
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Field  Sparrow                          Spizella pusilla
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
WHITE-THROATED  SPARROW                 Zonotrichia albicollis
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Painted  Bunting                        Passerina ciris
Red-winged Blackbird
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater

55 SPECIES
So far:  148 SPECIES  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

26 APR 07
 
Well, we've definitely reached the point of diminishing returns so far as  
the bird list goes, but the scenery and butterflies made up for it! Started at 

Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park in Fredricksburg, which had a nice  little 
nature trail (a couple, actually) that went along the creek and then  climbed 
up into someone's campsite (surprised a cute little Cocker Spaniel)  before 
turning right around into the woods again, where there's a bench and some  
feeders (although nothing was coming to them at the time). A curious Carolina 
Wren 

came in while I was resting, though!  The trail heads back  into the parking 
area where there's a small lake and dam; a Great Blue Heron was  fishing here 
along with the domestic ducks.  I was a little dismayed at the  fact that 
someone was putting out food for the feral cats there at the trailhead, 
though... 

 
From there headed down to Old Tunnel WMA, which literally is an old  railroad 
tunnel where hundreds of bats of multiple species roost!  They  have a nice 
half-mile nature trail, but don't let the length fool you: while the  bulk of 
the trail is nice and flat (it follows the old rail line), you need to  climb 
down some stairs to get to it, which means you have to climb back  UP!  But 
this was a lovely walk through the woods where I picked up a life butterfly: a 

Viola's Wood Satyr! The trail also takes you down to the level of the tunnel, 

where if you look through the opening to the other end with  your bins, you 
could see the bats flying around even in the daytime!  The  most interesting 
bird was a Pine Siskin flying over.
 
But the highlight of the day had to be Enchanted Rock SNA: wow!!  It's  a 
large domed rock out in the middle of noplace, and for being the middle of the 

week, I was surprised at how many people were there! I didn't have the energy 

to climb to the top (although I'm sure I could have: the ascent was  fairly 
gradual), but a lot of folks did just that!
 
We were back in Bell's Vireo country with a vengeance, and the  
butterfly-finding guide recommended taking the Creek Trail, which I did, and 
MAN what 

scenery!! Not only were the rock formations grandiose, but the flower display 

was out of this world!  And the butterfly action certainly matched:  Common 
Buckeyes were all over, along with Orange and Dainty Sulphurs, American Ladies, 

and Red Admirals.  Down by the creek itself a lot of things were  sipping at 
the mud, including a knockout Question Mark! Picked up several skippers, which 

I'll need to get confirmation on, but I'm pretty sure I had Dun  (both male 
and female), Sachem, Nysa Roadside, and Orange Skipperling (and  perhaps even 
Southern).  A pretty Orchard Oriole was the token bird along  this trail...
 
Headed around to the other parking area and started on the Summit Trail,  but 
there were a bunch of "side" trails that I ended up on and made a pretty  
decent loop! Several Black Swallowtails made an appearance in addition to the 

other butters. Both Painted Buntings and Rufous-crowned Sparrows were singing 

in here (along with Canyon Wrens), but the Mockingbirds were driving me  
nuts: I kept thinking I was hearing Rock Wrens and Bobwhites!  
 
I was pretty shot after that, but I wanted to check out a little bit of the  
Loop Trail, so I poked along that for about ten minutes, probably making it 
more like 20 by chasing down Variegated Fritillaries... A Yellow-billed Cuckoo 

 talked to me during all this, and a Scott's Oriole sang as well.  A  
colorful lizard ran across the trail that still has me puzzled, but the best 
match 

is Texas Spotted Whiptail. In the parking lot I was so focused on the flowers 

that I didn't notice the two Inca Doves I nearly stepped on!
 
Wanted to take the loop to Johnson City, but at the intersection of RR 965  
and SR 16, the flower display was even MORE incredible!  I stopped for that  
one (as did another couple of ladies), but only picked up a cooperative Orange 

Sulphur.  I probably killed twice as many butters as I saw on the way to  
Johnson City; when I gassed up I popped the hood to see if anything had gotten 

stuck in there, and an in-tact Orange Sulphur was plastered on Jip's  radiator!
 
Bird List:
 
  Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
Yellow-billed  Cuckoo                   Coccyzus americanus
Chimney Swift
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Canyon  Wren                            Catherpes mexicanus
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Carolina  Chickadee                     Poecile carolinensis
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Pine  Siskin                            Carduelis pinus
American  Goldfinch                     Carduelis tristis
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Nashville  Warbler                      Vermivora ruficapilla
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Indigo  Bunting                         Passerina cyanea
Painted  Bunting                        Passerina ciris
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Orchard  Oriole                         Icterus spurius
Scott's  Oriole                         Icterus parisorum

52 SPECIES
So far: still holding  AT  146 SPECIES  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

25 APR 07
 
Well, today was a MUCH nicer day!  Did the Little Deutschland Loop as  
described in the Heart of Texas Wildlife Trail West, and it was surprisingly  
productive! I say "surprisingly" because most of the spots were within the city 
of 

Kerrville, and I usually don't bird city parks, but found some nice  things 
(once I found the places: went back and forth along state 173 several  times 
trying to find Kerrville State Park in the dark, only to find out it  didn't 
open till eight anyway)! The first stop on the list was Cypress Creek and Knapp 

Crossing Parks, and while I didn't walk around the grassy areas,  I was able 
to view the Guadeloupe River and picked up Osprey and Yellow-crowned  Night 
Heron for the trip, as well as a Beaver swimming by!  A sharp call in  the low 
vegetation made me think I had a Mourning Warbler or some such beast,  but the 
culprit turned out to be a Lincoln's Sparrow...  Interestingly also  had the 
day's only Butterbutt here!
 
Next was Riverside Nature Center, which was a terrific little place with a  
butterfly garden (which I revisited later in the day)!  Upon getting out of  
the car added another trip bird: a Blue Jay!  I wandered around their  trails, 
picking up a Painted Bunting on one of their feeders, and found one  trail 
going down to the river, which was just awesome with the tall cypress trees! 
The 

"southern jungle birds" (Carolina Wren and Chickadee,  Black-crested Ti
tmouse, White-eyed Vireo, Summer Tanager, and Cardinal) were all  at home here!
 
Headed to Louise Hays Park after that, which was very productive: they have  
a trail at the east (?) end that takes you through some riparian vegetation 
then  out onto a cement "sidewalk" that crosses the river.  It's quite shallow 
at  this point; several Spotted Sandpipers and a couple of Killdeer were 
hanging out here. Once across the river you can walk another forested river 
trail 

to  the bridge, where both Cliff and Rough-winged Swallows were nesting.   
Butterflies were starting to move about that time as well: had nice looks at  
Dainty Sulphurs, a Sleepy Orange, and a Monarch. At the other end of the park 

is Tranquility Island, where there were some domestic ducks, but that was  
about it...(very pretty, though).
 
By that time the state park was open, so I headed over there only to find  
out it's not a state park anymore, so I shelled out the three bucks and was 
told 

 to check out their Butterfly Theater, which I did first thing, and picked up 
my  trip Bordered Patch actually outside the enclosure!  It wasn't terribly  
active but there were lots of Varigated Fritillaries (that actually let me 
shoot  them this time), Gray Hairstreaks, Pipevine Swallowtails, and a worn 
Funereal Duskywing. Outside in the picnic area, the grassy fields were just 
full 

of  wildflowers, so I of course checked those out; more of the same, but 
managed to kick up what I think was a Sachem (that's the best match in the 
book, 

anyway).  I'd be happy to share the photos for confirmation...  While  I was 
stalking an Orange Sulphur the poor thing was suddenly bullied away by a  
Dainty Sulphur! A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher put on a great show, and crawling 

around the campground saw several cute Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels  and a 
Red-shouldered Hawk powering by with lunch for the kids (looked like it  might 
have been one of the squirrels...).  Another field full of flowers  yielded a 
Southern Dogface as well as tons more Pipevines.
 
Across the street was another campground and several trails, so I hiked  
three of the easy ones. The habitat is quite different, and looked like great 

Goldencheek habitat with all the cedars, but nary a one sang; had lots of  
Bewick's Wrens and titmice instead.  On one of the trails a Hermit Thrush  was 
actually singing, and picked up another trip bird: Scrub Jay!
 
I was shot after that, but made a quick swing around Kerr County Park,  
another Guadeloupe River access point, picking up Cedar Waxwings and a 
Pied-billed 

Grebe for the day.  There were several dead trees in the river  that looked 
great for kingfishers (theoretically all three can occur here), but  nada.  
Made the aforementioned quick stop at the Nature Center again, but didn't kick 

up anything new; several hummers chattered, but around here they  could be 
either Rubythroats or Blackchins....
 
Headed up to Fredricksburg for the night and had a WONDERFUL ribeye steak  at 
the Bavarian Inn restaurant!  Bird List:
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT  HERON             Nyctanassa violacea
Mallard                                Anas platyrhynchos
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
OSPREY                                 Pandion haliaetus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularia
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Chimney  Swift                          Chaetura pelagica
RT/BC Hummingbird
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great Crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus crinitus
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Purple  Martin                          Progne subis
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Cedar  Waxwing                          Bombycilla cedrorum
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Hermit  Thrush                          Catharus guttatus
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Carolina  Chickadee                     Poecile carolinensis
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
BLUE  JAY                               Cyanocitta cristata
WESTERN SCRUB  JAY                      Aphelocoma californica
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
American  Goldfinch                     Carduelis tristis
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Nashville  Warbler                      Vermivora ruficapilla
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Black-and-white  Warbler                Mniotilta varia
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Clay-colored  Sparrow                   Spizella pallida
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Painted  Bunting                        Passerina ciris
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed Cowbird

58 SPECIES
So far:  146 SPECIES  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

24 APR 07
 
After revisiting Kerr WMA, my revised plan was to visit Lost Maples and  
Garner SPs seeing as they were both recommended as good butterfly spots, but 
the 

forecast called for severe storms all day today, so I figured butter-hunting 
was  moot and reverted to my original plan, which was to concentrate on Kerr 
and then  visit as many of the "Heart of the Hills Loop" spots as time 
permitted. Thankfully, the "severe storms" wussed out, as there was only a 
gentle 

mist under heavily overcast skies when I left the motel, and by the time I got 

to the  WMA it had pretty much let up!  A couple of time during the course of 
the  day the mist turned to light rain, but that's as bad as it got.
 
Got to Kerr right about dawn (although you'd never know it) and basically  
birded the roads like a BBS, and had a very enjoyable time: titmice, Lark  
sparrows, cardinals, gnatcatchers, and (interestingly) Black-capped Vireos all 

went over the top (i.e., more than ten), and Summer Tanagers almost made  it!  
Other interesting birds along the route included Rufous-crowned, Clay-colored, 

and Vesper Sparrows (the latter was very wet and had a hard time  convincing 
me he wasn't a Savannah, but the tail finally gave it away),  Bobwhite, Canyon 
Wren, and a singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  Along the short  Bobcat Meadows 
road I ran into a group from Seattle looking for the vireos, and sent them over 

to the main entrance (based on their surprised look they  evidently made the 
same mistake I did years ago and thought Bobcat Meadows was  all there was to 
it!).
 
After that I checked out Mo Ranch (HOWT 64), and that was a delightful  place 
as well, with charming buildings and gorgeous views of the Guadeloupe  River! 
 The place is a Presbyterian Conference center where you  need  to sign in 
(and they give you a cute little bracelet so they know you're  supposed to be 
there), and many of the folks had feeders out where both  Ruby-throated and 
Black-chinned Hummers (mostly the latter) fought, and White-winged Doves 
bullied 

the cowbirds away from the seed.  The road out  to the stables resembled Kerr 
WMA (no vireos, though), and the road up to the  Chapel on the Hill hosts the 
cedars that the Golden-cheeked Warblers like  (didn't get any, though).  Also 
in this area is the nature trail which goes  through more cedar and other 
similar vegetation on the limestone (which was VERY slippery; at several points 
I 

actually had to sit down to negotiate the  step-offs as I was sure I'd fall 
and bust my personality otherwise).  Down  at the river there's an easy walk 
(which I didn't take as it was spitting) with a gorgeous view of the limestone 

cliffs where there were Canyon Wrens singing,  and along the river picked up 
Moorhen for the trip, plus a Great Blue Heron who was oblivious to both me and 

another hiker!  Back near the entrance I added  some color to the list by 
picking up Blue Grosbeak, Vermillion Flycatcher, and  Bullock's Oriole.
 
From there the brochure suggests several spots along Highway 39, so I  mainly 
ended up doing the BBS protocol on most of the road!  They recommend  several 
of the gorgeous Guadeloupe River crossings; I couldn't find the rookery  at 
"The Rookery" (HOTW 62), but a Black-and-white Warbler was good for the  day!  
The South Fork Marsh (HOTW 63) was quite interesting, and while the  only 
"marshy" bird I picked up along here was a Song Sparrow, I did manage to add 
the 

Goldencheek for the day here.  At other stops along the river added  Indigo 
Bunting, Great Crested Flycatcher, and both Nashville and Yellow-throated  
Warblers. A recommended picnic area that doubles as a canoe put-in spot (HOTW 
68) 

had Cave Swallows nesting under the bridge, and Western Kingbirds  fighting 
in the fields.  This was also a good butterfly stop (yes, despite  the lousy 
weather they were flying profusely) with tons of Dainty Sulphurs and  lesser 
numbers of Sleepy Oranges, Phaon and Vesta Crescents, Checkered Whites,  and a 
pretty little Reakirt's Blue.
 
Once near Ingram I gave up road birding and decided to visit the Fisheries  
Center (HOTW 69), where you also have to sign in.  I made the boo-boo of  
assuming you could drive the dikes like at our sewer ponds, but a guy on a 
little 

golf cart caught up to me and informed me otherwise (he was very nice  about 
it, though...)! So, red-faced, I parked once again and made a loop around one 

of the ponds (the wind was pretty fierce by now, but the sun was  actually 
peeking out) and added Coot and Blue-winged Teal for the day, and  
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Orchard Oriole, and Bronzed Cowbird in the  trees.  
 
I really needed to head into Kerrville after that, but the hope of  
Red-spotted Purples at the Mountain Home Bridge (HOTW 71) drove me to at least 
check 

it out, and it was indeed a lovely little place with lots of  butterflies!  
Most of the dark ones appeared to be Pipevines, however (and  the big field of 
flowers was on private land), but got nice studies of Varigated  Frits (those 
buggers don't let you sneak up on 'em), both Painted and American  Ladies, and 
another little Reakirt's Blue along with all the other common  stuff.  Oh, and 
a small group of Canada Geese was along the road on the way  there!
 
Bird List:
 
  Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
CANADA  GOOSE                           Branta canadensis
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed Hawk
Wild  Turkey                            Meleagris gallopavo
NORTHERN  BOBWHITE                      Colinus virginianus
COMMON  MOORHEN                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
CHIMNEY  SWIFT                          Chaetura pelagica
Ruby-throated  Hummingbird              Archilochus colubris
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Wood-Pewee                     Contopus virens
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Great Crested Flycatcher
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Purple  Martin                          Progne subis
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave  Swallow                           Petrochelidon fulva
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
RUBY-CROWNED  KINGLET                   Regulus calendula
Canyon  Wren                            Catherpes mexicanus
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Eastern  Bluebird                       Sialia sialis
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Carolina  Chickadee                     Poecile carolinensis
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Black-capped  Vireo                     Vireo atricapillus
Yellow-throated  Vireo                  Vireo flavifrons
Red-eyed  Vireo                         Vireo olivaceus
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Nashville  Warbler                      Vermivora ruficapilla
Golden-cheeked  Warbler                 Dendroica chrysoparia
YELLOW-THROATED  WARBLER                Dendroica dominica
Black-and-white  Warbler                Mniotilta varia
Yellow-breasted  Chat                   Icteria virens
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Canyon  Towhee                          Pipilo fuscus
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Clay-colored  Sparrow                   Spizella pallida
Field  Sparrow                          Spizella pusilla
VESPER  SPARROW                         Pooecetes gramineus
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Song  Sparrow                           Melospiza melodia
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Indigo  Bunting                         Passerina cyanea
Painted  Bunting                        Passerina ciris
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed  Cowbird                        Molothrus aeneus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Bullock's  Oriole                       Icterus bullockii
Orchard  Oriole                         Icterus spurius

73 SPECIES
So far: 142 SPECIES  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

23 APR 07
 
Boy, what a day!  My entomologist friends would have been ecstatic, as  I 
woke up to find several HUGE Stink Beetles in my room (plus one giant cricket)! 

Opening the door was a trip as well: the asphalt was covered  with them, and 
they all seemed to want to rush in the minute I opened the  door!  The air was 
also FULL of moths of all sizes!  (I shot this  giant moth who decided it 
liked the "Outback" logo on Jip's rear...) What was even more fascinating was 

the incessant chirping of bats feasting  overhead!  Guess the place is so new 
that the wildlife still considers that  spot their home...
 
Miraculously got on the road with only one "passenger" ;-) and headed out  to 
the state park to try and pick up some night birds.  Stopping along the  
stretch of highway just before the park bagged Great Horned Owl and  
Chuck-will's-widow, plus diurnal things that were tuning up already: Purple 
Martins, 

Turkeys, Cardinals, and Lark and Field Sparrows being the main  performers 
(actually, I think the martins were feasting along with the bats at the 
motel...). 

It was great fun road-birding pre-dawn: I filled up a whole page on my notepad 

with singers!  Besides the birds I had picked up  yesterday, added Vermilion 
Flycatcher, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, and Blue Grosbeak  for the park.
 
By the time I worked my way back to the river crossing it was light enough  
to hike, so I birded the little trail that goes along the river and joins the  
other day use area.  A Great Blue Heron was at the spillway, but the best  
bird was a Green Kingfisher giving his tapping call and wagging his tail from  
his rock post!  I needed a lozenge after that, only when I opened my bag I  
discovered a stowaway Stink Beetle!  Got rid of him post haste...
 
The next stop was the blind by the old barn, where I picked up a singing  
Black-and-white Warbler for the trip.  White-crowned, Lincoln's, and Lark  
Sparrows hogged the feeders, and even a White-eyed Vireo came in for a bath! A 

bathing Black-chinned Hummer was especially entertaining, as he'd get his belly 

wet while still whirring his wings!  A Scott's Oriole sang  from a tree on the 
way back to the car, and a Yellow-breasted Chat actually  showed himself!
 
Stopped at headquarters to get my day pass and find out where fellow  
Texbirder Becky was camped out, then went to sit at the blind behind the  
headquarters for awhile. Along the trail a Least Flycatcher sang, and later I 
caught 

him knocking the snot out of a bug.  The feeders had more of  the same (the 
Painted Bunting is always nice, and the titmice are as cute as can be), so took 
a 

hike along the Fawn Trail to where it dumped out at the Buck  WMA.  They have 
a convenient bench there where a Ladder-backed Woodpecker  was tapping away, 
and a pair of Canyon Towhees said hello, along with an  Orange-crowned 
Warbler. The butterflies were starting to come out on the way back: many Sleepy 

Oranges bounced about, but the stars were two new  skippers: one of them I'm 
pretty sure was a female Juvenal's Duskywing, but the  other best matched the 
Golden-headed Roadside Skipper, but according to the map, they're not supposed 
to 

be here!  So I'm hoping someone will want to take a  look at the photos and 
give me their expert opinion...
 
Headed over to the campground after that where I finally connected with  
Becky and her husband Harry, so we yapped awhile; they're new birders from San 

Antonio, and we just had a great time getting to know each other! They were in 

the process of moving their rig to another spot so I went ahead to the  blind 
by the walk-in camping area, where another new birding family was enjoying  
themselves, so I had fun teaching them sparrow identification! :-)  A nice  
Nashville Warbler came in as well during that time.  A short hike along the  
other end of the Fawn Trail took me back into the WMA and up the road to the  
water tank where you got a tremendous view of the area!
 
The Smiths were all settled by the time I was done with that, so Becky and  I 
headed over to the day use area to hike the trail to Buck Lake from  there.  
She was mentioning that all the greenery and the flowers was due to  the heavy 
rains they've been having; they had such a bad drought these last  several 
years that there were NO wildflowers to speak of before now! We moseyed along 

enjoying point blank Summer Tanagers and Red-eyed Vireos, and an  Indigo 
Bunting sang for the trip. At the blind we picked up a new trip bird: a 
brilliant 

American Goldfinch!  An Orchard Oriole also came in, as  well as the usual 
suspects. Becky enjoyed watching what I presume was a Fox Squirrel waiting for 

an opportune time to raid the feeders...  
 
We kissed goodbye (Harry had joined us in the meantime), and I headed back  
to the car, picking up a nice Giant Swallowtail on the way.  Decided to  hike 
one last trail before taking off, so walked a bit of the Nature Trail near the 

restrooms at the end of the road, picking up Red-shouldered Hawk for the  
trip, and another cooperative Summer Tanager. An Eastern Bluebird "doo-dooed" 

on the way back, and a Chipping Sparrow had a death wish by  insisting on 
remaining on the road chasing bugs even as I rolled past!
 
I was pretty beat after that, but I still wanted to reconnaissance Kerr  WMA, 
so headed over there, and found the entrance I had mistakenly entered the  
first time several years ago, only this time it was paved!  Didn't go far  
before I heard that scoundrel Black-capped Vireo, either (I've heard dozens of 

them but have never actually SEEN one)!  He wouldn't come out naturally, so  I 
continued on, adding birds to the Kerr County list (including Black Vulture for 

the trip).  Headed over to the main drive, and THAT was fabulous!   The nice 
ranger directed me to where they kept the checklists, and I just poked  along 
the road, hearing several more BCVIs, but none would come out.  At  what 
looked like a spillway I heard a buzzy warbler song, pulled over, jumped out, 
and 

walked over to see if this Golden-cheeked Warbler was as friendly as  most of 
the others I've encountered, and he certainly was!  He came right  out in the 
open and sang for me!  Down the road yet another BCVI sang near  the edge, so 
I thought, "What the heck," and tried again, since he was right  there.  And 
THIS time, I actually caught him move!  Then, miracle of  miracles, he moved 
out in the open, long enough for me to see that black cap and white specs, and 

then he was gone!  Wow!  The Eastern Phoebe at the  end of the road was 
anticlimactic after that!
 
The icing on the cake was several gorgeous Pipevine Swallowtails feeding on  
these purple flowers, allowing terrific photo ops!  My plan was to come  back 
pre-dawn again tomorrow, but they're predicting severe thunderstorms (I may  
be storm-chasing sooner than I thought), so I'll be playing tomorrow by ear... 

 Got checked in in Kerrville, opened my other bag, and found another  
stowaway, this time letting me know why they're called Stink Beetles...  :-P
 
Bird List:
 
  Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
BLACK  VULTURE                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
RED-SHOULDERED  HAWK                    Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Wild  Turkey                            Meleagris gallopavo
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
INCA  DOVE                              Columbina inca
Yellow-billed  Cuckoo                   Coccyzus americanus
GREAT HORNED  OWL                       Bubo virginianus
CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW                     Caprimulgus carolinensis
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
GREEN  KINGFISHER                       Chloroceryle americana
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Wood-Pewee                     Contopus virens
LEAST  FLYCATCHER                       Empidonax minimus
EASTERN  PHOEBE                         Sayornis phoebe
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
Great Crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus crinitus
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher              Tyrannus forficatus
Purple  Martin                          Progne subis
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Eastern  Bluebird                       Sialia sialis
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Carolina  Chickadee                     Poecile carolinensis
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
BLACK-CAPPED  VIREO                     Vireo atricapillus
Yellow-throated  Vireo                  Vireo flavifrons
Red-eyed  Vireo                         Vireo olivaceus
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
AMERICAN  GOLDFINCH                     Carduelis tristis
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Nashville  Warbler                      Vermivora ruficapilla
GOLDEN-CHEEKED  WARBLER                 Dendroica chrysoparia
BLACK-AND-WHITE  WARBLER                Mniotilta varia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Yellow-breasted  Chat                   Icteria virens
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Spotted  Towhee                         Pipilo maculatus
CANYON  TOWHEE                          Pipilo fuscus
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Clay-colored  Sparrow                   Spizella pallida
Field  Sparrow                          Spizella pusilla
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Grasshopper  Sparrow                    Ammodramus savannarum
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
White-crowned  Sparrow                  Zonotrichia leucophrys
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
BLUE  GROSBEAK                          Passerina caerulea
INDIGO  BUNTING                         Passerina cyanea
Painted  Bunting                        Passerina ciris
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Bullock's  Oriole                       Icterus bullockii
Orchard  Oriole                         Icterus spurius
Scott's  Oriole                         Icterus parisorum

73 SPECIES
So far: 135 SPECIES  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

22 APR 07
 
I lied--the real birding started today as I got into Junction early, got  
checked in at the brand new Best Western, and decided to explore some of the  
places listed in the Texas Birding Trail. Actually, the birding started before 

that when I made a potty stop at Ozona and the requisite "Ozona Overpass"  to 
check off nesting Cave Swallows!  But the flowers were awesome, so I  couldn't 
help chasing butterflies while I was there: tons of Checkered Whites, a  few 
Gray Hairstreaks, a nice Red Admiral, and a skipper that I'm guessing Green  
on (I'll send the pic to whomever's interested). Also in the avian department 

added Rufous-crowned Sparrow and House Wren to the trip list there. 
 
Anyway, the flower show was outstanding all the way to Junction, and once  
there, even the Best Western was birdy with both Bullock's and Orchard Orioles, 

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Eastern Bluebird, and Cassin's, Savannah, and  
Lark Sparrows (plus a nice Orange Sulphur in the butter department).  After  
dropping my stuff off, started at the first spot on the list, which was the  
sewer ponds. Surprisingly the place was open (I had heard you had to call ahead 

to get permission to go in), so I poked in, padding the bird list with  
Ring-necked and Ruddy Duck, Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, Avocets, Cattle Egrets, 
and 

Baird's and Spotted Sandpipers.  A very cooperative Bell's Vireo posed  for 
pictures (I can't get over how green they are here compared to ours in San  
Diego), and added both Lincoln's and tons of singing Clay-colored Sparrows to 
the 

list.  Grasshopper Sparrows were singing as well, and one actually  flushed 
and landed on a shrub near the fence for nice looks! A flock of Yellow-headed 

Blackbirds went sailing past the car, and chased more butterflies,  the most 
interesting being a couple of male Checkered Whites going after this  poor 
beat-up female (even a Lyside Sulphur got into the act)...
 
The next spot was Schreiner City Park, and since it was being heavily used  
this Sunday afternoon I didn't spend too much time there, but did add Purple  
Martin and Great Blue Heron to the trip list. Even though it was one of those 

"call ahead" places, I went ahead and took a peek at Texas Tech  University, 
and the road to the place was worth it in and of itself, especially  at the 
river crossing where I picked up a very cooperative Yellow-throated Vireo (and 

to think those things never came out for me for YEARS) and heard battling  
Painted Buntings that didn't want to show. A Golden-fronted Woodpecker bounced 

in, and just before I left a Yellow-billed Cuckoo let loose!  Down  by the 
entrance to the university there again was a marvelous flower display, where I 

picked up another life butterfly: a Variegated Fritillary! Bird-wise the main 

actors here were Bewick's Wrens and Verdins.
 
Headed on down to South Llano State Park after that, where I planned to  
spend the whole day if necessary on Monday, but even in late afternoon the 
place 

was hopping!  I stopped periodically along the entrance road, and flowers  
just covered the place!  Added American Lady to the list here, and  bird-wise 
added Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Eastern Pewee, and Great Crested Flycatcher. At 

the first parking area was a short trail along the river  where a knockout 
Red Admiral posed for pictures!  A nice ranger stopped by  and told me about a 
field full of verbena down the road; he wasn't  kidding!
 
Swung into the headquarters to wave my pass and get a checklist and map,  
where there were also several hummer feeders; all I saw at the time were  
Blackchins, but later a closer look at one of the photos revealed a Rubythroat! 
The 

nice lady pointed me to one of their blinds behind  headquarters, so I headed 
over there, again being attacked by a pair of Bell's  Vireos, and shooting 
lots of what I thought were Vesta Crescents (and there were some of those), but 

later discovered I was also looking at Elada  Checkerspots!  (I THOUGHT they 
looked awfully tiny...)  A beautiful  lizard posed which turned out to be a 
Texas Spotted Whiptail, and what I thought  was a Cardinal singing at first 
turned out to be a Carolina Wren! The blind was incredible: fellow Texbirder 
Gus 

(I found out later) was already there  taking pictures along with another 
couple, and the first thing to greet me in the fountain was a Nashville Warbler 

(they had had a chat earlier, which I DID  pick up along the road, along with 
a singing Carolina Chickadee)!  Settling  down for the show, quickly added 
(and shot) Field, Lark, White-crowned,  Black-throated, and Clay-colored 
Sparrows, Pine Siskin, "Black-backed" Goldfinches, Painted Buntings, Cardinals, 

Black-crested Titmice, and to top it off, a huge Tom Turkey (plus a hen)! A 
cute 

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel  represented the Mammal Department.
 
Finally tore myself away from there and crawled around the campground  
looking for Becky, another Texbirder I was hoping to connect with. Couldn't 
find 

her (there was a new camp host there who directed me back to  headquarters for 
that information), but while cruising the roads picked up  White-eyed Vireo, 
Chipping Sparrow, and POSSIBLY a Golden-cheeked Warbler, but  the buzzy song I 
heard didn't match anything I was familiar with, so I let that  one go.  At 
another trailhead heard a Red-eyed Vireo and shot a lovely  Sleepy Orange.
 
I needed to get back after that (it's already past my bedtime), but may try  
to get in before dawn tomorrow to see if I can pick up any night birds.   Bird 
list:
 
  Eared  Grebe                            Podiceps nigricollis
GREAT BLUE  HERON                       Ardea herodias
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
GADWALL                                Anas strepera
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
RING-NECKED  DUCK                       Aythya collaris
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
WILD  TURKEY                            Meleagris gallopavo
American  Avocet                        Recurvirostra americana
Killdeer
SPOTTED  SANDPIPER                      Actitis macularia
BAIRD’S  SANDPIPER                      Calidris bairdii
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning Dove
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
YELLOW-BILLED  CUCKOO                   Coccyzus americanus
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
BLACK-CHINNED  HUMMINGBIRD              Archilochus alexandri
GOLDEN-FRONTED  WOODPECKER              Melanerpes aurifrons
LADDER-BACKED  WOODPECKER               Picoides scalaris
EASTERN WOOD  PEWEE                     Contopus virens
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
GREAT CRESTED  FLYCATCHER               Myiarchus crinitus
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
SCISSOR-TAILED  FLYCATCHER              Tyrannus forficatus
PURPLE  MARTIN                          Progne subis
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
CAVE  SWALLOW                           Petrochelidon fulva
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
CAROLINA  WREN                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
HOUSE  WREN                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
EASTERN  BLUEBIRD                       Sialia sialis
BLUE-GRAY  GNATCATCHER                  Polioptila caerulea
CAROLINA  CHICKADEE                     Poecile carolinensis
BLACK-CRESTED  TITMOUSE                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Common Raven
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
WHITE-EYED  VIREO                       Vireo griseus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
YELLOW-THROATED  VIREO                  Vireo flavifrons
RED-EYED  VIREO                         Vireo olivaceus
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
PINE  SISKIN                            Carduelis pinus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
NASHVILLE  WARBLER                      Vermivora ruficapilla
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT                   Icteria virens
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
SPOTTED  TOWHEE                         Pipilo maculatus
CASSIN’S  SPARROW                       Aimophila cassinii
RUFOUS-CROWNED  SPARROW                 Aimophila ruficeps
CHIPPING  SPARROW                       Spizella passerina
CLAY-COLORED  SPARROW                   Spizella pallida
FIELD  SPARROW                          Spizella pusilla
LARK  SPARROW                           Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
SAVANNAH  SPARROW                       Passerculus sandwichensis
GRASSHOPPER  SPARROW                    Ammodramus savannarum
Song  Sparrow                           Melospiza melodia
LINCOLN’S  SPARROW                      Melospiza lincolnii
White-crowned  Sparrow                  Zonotrichia leucophrys
NORTHERN  CARDINAL                      Cardinalis cardinalis
PAINTED  BUNTING                        Passerina ciris
Yellow-headed  Blackbird                Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
BROWN-HEADED  COWBIRD                   Molothrus ater
Bullock's  Oriole                       Icterus bullockii
ORCHARD  ORIOLE                         Icterus spurius

76 SPECIES
So far:  120 SPECIES  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

21 APR 07
 
(To my fellow Texbirders: Parts 1 and 2 were in Arizona and sent to  
Birdchat...)
 
Today's list was so meager it almost wasn't worth reporting on, but for  
continuity's sake, here it is (the day was basically spent driving from Willcox 

to Fort Stockton; the REAL birding starts Monday!):
 
Stopped at Balmorhea SP for an exercise walk; I originally wanted to stop  at 
Franklin Mountains outside El Paso to get a head start on Texas County  
birding, but the wind was so horrendous that I just continued on, and it was  
horrendous all across the state (and still is as I write)! But despite the wind 

still managed to pick up a couple of trip birds (a Summer Tanager  
"pick-a-choo"ing from the trees, and a lone female Lesser Scaup hiding out in 
the canal), 

and even more incredibly, picked up a couple of butterflies battling  the 
wind: a really beat up female Black Swallowtail, and a couple of territorial  
Pipevine Swallowtails! The flowers were lovely, so had the wind been calm I'm 

sure I would have kicked up more.
 
Watch this space for South Llano River SP on Monday!  Bird List:
 
  LESSER  SCAUP                           Aythya affinis
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Scaled  Quail                           Callipepla squamata
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Chihuahuan  Raven                       Corvus cryptoleucus
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
SUMMER  TANAGER                         Piranga rubra
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

19 SPECIES
So far: 78 SPECIES  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

20 APR 07
 
Met birding buddy Judy Pike this morning at the Desert Museum in Tucson,  and 
it was the first time I had ever gone there when it wasn't mobbed with  
people!  (Getting there first thing in the morning during the week probably  
helped...) We usually get together and "do" the Huachucas when I pass through, 
but 

Judy had quite innocently found (and photographed) a Great Purple  Hairstreak 
the last time she was at the Desert Museum, so she readily agreed to  depart 
with tradition and meet in Tucson!
 
Before getting to the museum I road-birded a little, and picked up some  nice 
desert birds we didn't see later: Black-throated Sparrows were particularly  
aggressive, and also had Brewer's Sparrow, a lovely Black-headed Grosbeak, a  
Canyon Wren singing from the hillside, and an Ash-throated Flycatcher doing 
his "police whistle". At the museum, the Cactus Wrens were nesting already and 

 were quite tame, but as we were trying to spot this one wren on top of an  
ocotillo we realized our "wren" was all black with a red eye: a Bronzed  
Cowbird!  (The wren was hiding...)
 
We enjoyed the walk-thru aviaries (the Blue-winged Teal was still following  
the female Mallard around), although the place was overrun with House Mice (at 
 least that's what I'm assuming they were).  We hiked the entire park,  
adding Hooded and Scott's Oriole (Judy called me on that one: it was a female 
that 

I initially thought was a Hooded), a cooperative Black-tailed Gnatcatcher,  
Abert's Towhees, and White-winged Doves, but the best sighting was a female  
MacGillivray's Warbler!  We enjoyed the docents telling us about Desert  
Tortoises and scorpions, but disappointingly, the butterfly action was almost 
nil 

(it was starting to get breezy, but there were still some sheltered areas);  a 
little Texan Crescent was very cooperative, and a nice Pipevine Swallowtail  
finally settled down for a picture (as did a hyper Marine Blue), but that was  
about it.  (Oh, the Cappuchino Shake was to die for! :-) )
 
We were kinda shot after five hours of being on our feet, so we shuffled to  
our cars and headed to Benson for an early lunch/dinner.  Only when we got  
there Judy got the bright idea of checking out the Monastery along the San 
Pedro 

 River (seeing as she had never been there before, and neither had I), so we  
headed over, and the nice lady showed us where the bird trail was, and we had 
a  delightful time: even though the wind was still howling, the trail was 
pretty  sheltered, and we had nice looks at Wilson's Warblers and a couple of 
Cabbage Whites that gave us fits. There was a side trail to the river as well, 

and  it was a beautiful view from there.  Judy had a Myiarchus flycatcher that 
 she felt could have been Brown-crested (I never got on it), and on the way 
out  we had a lovely Vermilion Flycatcher.  Chihuahuan Ravens were also 
fighting the wind as well, and a pair of Mexican Ducks flew over the trees in 
the 

distance.  The icing was hearing a Gray Hawk calling in the woods!  
 
After raiding the gift shop :-) we headed back to Benson for dinner, and  
after kissing goodbye I headed on to Willcox where I made the requisite stop at 

Twin Lakes, and despite the hurricane, padded the list but good!  Scared up  a 
Scaled Quail on the way in, and the lake was full of Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks,  
and Cinnamon Teal (a handful of Bluewings were by the shoreline).  There  
were swallows galore swooping low over the water; most were Barn, but I was 
able 

to pick out single Tree, Violet-green, and Bank Swallows.  At the far end a  
group of Wilson's Phalaropes in full breeding dress swam around, and in a  
smaller pond a handful of avocets joined the ducks. The only other shorebirds 

were a few Least Sandpipers and a single Western.  A couple of  Eared Grebes 
was hanging out with the coots at the end of the loop.
 
Headed in to the hotel after that with 56 species for the day; not bad  for 
the desert!  Bird list (those in CAPS are new for the trip):
 
  EARED  GREBE                            Podiceps nigricollis
“MEXICAN”  DUCK                         Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Cinnamon  Teal                          Anas cyanoptera
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
GRAY  HAWK                              Asturina nitida
SCALED  QUAIL                           Callipepla squamata
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
AMERICAN  AVOCET                        Recurvirostra americana
Western  Sandpiper                      Calidris mauri
LEAST  SANDPIPER                        Calidris minutilla
WILSON’S  PHALAROPE                     Phalaropus tricolor
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Gila  Woodpecker                        Melanerpes uropygialis
VERMILION  FLYCATCHER                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
ASH-THROATED  FLYCATCHER                Myiarchus cinerascens
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
TREE  SWALLOW                           Tachycineta bicolor
VIOLET-GREEN  SWALLOW                   Tachycineta thalassina
BANK  SWALLOW                           Riparia riparia
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
CANYON  WREN                            Catherpes mexicanus
BEWICK’S  WREN                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
HERMIT  THRUSH                          Catharus guttatus
BLACK-TAILED  GNATCATCHER               Polioptila melanura
VERDIN                                 Auriparus flaviceps
CHIHUAHUAN  RAVEN                       Corvus cryptoleucus
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
MACGILLIVRAY’S  WARBLER                 Oporornis tolmiei
WILSON’S  WARBLER                       Wilsonia pusilla
Abert's  Towhee                         Pipilo aberti
BREWER’S  SPARROW                       Spizella breweri
BLACK-THROATED  SPARROW                 Amphispiza bilineata
Song  Sparrow                           Melospiza melodia
White-crowned  Sparrow                  Zonotrichia leucophrys
BLACK-HEADED  GROSBEAK                  Pheucticus melanocephalus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
BRONZED  COWBIRD                        Molothrus aeneus
HOODED  ORIOLE                          Icterus cucullatus
BULLOCK’S  ORIOLE                       Icterus bullockii
SCOTT’S  ORIOLE                         Icterus parisorum

56 SPECIES
So far:  76 SPECIES  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

Okay, so the Sweetwater Wetlands technically aren't part of the Hill  
Country, but I stopped by for an exercise walk before settling down in Tucson 
for 

the night (and to pad the trip list)... :-)  It was actually rather  nice to 
come here when it wasn't sweltering (which is usually when I happen to  be 
there--in August), and although there was nothing unusual there, it was nice to 
see 

some old SE Arizona friends: Curve-billed Thrasher, Abert's Towhee, and  
Harris' Hawk to name a few. Both Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teal were in the open 

water, along with lingering Shovelers and (I imagine) resident Ruddy  Ducks.  
The far sewer ponds had a couple of Western Sandpipers and a line  of Snowy 
Egrets on the dike.  Several Gambel's Quail stood guard and ran  around the 
mesquite; Yellow Warblers were all over, and had a single Bell's Vireo singing. 

In among the cacophony of the grackles and Redwings was a  Yellow-headed 
Blackbird! Ran into another birder who said a Lazuli Bunting had been reported, 

but that one alluded me.
 
Any other "odd" birds on the list were seen (or heard) at the apartment in  
San Diego or seen on the fly...
 
Bird List:
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Mallard                                Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Cinnamon  Teal                          Anas cyanoptera
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Harris'  Hawk                           Parabuteo unicinctus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Gambel's  Quail                         Callipepla gambelii
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Western  Sandpiper                      Calidris mauri
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Anna's  Hummingbird                     Calypte anna
Gila  Woodpecker                        Melanerpes uropygialis
Black  Phoebe                           Sayornis nigricans
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cedar  Waxwing                          Bombycilla cedrorum
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
American  Crow                          Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
California  Towhee                      Pipilo crissalis
Abert's  Towhee                         Pipilo aberti
Song  Sparrow                           Melospiza melodia
White-crowned  Sparrow                  Zonotrichia leucophrys
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Yellow-headed  Blackbird                Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

50 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 
 



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

Hi, all!

Finally got this last trip onto  the website; the direct link  is:

http://miriameaglemon.com/Trip%20Reports/Xmas%202006/Christmas%202006.htm

I  have a LOT of butterflies in this one in addition to various invertebrates 
and  some reptiles that I made a best guess at, so I'd appreciate any and all 
 feedback and/or corrections!  

Thanks, and  enjoy!

MB

Mary Beth Stowe
San Diego,  CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
www.miriameaglemon.com  

Here is a very long trip report from eight days of birding that Peggy Macres
and I did in Puerto Rico, December 17-25, 2006.  We saw all the endemics
except the Parrot, and over 100 species total.  And, we loved every minute
of it!

An Excel Spreadsheet, with the full list of species seen, and their
locations, is available from me by request at gyrrlfalcon AT earthlink.net

Puerto Rico Trip - December 17-December 25, 2006

Puerto Rico was not a birding destination I had seriously considered, until
the day my partner and I faced the reality that with aging parents, it was
not yet time for us to spend all of our holiday break in distant Asia or
South America.  With Peggy's mother living in Florida, we considered where
we could go that would be close to Florida, yet feature a significantly
different avifauna.  Puerto Rico quickly rose to the top of our list.  First
to convince us were pictures of Puerto Rican Woodpecker and Puerto Rican
Lizard-Cuckoo.  Then there was the fact that Puerto Rico promised to have
some vestiges of familiarity - which side of the road we would drive on, for
instance.  Finally, there was the challenge of it - the Wheatley and Brewer
book contended that seeing 100 species in a week would be difficult.
Nothing this inveterate lister likes better than a challenge.  We made our
reservations, bought the books, and dreamt of our adventures from August
until December.

Neither of us really enjoys the city nightlife, so we eschewed San Juan and
decided to divide our eight days into four days on the east side of the
island (El Yunque, Fajardo, and Humacao), and four days in the southwest
corner (Cabo Rojo, La Parguera, Maricao, Boqueron, Guanica).  In retrospect,
we'd do it differently now, and spend three days on the east side and five
in the southwest.  The southwest has more species, easier access to the
elfin-woods and its Warbler, and it is more remote and relaxed.  Our day
counts were significantly higher in the SW than the NE.  However, if we had
decided to take the ferry to Culebra or Vieques (and in spring or summer we
would have wanted to), four days in the east would work effectively.

As neophytes to the island, what we wanted was everything, and we came
tolerably close to succeeding.  We saw all endemics except the Puerto Rican
Parrot, most of the near-endemic and Caribbean specialties, and 105 species
(actually 106, if you count our best bird, which was, regrettably, dead.
See story below).  

We were very lucky in terms of weather, with no major rain, mild
temperatures, and very little in the way of nuisance bugs (exceptions are
noted below).  The only day on which we had rain in the afternoon, December
19, we used the down time to drive into the interior to Comerio, where we
had excellent late afternoon looks at Plain Pigeon coming to roost
(directions below).  We were comfortable in short sleeves most of the time
(except in Maricao and at Hacienda Juanita).  Finding quick food was
generally not a problem: there are plenty of fast food restaurants as well
as better quality dining establishments, and both places we stayed either
served breakfast or had kitchen facilities.

Here is a day-by-day listing.  I have also appended an Excel Spreadsheet
with species correlated to locations.  With the exception of the Plain
Pigeon and the Least Grebe, all the species we saw were found at the eight
basic locations listed above, and only the Plain Pigeon was a substantial
distance away from other spots (If you want the Plain Pigeon, you have to
plan for it; all I can say is that, in its own homely way, the PPig was well
worth it!).

December 17 - We landed at San Juan around 3:00 pm.  The first lifer was the
ubiquitous Greater Antillean Grackle, seen while riding the bus to the
rental car center.  A Zenaida Dove was patiently pecking at seeds and crumbs
in the rental car return garage for a second lifer.  As we drove towards
Ceiba, where we would be staying, we noted Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Brown
Pelican, Rock Pigeon, and the ever-present Gray Kingbird.  We checked into
Ceiba Country Inn, which is not only a nice place to stay, but has a
resident pair of Puerto Rican Screech-Owls.  We heard two owls in
conversation every night and/or morning we were there, with the full panoply
of sounds including the maniacal laugh.

December 18 - We went to the El Yunque El Portal visitor's center, being
there when they opened at 9:00 am.  We were greeted by Monk Parakeets and
White-winged Doves in the parking lot, and our first lifer of the day,
Pearly-eyed Thrasher, was perched in a tree near the gift shop at the
visitor's center.  We then walked the trail below the visitor's center,
where we saw many fine life birds: Red-legged Thrush, Puerto Rican Bullfinch
(a much more spectacular bird in the flesh than in pictures), Puerto Rican
Flycatcher, Puerto Rican Woodpecker, Bananquit, and the bird with the most
attitude per ounce, the Puerto Rican Tody (when I explained the Tody to a
birder friend, he said it sounded like the Corgi of the bird world: an apt
comparison).  We did the loop trail twice, because we had seen a hummingbird
we had been unable to identify, but it wasn't at its previous coordinates
when we circled back.  One of our few beefs with Puerto Rico is that more
places (like hotels and park visitor centers) ought to have hummingbird
feeders up.  While we ended up viewing all five hummingbird species the
island has to offer (and enjoyed seeing them in their natural environment),
we felt we did not get the opportunity to study them closely that feeder
stations allow.  And, obviously, if we as birders felt this frustration, I
think it likely that non-birders won't get the opportunity to "ooo" and
"ahhh" over these gem-like birds.

At noon time we descended into the town of Palmer/Rio Grande, where I had a
heart-stopping moment when I spotted a parrot with a red forehead sharing a
tree with two Monk Parakeet�.but it was only a Red-crowned Parrot.  We had a
nice lunch at El Sabor Mexican Restaurant in Luquillo.  At the parking lot
at the McDonald's in Fajardo, we watched a Gray Kingbird chase away an
escapee Cockatiel.  We then went to Playa de Fajardo to enjoy some water
birds.  Because it was the first day of the trip, we did not know how
unusual it was when we saw one first winter Ring-billed Gull and a juvenile
Common Tern amongst a dozen of the quite common Royal Terns.  The Common
Tern and Ring-billed would be our only representatives of these species, and
the Ring-billed would be our only gull.  If we had budgeted a day in San
Juan things might have been different, but we weren't here to see all the
island's gulls.  We also enjoyed getting great looks at Brown Booby and
Magnificent Frigatebird.  A drive around some of the side streets of
southeast Fajardo brought us our first Common Ground-Dove and Nutmeg
Mannikin of the trip.  It was then a little after 3:00 pm, so we rushed back
up to El Yunque, stopping this time at the upper visitor's center and picnic
area at Palma di Sierra.  The light was starting to fade, but we enjoyed
another life bird, the Puerto Rican Emerald, and heard our first Scaly-naped
Pigeons.  Wintering warblers included American Redstart and Black-throated
Blue Warbler.  Our species list for the day was 32 species, nine of them
life birds.

December 19 - As we were waking up at Ceiba Country Inn, the Puerto Rican
Screech-Owls laughed at our early morning antics.  We had decided to go to
Humacao Reserve.  We tried to follow PR 3 instead of the newer tollway, PR
53; this delayed our arrival, as did a linguistically-inspired mixup at the
allegedly 24-hora McDonald's in Fajardo (they turned off their lights after
half-heartedly and rather poorly fulfilling our rather standard order,
complete with a 10-minute wait!).  However, we were at Humacao before full
sunrise, at 7:00 am.  We walked in along the road just north of the main
gate (even though the main gate was open; we parked our car there), where a
number of people had reported West Indian Whistling Duck, but we did not
find this species along this canal.  We did find plenty of other fine birds,
though: Tricolored, Green, and Little Blue Herons, Great and Snowy Egrets,
abundant Common Moorhen, Spotted Sandpipers, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, and a
few Northern Waterthrush.  Near the parking area there is a small hill;
today it contained a flock of Smooth-billed Anis and a family of Puerto
Rican Woodpeckers, as well as our most highly desired wish: hummingbird
activity.  We ended up getting good looks at both Green-throated Carib (I
once had the green throat really in the right light), and Antillean Crested
Hummingbird; these were both lifers.  We then started walking toward the
large lake area, where we watched one Puerto Rican Flycatcher, and added
Black-faced Grassquit as a lifer.  Large flocks of Nutmeg Mannikin were also
around.  On the lake itself, we had another lifer, the easy-to-identify
White-cheeked Pintail.  As we would discover when we returned here two days
later, we did not hike far enough on the lake path, blowing our chance (that
day) for coots and stiff-tailed ducks.  Instead we headed across the road,
walking the trail that heads west.  We didn't add much here, except for a
female Prairie Warbler.

At this point, we were hungry, and went for lunch to the little town of
seafood restaurants north of Humacao.  We made the wrong choice; we ate at
Paradise Seafood, where the red snapper we ordered seemed frozen and,
frankly, aged.  The beans were so salty that just remembering them makes me
pucker.  

When we emerged from lunch, it was overcast, so we made the decision to
drive for the Plain Pigeon.  The highway route from Humacao looked good.
Ha!  We were about to learn our lesson!  First, driving on Puerto Rican
roads, even highways, in the rain, is to take your life into your hands.
Its not that people drive fast, it's that they cut a lot of corners, around
lane control in particular.  Second, many of the smaller towns are
developing their commercial strips and expanding their populations before
they are building roads, so the traffic jams were rather daunting.  Add to
this that consistent signage of numbered roads is, well, not consistent, and
you wind up with us arriving at the famous ballfield in Comerio at 4:30.
Well, I suppose that's perfect timing for finding a bird coming in to roost.
A kid and his father/uncle/brother were playing on the ballfield, along with
their happy dog (I could write a separate essay on the happy dogs of Puerto
Rico).  After about five minutes of id'ing Scaly-naped Pigeons and
White-winged Doves, Peggy found the Plain Pigeon on top of a tree at the
homeplate corner of the ballfield area.  We then watched it fly to a tree
above the Escuela Superior Sabana, where it joined two of its closest
friends and co-speciesists.  It was a solid end to a day that might have
been washed out by rain.

To get to the Plain Pigeon spot from Humacao, here's what we did.  We took
PR30 west from Humacao, to PR 52 south.  We then traveled PR 172 through
Cidra then up towards Comerio.  It was very slow going through Cidra, and
the road from Cidra to Comerio was quite narrow and winding.  The kilometer
markers alert you to your approach to the famous ballfield, at KM 1.5.  The
school and the ballfield are located on the west side of the road; the
school is north of the ballfield.  There was parking in both the schoolyard
and the ballfield areas.

When we got back to Ceiba Country Inn, the Screech-Owls started calling,
hooting, and guffawing at 8:30.  We ended the day with a day list of 39
birds, five of which were lifers.

December 20 - We awoke early to try to be on the El Toro trail at El Yunque
around dawn.  We heard a Puerto Rican Screech-Owl in the park, near km 5.
We heard the captive-breeding Puerto Rican Parrots at the end of the road,
but ignored them to start out on the trail head beyond the gate.  The day
moved from mild to warm, it was clear and beautiful; this hike is worth it
for the scenery alone.  But we got much more.  The first birds to welcome us
were Scaly-naped Pigeons, Puerto Rican Woodpeckers and another endemic
lifer, Puerto Rican Tanager (like the Bullfinch, this is a more inspiring
bird when see live than any of the pictures of it can convey).  Amongst the
ubiquitous Bananquit, we often discovered warblers, including American
Redstart, Northern Parula, Black-throated Blue and Black-and-White Warblers.
Along the path we grew accustomed to the querulous sound of Puerto Rican
Tody, and then enjoyed great looks at yet another endemic lifer, the
obliging Puerto Rican Spindalis.  However, the trail soon became too muddy
for us to want to continue.  We turned around and started back down when we
had the divine darsan: a Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo perched in a tree across
the trail.  Peggy noticed it first, made some excited sound that resembled
the word 'cuckoo,' and I looked up in time to see that thick, long tail, and
the creamsicle orange wash on the abdomen.  Wow!  This is an awe-inspiring
bit of avian engineering!  We saw it fly a few times before it was too far
back into the brush.  It was our only visual encounter with this bird, but
it is one of the most memorable sightings of any bird in my memory banks.
But the joy of this trail was not done. When we came back to the road area
beyond the gate, the small birds were quite active with the warmer
temperatures.  We added a few more Pearly-eyed Thrashers and then, while
watching a mixed Bananaquit/Warbler flock, I saw a Puerto Rican Vireo!  I
carefully watched its slower gleaning behavior, saw the stubbier bill and
prominent wingbars, and even though I knew it was an unlikely bird in El
Yunque, I knew it wasn't impossible, and that this bird could be nothing
else but this endemic.  It was easy to rule out other rare vireos, such as
Black-whiskered.  

On the way down, we stopped at the Palma de Sierra visitor's center area
again.  Here I saw, but regrettably Peggy did not, a Loggerhead Kingbird.
It was quietly staying in the canopy, plucking insects from fruit.  Also
present were a family of Puerto Rican Emeralds, two Red-legged Thrush, and a
Northern Waterthrush.

We ate lunch at the Sushi Boat in Fajardo.  They had very thick, generous
cuts (they were not cheap, so this seemed to be a fair trade-off).  We then
returned to El Yunque to hike the Mount Britten trail.  Unfortunately, the
fog was coming in by the time we reached the best elfin forest.  We had one
furtive look at what, in retrospect, we think was a busy Elfin-Woods
Warbler, and longer looks at American Redstart and Black-throated Blue
Warblers.  Lots of Scaly-naped Pigeon, some vocal Puerto Rican Tody, and
many Puerto Rican Spindalis made for a fun hike, despite the drawbacks of
fog.

El Yunque seems to be the kind of park where one sees all the birds one is
supposed to see, but never in huge numbers.  That was certainly our
experience, memorable and life-bird rich though it was.  I wouldn't want to
plan a Puerto Rican trip without including El Yunque, but I wouldn't make it
the centerpiece of a trip either.  For one thing, as opposed to most of the
hot birding spots in the SW, El Yunque, as a national park, has a lot of
visitors and some foot traffic on most trails.  Even when we were searching
in the elfin forest west of Mount Britten, there were other non-birders on
the trail, including some rather noisy groups.

December 21 - We awoke early with intent of getting to Humacao Reserve
before dawn.  Unfortunately we miscalculated that the city of Humacao would
have some fast-food 24-hora restaurants.  Wrong.  Caffeine-addiction made it
necessary for us to wait until after 7:00 am, but it did enable us to watch
a Green-throated Carib chase off a Northern Mockingbird in a parking lot.

Once we did get back to Humacao, we took the trail to Laguna Palmas, but
this time went to both large ponds.  As a result, we saw one American Coot
and four Caribbean Coot.  There was a female Masked Duck (which quickly
darted into foliage, of course) amidst large numbers of Ruddy Ducks, and the
same wonderful display of hummingbirds we had witnessed on our first visit.
The highlights included a Yellow-rumped Warbler (who knew that we could be
so impressed by a bird we find so abundantly at home?), and our first
Orange-cheeked Waxbills.

By about 2:00 pm we were enroute to the SW corner.  We did not anticipate
how slow the roads would be, but neither did we know how delightful the
sights would be.  The best came in the town of Maunabo (I think), where we
were caught in what seemed to be an accident-caused traffic jam.  We would
see no ongoing traffic for swaths of time, while hearing sirens constantly.
We feared that we would crawl for miles, then see some signs of carnage.
Instead, it turned out to be an incredible holiday give-away, where the
local law enforcement agencies were assisting truckloads of volunteers in
their generous distribution of gifts to children!  The police were routing
single-lane traffic past this ongoing scene of joy.

Essentially, we were slowed down sufficiently that there was little chance
of birding on the SW side.  We checked in at Mary Lee's by the Sea in
Guanica (off PR 333), and then went in search of the Nightjar.  We heard at
least two Puerto Rican Nightjars about .15 km east of Playa Jaboncilla
parking lot.  This would remain a dependable spot to hear them, but we never
saw one here, and we quickly determined it would not be safe to drive slowly
along this stretch of PR333.

December 22 - Our first full day on the SW side was remarkable.  We intended
to go straight to Cabo Rojo, but then saw the wetlands right near Mary Lee's
by the Sea.  Here we were shocked by the presence of biting insects!  That's
right - we had had almost no mosquitoes over our first four days, despite
being in a rain forest and/or in marsh.  Here the bugs drove us back to our
car quite quickly.  When we got to the road to Cabo Rojo Lighthouse, we had
our trepidations about this marginal pock-marked road.  Little did we
realize we would get to know it rather intimately over the next few days.
Upon arriving at the lighthouse area, we were greeted by a life bird, the
Troupial.  Shorebirds were abundant.  It was especially fun for me to watch
entire flocks of Stilt Sandpipers.  Ruddy Turnstone, both Yellowlegs, and a
pair of American Oystercatchers lengthened the PR list.  Other life birds at
this spot included a cooperative Caribbean Eleania and a Shiny Cowbird.  The
introduced Warbling Silverbill used the sparse vegetation near the mudflats.
But the strangest thing of all happened when we reached the beautiful point
where the lagoon meets the turquoise blue bay.  I was talking with a couple
who had set up their picnic there, when Peggy said "What's that?  A Gannet?"
She was pointing at a large dead bird, that I knew the moment I saw it:
Masked Booby.  Freshly deceased, the poor unfortunate bird bore no obvious
signs of predation or injury.  This would have been a life bird for both of
us, and, as it turned out, we rightly surmised that it was a rare bird for
this location.  Guessing that, we tried to get the attention of some rangers
in a pick-up truck, but they didn't perceive the importance of what we were
trying to communicate.  Later in the day we mentioned it to the staff person
at Cabo Rojo NWR, who admitted that this species was one he had not heard of
at the location.  But he wasn't in a position to do anything about picking
it up.  Of course, we weren't either, but we had a plan for the morrow,
which worked to perfection�.

We went in search of lunch in the little town of Boqueron, where we found a
huge flock of roosting Sandwich Terns (76 birds) along with Royal Terns (and
some good little fried things to eat).  From there we went to Boqueron NWR,
where we enjoyed the boardwalk and a long hike along the mangrove
road/trail.  We added a Lesser Antillean Pewee to our life lists, and
enjoyed a plenitude of Northern Waterthrush and Black-and-White Warblers.
As late afternoon was approaching, we wanted to try for the Blackbirds at
Cabo Rojo NWR's bird-watching path.  Total success here!  Peggy, who rarely
tries to identify birds on the wing, spotted three Blackbirds overhead and
called them before she even had her binoculars raised!  We were both able to
watch them for a few seconds (with our binoculars), but luckily there were
other days when we got better views of Yellow-shouldered Blackbirds.  But
then we enjoyed two more life birds: Antillean Mango, which darted so
quickly that the looks were more tantalizing than satisfying, and the lovely
Adelaide's Warbler, contrastingly accommodating compared to the Mango.  A
Merlin made a dramatic appearance atop a tree as the sun set.  Later, we
heard the Puerto Rican Nightjar at the same spot as the previous night.

December 23 - The generosity of birders�sharing their knowledge, experience
and anecdotes�impressed us this day as nearly infinite.  We had eagerly
seized the opportunity to participate in the Maricao Forest Christmas Bird
Count.  We knew this was one of the best birding spots on the island, and we
knew that Hilda Morales, the CBC organizer, was one of the island's finest
naturalists, so we figured we could make a contribution, and gain some new
birds for our lists, too.  We did all this, and more.  In addition to Hilda,
the CBC featured two more of Puerto Rico's finest birders: Jos� Colon, and
Sergio Colon (unrelated by blood, but like brothers in most other ways!).
We arrived early and heard a Puerto Rican Screech-Owl; when Sergio Colon
arrived, he called in a Screech-Owl, so that finally we could say we had
seen one, too.  We surveyed the area near the "camp" and "administration,"
under the guidance of Jose Colon.  There were plenty of Puerto Rican Vireos,
and single heard-only Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo and Key West Quail-Dove.
The endemic subspecies of the Sharp-shinned Hawk whizzed by us, and some
Antillean Euphonia were heard by all, and seen by some (but neither of us).
But the highlight had to be the multiple, visible, eye-level Elfin-woods
Warblers.  Hilda, Sergio, and Jos� informed us that this was one of the best
displays, in numbers and in visible behaviors, that they had seen of this
highly sought-after species.

The CBC was a rather relaxed affair, and we were done by noon.  Sergio, Jose
and Hilda offered to take a number of birders from the CBC, who were
visiting the island, around to various sites where we could soak in our
desired species.  We drove to near the entrance to Hacienda Juanita, where
Sergio managed to call in some more Antillean Euphonia; once again, I did
not see them adequately.  But at the same spot, Sergio and Jose found a
Black-whiskered Vireo (a life bird for Peggy).  We then car-pooled for over
an hour, until we reached Laguna Cartagena.  All eight of us - Johnny and
Shari from Oregon, Tim from Chicago, me and Peggy, and our amazing mentors,
Hilda, Jos� and Sergio - hiked to the observation tower, where the
miraculous day continued.  There were almost a dozen West Indian
Whistling-Ducks (life bird for many), Sora, Glossy Ibis and Green-winged
Teal (a lucky last-minute discovery by Shari), just to name the new birds.
A possible Masked Duck was debated at this spot, too.  Oh, and Jos� and
Johnny repaired my tripod's most annoying features, tackling the task with
admirable relish.

Peggy and I had mentioned our dead Masked Booby to Jos� and Sergio before
the CBC began, and they had expressed interest in seeing the bird, and even
collecting it.  So we now turned our cars toward Cabo Rojo.  Just a tad
after PR 301 turns to a dirt road enroute to the lighthouse, we stopped for
some roosting Yellow-shouldered Blackbirds.  We enjoyed seven of them, and a
little rest.  Then on to 'bring out your dead'!  We drove to near the spot,
then started walking.  I was suddenly afraid; when I rushed ahead to the
spot, my worst fears were confirmed: the Masked Booby had vanished!  Sergio,
though, was more resourceful, and started examining the nearby brush.  He
found the bird, wedged into the middle of some thorny shrub, where a
beach-goer had thrown it.  Some predation had been attempted - the bird had
a hole in its stomach - but otherwise it was still intact.  It had started
to smell, it must be admitted.  But Johnny and Shari had some groceries in
plastic bags in their rental vehicle, and so they decided to empty these
bags for science.  Jos� and Sergio had determined to collect the bird, and
the multiple plastic bags may have done something to mask the odor.  We took
some pictures of its surroundings, and posed with the bird (an olfactory
error that clung to me, rather literally, for a few hours).  It was a
fitting climax to a fun day.  But, of course, it wasn't over yet.  Though
daylight could be measured in minutes, even seconds, by this point, Jose and
Sergio insisted on showing Peggy and me where the Least Grebes were hiding -
in a small pond north of where PR 301 turns east (a bit north of the
junction with 3301).  We id'd them by flashlight!

Hilda, Sergio, and Jos� were all expert birders, and even better as human
beings.  They were enthusiastic, never snobbish, fun-loving, yet serious in
their scientific commitment to birding.  There were some kids with us on the
CBC, and Jos� really nurtured their nascent birding.  He entertained every
idea we newcomers to the island could dream of, and birds we claimed to have
seen (I was worried about our credibility when the Masked Booby seemed to
have disappeared!  And was I ever relieved when it was found!), but with a
balanced mix of hope and skepticism.  We were blessed to be with such fine
and fun birders.

The Puerto Rican Nightjar was heard at its usual spot near Playa Jaboncilla
around 8:00 pm.

December 24 - Our luck finally ran out, as we had a so-so day.  We did reach
our goal of 100 species in Puerto Rico, and saw some of the escapee Rhesus
Monkeys in the wild (on PR 303 between La Parguera and PR 301).  We started
at La Parguera wetlands, where some barking dogs interfered with my scoping
of shorebirds.  We did see some more Yellow-shouldered Blackbirds and one
Shiny Cowbird in a flock with Greater Antillean Grackles, and our first
Least Sandpipers of the trip.  A pair of American Kestrels made love, not
war, in full panoramic view.  We then found the mangrove trail south of La
Parguera Sewage Treatment Plant.  We heard Clapper Rail, saw a juvenile
Yellow-crowned Night-heron, and enjoyed a plethora of warblers: Northern
Waterthrush, Black-and-White Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Palm Warbler,
Adelaide's Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and Northern Parula.  We did not,
however, find the warbler we had gone there searching for, Ovenbird.  Sigh.
One of the few misses.

We then made a driving error.  We wanted to get to Hacienda Juanita, and
thought it might be smoother to go by way of Mayaguez.  Big mistake.  The
roads in Mayaguez are not clearly marked, and we made some wrong turns
trying to get from PR 2 to PR 105.  We reached Hacienda Juanita irritably
hungry, so we did not hit the trail until 2:30.  We found the birds scarce,
except for Pearly-eyed Thrasher and Puerto Rican Spindalis.  Our goal here
was Greater Antillean Oriole; we saw but one bird, an immature, which was
less than satisfying but still counted.  We heard Antillean Euphonia but
once again did not get diagnostic looks.

December 25 - We decided to wake up early at Mary Lee's by the Sea, and try
to see the Puerto Rican Nightjar.  We drove east on PR333, and near the spot
where the road comes closest to the beach, we each saw one Nightjar cross
the road.  We heard at least four or five of them in the vicinity.  We then
had a piece of unfinished -- meaning embarrassing -- business: we had not
yet seen or even heard a Mangrove Cuckoo!  So we headed to Playa Jaboncilla,
negotiated the pot-holy road, and played a tape.  We got a Mangrove Cuckoo
to respond, but it would be another hour before we had one visible.  Once we
did see the Cuckoo though, we had all the Christmas gifts we needed!  What a
beautiful burnt orange!  I imagine that with the more spectacular
Lizard-Cuckoo on the same island, the Mangrove Cuckoo is often overlooked,
or given second billing, but not with us on this Christmas morn.  Also in
this small area  -- which we had entirely to ourselves -- were Adelaide's
Warbler and Puerto Rican Tody.  We then headed back to the wetlands on the
road from PR 333 to Mary Lee's.  The bugs were bearable, and the birds were
fantastic.  We saw two Clapper Rail, and added Willet and Semi-palmated
Sandpiper to the Puerto Rican list.  We then drove from Guanica to San Juan
by way of PR 2, so we could see those parts of the island we had not
visited.  We made it back to San Juan airport in plenty of time for our
Christmas flight back to the mainland.

Puerto Rico makes an ideal birding destination, we found.  Sites were
accessible, birds were plentiful, and there were surprises and discoveries
at every turn.  We both recommend it as a near-perfect place for a week of
birding.  Just beware - the driving takes a bigger toll in stress than I had
imagined.  The narrow mountain roads demand a level of concentration that
can be exhausting in its cumulative effect.

We used three bird books - Raffaele et.al., Birds of the West Indies
(Princeton, 2003), the older but still more detailed Birds of Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands by Herbert Raffaele (Princeton 1989), and the useful
book/CD combo, Mark Oberle's Puerto Rico's Birds in Photographs (Editorial
Humanitas, 2003).  We always had our trusty National Geographic North
American Birds with us, too; this was especially useful for some of the
shorebirds and warblers.  We also drew from the Puerto Rico pages in
Wheatley and Brewer's Where to Watch Birds in Central America, Mexico and
the Caribbean (Princeton, 2001).  I had additionally downloaded trip reports
from numerous on-line sites, the most useful to us being David Klauber
(11/2002), Glen Tepke (1/2002), Ron Outen (2/1997), Mark Oberle and Giff
Beaton (11&12/1995).  I am also a dedicated contributor to Cornell's eBird,
and so studied the records assembled there (www.eBird.org).  Having entered
all this data on eBird, I now contribute our prose report in the hopes that
other birders will find it useful (and will post their findings on eBird and
bird-trip sites, too).

Jennifer Rycenga and Peggy Macres
Half Moon Bay, California
gyrrlfalcon AT earthlink.net

6 JAN 07
 
Hi, all!
 
Stopped in Sierra Vista on the way home to meet up with birding buddy Judy  
Pike for one last birding foray (and to take a break from five straight days of 

 driving)!  It was a gorgeous, crisp, sunny day with no wind, so we met at  
the San Pedro House (along with several other people; apparently a bird walk 
was  in the making) and took the nature trail down to the river.  We both  
commented that things were very quiet compared to the winter we had the Sparrow 

Workshop there; had some Whiteys in the grass and either a Lincoln's or  
Savannah, but it was right in the sun. A Cooper's Hawk sat in a small tree 
nearby; 

no wonder everything was laying low!
 
Down at the river the water was down considerably since last August, so we  
were able to take the nature trail in its entirety, as it goes down along the  
river bank and then eventually encircles Kingfisher Pond.  About the only  
thing we kicked up down there was a Black Phoebe, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and  
several skulky Abert's Towhees. Had a calling Ladder-backed Woodpecker in the 

woods and a fussy House Wren in the brush along with a Loggerhead  Shrike.  Up 
at the pond we ran into Deiter and Alicia, friends of Judy's,  who had seen 
the kingfisher several times this week, but alas today he didn't  show up.  We 
DID have several Mexican Ducks (including one with some  "typical" Mallard 
blood in him), a few Shovelers, a Coot, a Great Blue Heron, and a calling Marsh 

Wren.  Deiter spotted a pair of harriers, and we  continued on while they went 
in search of a reported Northern Waterthrush.   On the back side of the pond 
we were rewarded with a knockout look at a  Green-tailed Towhee!
 
Had a very cooperative Kestrel on the way back, plus more Whiteys, and a  
pair of Gila Woodpeckers back at the House. From there we parked Judy's car at 

the Target and headed down to Ramsey Canyon together, picking up Mexican  Jay 
at the B&B feeders on the way in.  Things were rather quiet there  as well; a 
pair of Coues' Deer were cute, and Judy was telling me how they were  having 
trouble with bears coming right down into Sierra Vista!  A Hutton's  Vireo was 
singing a song that almost sounded like a flycatcher "whit" until he  did 
something I recognized :-), and a Brown Creeper did his high vibrato in some  
Alligator Junipers. We were shocked to discover that the frog pond was no more, 

but the lady back at the shop informed us that there is now a loop trail  
further up with a NEW Leopard Frog pond, where they were able to rescue this  
highly endangered species. We really didn't feel up to hiking all the way back 

up there so we said, "Next time!" and headed out, picking up a flock of  
Bridled Titmice, a couple of White-breasted Nuthatches, and a single Townsend's 

Warbler in the parking lot.
 
Since we figured Carr Canyon was probably snowed in, we headed on to Miller  
Canyon, picking up Bushtits on the way in.  I had sworn Tom Beatty kept  seed 
feeders going in the winter, but apparently not, although we did kick up a  
Gray-headed Junco in his driveway! We hiked the Forest Trail instead, picking 

up a Hermit Thrush and being serenaded by the guineafowl flock!  On  the way 
out we had a nice flock of Chipping Sparrows, and a couple of birds flew  in 
front of us, so we stopped and were treated to point-blank views of two Arizona 

Woodpeckers!  Some Western Bluebirds flew over, but they were  anti-climactic 
(even though they were new for the trip)!
 
Headed to Cold Stone after that for a two-fer ice cream, then went our  
separate ways; I was gonna stop at the sewer ponds, but they were closed... :-P 

 
This will be the last trip report as I should be arriving in San Diego  
tomorrow!  Bird list:
 
  Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
MALLARD (MEXICAN  DUCK)                 Anas platyrhynchos
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Cooper's  Hawk                          Accipiter cooperii
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
GILA  WOODPECKER                        Melanerpes uropygialis
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
ARIZONA  WOODPECKER                     Picoides arizonae
Northern  Flicker                       Colaptes auratus
Black  Phoebe                           Sayornis nigricans
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
WESTERN  BLUEBIRD                       Sialia mexicana
Hermit  Thrush                          Catharus guttatus
BUSHTIT                                Psaltriparus minimus
BRIDLED  TITMOUSE                       Baeolophus wollweberi
WHITE-BREASTED  NUTHATCH                Sitta carolinensis
BROWN  CREEPER                          Certhia americana
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
MEXICAN  JAY                            Aphelocoma ultramarina
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
European Starling
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
HUTTON’S  VIREO                         Vireo huttoni
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
LESSER  GOLDFINCH                       Carduelis psaltria
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
TOWNSEND’S  WARBLER                     Dendroica townsendi
GREEN-TAILED  TOWHEE                    Pipilo chlorurus
ABERT’S  TOWHEE                         Pipilo aberti
CHIPPING  SPARROW                       Spizella passerina
White-crowned  Sparrow                  Zonotrichia leucophrys
DARK-EYED (GRAY-HEADED)  JUNCO         Junco hyemalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus

40 SPECIES
For the trip (unless I pick up  something new tomorrow): 219 SPECIES
 
Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 
 

1 JAN 07
 
Happy New Year, all!
 
For my last birding day in Florida I decided to do Merritt Island NWR, as  
the guy at Loxahatchee told me that they had a butterfly garden! Little did I 

know the Visitor's Center was gonna be closed today (where I assume the  
garden is)!  Thankfully it was lousy butterfly weather (because I woulda  been 
heartbroken otherwise), but the birding was fabulous, pushing me over the  200 
mark for the trip!
 
The first new bird was picked up while waiting for the drawbridge over the  
Indian River to close: a Great Black-backed Gull!  There would be several  of 
these along Cape Canaveral, but no Lessers, alas.  I tried birding the  
impoundments as the ABA Guide suggests, but quickly gave up that idea as I  
discovered that area was reserved for hunters! Did pick up Mottled Duck for the 
day 

back there, though...
 
So headed out on the Black Point Wildlife Drive, and THAT started out with  a 
bang with a gorgeous Roseate Spoonbill and his "kid" feeding right by the  
road!  There also happened to be both White and Glossy Ibis there for a  
Threskiornithidae Feeding Frenzy! Northern Pintail and Blue-winged Teal were 
also 

right by the road (they weren't dumb--they knew where not to hang  out), and a 
little further down was another trip bird: two pairs of Hooded  Mergansers 
actively feeding!  (It was fun to watch the males raising and  lowering their 
hoods as they dove...)  Several Ring-necked Ducks were  around as well.
 
Didn't get far on the Cruikshank Trail as the mosquitos, interestingly,  were 
pretty bad along here (whereas I had had NO problems with them at all so  far 
this trip)!  Something apparently got the Moorhens cackling like a  jungle 
movie, and down the road I saw the possible reason: a little alligator swimming 

amongst them!  Here and there were pods of larids that, in  addition to the 
Ring-billed and Laughing Gulls, had Caspian Terns, skimmers, more Black-backed 

Gulls, and a couple of Herrings.  The few shorebird  flocks I found had 
Semipalmated Plovers and Dunlin mostly, but also a single Least Sandpiper and a 

few Westerns. While I was stopped an American Bittern flew by, which was very 

exciting; when I literally pointed him out to  the lady behind me, the bittern 
must have thought my arm looked like a gun  barrel cuz he took a hard right 
at the sight and put distance between us!
 
The usual selection of herons was about, of course, including a nice  Reddish 
Egret.  After dumping onto the main road I stopped periodically in  hopes of 
at least hearing a Florida Jay, but got a Pileated Woodpecker swooping  by in 
kingfisher-like fashion instead.  Hiked the Oak Hammock Trail, where  there 
was sufficient shelter from the wind to have a little warbler party with  
Orange-crowned, Black-and-white, and Pine all represented (in addition to the  
ubiquitous Butterbutts)! Found another Three-spotted Skipper along this trail, 

but it mainly was just a pretty hike.
 
After that was when I discovered that the center was closed, so I headed  
back to Canaveral National Seashore (after making a wrong turn and almost  
winding up at NASA...) Although the weather was not the greatest (overcast, 
windy, 

and occasionally spitting), the flowers along the roadside  were just COVERED 
with Great Southern Whites!  Those things were  troopers!  At one spot I did 
a little closer scrutiny and found a Mangrove  Buckeye, a couple of Gulfies, a 
gorgeous Ceranus Blue, and a new butterfly: a  Saltmarsh Skipper, which is 
one of the well-marked ones!  While I was  poking around the bushes a Savannah 
Sparrow popped up and stayed put for  pictures, as well as a Prairie Warbler 
(Palms were all over, of course)!
 
Checked out the beach accesses here and there, and the butterflies weren't  
the only "big white things" out there in numbers: so were the Gannets!  I  had 
never seen so many, and so close to shore!  Granted, most of them were  
youngsters, but it was fun to watch them dive-bomb! Got a good selection of 
"beach 

birds" as well, including Willet, Sanderling, Red Knot, Black-bellied  
Plover, and Ruddy Turnstone in addition to those already seen on the refuge. 
Also 

added Royal and Sandwich Terns, and after much scanning  finally picked out a 
jaeger beating past, although I couldn't tell which type;  it seemed too 
slender to be a Pom, but according to the ABA Guide, that's what's most likely, 
so 

unless talked out of it, that's the assumption for now... (In  San Diego, 
Parasitic is the one most likely seen from shore...)
 
The rain soon starting coming down pretty good, so since I was shot I  
decided to call it a day, but not before spotting a young Bald Eagle harassing 
an 

Osprey!  Tomorrow I start driving home, but my Bisbee birding buddy Judy  Pike 
talked me into stopping on the way, so I'll have one more trip report  before 
the final tally!  Bird list:
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
NORTHERN  GANNET                        Morus bassanus
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Reddish  Egret                          Egretta rufescens
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
AMERICAN  BITTERN                       Botaurus lentiginosus
Wood  Stork                             Mycteria americana
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Glossy  Ibis                            Plegadis falcinellus
Roseate  Spoonbill                      Platalea ajaja
American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Pintail                       Anas acuta
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Ring-necked  Duck                       Aythya collaris
Lesser  Scaup                           Aythya affinis
HOODED  MERGANSER                       Lophodytes cucullatus
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
Bald  Eagle                             Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Red-shouldered Hawk
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-bellied  Plover                   Pluvialis squatarola
Semipalmated  Plover                    Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Willet                                 Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Ruddy  Turnstone                        Arenaria interpres
Red  Knot                               Calidris canutus
Sanderling                             Calidris alba
Western  Sandpiper                      Calidris mauri
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Dunlin                                 Calidris alpina
POMARINE  JAEGER                        Stercorarius pomarinus
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
GREAT BLACK-BACKED  GULL                Larus marinus
American Herring  Gull                  Larus smithsonianus
Laughing  Gull                          Larus atricilla
Caspian  Tern                           Sterna caspia
Sandwich  Tern                          Sterna sandvicensis
Royal  Tern                             Sterna maxima
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Black  Skimmer                          Rynchops niger
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Belted  Kingfisher                      Ceryle alcyon
Red-bellied  Woodpecker                 Melanerpes carolinus
Northern  Flicker                       Colaptes auratus
Pileated  Woodpecker                    Dryocopus pileatus
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
House  Wren                             
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Gray  Catbird                           Dumetella carolinensis
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Eastern  Bluebird                       Sialia sialis
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Blue  Jay                               Cyanocitta cristata
Fish  Crow                              Corvus ossifragus
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
PINE  WARBLER                           Dendroica pinus
Prairie  Warbler                        Dendroica discolor
Palm  Warbler                           Dendroica palmarum
Black-and-white  Warbler                Mniotilta varia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Eastern  Towhee                         Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Savannah Sparrow
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Boat-tailed  Grackle                    Quiscalus major
Common  Grackle                         Quiscalus quiscula

87 SPECIES
So far: 203 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

21 DEC 06
 
Hi, all!
 
Boy, I'm shot, but it was a great day: headed up to Joe Overstreet first  
thing for their specialty birds, noticing a couple of access points to Three  
Rivers WMA on the way up that I hadn't noticed before. Several Sandhill Cranes 

were right by the county road on the way up, which was a nice omen!
 
The habitat along the road is mostly agricultural and grazing land, great  
for the cranes and other open-country birds.  The morning chorus consisted  of 
the usual fare, and as I scanned the fields every half mile a couple of large  
groups of Turkeys got added to the list!  Sandhills were here and there  along 
the road, and several Savannah Sparrows popped up on the wires.  A  pair of 
Caracaras were hanging around the oaks, and at one spot a subadult Bald  Eagle 
sat by himself in the middle of the field, sporting an Osprey-like  mask!  But 
the stars of the show were about four miles in: three beautiful  Whooping 
Cranes stalked the field on the north side of the road amongst the  cattle, 
oblivious to the delight they were causing the humans! They all appeared to 
have 

radio-tracking devices on their legs; that would drive me nuts,  but the birds 
apparently aren't bothered by them.
 
Headed on down to the landing, where there were more people there than I've  
ever seen (but then again, I've never been there on a weekend before...)!   
Scanning the lake added Ring-billed and Herring Gulls to the list, as well as  
Forster's Terns and a complaining Lesser Yellowlegs.  A Bald Eagle nest  
(complete with both eagles) was across the lake, and a suspicious-looking 
raptor 

sat on a long pole way out there.  Another fellow was doing some  photography 
(he wasn't really a birder so he couldn't quite tell what my bird was, either), 

so we chatted while I waited for the bird to fly, which she  finally did, 
confirming her to be a Snail Kite. (You're hoping the person doesn't consider 

you rude because you're talking with your eye glued to the  scope...)  
Immediately after the guy left two more kites showed up, one with a big snail 
in her 

beak!
 
I had told him about the cranes, and sure enough, they were still there on  
the way out (even a little closer), but there was a fourth bird even closer to 

the road that he was shooting (with the camera)!  Another guy from Boston  
wheeled in about then, so he was very happy to see the birds as well!
 
Headed down to the Sunset Ranch Nature Trail, one of those new accesses I  
had seen, and hiked just about to where the two-mile loop starts.  It goes  
through some beautiful live oak woodland and has a blind where evidently the  
cranes sometimes show up (they had a picture of a Whooper to entice you). Much 

of the trail goes along this huge barren, sandy "field", so that part of it  
wasn't very pleasant, and there weren't many birds to boot besides a singing  
White-eyed Vireo and a mewing sapsucker (plus a towhee and bluebird I picked up 

at the trailhead).  I ran into another couple from Michigan who was very  
excited to hear about the Whoopers, so off they went!
 
From there I headed over to Kissimmee Prairie State Park, recommended by a  
local butterfly lady and so new it isn't even on the Florida state map yet (at 

least AAA's)!  The place is huge, and literally has over 100 miles of  trails 
you can hike, and if you want to see the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow  here, 
be prepared for a several mile jaunt!  The area really reminded me of  Laguna 
Atascosa in Texas with all its open prairie, palmettos, and isolated  
trees--almost expected a White-tailed Hawk any moment! But caracaras and 
White-tailed 

Kites ARE to be expected there, even though I didn't see any.   They have a 
terrific little nature trail that goes through a hammock; although  it was 
rather quiet I did pick up Blue-headed Vireo and Downy Woodpecker for the day. 

It was windy and partly cloudy again, so it wasn't great butterfly  weather, 
but the trail was full of Carolina Satyrs!  I might have even had  an 
Appalachian Brown, as something flew by that was about twice the size of the 
satyrs but 

with a similar pattern when it sat briefly (not long enough for a  shot, 
naturally).
 
I hiked a little bit of another trail that went out from the equestrian  
area, but things were really quiet and my feet were shot, so I decided to call 
it 

quits (but not before shooting a cooperative shrike and meadowlark out the  
window).  Bird List:
 
  Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Wood  Stork                             Mycteria americana
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Glossy  Ibis                            Plegadis falcinellus
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
SNAIL  KITE                             Rostrhamus sociabilis
Bald  Eagle                             Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
WILD  TURKEY                            Meleagris gallopavo
Sandhill  Crane                         Grus canadensis
WHOOPING  CRANE                         Grus americana
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
American Herring  Gull                  Larus smithsonianus
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Belted  Kingfisher                      Ceryle alcyon
Red-bellied  Woodpecker                 Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker               Sphyrapicus varius
Downy  Woodpecker                       Picoides pubescens
Northern  Flicker                       Colaptes auratus
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Gray  Catbird                           Dumetella carolinensis
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Eastern  Bluebird                       Sialia sialis
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Blue  Jay                               Cyanocitta cristata
American  Crow                          Corvus brachyrhynchos
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Blue-headed  Vireo                      Vireo solitarius
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Palm  Warbler                           Dendroica palmarum
Eastern  Towhee                         Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Boat-tailed  Grackle                    Quiscalus major

56 SPECIES
So far: 197 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

30 DEC 06
 
Hi, all!
 
Should have started earlier to get to Loxahatchee at a decent time, but as  
it was, racked up quite a list on the way up there, including a Sharp-shinned  
Hawk (which I thought was new for the trip but wasn't...)!  Once at the  
refuge I made a run around their boardwalk and saw where they had some decent  
flowers where I kicked up a (best guess) Ocola Skipper! Bird-wise it was pretty 

dead in there; by the time I got to the Marsh Trail the wind was picking  up, 
and it was patchy sunny/cloudy.  A nice Eastern Phoebe posed in the  sun, and 
both Glossy and White Ibis were in the area, along with all three  "swimming" 
rails.  A lovely pale Red-shouldered Hawk was posing for a bunch  of people, 
and I was almost to the end/beginning of the trail when I asked a  group of 
people if they had seen any Limpkins, and they actually had, back at  the last 
corner! So I trudged all the way back and actually went beyond the corner, and 

there was the Limpkin just where the young man told me he was  (hurt wing and 
all, poor thing)!  About that time another man whistled at  me (just to get 
my attention): he had spotted two Great Horned Owls in the  tree!  I never 
would have found them on my own, and what clued him in was that he actually 
heard 

them vocalizing!
 
Hiked the levee after that where the wind was REALLY whipping; had a  Harrier 
and a Palm Warbler, plus a Checkered Skipper whose pattern looked an  awful 
lot like a White, but they aren't supposed to be here.  Since the sun  was out 
more than it wasn't at this point, I decided to check the flowers one  more 
time as I figured that area was a little more sheltered, and it did indeed  
provide some more action: a nice Long-tailed Skipper showed off its blue, but 
the 

star was a wonderful Ruddy Daggerwing, a butterfly I REALLY wanted to see  
while I was here!
 
I heard that Okeeheelee Park was supposed to be good for butterflies, so I  
headed up there and got lost trying to find the nature center (that's one big  
city park!), but at least added a flock of Ring-necked Ducks to the list in 
the process! When I finally found the place they did indeed have a wonderful 

butterfly garden, but the sun wasn't cooperating very well: had several more  
Long-tailed Skippers battling, plus Zebra Heliconians, a Cloudless Sulphur, a  
Cassius Blue, and a Brazilian Skipper (again, best guess).  I decided to  
hike one of their little paved trails to give the sun time to come out, and 
when 

I got back to the nature center, a group of people were up on the deck and I  
heard one mention "green bunting"; sure enough, they had a pair of Painted  
Buntings at the feeder!  What a trip bird!  A winter-plumaged Indigo  Bunting 
also joined them, as well as a female Cardinal and a Catbird.   Inside, I said 
hello to their captive Screech Owl and Red-shouldered Hawk, then  decided to 
give Hobe Sound a try before it was time to look for a motel.
 
The sun was shining all the way over there, but wouldn't ya know it, the  
minute I got to Blowing Rocks Preserve (recommended as a good butterfly spot), 

not only did it cloud over, but it started raining!  I was able to make a  
quick run-through of their garden (still had Zebras despite the lousy weather) 

and the lagoon boardwalk, but decided to start heading north, seeing as I 
wanted 

 to hit Joe Overstreet in the morning.
 
Bird List:
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
Wood  Stork                             Mycteria americana
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Glossy  Ibis                            Plegadis falcinellus
Ring-necked  Duck                       Aythya collaris
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned  Hawk                     Accipiter striatus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
LIMPKIN                                Aramus guarauna
Purple  Gallinule                       Porphyrio martinica
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
GREAT HORNED  OWL                       Bubo virginianus
Red-bellied  Woodpecker                 Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker               Sphyrapicus varius
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Gray  Catbird                           Dumetella carolinensis
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Blue  Jay                               Cyanocitta cristata
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Palm  Warbler                           Dendroica palmarum
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Indigo  Bunting                         Passerina cyanea
PAINTED  BUNTING                        Passerina ciris
Boat-tailed  Grackle                    Quiscalus major
Common  Grackle                         Quiscalus quiscula

48 SPECIES
So far: 194 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

29 DEC 06
 
Hi, all!
 
It was a beautiful day in the Glades today: got there a little past sunrise  
and intended to do the drive-a-mile bit all the way to Flamingo, but that got  
changed to just stopping at the designated pullouts after awhile because I 
was gonna run out of time if I didn't! But the initial stops turned out to be 

very productive: the early morning chorus consisted of Blue Jays, Catbirds,  
Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Carolina Wrens, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Eastern  
Meadowlarks in the sawgrass.  What I thought were Red-tailed Hawks perched  in 
the distance turned out to be Black-crowned Night Herons once I got the scope 
 on 'em, and on the way to Anhinga Trail what I thought was another raptor  
perched in a distant tree turned out to be a White-crowned Pigeon!
 
There were several folks at the trail already, but it thankfully wasn't  
packed; most of them were heavy-duty photographers taking advantage of the 
early 

morning sun and the tameness of the birds before the crowds showed up!   
Getting out of the car I was surprised to hear yet another Great Crested  
Flycatcher, and this time he actually showed himself! The trail's mascot sat 
unafraid 

on the stone wall next to the restrooms, and cormorants literally  hogged the 
path to the boardwalk!  Great Blues, Great Egrets, and Green  Herons dotted 
the vegetation along the path while once again the Least Bitterns were content 

to call from the cover of the reeds.  Yet another Purple  Gallinule delighted 
several folks, although he was rather shy compared to  yesterday's bird!  The 
boardwalk was great fun with herons and more  Anhingas lining the railing, 
and Alligators swimming slowly in the water. A group of Black Vultures landed 

on the railing right in front of some Japanese  tourists, no doubt making them 
a little nervous!  
 
Headed south and stopped periodically, and interestingly the butterflies  
were out already: several Cloudless and Large Orange Sulphurs bounced around  
along with a single little Barred Yellow. I was just getting ready to take off 

when a raptor sailed overhead: a Short-tailed Hawk!  Great look!   Further 
down another car had stopped for a small buteo by the side of the road that had 

me totally stumped: it almost reminded me of a young Gray Hawk, it had  such a 
strong facial pattern!  But a quick check with Sibley showed that  the 
Florida Red-shouldered Hawk is quite patterned in the face as a youngster. 
Another 

stop along the sawgrass yielded a large flock of both White and Glossy  Ibis 
(no, they weren't young Whites, just in case you're wondering), and what  may 
have been a Snail Kite, but it disappeared before I could get the scope on  it.
 
Did all the little loop trails (Pine Land, Pa-hay-okee, and Mahogany  
Hammock), but didn't see much of anything; the wind was whipping up as well, so 
that 

didn't bode well for birds OR butterflies.  Some park personnel were  
eradicating some Brazilian Pepper from Mahogany Hammock; at first I thought it 
was 

some hiker carrying a big container of red fruit juice on his back...
 
Past that point were all the little ponds you stop at; with the wind  
whipping up, they were pretty choppy! West Lake had a flock of Forster's Terns, 
and 

Coot Bay Pond had several new things, including Little Blue and  Tricolored 
Herons, several Roseate Spoonbills, American Wigeon, Blue-winged  Teal, 
Pied-billed Grebes, and of course a flock of coots.  A Belted  Kingfisher went 
smashing into the pond as well!  Paurotis Pond was pretty  quiet but had an 
interesting dragonfly with brown bands on its wings!
 
I did take one of the "real" trails: Snake Bight was packed with cars, so I  
went on to Rowdy Bend, which turned out to be very productive!  At the  
resting spot several Wood Storks were catching thermals, and they were joined 
by a 

spoonbill of all things!  Aside from several Mangrove Buckeyes and a  single 
Cassius Blue, a small flock of American Goldfinches went bouncing through, and 

in one rather "jungley" looking spot had a warbler party with Palm,  Prairie, 
Common Yellowthroat, and Northern Waterthrush all showing up!
 
The road to Bear Lake was actually open this time (it had always been  closed 
every other time I had come to the park), so I headed on down the  slightly 
overgrown one-lane road, only to find a car jam at the end!!  A  couple of 
people were pulling out as I pulled in, so I grabbed a spot and took a 
15-minute 

hike down the trail.  I didn't have a map so I didn't know how  long the trail 
was or where it ended, so I just sat for five and headed back,  only picking 
up a Zebra Heliconian and a skipper that I'm pretty sure was a  Three-spotted. 
 Although it was a great jungle-like trail through the  mangroves, I don't 
think I'll take it again, especially since both you and your car have to "suck 

in" whenever another car comes down the road so you can both  get by!
 
Finally made it to Flamingo and hiked the Eco Pond Trail, which was pretty  
productive: a gorgeous Roseate Spoonbill fed close along with a Wood Stork, and 

 a Greater Yellowlegs was the sole representative of the shorebird  
department. A nice Cattle Egret posed on the fence, and a female Red-breasted 

Merganser sat in the middle of the pond. Upon closer scrutiny, a whole mob of 

female Shovelers was packed against the bank of the island! Picked up another 

skipper; the closest match seemed to be Twin-spot, but the book implies it's on 

the large side, and this guy didn't seem  any bigger than your average 
"jet-plane" skipper.
 
Took a quick look at the beach after that, and figured that it much have  
been high tide because there was no beach habitat whatsoever!  While  scanning 
the distant "island of birds" I happened across an Osprey perched fairly close 

who had caught this huge tiger-striped fish!  Headed over to  the marina after 
that and was surprised (pleasantly) that there weren't more  people there; I 
had expected the place to be packed by now!  The pelicans  and Laughing Gulls 
were begging for food by the boats, and over at the visitor's  center a scan 
of the bay added White Pelican, Royal Tern, and Black Skimmer to  the list.  
The rookery looked to be mostly Snowy Egrets and a few Greats,  but one Great 
White Heron was hiding amongst them!
 
Called it quits after that, picking up the required Common Myna back at the  
hotel in Florida City!  Bird List:
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
“GREAT WHITE” HERON
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
Black-crowned  Night-Heron              Nycticorax nycticorax
Least  Bittern                          Ixobrychus exilis
Wood  Stork                             Mycteria americana
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Glossy  Ibis                            Plegadis falcinellus
Roseate  Spoonbill                      Platalea ajaja
American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Red-breasted  Merganser                 Mergus serrator
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
SHORT-TAILED  HAWK                      Buteo brachyurus
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Purple  Gallinule                       Porphyrio martinica
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Laughing  Gull                          Larus atricilla
Royal  Tern                             Sterna maxima
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Black  Skimmer                          Rynchops niger
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
WHITE-CROWNED  PIGEON                   Patagioenas leucocephala
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Belted  Kingfisher                      Ceryle alcyon
Red-bellied  Woodpecker                 Melanerpes carolinus
Pileated  Woodpecker                    Dryocopus pileatus
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great Crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus crinitus
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Gray  Catbird                           Dumetella carolinensis
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Blue  Jay                               Cyanocitta cristata
American  Crow                          Corvus brachyrhynchos
COMMON  MYNA                            Acridotheres tristis
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
American  Goldfinch                     Carduelis tristis
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
PRAIRIE  WARBLER                        Dendroica discolor
Palm  Warbler                           Dendroica palmarum
NORTHERN  WATERTHRUSH                   Seiurus noveboracensis
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Boat-tailed  Grackle                    Quiscalus major
Common  Grackle                         Quiscalus quiscula

71 SPECIES (plus 1 color morph)
So far: 191  SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

28 DEC 06
 
Hi, all!
 
The rest of the time on Sanibel was spent with the siblings, doing some  
casual birding here and there, so since there was nothing new to report (except 

the craziest chicken I ever saw at the Naples Zoo: it was the avian equivalent 

of a Bishon Frise, I think...) I'll skip straight to today...
 
Our family time ended yesterday after I dropped my sister off at the  
airport, and after spending the night in Naples I headed across Tamiami Trail 
with 

the intention of birding Big Cypress Preserve and Shark Valley.  But  if the 
weather was going to cooperate, I really wanted to check out Fairchild Gardens, 

as Martin had recommended it as a good butterfly place.  So since  the 
morning was bright and clear, I altered my plans and focused on the Big Cypress 

Bend boardwalk and Shark Valley for the morning (I normally cruise  around 
Fakahatchee Preserve as well) and then headed straight to  Fairchild.
 
It turned out to be a good choice: although clear, it was really quite  cold, 
but there were some good birds along the boardwalk: a Great Blue Heron  
greeted me right at the start, and the morning chorus consisted of Catbirds,  
Carolina Wrens, Robins, Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Phoebes, and the biggest 
surprise 

of all: a wheeping Great Crested Flycatcher!  There was a good  selection of 
woodpeckers with the first Flicker of the trip, a mewing sapsucker, and a pair 

of Pileated Woodpeckers right over the trail that a couple from  Pennsylvania 
pointed out to me!  At the end of the boardwalk was a subadult  Black-crowned 
Night Heron along with an Anhinga, and on the way back a Bald  Eagle did its 
weak chatter!  Back at the trailhead a River Otter was  fishing and then came 
ashore to chomp down his prize, and Blue Jays mimicked the  many 
Red-shouldered Hawks that were around.
 
Made a beeline for Shark Valley after that, picking up lots of kingfishers  
on the wires and several Wood Storks, and THAT turned out to be a good decision 

 as well, as the place wasn't stuffed with people yet (it was packed by the 
time  I left, with a constant stream of people yet coming in)!  Palm Warblers 
and a Red-shouldered Hawk were at the restrooms, and right at the start of the 

trail  was a great selection of tame herons with Great and Little Blue, 
Tricolored, and Green Herons, and Great and Snowy Egrets all represented! 
(Least 

Bitterns  were around as well, but they were just calling, not showing  
themselves...)  Anhingas were all over, including one individual who was  
entertaining everyone trying to swallow a wide fish! But the star of the show 
for most 

of the crowd was a HUGE Alligator swimming ominously toward the  observation 
deck!
 
I made my way down the path and enjoyed another subadult night heron and  
several Greens chasing each other; one of them posed by another huge Alligator, 

which was quite a picture!  But the best bird was a knock-out dead gorgeous  
Purple Gallinule that put on a show for myself and this other photographer; a  
couple of other non-birders showed up and appropriately oohed and ahhed!   In 
the songbird department a Swamp Sparrow popped up, and at the Bobcat  
Boardwalk a pair of King Rails grunted.
 
I debated about sitting at the defunct airboat place for a few to look for  
Snail Kites, but decided to head on to Fairchild Gardens, since it was gonna be 

 a long haul through suburban Miami.  It was nostalgic going through Coral  
Gables (I went to school at U of Miami), and after getting turned around at the 

 roundabout (I really hate those things) I finally made it to the Gardens, 
where  the parking attendants were doing a superb job of getting everyone in  
there! Where I landed I was actually pretty close to the Butterfly Garden, so 

I went straight there; the place was inundated with Monarchs, but also had  
Cloudless Sulphur, both Long-tailed Skipper and Dorantes Longtail, and 
Polydamas 

 and Giant Swallowtails that would not stop to save their lives!
 
Decided to make a circle around the whole of the gardens, finding a Cassius  
Blue at one bush, but some chattering diverted my attention to a flock of  
parakeets, which turned out to be Yellow-chevroned!  It took a minute to  
register that I had just gotten a life bird! (When I was here in the 70s, 
before 

the split, the "White-winged" Parakeet was the dominant "Canary-winged"  type, 
and to my knowledge the only one I saw--at least the only one I photographed!) 

 What a hoot!
 
Further around one of the other ponds (I got so turned around in there  
despite the map) a couple of large iguanas entertained a few folks, and a 
narrow 

path led through some more bushes where several White Peacocks jockeyed for  
flowers, but I also happened to find a Fulvous Hairstreak, which was fun! Also 

found a strongly-marked skipper for which the closest match I could find  was 
Loammi.  But the star (which unfortunately didn't stay put for a shot)  was 
by some palmettos: a knock-out Atala that nevertheless flew close several  
times and gave outstanding looks!  That was worth the 20 bucks!   (Actually 19 
with the AAA discount...)  Took one more swing through the  butterfly garden 
before calling it quits and picked up a Julia Heliconian, which  was new!  A 
Southern Broken Dash was also new, but those little skippers aren't as 
flashy... 

 
Headed down to Florida City after that (after first getting lost in the  
ghetto; a nice young man pointed me towards the Turnpike), ready to hit the  
Everglades tomorrow!  Bird list:
 
  Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT  HERON              Nycticorax nycticorax
Least  Bittern                          Ixobrychus exilis
Wood  Stork                             Mycteria americana
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey
Bald  Eagle                             Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
KING  RAIL                              Rallus elegans
PURPLE  GALLINULE                       Porphyrio martinica
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
YELLOW-CHEVRONED PARAKEET  (Lifer)     Brotogeris chiriri
Belted  Kingfisher                      Ceryle alcyon
Red-bellied  Woodpecker                 Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker               Sphyrapicus varius
NORTHERN  FLICKER                       Colaptes auratus
Pileated  Woodpecker                    Dryocopus pileatus
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
GREAT CRESTED  FLYCATCHER               Myiarchus crinitus
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Cedar  Waxwing                          Bombycilla cedrorum
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
Gray  Catbird                           Dumetella carolinensis
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Blue  Jay                               Cyanocitta cristata
American  Crow                          Corvus brachyrhynchos
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Palm  Warbler                           Dendroica palmarum
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Swamp  Sparrow                          Melospiza georgiana
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Boat-tailed  Grackle                    Quiscalus major
Common  Grackle                         Quiscalus quiscula

52 SPECIES
So far:  186 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

21 - 23 DEC
 
Hi, all!
 
I didn't write up a trip report for Manatee Park because it was pretty much  
a butterfly hunt with Sanibel lep expert Martin Packard, who was a delightful  
man and we had a delightful time sharing Michigan and birding stories!  The  
bird list for the day was nothing exciting, but the butterflies (while we had  
the sun) were stupendous: the Polydamus Swallowtail was my personal favorite, 
 and managed to get a shot of the Dorantes Longtail, which was tough because 
they  were constantly "skipping" from flower to flower!  A Barred Yellow also  
turned out to be new, but most everything else was an old friend; Martin also 
 had Long-tailed Skipper, but I never got a good look at that one.  And the  
water wasn't cold enough for the Manatees, so we dipped on those, too...
 
The next day my brother and his family came over (and I had to get Jip's  oil 
changed), so we spent the day beach-bumming and eating, but my sister found  
a Bald Eagle on one of her bike rides, so of course I had to go shoot that  
one!  She had also spotted a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker out our condo window,  
which had made her neat rows around a palm tree! (The "her" is the sapsucker, 

BTW...)  She cooperated for pictures the next morning.
 
Today was more of a traditional field day: my brother's family wanted to  
shop and golf, so they did that, and my sister went bike-riding, so I went over 

to check out Lakes Park, as that was supposed to be a good butterfly spot as  
well.  The sun was on and off all day, so sometimes the gardens were  
productive and sometimes they weren't, but here I DID get a good look at the  
Long-tailed Skipper, as well as more Dorantes and what I'm assuming was a 
Brazilian 

Skipper, as that's the closest match.  The place is also  mentioned in the ABA 
Guide, and it was indeed a great place for birds: in the  skimpy little reedy 
area near the garden a Swamp Sparrow popped up, Palm  Warblers came in close 
wagging their little tails, and the boardwalk across one of the lakes provided 

great looks at Boat-tailed Grackles, several herons and  ibis (including 
Glossy), and fighting Black Vultures! Several Anhingas were drying their wings 

and sounding somewhat like crackling lightning (if you  use your imagination), 
and a Wood Stork stood sentry on one of the grassy  spits.  Making noises from 
the reeds were Moorhens, Green Herons, and a  Least Bittern!  One of the bike 
trails goes off into the woods, but just  before it did there were all sorts 
of butterflies in the low flowering grassy  area; got great looks at Barred 
Yellows, plus another Phaon Crescent and knockout Ceranus Blue. White Peacocks 

were all over the place, and in the  woods themselves were a couple of Zebra 
Helaconias.
 
Bird-wise it was quieting down by then, but the Tree Swallows had taken  over 
the skies!  I checked out the garden one more time but things were  slowing 
down there as well, so I decided to call it a day and take care of my smarting 

toe...
 
Bird List (which includes both today and yesterday):
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
GREEN  HERON                            Butorides virescens
LEAST  BITTERN                          Ixobrychus exilis
Wood  Stork                             Mycteria americana
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
GLOSSY  IBIS                            Plegadis falcinellus
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
Bald  Eagle                             Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-bellied  Plover                   Pluvialis squatarola
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Willet                                 Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Ruddy  Turnstone                        Arenaria interpres
Sanderling                             Calidris alba
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Laughing  Gull                          Larus atricilla
Sandwich  Tern                          Sterna sandvicensis
Royal  Tern                             Sterna maxima
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Belted  Kingfisher                      Ceryle alcyon
Red-bellied  Woodpecker                 Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker               Sphyrapicus varius
Downy  Woodpecker                       Picoides pubescens
Pileated  Woodpecker                    Dryocopus pileatus
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
Gray  Catbird                           Dumetella carolinensis
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Blue  Jay                               Cyanocitta cristata
Fish  Crow                              Corvus ossifragus
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Palm  Warbler                           Dendroica palmarum
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
SWAMP  SPARROW                          Melospiza georgiana
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Boat-tailed  Grackle                    Quiscalus major
Common  Grackle                         Quiscalus quiscula

56 SPECIES
So far:  180 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

20 DEC
 
Hi, all!
 
Made the three-day drive from the Lower Rio Grande Valley to Sanibel,  
Florida, picking up several good trip birds during my evening walks such as  
Carolina Chickadee and Eastern Towhee. Laundry was the first order of the day 
after 

getting checked in to Seashells of Sanibel, and I really hadn't  planned on 
birding the next day because I had to pick up my sister at the  airport at one 
and get supplies before that, but I actually had plenty of time,  so made a 
quick run through the wildlife drive, enjoying the usual suspects  along with 
all the tourists: tons of Little Blue Herons Blue-winged Teal,  Pied-billed 
Grebes, Snowy and Great Egrets, and in some faraway lagoon, big pink  Roseate 
Spoonbills! Peep flocks contained several new shorebirds including Red Knot and 

Western Sandpipers.  My personal favorites, the Yellow-crowned  Night Herons, 
were very cooperative, as well as a few Reddish Egret doing their  dances.  
Butterfly-wise I was thrilled to get a new species: Mangrove Buckeye (of which 

there were many)!
 
Added Wood Stork and Bald Eagle to the list on the way to the airport, and  
while my sister got settled and took a bike ride, I made a quick visit to the  
beach and added several terns, plus a Cassius Blue in one of the motel's  
gardens. I'm really surprised our own place isn't loaded with butterflies given 

the flowers around, but the thought crossed my mind that they might use  
pesticides...
 
The next morning (today) I wanted to bird the refuge more carefully, so I  
started at the Bailey Tract and hiked the inner trails, where a friendly Palm  
Warbler said hello!  Families of Pied-billed Grebes and Common Moorhens  swam 
about, and in another long pond had a pair of Mottled Ducks.  Catbirds  and 
Butterbutts were all over; the former were hiding, and the latter were  not...
 
Took a quick look at Tarpon Bay and added some shorebirds for the day list,  
then hiked a bit of the Indigo Trail at the main refuge, where there were more 
 Mangrove Buckeyes, but what also could have been the Florida race of the 
Common Buckeye (I'll let my lep expert friends look at the pictures and give me 

their  two cents...).  More of the same was on the drive, including a Snowy 
Egret  giving a White Ibis a hard time, a Yellow-crowned Nightie having a "bad 
hair  day" with his filo-plumes blowing every which way, and several Ospreys 
and  posing Anhingas.  A flock of lazing White Pelicans made some visiting  
birders from abroad happy (seems to be the same flock in the same spot every 
year 

I go by there), and more stunning spoonbills fed out in the water, a little  
closer than the day before!
 
After making a sandwich at home my sister wanted to join me at the  
Sanibel-Captiva Nature Center, so she rode her bike over after she ate her 
lunch while 

I drove over, and she eventually found me on the trail; she had bought a  
"Field Guide to Florida" which illustrates common species of ALL life forms  
here, including plants! So she was flipping through that thing at almost every 

bend (although the Sabal Palm wasn't in there, and we had a lot of those  with 
their mistletoe-like berries)!  I pointed out some White Peacocks to  her, and 
then we promptly got lost because they had closed a trail and the trail  we 
thought we were SUPPOSED to take became terribly overgrown, as did every trail 

we found!  We finally made it back to the parking lot, but not before  
finding "the biggest grasshopper I've ever seen in my life!!!" I assumed it was 
a 

Lubber Grasshopper of some kind; it was big and orange, but not as big  as the 
huge black and yellow Lubber Grasshoppers I encountered in the Everglades  
one spring!
 
I told her she HAD to see the Butterfly House, which I had visited before  
she got there: they just had Zebra Haliconias in there, but they were all over, 

practically landing on you; just a delight!  When I took Becky in there the  
second time I noticed their little rack of crysalli; some were clearly 
Monarchs,  so perhaps they have different things hatching at different times.
 
We were both shot after that, so after buying some Christmas gifts we came  
back and crashed.  Bird list (which includes the drive from Texas, so don't  
let the Green Jay throw you...):
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Anhinga                                Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Reddish  Egret                          Egretta rufescens
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT  HERON             Nyctanassa violacea
WOOD  STORK                             Mycteria americana
White  Ibis                             Eudocimus albus
Roseate  Spoonbill                      Platalea ajaja
Snow  Goose                             Chen caerulescens
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
BALD  EAGLE                             Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-bellied  Plover                   Pluvialis squatarola
Semipalmated  Plover                    Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Short-billed  Dowitcher                 Limnodromus griseus
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularia
Willet                                 Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Ruddy  Turnstone                        Arenaria interpres
RED  KNOT                               Calidris canutus
WESTERN  SANDPIPER                      Calidris mauri
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Dunlin                                 Calidris alpina
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Laughing  Gull                          Larus atricilla
SANDWICH  TERN                          Sterna sandvicensis
Royal  Tern                             Sterna maxima
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
EURASIAN COLLARED  DOVE                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Belted  Kingfisher                      Ceryle alcyon
RED-BELLIED  WOODPECKER                 Melanerpes carolinus
DOWNY  WOODPECKER                       Picoides pubescens
PILEATED  WOODPECKER                    Dryocopus pileatus
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
CEDAR  WAXWING                          Bombycilla cedrorum
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
GRAY  CATBIRD                           Dumetella carolinensis
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Eastern  Bluebird                       Sialia sialis
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
CAROLINA  CHICKADEE                     Poecile carolinensis
TUFTED  TITMOUSE                        Baeolophus bicolor
BLUE  JAY                               Cyanocitta cristata
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
FISH  CROW                              Corvus ossifragus
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Palm  Warbler                           Dendroica palmarum
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
EASTERN  TOWHEE                         Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
BOAT-TAILED  GRACKLE              Quiscalus major
COMMON  GRACKLE                         Quiscalus quiscula
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

81 SPECIES
So far:  176 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

15 DEC
 
Hi, all!
 
For my last day in the Valley I birded Laguna Atascosa.  Hiked the  Mesquite 
Trail first thing and padded the list with the common stuff while  getting my 
exercise for the day.  Headed out on the Lake Road after that  and checked out 
Osprey Overlook, where Laguna Atascosa had water in it this  time!  
(Sometimes it's bone dry...) A Reddish Egret was doing his thing close to 
shore, and 

out in the open water added Ruddy Duck to the trip  list; Pintail and Lesser 
Scaup were the other dominant ducks.
 
Headed out on the wildlife drive after that, where a very friendly Myrtle  
Warbler came out to pishing as well as Lincoln's Sparrows.  Past the thorn  
forest it turned out to be a great day for raptors, as a Harrier flushed from 
the 

side of the road, and a stunning White-tailed Hawk was sitting on one of the  
yuccas!  Three Caracaras sailed overhead, and Kestrels were all over.   I 
stopped at the seasonal wetland (which was dry) just to scan and listen, and 
had 

I not decided to turn around and read the interpretive sign, I never would  
have seen the two Aplomado Falcons sitting on the posts close to the road!   
What a rush (even if they ARE hacked...)!  But I hadn't gone far before I  
flushed his bigger cousin: a beautiful Peregrine! There turned out to be 
several 

of these along the drive!
 
Continuing on a pair of Roadrunners scrambled out of the way, to be  followed 
by a family of Bobwhite!  Up at the first look at Laguna Madre, a  handful of 
White Ibis were out quite a ways, as well as three Red-breasted  Mergansers.  
The usual herons, terns, gulls, and shorebirds were  represented, in addition 
to Black-bellied Plovers for the trip.  Down the  drive a piece I had a group 
of dowitchers and dunlin close to shore; I assumed  the former were Long-bille
d until they took off and proved themselves otherwise;  interestingly, the 
checklist doesn't even show the occurring here this time of  year!
 
It turned out to be a beautiful, sunny day, so I was anxious to get back to  
the butterfly garden and see what I could kick up.  At one of the  trailheads 
a gorgeous Buckeye was guarding the road, chasing away everything  that came 
near!  White-fronted Geese were cackling somewhere in the  distance, and as I 
approached the visitor's center the sky was full of  vultures!  The most 
butterfly activity seemed to be between the Kiskadee Trail and the refuge 
office, 

so I spent most of my time in that area; a couple of gals (one, Katherine, who 

was a volunteer there) were also butterflying and  pointed out a couple of 
new ones for me: a Pale-veined Skipper and a female Blue  Metalmark!  Most 
everything else was "old hat", if you dare to call it  that: both Queens and 
Soldiers in good numbers, plus Small Yellows, Large Orange  Sulphurs, Southern 
Dogfaces (including a mating pair; I wondered if the beat-up  one was the 
female...), Phaon and Texan Crescents, Mallow Scrub Hairstreaks, Tropical 
Checkered 

and Laviata White Skippers, Mexican and Gulf Fritillaries, Common Mestras, and 

lots of White Peacocks, not to mention all those frustrating  little brown 
skippers... New for the trip was a Western Pygmy Blue, and finally had a Clytie 

Ministreak (I had been mistaking Mallows for them  previously), plus another 
nice Silver-banded Hairstreak.  
 
I got distracted, however, when I heard not one, but at least TWO of those  
"whitting" Empids!  So I scrambled over to the Kiskadee Trail, and this  time 
the thing was somewhat cooperative, and based on what I could see (plus the  
photos I was able to get), I'm strongly leaning towards Yellow-bellied  
Flycatcher, as I alluded to in the Santa Ana trip report, as the vocalizations 

reminded me of the birds we had in Belize, plus the bird I saw today DID have a 

distinct yellowish wash on the belly, plus there didn't seem to be much 
contrast 

on the throat.  Also apparently rare there but more likely than the Empids  
was a calling Northern Beardless Tyrannulet.
 
The garden on the other side of the parking lot, where the gazebo is,  wasn't 
nearly as active, but it hosted the star of the whole show for me: a  
magnificent Giant Swallowtail! Green Jays were carrying on soft conversation 
all 

the while, and this one bush full of berries was also full of American Robins, 

a Kiskadee, and a Long-billed Thrasher chowing down!
 
I was pretty tired by then so called it a day and headed out on the long  
drive to Florida.  Bird List:
 
  American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Reddish  Egret                          Egretta rufescens
Tricolored  Heron                       Egretta tricolor
Little Blue  Heron                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
WHITE  IBIS                             Eudocimus albus
Greater White-fronted  Goose           Anser  albifrons
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Pintail                       Anas acuta
Lesser  Scaup                           Aythya affinis
RED-BREASTED  MERGANSER                 Mergus serrator
RUDDY  DUCK                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Cooper's  Hawk                          Accipiter cooperii
WHITE-TAILED  HAWK                      Buteo albicaudatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
APLOMADO  FALCON                        Falco femoralis
PEREGRINE  FALCON                       Falco peregrinus
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
NORTHERN  BOBWHITE                      Colinus virginianus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
BLACK-BELLIED  PLOVER                   Pluvialis squatarola
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
SHORT-BILLED  DOWITCHER                 Limnodromus griseus
Marbled  Godwit                         Limosa fedoa
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Willet                                 Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Ruddy  Turnstone                        Arenaria interpres
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Dunlin                                 Calidris alpina
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Laughing  Gull                          Larus atricilla
Caspian  Tern                           Sterna caspia
Royal  Tern                             Sterna maxima
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Black  Skimmer                          Rynchops niger
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
GREATER  ROADRUNNER                     Geococcyx californianus
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Northern  Beardless-Tyrannulet         Camptostoma  imberbe
YELLOW-BELLIED  FLYCATCHER              Empidonax flaviventris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Wilson's  Warbler                       Wilsonia pusilla
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

76 SPECIES
So far: 156 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

DEC 13
 
Hi, all!
 
Headed out to Santa Ana NWR this morning, and since the wildlife drive was  
closed to vehicles (some sources say it's open Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and  
others say it's only open on the weekends), did my normal loop trail, which  
consisted of starting out on the B Trail, then taking the C Trail when you came 

to it.  Evidently they've changed all the trail names; I'm writing this a  day 
late (it was a long day yesterday), so I can't remember what the B Trail is  
called now, but the A Trail is now the Willow Lake Trail, and the C Trail is 
the  Pintail Lakes Trail.  
 
The morning started off well with a new trip bird in the parking lot: a  
Black-and-white Warbler! A Gray Hawk called somewhere close; interestingly when 

I ran into a volunteer later he said someone had seen a Roadside Hawk there  
the day before, but they sound very different.
 
Heading out on the trails the usual LRGV common stuff was around as well as  
the common wintering stuff (Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were particularly  
curious). With all the Spanish Moss draped all over everything, the Carolina 
Wrens 

sounded right at home!  A flatulent-like "brrt" got my heart  racing, thinking 
"Masked Tityra", but it just turned out to be a Rough-winged  Swallow going 
overhead... The first little wetland had a pair of Black-necked Stilts as well 

as a small group of Long-billed Dowitchers and some  Mottled Ducks against 
the shore.
 
Decided to check the photo blind when I came to it, even though I never see  
anything there, but this time a little Ruby-crowned Kinglet entertained me by  
repeatedly coming down to the little pool for a bath!  An Olive Sparrow  
peeked out as well, but as usual, it was pretty quiet. On the way back to the 

main trail, however, a dull brown bird popped up long enough to ID as yet  
another Clay-colored Robin!
 
You hook up with the C Trail about here, so headed on as the trail  
paralleled the Rio Grande. A wedge of White-fronted Geese flew overhead, and 
yet 

another (probable) Least Flycatcher "whipped" incessantly, interspersing  a 
"che-bek" every once in awhile! At least (no pun intended) I'm assuming it was 
a 

Least based on what that other lady shared with me; actually, this  
vocalization reminded me of the Yellow-bellied Flycatchers I had in Belize that 
would 

peep ad nauseum and once in awhile let loose with their own "che-bek"! But the 

bird never actually showed, unfortunately... Many of  those side trails to 
the river were closed, so I couldn't get much of a view of  potential Green 
Kingfisher perches.
 
The sun actually came out as I headed for Pintail Lakes, so of course the  
butterflies started moving: most abundant (and variable) seemed to be the  
Sickle-winged Skippers that would constantly fly up from the trail and land 
again 

further down, sometimes on the mold-covered scat littered liberally along  the 
trail.  There were also several Tropical Checkered Skippers and a few  
Mestras.
 
Added a bunch of new stuff at the ponds: White-faced Ibis were calling, and  
among the many ducks, both Pintail and a single Cinnamon Teal were new for the 
 trip.  A Belted Kingfisher rattled away, and I wondered if a Ringed would  
let his presence known with his deeper, almost chachalaca-like rattle.   
(Actually, I thought I had a Yellow-crowned Night Heron at one point, but upon 

closer inspection it turned out to be a face-on male Belted Kingfisher sitting 
on 

a gray, streaky dead stump...)  I was headed on my way when sure enough,  
there was that deeper rattle from the ponds to the right of the "T", so back I 

went, and there he was, up in a tree across the way right above a  Kiskadee!  
(I actually saw the kiskadee first...)  Was glad I checked  those ponds on 
general principles, as there was a small group of Neotropic  Cormorants making 
those obscene grunting noises at each other, sounding just like the recordings 

John Moore made of them in Ecuador!
 
Finally tore myself away from there and continued the loop, adding Northern  
Beardless Tyrannulet along the way.  Once back at the trailhead I started  on 
the A Trail and ran into the volunteer who told me about the Roadside Hawk  
and confirmed that Least is the most likely Empid there this time of year,  
although rare in and of itself.  Nothing really new along the trail, but a  
beautiful Zebra Heliconia showed up while I was chatting with the volunteer! He 

also told me about their own butterfly garden and the tower,  so I headed over 
there, but it was pretty quiet; best bug was a Tropical  Leafwing showing both 
sides!  I periodically ran into this threesome from  Germany or someplace who 
were also shooting butterflies, and he pointed out a  Large Orange Sulphur to 
me!  Took the main road back to the parking lot,  and along the dike was a 
little blooming bush that was just loaded with stuff; mainly skippers, but also 

Snouts and Lyside Sulphurs and Mallow Scrub  Hairstreaks.
 
After wrapping that up, the plan was to head up to a couple of places in  
Weslaco that had good butterfly potential, so I headed to Weslaco Thicket 
first, 

which is run by the Frontera Audubon Society.  As I pulled in the drive I  
could tell I hit the jackpot, as the flowering bushes in front of the visitor's 

center was just LOADED with butterflies!  So I parked and hitailed it back  
over there (the gal running the center was out to lunch) and just had a ball! 

One of the best treasures was my first "green hairstreak", and when  the gal 
DID show up, she confirmed that it was the Silver-banded, one of the  local 
specialties!  The other two exciting "life butterflies" were the big  Brown 
Longtails and a colorful Bordered Patch.
 
After signing in the gal told me where the best butterfly areas in the  
reserve were, so I headed out there to poke around, fussing over these silly  
skippers.  After awhile a Santa Claus look-alike (without the red suit)  came 
around and said that the gal in the center sent him after me to help me with 
the 

butterflies!  That was great, and as we poked around, he pointed  out several 
new ones, including a stunning White-patched Skipper and a beat-up Red Admiral 

(he couldn't believe I was trying to shoot it...)!  As we got  to chatting 
about birding turned butterflying he mentioned that he had over 800 ABA birds, 

so naturally I asked him his name: turned out to be Benton  Basham!  What a 
hoot to run into this birding legend! After he had to leave I continued on and 

added Wilson's Warbler to the bird list and some  colorful bugs for our Bug 
Club to enjoy.  I sat at their feeders for  awhile, and a calling Buff-bellied 
Hummingbird was close at hand but never came  in.
 
Headed into town to find a motel after that.  Bird List:
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Neotropic  Cormorant                    Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
SNOWY EGRET     Egretta thula
WHITE-FACED IBIS     Plegadis chihi
Greater  White-fronted Goose            Anser albifrons
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Green-winged  Teal                      Anas carolinensis
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
NORTHERN PINTAIL     Anas  acuta
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
CINNAMON TEAL     Anas  cyanoptera
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Gray  Hawk                              Asturina nitida
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Sora                                   Porzana carolina
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
BLACK-NECKED  STILT                     Himantopus mexicanus
Long-billed  Dowitcher                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
Buff-bellied  Hummingbird               Amazilia yucatanensis
BELTED  KINGFISHER                      Ceryle alcyon
RINGED  KINGFISHER                      Ceryle torquatus
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
NORTHERN BEARDLESS  TYRANNULET         Camptostoma  imberbe
Least  Flycatcher                       Empidonax minimus
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED  SWALLOW         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
CAROLINA  WREN                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Clay-colored  Robin                     Turdus grayi
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Blue-headed  Vireo                      Vireo solitarius
American  Goldfinch                     Carduelis tristis
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
BLACK-AND-WHITE  WARBLER                Mniotilta varia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
WILSON’S  WARBLER                       Wilsonia pusilla
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis

67 SPECIES
So far: 121 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

14 DEC
 
Hi, all!
 
Fought the construction down to Brownsville this morning and was almost the  
first one at the reserve!  (A couple of Hispanics in a beat-up car had just  
pulled in before me; since it was apparently a man and his wife I didn't worry 

about it too much, but HE looked at ME rather worriedly before they both took 
 off down the Native Trail, and they weren't birding...)
 
Anyway, had the usual suspects heading out along the Resaca Trail, and once  
at the boardwalk added a few ducks and the real prize, a couple of Least  
Grebes! A large shape in a tree turned out to be yet another Ringed Kingfisher, 

and while I was enjoying him I almost ignored what I thought at  first were 
Great-tailed Grackles flopping around in the vegetation, but that  little 
warning bell told me to double-check, and sure enough, it was a small group of 

Groove-billed Anis! They shortly flew up into a nearby dead tree to "sun" (even 

though it was overcast...).  Resting at a bench had a  totally incongruous 
Lark Sparrow fly in! Another little mesquite woodland had a nice feeding flock, 

including titmice, kinglets, Blue-headed Vireos  (appropriate as that section 
of the loop was called the Vireo Trail),  Butterbutts, a couple of 
Black-throated Green Warblers, a Wilson's, and a Nashville! Another bush later 
on had 

a pair of Olive Sparrows and a stripy  Lincoln's.
 
Again, the sun was trying to break out, so I headed back to their butterfly  
garden via the feeders, where White-tipped Doves were at your feet and the 
Green Jays did acrobatics on the seed feeders! The chachalacas came boldly in 

as  well, like chickens at chow time!  Over at the garden I lost the sun once  
again, but it wasn't a total loss: one bush was full of skippers, and a little 
 yellow turned out to be a Boisduval's!  A Mexican Yellow was in their  
smaller garden, but my favorite was a Pale-banded Crescent; just a stunning 
little 

thing!  Also had a mystery metalmark that wasn't quite a Fatal but  didn't 
look just like Red-bordered, either, so I'm stumped... Hiked the Native Trail 

mainly to "do" it and give the sun time to come out, but it didn't  work; just 
picked up an Eastern Phoebe at the Rio Grande and a Tree Swallow for  the 
trip flying overhead.  Back at the Garden spooked a Cooper's  Hawk.
 
Decided to head on over to South Padre Island after that, which was pretty  
easy.  Was still a little dreary when I got to the Convention Center, but  
there were a few things bouncing around their butterfly garden as well, the 
best 

of which was a knockout Common Buckeye!  About that time a lady who worked  
(or volunteered) there got my attention and said there were "about 100  
butterflies" back at the gazebo, so I thanked her and tootled over there, but 
in the 

meantime evidently her "hundreds" had morphed into about a half-dozen  Queens! 
 I meandered around the edge back towards the mudflats anyway,  where I 
thought I might have had some real different Blues, but after looking at  the 
pictures they were evidently all Ceranus, from very pale ones to very dark ones 

(and very tiny ones to boot).  The one definite new one was a Great  Southern 
White, and sorting through all those skippers finally hit pay dirt when  I 
discovered I had shot a new one (albeit not a fancy one): Obscure  Skipper!
 
While I was at the mudflats I added a slough of new birds for the trip:  
mostly Laughing Gulls but a few Ringbills and a single Herring was in there,  
along with a smattering of Skimmers. Terns were well-represented with Caspian, 

Royal, Forster's, and a single Gull-billed that came sailing in!   In the 
shorebird department picked up several Dunlin, Sanderlings, Leasts, and single 

Semipalmated and Snowy Plovers, plus a Long-billed Curlew, Ruddy Turnstone, and 

a couple of Willets.
 
Headed onto the boardwalk after that, where I scared a couple of Tricolored  
Herons out of hiding!  Near the end were several Pintail and wigeon, plus a  
small pod of Lesser Scaup, along with several Laughing Gulls partaking in a  
communal bath! A Marbled Godwit flew past, and out in the bay was a huge raft 

of Redheads, along with and a few White Pelicans.  A Reddish Egret and  Little 
Blue Heron shared a piling, and further down the shore was a group  of lovely 
Roseate Spoonbills!  Along the other leg of the boardwalk were  several 
cooperative Moorhens, some turtles, and a skulky Marsh Wren. No rails this 
time, 

except for a calling Sora!  Was chatting with a birding  couple from Juneau 
who was making a big birding trip when an incoming storm  threatened to catch 
us, so I headed back to the Convention Center and just made  it to the car 
before it started spitting!
 
Decided to call it a day early and headed into Port Isabel for the  night.  
Bird list:
 
  Least  Grebe                            Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
BROWN  PELICAN                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
REDDISH  EGRET                          Egretta rufescens
TRICOLORED  HERON                       Egretta tricolor
LITTLE BLUE  HERON                      Egretta caerulea
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
ROSEATE  SPOONBILL                      Platalea ajaja
American  Wigeon                        Anas americana
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Mottled  Duck                           Anas fulvigula
Northern  Pintail                       Anas acuta
Blue-winged  Teal                       Anas discors
REDHEAD                                Aythya americana
Lesser  Scaup                           Aythya affinis
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
COOPER’S  HAWK                          Accipiter cooperii
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Plain  Chachalaca                       Ortalis vetula
Sora                                   Porzana carolina
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica Americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
Killdeer
SEMIPALMATED  PLOVER                    Charadrius semipalmatus
SNOWY  PLOVER                           Charadrius alexandrinus
MARBLED  GODWIT                         Limosa fedoa
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
WILLET                                 Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
RUDDY  TURNSTONE                        Arenaria interpres
SANDERLING                             Calidris alba
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Dunlin                                 Calidris alpina
RING-BILLED  GULL                       Larus delawarensis
AMERICAN HERRING  GULL                  Larus smithsonianus
Laughing  Gull                          Larus atricilla
GULL-BILLED  TERN                       Sterna nilotica
CASPIAN  TERN                           Sterna caspia
ROYAL  TERN                             Sterna maxima
FORSTER’S  TERN                         Sterna forsteri
BLACK  SKIMMER                          Rynchops niger
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
White-tipped  Dove                      Leptotila verreauxi
GROOVE-BILLED  ANI                      Crotophaga sulcirostris
Belted  Kingfisher                      Ceryle alcyon
Ringed  Kingfisher                      Ceryle torquatus
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
TREE  SWALLOW                           Tachycineta bicolor
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Carolina  Wren                          Thryothorus ludovicianus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
Chihuahuan  Raven                       Corvus cryptoleucus
European Starling
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
Blue-headed  Vireo                      Vireo solitarius
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
NASHVILLE  WARBLER                      Vermivora ruficapilla
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Green  Warbler          Dendroica  virens
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Wilson's  Warbler                       Wilsonia pusilla
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
LARK  SPARROW                           Chondestes grammacus
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

85 SPECIES
So far: 145 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

12 DEC
 
Hi, all!
 
Well, despite promises of it being a sunny day today, it sure started out  
gloomy! Headed over to Bentsen State Park (aka the World Birding Center); this 

was the first time I had visited it since the Big Change (the last time I  
was here they had discontinued camping but were still allowing cars in), and 
the 

 only annoyance was that there was a five-minutes' walk from the parking lot 
to  where I discovered you had to pay!  (Which meant that I had to walk all 
the  way BACK to the car to put the thing in the windshield...)  I was also  
surprised that, despite the fact that the volunteers had just filled the  
feeders, there wasn't as much activity as last time (which was also in the 
winter); 

the first feeder was fairly active with Chachalacas and an Altamira  Oriole 
chowing down, but there were others that had no activity at all.   The set of 
feeders at the fork seemed rather quiet except for Green Jays and  
Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, but then there was suddenly a family of Peccaries 
that came in! 

 
Actually, it was nice to walk the loop, and I had the whole place  
practically to myself; stopped at the resaca and picked up several new birds 
for the 

trip, including Ring-necked Duck, Least Grebe, and Anhinga.  I heard a  slow 
whistled song and thought for sure I had an Audubons' Oriole, and when a  bird 
moved in the tree, it turned out to be a Clay-colored Robin!  That's  not what 
was making the sound, however, and I soon found the culprit: an  "Altibon" 
Oriole!  (Interestingly, a second one also showed up...)  So  no counting 
Audubon's by ear around here! The blind there had a concoction of peanut butter 
and 

other stuff that the Kiskadees liked; they would hover in  front of it and 
pick off a mouthful in true flycatcher fashion!  The day's  only White-winged 
Dove sat on a wire there as well, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker worked the 
tree 

the orioles were in.
 
The next blind down had a couple of Fox Squirrels hogging the feeders,  along 
with a White-tipped Dove and several more Chachalacas and Green  Jays.  
Around the corner I headed into the old campground where there were several 
flocks 

of Indigo Buntings; I remember having them here the last time I  was here in 
the winter, but interestingly according to the book they're not  supposed to 
be here now.  In one such flock I heard what sounded like  Hermit Thrushes 
thooking but a little different, and the bird that popped up looked for all the 

world like Veery, as he was totally rusty!   Unfortunately I only got a brief 
look, so I let that one go seeing as even the idea of it was so far-fetched... 

 More expected things like Black-crested  Titmice, Blue-headed Vireos, and 
Ruby-crowned Kinglets came in to the  pishing.  Also found out that my 
oriole-like whistle at the Butterfly Garden yesterday was a Long-billed 
Thrasher... 

 
Finished up the loop, hearing several Gray Hawks along the way (saw one fly  
who had apparently just eaten), and also an Olive Sparrow that was actually  
singing (I usually only hear them in spring)!  Back at the entrance kiosk  
kicked up a little Vesta Crescent according to the butterfly lady who was 
there! 

It was still cool and gloomy (quite pleasant, actually, but  terrible for 
butterflies), but went over to the visitor's center to check the plantings out 

anyway, picking up several Inca Doves on the way out. Was pretty quiet in the 

garden, but every once in awhile a Buff-bellied Hummer would  go tearing 
through! Did manage to corner what I'm pretty sure was a Violet-patched 
Skipper, 

so it wasn't a total loss!
 
About that time the school bus showed up, so I headed over to Anzalduas  
County Park, seeing as I had never been there and it was supposed to be good 
for 

butterflies.  I didn't realize that you were right on the border here, and  
across the little river was a "sister" park in Mexico!  As I was cruising  the 
picnic area a phoebe peeped, only it wasn't the expected one: it was a Black  
sitting on a trash can!  They're definitely not supposed to be here!
 
I was advised to drive up and over the dike to a "back area" that most  
people don't go to, and this was really a terrific area: behind the dam the 
river 

is shallow and had all sorts of birds - both Double-crested and Neotropic  
Cormorants, several puddle ducks and sandpipers, a Great Egret across the way, 
a 

snoozing Laughing Gull, and even a White Pelican!  An Osprey flew over as  
well.  
 
About this time the sun came out, and so did the butterflies!  Had the  usual 
Small Yellows, Dainty Sulphurs, Snouts, and a Southern Dogface, but  heading 
back out had yet another knockout Mexican Bluewing!  Also had a  Pipevine 
Swallowtail and some kind of Leafwing.
 
The McAllen Nature Center was actually next on my list, but with the sun  out 
I couldn't resist running back over to the Butterfly Garden since it was  
right next door practically! Much of the same was there, so I got a review, but 

after downloading the pictures I discovered I had several new ones,  
including a little Clytie Ministreak!  But the star of the show for me was  a 
White-striped Longtail! That was worth the trip back; he was awesome! 
Afterwards I 

did make a brief stop at the Nature Center since it  was near the motel, but 
there wasn't much there except kiskadees and  woodpeckers.
 
Bird List (birds in CAPS are new for the trip):
 
  LEAST  GREBE                     Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN   Pelecanus  erythrorhynchos
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT     Phalacrocorax brasilianus
ANHINGA                             Anhinga anhinga
GREAT  EGRET                      Ardea alba
AMERICAN  WIGEON                Anas americana
GADWALL                                  Anas strepera
MOTTLED  DUCK                     Anas fulvigula
BLUE-WINGED  TEAL            Anas  discors
RING-NECKED  DUCK           Aythya  collaris
Black  Vulture                         Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
OSPREY                               Pandion haliaetus
Gray  Hawk                              Asturina nitida
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed Hawk
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
PLAIN  CHACHALACA           Ortalis  vetula
Sora                                   Porzana carolina
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
SPOTTED  SANDPIPER           Actitis  macularia
LEAST  SANDPIPER          Calidris  minutilla
DUNLIN                                Calidris alpina
LAUGHING  GULL                  Larus atricilla
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
WHITE-WINGED  DOVE                  Zenaida asiatica
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
INCA  DOVE                              Columbina inca
WHITE-TIPPED  DOVE                Leptotila verreauxi
BUFF-BELLIED  HUMMINGBIRD        Amazilia  yucatanensis
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
YELLOW-BELLIED  SAPSUCKER       Sphyrapicus varius
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Black  Phoebe                           Sayornis nigricans
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
HERMIT  THRUSH                   Catharus guttatus
CLAY-COLORED  ROBIN          Turdus  grayi
AMERICAN  ROBIN                Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
BLUE-HEADED  VIREO            Vireo  solitarius
American  Goldfinch                     Carduelis tristis
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
INDIGO  BUNTING                         Passerina cyanea
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis

70 SPECIES
So far: 108 SPECIES
 
Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 
 

11 DEC
 
Hi, all!
 
A bad cold prevented me from flying to Trinidad, so I opted to drive to  
Florida instead, making a stop in the Rio Grande Valley. Although primarily a 

birding trip, my new-found interest in butterflies had me as excited  as a kid 
on Christmas Eve, anticipating all the new treasures to be found!
 
Started at the new Rio Grande Valley NWR, at a tract that's just north of  
Edinburg.  The ABA Guide has you turning left on a dirt road off state  route 
186, about a mile east of FM 493, so I started there, doing the "Easy  Birder 
Route" routine and stopping every half mile, picking up distant  White-fronted 
Geese and a fleeing Ferruginous Hawk.  A little further up  the road was a 
marshy pond with several Green-winged Teal, a couple of Shovelers, some 
moorhens, 

Pied-billed Grebes, and when I started the car, a  couple of Soras!  There 
were lots of yellowthroats and Marsh Wrens around,  and further up the road in 
the mesquite forests there were TONS of Lincoln's  Sparrows!  A trail off the 
road goes through more mesquite, and the place  was hopping: besides more 
Lincoln's, a single Clay-colored and White-crowned popped up, along with tons 
of 

Orange-crowned Warblers and a single  Black-throated Green, and several 
Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. But the best bird was an 
Empid of 

some sort; my gut reaction  was Least (even though there aren't supposed to 
be any Empids here now), as it  had a very bold eyering, wingbars, and tertial 
edging, and had a soft, rising  "whit" call, and a lady at the Butterfly 
Garden confirmed that they've had a lot this winter, so that's probably what it 

was.
 
Continuing up the road, in addition to several Couch's Kingbirds and  Eastern 
Phoebe, had yet another flycatcher that's supposed to be gone: a couple  of 
Ash-throateds doing their little "police whistle"! Green Jays popped up along 

here as well, always fun to see!  Up at the "T" was a large field  with a big 
flock of Snow Geese in it, although too far away to tell if there  were any 
Ross' in with them.  The air resounded with Sandhill Cranes as  well, and 
around the corner they were fairly close to the road! A single Sprague's Pipit 

flew overhead, and later several similar-sounding Horned Larks  flew over as 
well.
 
Now at this point the map in the ABA Guide has you going straight (after  you 
make the right at the T), but the road looked pretty bad, so I opted to  
follow the good dirt road as it curved around the fields and past another pond 

where there were Coots, dowitchers, both yellowlegs, and a Lesser Scaup  
feeding.  Also had some new butterflies in here: the enchanting little  Common 
Mestra, and what may have been Rounded Metalmarks, in addition to the 
Dracula-like 

Sickle-winged Skipper!
 
The woodland was getting thicker as I neared the end of the road, where  
there's a gate into private land, but in the woodland had duelling Long-billed 

Thrashers and both Golden-fronted and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers.  Headed  back 
and picked up a very pale Red-tailed Hawk, in addition to a Sharp-shinned  and 
a couple of Harriers.
 
The sun was wanting to peek out, so I decided to head straight to the  
Butterfly Garden in Mission, and wouldn't you know it: it gloomed over just as 
I 

got there! But the lady said that things were still flying, and they certainly 

were, and when the sun DID break through, so did the  butterflies!  In 
addition to lots of flowering plants, they also have "rotting fruit feeders" 
that 

attract non-nectaring things, and was treated to a  knockout Mexican Bluewing 
in here!  Ran into another lady who was shooting  butterflies as well, and she 
pointed out several local specialties such as the  Dusky-blue Groundstreak and 
Little Yellow.  There was just oodles of  goodies in there that's probably 
best posted on some lep listserv; birdwise  added a few trip birds such as 
Eastern Bluebird, Black-crested Titmouse, Olive Sparrow, and Altamira Oriole. I 

could have sworn a Black-headed was  calling, but I couldn't get it to show 
itself.  Along the walking trail  some Kiskadees harassed a Gray Hawk, and a 
curious White-eyed Vireo came in to  say hello.  Out in the "vacant lot" added 
American Pipit to the day  list.
 
Around three I had to go find a motel, so I greeted Sue (the lady who had  
told me about the place) and tore myself away from there, but not before they  
gave me a "map" of the Valley that showed several places that were good for  
birds AND butterflies, so I'm anxious to explore some of them!
 
Bird List (and this initial list includes birds seen on the drive out, so  
don't let the Western Gull throw you...)
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Greater White-fronted  Goose           Anser  albifrons
Snow  Goose                             Chen caerulescens
Green-winged  Teal                      Anas carolinensis
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Lesser  Scaup                           Aythya affinis
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned  Hawk                     Accipiter striatus
Harris'  Hawk                           Parabuteo unicinctus
Gray  Hawk                              Asturina nitida
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Ferruginous  Hawk                       Buteo regalis
Crested  Caracara                       Caracara cheriway
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Sandhill  Crane                         Grus canadensis
Sora                                   Porzana carolina
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed  Dowitcher                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Western  Gull                           Larus occidentalis
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Golden-fronted  Woodpecker              Melanerpes aurifrons
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Least  Flycatcher                       Empidonax minimus
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Black  Phoebe                           Sayornis nigricans
Say's  Phoebe                           Sayornis saya
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
Great  Kiskadee                         Pitangus sulphuratus
Couch's  Kingbird                       Tyrannus couchii
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Sprague's  Pipit                        Anthus spragueii
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Long-billed  Thrasher                   Toxostoma longirostre
Eastern  Bluebird                       Sialia sialis
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Black-crested  Titmouse                 Baeolophus atricristatus
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Green  Jay                              Cyanocorax yncas
Western  Scrub-Jay                      Aphelocoma californica
American  Crow                          Corvus brachyrhynchos
Chihuahuan  Raven                       Corvus cryptoleucus
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
White-eyed  Vireo                       Vireo griseus
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
American  Goldfinch                     Carduelis tristis
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Green  Warbler          Dendroica  virens
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Olive  Sparrow                          Arremonops rufivirgatus
Clay-colored  Sparrow                   Spizella pallida
Lark  Bunting                           Calamospiza melanocorys
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
White-crowned  Sparrow                  Zonotrichia leucophrys
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Brewer's  Blackbird                     Euphagus cyanocephalus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Altamira  Oriole                        Icterus gularis

83 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

Hi, all!

The trip report (with pictures)  is now up on my website; the direct link  is

http://miriameaglemon.com/Trip%20Reports/Arizona%20Thanksgiving/Main%20Page.ht
m

or  you can go to the main page (below), click on "Jip" (Trip Reports) and 
then Arizona Thanksgiving. Except for the first day's report, I have several 

butterflies that I'd love confirmation on, plus a spiny lizard in the 
Chiricahua  section that I couldn't find a match for.

Thanks, and enjoy!  Take  care,

MB

Mary Beth Stowe
San Diego,  CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
www.miriameaglemon.com  

22 NOV 06
 
Hi, all!
 
Met up with Judy Pike again at the San Pedro River Inn for a guided bird  
walk around the property, led by Michael the Manager and Ericka, a perky local 

expert! I got there before everyone else and just wandered around, picking up 

Green-tailed Towhee in amongst the Whiteys and a nice female Pyrrhuloxia for  
the trip.  Eventually we had a nice small crowd including a couple of  
"snowbirds" from London Ontario, and another "couple", one from the Bay Area 
and 

one from Las Vegas! It started off very nippy as per usual, but it was another 

gorgeous, calm day, with the common stuff around the house including  
Whiteys, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and Butterbutts. I was grousing about a raven 

flying around that to me sounded no different than ours, but Ericka pointed out 

that Chihuahuans don't have as much of a wedge to the tail as  Commons, and 
later I heard one that sounded more like one to me, so I felt safe counting it. 

A Curve-billed Thrasher whistled rudely, and a Belted  Kingfisher was hanging 
around the little pond along with Yellowthroats and Marsh  Wrens.  A young 
Vermilion Flycatcher was sitting on the stick usually occupied by the resident 

Black Phoebe, but Mr. Phoebe eventually showed up and  shooed him off!  Just 
before we headed off I spotted a White-winged Dove  sitting on the TV antenna.
 
We then headed down the path around the pond, picking up Lincoln's and Song  
Sparrows (of the pale "phallax" race--don't know if I'm spelling that right),  
but the resident Gilded Flicker making an appearance got everyone excited!   
There was also a Ladder-backed Woodpecker bouncing around along with lots of  
Gilas, one who was trying to figure out what to do with a large nut he had  
found!
 
As we made our way through the grasslands we picked up several sparrows  
including Vesper, Savannah, a single Brewer's, and a Lark Bunting. A couple of 

Say's Phoebes were flopping around, and a beautiful pair of  Pyrrhuloxias 
showed up in a mesquite along with a pair of Abert's Towhees.   A Lilian's 
Meadowlark flew by that wasn't showing us the standard "hyper" Eastern 
Meadowlark 

flight pattern, and I was informed that Lilian's are an  exception to the rule 
(which helps a whole lot if they're as "laid-back" as  Westerns)!  But Ericka 
gave me a great picture of how to visualize the amount of white in the tail of 

the two, so that was very helpful. 
 
We stopped at a little marsh to try and scare up a Swamp Sparrow (I think a  
few people actually spotted it), and had a couple of American Pipits flying  
overhead, which Michael had never had on the property before!   Everyone 
"ooohed" at a Loggerhead Shrike and a nice Harrier; a Gray Flycatcher also 
caused a 

lot of excitement, and a "Red-shafted" Flicker put on a  show while I was 
busy shedding my layers (it had warmed up that quickly)!   I told the others I 
would catch up (rolling your jacket up and lashing it to  your fanny pack is a 
major production), only Michael had taken them through some  scrub that had no 
trail, so I promptly lost them!  Thankfully they weren't  far (I knew they 
were headed towards the river) and Ericka and Judy came back  and rescued me!
 
The river was beautiful, but you could see where the water level from the  
monsoons last summer had come up so high as to put the whole area we had just  
walked through under water!  It had also knocked down several large trees,  so 
we had to pick our way carefully. Things were quieting down by now, but yet  
another Gray Flycatcher showed up, along with another mystery Empid that we  
never could get a good look at, but Michael suspected Dusky.  A robust  "chip" 
alerted us to the presence of a Myrtle Warbler right overhead, so everyone got 

a good look at him.  Down the river we flushed a Great Blue  Heron, and three 
"Mexican Ducks" flew over.  Several Common Ground  Doves were in the brush, 
while a Cooper's Hawk batted around and a great Golden  Eagle soared low 
overhead! But the fellow from Las Vegas spotted the prize: an Eastern Phoebe by 

the bank!  That made for a phoebe sweep, a  state bird for me, and a life bird 
for Judy!  So we were all happy  campers!
 
Michael was going to continue on but I was pooping out (and Judy and I had  
plans for a Cold Stone milk shake :-) ), so Judy and Ericka and I wandered back 

 to the parking lot, sharing war stories of birding tales, then kissed Ericka 
 goodbye before heading to Sierra Vista (where a Sharpie flew over the river 
as  we crossed it along Hereford Road).  After our shakes (I had the dark  
chocolate peppermint ice cream with coconut shavings--YUM!!) we kissed goodbye 

and I headed to Tucson with every intention of checking into the La Quinta by  
the airport, but I was gonna get in early, so decided to swing by the eastern  
portion of Saguaro National Park and see if I could kick up any new  
butterflies! Which I did: in addition to lots more Sleepy Oranges (I'm 
assuming) had 

plenty of Dainty Sulphurs (for sure), and some whites and skippers  that I 
need to ID after downloading the pics and taking a closer look; I may  have 
gotten a marble of some kind, but we'll see...  But there were TONS of  
butterflies there!  Bird-wise picked up Phainopepla, Cactus and Rock Wrens,  
Black-throated Sparrows, and Black-tailed Gnats for the day.
 
Headed into Tucson after that.  Tomorrow is Thanksgiving with the  "family", 
and rumor has it that we're going to the Desert Museum on Friday, so I  may 
have one more trip report to go; if not, then this is it!  Bird  list:
 
  Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Mallard  ("Mexican  Duck")            Anas  platyrhynchos
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned  Hawk                     Accipiter striatus
Cooper's  Hawk                          Accipiter cooperii
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Golden  Eagle                           Aquila chrysaetos
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Belted  Kingfisher                      Ceryle alcyon
Gila  Woodpecker                        Melanerpes uropygialis
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Northern  Flicker                       Colaptes auratus
Gilded  Flicker                         Colaptes chrysoides
Gray  Flycatcher                        Empidonax wrightii
Eastern  Phoebe                         Sayornis phoebe
Black  Phoebe                           Sayornis nigricans
Say's  Phoebe                           Sayornis saya
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Phainopepla                            Phainopepla nitens
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Rock  Wren                              Salpinctes obsoletus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
Black-tailed  Gnatcatcher               Polioptila melanura
White-breasted  Nuthatch                Sitta carolinensis
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Chihuahuan  Raven                       Corvus cryptoleucus
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Yellow-rumped Warbler (incl.  "Myrtle")      Dendroica coronata
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Green-tailed  Towhee                    Pipilo chlorurus
Abert's  Towhee                         Pipilo aberti
Brewer's  Sparrow                       Spizella breweri
Vesper  Sparrow                         Pooecetes gramineus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Lark  Bunting                           Calamospiza melanocorys
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Song  Sparrow                           Melospiza melodia
Lincoln's  Sparrow                      Melospiza lincolnii
White-crowned  Sparrow                  Zonotrichia leucophrys
Pyrrhuloxia                            Cardinalis sinuatus
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

57 SPECIES
So far: 122 SPECIES  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

21 NOV 06
 
Hi, all!
 
Had an absolutely gorgeous morning up at Chiricauha!  I basically  stopped 
every half mile along the road going in, and as expected had the most  birds 
early in the morning; the place was hopping with juncos (with Oregon,  
Pink-sided, and Gray-headed all represented), plus Chipping Sparrows, Spotted 
and 

Green-tailed Towhees, and a Gambel's Quail calling from the open area. It was 

pretty nippy first thing, and as the morning went on things got more quiet; one 

of the better stops was at the Natural Bridge trailhead where a  Townsend's 
Warbler came in along with the Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Hermit  Thrushes.  
Mexican Jays were all over, and an Arizona Woodpecker laughed at  one pullout.
 
Up near the top the views were spectacular, and Western Bluebirds came in  
and put on a show, teeing up on the junipers! No Mexican Chickadees this time 

(the trails were actually very quiet with the exception of the juncos), but  
picking up both Scrubbies and Steller's near the top made it a three-jay day! 

The Sugarloaf Trail had a very curious Canyon Wren come in to  pishing.  The 
butterflies were starting to move by the time I finished the  Echo Canyon 
Trail; most of them wouldn't stay put, but saw a Lady of some kind, a nice male 

Orange Sulphur, and a cooperative Gray Hairstreak (I'm assuming;  haven't 
looked at the pictures yet so all these IDs are tentative...)
 
Headed down the hill and hiked the trail at the visitor's center, which  
except for a group of jays that flocked in to say hello at the resting spot was 

REALLY quiet; not even a Painted Redstart (which I usually pick up here)!   
Again, the butterflies were taking over, and one I think may have been a 
Mexican 

Tailed.  These "miniature ladies" were bouncing around; I suspected they  
might be Snouts, and finally one stopped long enough to give me a confirming  
look! The parking lot was alive with leps, and across the street was one lonely 

little bush with a few purple flowers where (I'm guessing here) Sleepy  
Oranges were flighting over them, and a knockout Southern Dogface went bouncing 
by 

at close range, giving a great view of his "poodle-wing"!  But the  strangest 
thing was a flock of bugling Sandhill Cranes overhead!
 
Headed down to Faraway Ranch after that, where with the exception of a few  
Chipping and Lincoln's Sparrows, the place was REALLY dead (except for the  
butterflies). I had to get going to Sierra Vista anyway to check in, then meet 

my friends Judy and Earl Pike for dinner!  So I took the back way  along US 
191 through Tombstone, and picked up Ferruginous Hawk and Lark  Buntings.  We 
were planning on attending a field trip tomorrow along the San Pedro River, so 

I'm looking forward to that!  
 
Bird List (birds in CAPS are new for the trip):
 
  Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Ferruginous  Hawk                       Buteo regalis
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
GAMBEL'S  QUAIL                  Callipepla gambelii
SANDHILL  CRANE                   Grus canadensis
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
ARIZONA  WOODPECKER       Picoides arizonae
Northern  Flicker                       Colaptes auratus
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
CANYON  WREN                      Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
WESTERN  BLUEBIRD               Sialia mexicana
HERMIT  THRUSH                Catharus guttatus
AMERICAN  ROBIN                    Turdus migratorius
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH  Sitta  carolinensis
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
STELLER'S  JAY                           Cyanocitta stelleri
WESTERN SCRUB  JAY            Aphelocoma  californica
MEXICAN  JAY                              Aphelocoma ultramarina
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
TOWNSEND'S  WARBLER           Dendroica  townsendi
GREEN-TAILED  TOWHEE           Pipilo  chlorurus
SPOTTED  TOWHEE                  Pipilo maculatus
CHIPPING  SPARROW                Spizella passerina
LARK  BUNTING                       Calamospiza melanocorys
LINCOLN'S  SPARROW                     Melospiza lincolnii
White-crowned  Sparrow                  Zonotrichia leucophrys
"OREGON"  JUNCO                       Junco hyemalis
   "PINK-SIDED" JUNCO
  "GRAY-HEADED" JUNCO
WESTERN  MEADOWLARK         Sturnella  neglecta
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

35 SPECIES
So far: 95 SPECIES
 
Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 
 

20 NOV 06
 
Hi, all!
 
Well, I was one of the unfortunate many who missed the Ross' Gull: headed  
out to Red Hill right after church and as soon as I was packed, and found the  
spot with no problem, of course!  (Just look for the mob...)  The bird  hadn't 
been seen since dawn that morning, but I had two nice consolation prizes:  the 
Piping Plover had reappeared in a flock of Semipals, and an adult Lesser  
Black-backed Gull stood out nicely amongst all the Californias and Ringbills! I 

really didn't pay too much attention to the other birds  around as we were 
all focused in on one thing.  I left soon after sunset to  check into the 
Brawley Inn, then headed back out this morning; the mob had thinned 
considerably, 

but I ran into several fellow San Diego birders who had  made the trek (had 
seen Jim Zimmer the night before, but he was the only one I ran into then), so 

we all hung out, admiring the exquisitely-carved decoys over  by the plover 
spit, but alas, not only was the Ross' a no-show (to my knowledge), but so were 

the Piping and LBB.  A small flock of Snow Geese  flying over was fun, and you 
could hear the cacophany from the refuge (and  stopping at the headquarters 
for the potty, the joint was PACKED with  'em!)!  Bumped into Ed and Mary Post 
and Jerry Oldeneddle (sorry if I  butchered your name, Jerry... :-P), whom I 
hadn't seen in ages; chasing a rare bird is a great opportunity to catch up on 

old friendships!
 
I wanted to be in Willcox by sundown, so I gave myself enough time to  
quickly check out Bowles Road to see if the spoonbill was still hanging around. 

Mama Peregrine was still sitting pretty along the dike on the way  out of Red 
Hill, and coming out of Obsidian Butte, picked up the Laughing Gulls  Guy 
reported the other day, along with one of the Franklin's Gull swimming by 
itself 

fairly close to the road.  The dikes were just full of egrets,  pelicans, and 
cormorants, but no spoonbill (although the Lesser Flamingos were closer to the 

road than I've ever seen them!)
 
Zipped across the desert to Willcox, where I made it in time to check out  
Twin Lakes before the sun went down, picking up a gorgeous Ferruginous Hawk on 

the way in.  Along the road to the lakes I heard a "chewy-chewy" out the  
window, and sure enough, a great Crissal Thrasher was sitting right up on top 
of 

a mesquite!  That was a first!  The big lake had lots of Shovelers  doing 
their little "circle dance", and picked up several interesting diving  ducks 
including both Canvasback and Redheads, Lesser Scaup, and three  Red-breasted 
Mergansers, which I guess are rare but regular according to the book. Some 
Scaled 

Quail fed along the shore of one of the ponds on the  other side of the road, 
which was nice as I don't always get them like I used  to.  On the way out I 
went down the side road in search of this "other  pond" I had heard other 
Arizona birders talk about, but decided the road looked  too dicey.  As I was 
turning around, I heard some Redwings, took a look,  and voila, there was the 
little marshy pond, hidden next to the golf  course!  There were oodles of 
Yellow-headed Blackbirds in there was well, along with a white-headed Ruddy 
Duck! 

 
Headed in to town after that to crash and prepare for the Chiricauhas  
tomorrow. The bird list below reflects both today's and yesterday's field 
trips, 

and birds that were unique to Twin Lakes I've noted with a "TL".
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe (TL)                     Podilymbus podiceps
Eared  Grebe                            Podiceps nigricollis
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown  Pelican                          Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
White-faced  Ibis                       Plegadis chihi
Lesser  Flamingo (feral)                       Phoenicopterus minor
Snow  Goose                             Chen caerulescens
American  Wigeon (TL)                       Anas americana
Green-winged  Teal (TL)                     Anas carolinensis
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Canvasback (TL)                            Aythya valisineria
Redhead  (TL)                              Aythya americana
Lesser  Scaup (TL)                          Aythya affinis
Red-breasted  Merganser (TL)                Mergus serrator
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Ferruginous  Hawk (TL)                      Buteo regalis
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Peregrine  Falcon                       Falco peregrinus
Scaled  Quail  (TL)                         Callipepla squamata
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
American  Avocet                        Recurvirostra americana
Black-bellied  Plover                   Pluvialis squatarola
Semipalmated  Plover                    Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Piping  Plover                          Charadrius melodus
Long-billed  Dowitcher                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Marbled  Godwit                         Limosa fedoa
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Lesser  Yellowlegs                      Tringa flavipes
Willet                                 Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Western  Sandpiper                      Calidris mauri
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
California  Gull                        Larus californicus
American Herring  Gull                  Larus smithsonianus
Lesser Black-backed  Gull               Larus fuscus
Laughing  Gull                          Larus atricilla
Franklin's  Gull                        Larus pipixcan
Caspian  Tern                           Sterna caspia
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Belted  Kingfisher                      Ceryle alcyon
Black  Phoebe                           Sayornis nigricans
Say's  Phoebe (TL)                          Sayornis saya
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
American  Pipit                         Anthus rubescens
Ruby-crowned  Kinglet                   Regulus calendula
Rock  Wren                              Salpinctes obsoletus
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Crissal  Thrasher  (TL)                     Toxostoma crissale
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow  (TL)                        Passer domesticus
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Song  Sparrow                           Melospiza melodia
White-crowned  Sparrow  (TL)                Zonotrichia leucophrys
Red-winged  Blackbird (TL)                  Agelaius phoeniceus
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Yellow-headed  Blackbird (TL)               Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus

75 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

Head Office:
Monsanto UK Ltd.
Cambridge CB2 2LQ
England 
United Kingdom
P O Box 1112
Phone/fax:   +44 
 
I am Mr Wilson Davis and I represent Monsant Co,LTD based in uk .Our Company 
was established in the year 1999,and we had a customer that range between 2000 
people in over 100 countries.Since its inception into business,we have been 
growing steadly and we had an annual revenue of $100,000---$900,000 in our 
first year of business and our last years revenue has grown to $30,000,000. 

 
We have now covered most part of the globe and now have a staff of about 600 
people world wide.This remarkable improvement in the world market made us a 
member of the TRADE OK UNION in the year 2005. 

 
Monsanto Co.LTD is a private import and export company specializing in various 
kinds of modified foods and products containing genetically modified 
ingredients are available .Our products are mainly sell to Middle East,America, 
Europe areas, South America, so on. Our advantages are that we have high 
reputation, professionalism and respecting working environment.This qualities 
has made us achieved what we have so far. 

We have reached big sales volume in the European market and due to the high 
demand of our products in America,we now are trying to penetrate the Northern 
American and Central American market . We have been made aware of the criterias 
that goes along with this and I am pleased to bring to your notice that we have 
gotten clearification from the Government of United Kingdom and that of America 
to do business in America. 

 
It is upon this note that we are contacting you to be our SOURCE DISTRIBUTOR 
because quite soon we will open representative offices and authorized sales 
centers in North America and therefore we are currently looking for people who 
will assist us in establishing a new distribution network there. 

 
The fact that despite the Central and Nothern America market is new for us we 
already have regular clients also speaks for itself. This I believe will make 
you know that we have long been in to business already. 

 
Note that if eventually you are selected by the company to do this job,you 
would be placed on a Monthly salary of $5,000,00,a 5% commision for sales you 
make for each goods and also for any payment you receive on behalf of the 
company.Note that you would also be entitled to other allowances which includes 
Health,Travelling and retirements benefits. 

 
To facilitate this transaction if you deem you would be able to undertake this 
task for the company,I would want you to submit to us via mail the following 
information which includes 


via email; mrwilson_monsantocompanyltd AT yahoo.co.uk  

1 Your Full Name as it would appear on your resume...................
2 Your Qualification.................................................
3 Your Contact Address...............................................
4 Telepone number/Fax................................................
5 Your present Occupation and Position presently held................
 
Thanks for your time and we look forward to hearing from you.
Yours in Health and Wealth
Mr Wilson Davis
Position :Manager Employments Of  Monsanto Co LTD
Website :www.monsanto-ag.co.uk 

Hi, all!
 
I've updated the website with the narrative and photos from the recent trip  
to southeast Arizona; click on the link below my signature, click on Trip  
Reports, and it's the very first one!  Enjoy!  (Oh, and if I've  horribly 
misidentified anything, especially in the plant and insect department, please 
feel 

free to let me know!)  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

17 AUG 06
 
Hi, all!
 
After all the "wet" of the day before I was a little concerned about the  
condition of Pinery Road (especially after the two birders I ran into yesterday 

told me they came DOWN it and passed a "Road Closed" sign), but the sky was  
absolutely clear this morning, so I took off with high hopes.  On the way  
there (still pre-dawn) something brown took off from the middle of the road; I 

suspected it was probably a Poorwill, so I pulled over to see if I could hear  
anything, and sure enough, among the pre-dawn Blue Grosbeaks and Black-throated 

 Sparrows was a distant Poorwill singing!  The sky was just getting light  
getting closer to the road when I spotted a Great Horned Owl sitting on a  
telephone wire, of all things!
 
The flat road going in always looks slimy, but isn't (all the "Use at your  
own risk" signs tend to freak you out a little), and picked up the typical  
grassland birds for the day here (Cassin's Sparrow, "Lilian's" Meadowlark, and 

Scaled Quail to name a few).  This road climbs into the pinyon forest quite  
rapidly, and picked up Chipping Sparrow, Western Wood Pewee, Mexican Jay,  
Spotted Towhee, and Bewick's Wrens in here. The creek crossing near North Fork 

that I always worry about was absolutely dry this time (just a little  bumpy), 
and after one more very shallow crossing we were home free!
 
After about eight miles I was in the high country, and pulled over at some  
suspicious chatter.  Had a marvelous feeding flock, with the target Mexican  
Chickadees coming in close, along with Bridled Titmice, Hutton's and Plumbeous 

Vireos, some "baby" Hepatic Tanagers doing a strange oriole-like "wheep" I had 
 never heard before, and another great bird (although not all that much of a  
"looker"): a first-year Olive Warbler!  Grace's and Black-throated Gray  also 
came in, along with a couple of Painted Redstarts and anti-climactic  
White-breasted Nuthatches. At another stop I tried doing a Pygmy Owl in 
addition to 

the pishing, and got a lady Western Tanager all upset at me.
 
Up at the road to Rustler Park added House Wren and the other two  nuthatches 
for a sweep, along with two old San Diego favorites, Hairy Woodpecker  and 
Butterbutt (aka Yellow-rumped Warbler).  And speaking of San Diego, ran  into 
two couples up at the park proper who were also San Diegans (well, Poway  and 
Carlsbad; that's close enough) who had come up from Portal; they also had an  
Olive further down, but neither of us had found the target Red-faced Warbler  
yet. I had also run into another couple who were just casually birding and had 

only found Yellow-eyed Junco up there (which had been all along the road  
going up), but I took a walk around the campground anyway (for exercise if  
nothing else), and also added Flicker and more nuthatches. Back at the car 
picked 

up a Brown Creeper hitching up a tree (and discovered that the chickadees  
can make a very creeper-like call)!  I learned something else as well: I  kept 
hearing Selasphorus ringing that almost sounded waxwing-ish to me, and sure  
enough, Sibley confirmed that it's the Broad-tailed that sounds most like a  
waxwing!
 
The road descends quite rapidly after that, and at each stop I scanned the  
skies for a Short-tailed Hawk (I had heard something that sounded like one up 
at  Rustler, but there were Steller's Jays up there, too, so I didn't trust  
them...)  Almost passed by the road to Paradise (they don't sign it going  
down), so I headed that way in hopes of Juniper Titmouse. Now THAT road has 
some 

dicey creek crossings (one I even bottomed out on)!  And on top of  that a 
storm was brewing over the mountains; I got out of there just in  time!
 
Shortly I arrived in Paradise (so to speak), and passed a sign that  
advertised the "George Walker House"; I had heard about it, but didn't know 
that this 

was where it was!  So I pulled in and parked in what looked like the  public 
parking lot, and shortly the proprietress (Jackie) and her Boxer (Tundra)  
came out to meet me, and gave me the "best seat in the house" seeing as I was  
the only one there!  The place was fabulous with all sorts of feeders,  
including a "peanut butter corn stalk" (I think that's what it was) that was  
attractive to Juniper Titmice! Just not this time: an Acorn Woodpecker was 
hogging 

it most of the time, to be relieved by a dad Black-headed Grosbeak feeding his 

grown youngster.  Both Magnificent and Blue-throated Hummers  gave good looks 
(although I have trouble with the females sometimes, so Jackie  tried to help 
me with that), along with Blackchins, Rufous, and the occasional  Broadtail.  
Bridled Titmice came in to the seed feeders, though, along with  tons of 
House Finches.
 
The storm was a-comin', so I decided to take off after about 20  minutes.  
She encouraged me to stop by Cave Creek Ranch (they now allow day visitors, so 

I was glad to hear that), so after a lightning bolt hit too close  for comfort 
I tootled down the road, staying enough ahead of the storm to pick  up 
additional species in progressively lower elevation habitats: Rufous-crowned  
Sparrows and Scrub Jays in the oak savannah; Crissal Thrasher, Virginia's 
Warbler, 

Black-chinned Sparrow, and Canyon Wren in the chaparral; and Gambel's  Quail 
and Cactus Wren in the lower desert habitat.  Got some great shots of  the 
oncoming storm as well!
 
Once on the pavement I decided to road bird Cave Creek, seeing as I was  
tired of fleeing these monsoons every time they popped up (although as my 
friend 

Judy reminded me, they're nothing to mess with...).  I'm glad I did: Cave  
Creek is such a GORGEOUS place, and added Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher to the day 

list.  Going in to the South Fork trailhead it DID start to rain, but very  
lightly; it was so short-lived that I was able to continue getting out of the  
car and enjoying a mom Hepatic Tanager feeding her grown baby!  
 
The loop road around the trailhead was kinda messy, but Jip made it fine,  
but with the thunder I didn't really want to hike. But in the meantime a flock 

of Mexican Jays came in to my feet, and I was so engrossed in  photographing 
them that I almost didn't notice the sun come out!  So I  hiked the trail 
after all, although there were no birds to speak of; the creek  crossing was 
roaring, so that effectively stopped me. When I got back to the car an Arizona 

Woodpecker came tearing in, and while I was enjoying him several female birders 

arrived for a picnic; unfortunately the woodpecker took  off, and I hadn't 
seen any trogons (that was the first question), so I left them  to their lunch 
(the one lady had two adorable Bishon Frises--sp?--so I've certainly gotten my 

doggie fix today) and I took off down the road.  Almost  at the end I stopped 
in the road to shoot the gorgeous mountain in front of me,  and a trogon sang 
deep in the woods off to the side!  It would have been  useless trying to 
fetch the ladies, though...
 
I had planned to head to Willcox after that, but decided on a lark to stop  
at Cave Creek after all, and what a place!  Again, I was the only one  there, 
and enjoyed many of the same birds as at Jackie's, with the addition of a  
Cardinal, White-winged Doves, and female Anna's and Broad-billed Hummers! 
Lesser 

Goldfinches attacked the sock they had up (and I'm noticing a lot of  
dark-backed males here), and just before I left a Ladder-backed Woodpecker 
sounded 

like he wanted to horn in, but I think the Acorns kept him at  bay...
 
Had a nice chat with the owner before leaving, then headed home for  real.  
Took a side road to find a place to potty before hitting the freeway  and ran 
into my San Diego friends again who were looking for Crissal  Thrashers!  The 
side trip added Cooper's Hawk, Lark Sparrow, Loggerhead  Shrike, and Western 
Kingbird for my own list.  They were looking at a raven  nest (forgot to ask 
which one), but I was glad they got out of Rustler before  the storm hit!
 
That same storm looked like it was clobbering Willcox as I headed west, but  
thankfully it had passed on by the time I got there.  It was late, so I  
reluctantly skipped going to Twin Lakes.  Bird list:
 
  Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Cooper's  Hawk                          Accipiter cooperii
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Scaled  Quail                           Callipepla squamata
Gambel's  Quail                         Callipepla gambelii
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Band-tailed  Pigeon                     Patagioenas fasciata
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Great Horned  Owl                       Bubo virginianus
COMMON  POORWILL                        Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
Broad-billed  Hummingbird               Cynanthus latirostris
Blue-throated  Hummingbird              Lampornis clemenciae
Magnificent  Hummingbird                Eugenes fulgens
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
Anna's  Hummingbird                     Calypte anna
Broad-tailed  Hummingbird               Selasphorus platycercus
Rufous  Hummingbird                     Selasphorus rufus
Elegant  Trogon                         Trogon elegans
Acorn  Woodpecker                       Melanerpes formicivorus
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
HAIRY  WOODPECKER                       Picoides villosus
Arizona  Woodpecker                     Picoides arizonae
Northern  Flicker                       Colaptes auratus
Western  Wood-Pewee                     Contopus sordidulus
Sulphur-bellied  Flycatcher             Myiodynastes luteiventris
Cassin's  Kingbird                      Tyrannus vociferans
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Canyon  Wren                            Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
HOUSE  WREN                             Troglodytes aedon
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Bushtit                                Psaltriparus minimus
MEXICAN  CHICKADEE                      Poecile sclateri
Bridled  Titmouse                       Baeolophus wollweberi
PYGMY  NUTHATCH                         Sitta pygmaea
RED-BREASTED  NUTHATCH                  Sitta canadensis
White-breasted  Nuthatch                Sitta carolinensis
Brown  Creeper                          Certhia americana
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Steller's  Jay                          Cyanocitta stelleri
Western  Scrub-Jay                      Aphelocoma californica
Mexican  Jay                            Aphelocoma ultramarina
Chihuahuan  Raven                       Corvus cryptoleucus
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
Plumbeous  Vireo                        Vireo plumbeus
Hutton's  Vireo                         Vireo huttoni
House Sparrow
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
OLIVE  WARBLER                          Peucedramus taeniatus
VIRGINIA’S  WARBLER                     Vermivora virginiae
YELLOW-RUMPED  WARBLER                  Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Gray  Warbler           Dendroica  nigrescens
Grace's  Warbler                        Dendroica graciae
Painted  Redstart                       Myioborus pictus
Hepatic  Tanager                        Piranga flava
Western  Tanager                        Piranga ludoviciana
Spotted  Towhee                         Pipilo maculatus
Canyon  Towhee                          Pipilo fuscus
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
BLACK-CHINNED  SPARROW                  Spizella atrogularis
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Yellow-eyed  Junco                      Junco phaeonotus
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna

73 SPECIES
So far: 187 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

18 AUG 06
 
Hi, all!
 
For the last day I made a last minute decision to do the Swift Trail (aka  Mt 
Graham) instead of Mt Lemmon for several reasons: a) it was closer to Willcox 
 so I didn't have to get up as early, b) they theoretically have the same 
species as Lemmon without the crowds, and c) it's the only place in SE Arizona 

I've had  a Goshawk!  
 
Started birding after the cattle guard on highway 366, picking up the low  
desert stuff like Black-throated Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, Cactus Wren, and  
Gambel's Quail.  The road starts climbing pretty quickly, so you're shortly  
into desert/chaparral where I added Blue Grosbeak, Scott's Oriole, Verdin, and 

Bewick's Wren.  The last time I did this road I had Black-chinned Sparrow  
along here, but not this time; got Rufous-crowned Sparrow instead.  In one  of 
the little riparian areas had a singing Bell's Vireo, and Canyon Wrens were  
wherever there were sharp rock faces.  A couple of White-tailed Deer fawns  
sauntered across the road as well--cute!!
 
Getting up into the junipers added Scrub and Mexican Jays, Arizona  
Woodpecker, Virginia's Warbler, and a curious Black-throated Gray Warbler. Once 
into 

the higher pines added the first "San Diego" mountain bird that I  still 
needed for the trip: Mountain Chickadee! I shortly came upon a group of cabins 

(looking like they were not in use) where I pulled over and hit the jackpot: a 

family of Red-breasted Nuthatches was making the craziest tin-horning  I ever 
heard!  A female hummer fed on some flowers right at my feet, and I  thought 
for sure she was a Calliope because she was so small, very buffy  underneath, 
and I didn't see any rufous in the tail, but alas, what photos I  could get 
showed enough rufous (and a long enough tail--sure looked tiny in the  field) 
that I couldn't rule out Broad-tailed (which was all over the place up there). 

Something suspicious was singing in one of the oaks a bit down the  drive, so 
I chased it down--turned out to be a gorgeous Red-faced Warbler!   That was 
the bird I came for!
 
Everything was kinda anti-climactic after that, but it was still great fun  
to bird this road, and the views were spectacular! Dipped on the Goshawk this 

time, but besides the usual high-elevation stuff I also added Ruby-crowned  
Kinglet and Pine Siskin for the trip.  Yellow-eyed Juncos were all over,  and 
saw several nice Abert's Squirrels, another special animal I saw here last  
time!  I also saw what looked like a Red Squirrel and then read later on  that 
there's an endangered subspecies up here; wonder if that was it?
 
Half the road is paved and the other half dirt, but it's a fairly good dirt  
road (a few rocky bumps, but passable for a passenger car).  Went as far as  I 
could and then backtracked to Riggs Lake to see if there might be any water  
birds there; nothing in that department, but a whole flock of Red Crossbills 
was  dropping to the shore for a drink and/or bath and then zipping back up 
into the  pine whenever the juncos would chase them!  That was a real treat!
 
The bird-finding guide suggested several trails, but I only had time for  one 
(I wanted to start back to Tucson by noon), so chose the trail at Shannon  
Campground because the book said it was "fairly level".  Unfortunately  didn't 
have time to hike much of it, as the monsoons were developing overhead  and I 
didn't want to be caught out on that trail with a metal walking  stick...  I 
DID end up strolling around the campground, though, and of  course ran into a
nother jackpot just before I had to leave: a couple of House  (the old 
"Brown-throated?") Wrens were being cute, and in what I think was an aspen was 
both a 

Hermit and Townsend's Warbler!  Another trip bird, a  Western Bluebird, was 
doing its "rubber band" call from a tall pine, and also heard that distinctive 

down-slurred whistle of an Olive Warbler from  somewhere.
 
I had to get going after that; I really wished I could have spent more time  
there, as I would have loved to explore all the campgrounds!  Picked up  
Bridled Titmouse out the car on the way down...
 
Bird list (and total for the trip if we don't see anything new on the way  
home tomorrow...):
 
  Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Gambel's  Quail                         Callipepla gambelii
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Broad-tailed  Hummingbird               Selasphorus platycercus
Acorn  Woodpecker                       Melanerpes formicivorus
Hairy  Woodpecker                       Picoides villosus
Arizona  Woodpecker                     Picoides arizonae
Northern  Flicker                       Colaptes auratus
Western  Wood-Pewee                     Contopus sordidulus
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
RUBY-CROWNED  KINGLET                   Regulus calendula
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Canyon  Wren                            Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
WESTERN  BLUEBIRD                       Sialia mexicana
Hermit  Thrush                          Catharus guttatus
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Bushtit                                Psaltriparus minimus
MOUNTAIN  CHICKADEE                     Poecile gambeli
Bridled  Titmouse                       Baeolophus wollweberi
Pygmy  Nuthatch                         Sitta pygmaea
Red-breasted  Nuthatch                  Sitta canadensis
White-breasted  Nuthatch                Sitta carolinensis
Brown  Creeper                          Certhia americana
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Steller's  Jay                          Cyanocitta stelleri
Western  Scrub-Jay                      Aphelocoma californica
Mexican  Jay                            Aphelocoma ultramarina
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
Plumbeous  Vireo                        Vireo plumbeus
Hutton's  Vireo                         Vireo huttoni
RED  CROSSBILL                          Loxia curvirostra
PINE  SISKIN                            Carduelis pinus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Olive  Warbler                          Peucedramus taeniatus
Virginia's  Warbler                     Vermivora virginiae
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Gray  Warbler           Dendroica  nigrescens
TOWNSEND’S  WARBLER                     Dendroica townsendi
Hermit  Warbler                         Dendroica occidentalis
RED-FACED  WARBLER                      Cardellina rubrifrons
Spotted  Towhee                         Pipilo maculatus
Canyon  Towhee                          Pipilo fuscus
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Yellow-eyed  Junco                      Junco phaeonotus
Black-headed  Grosbeak                  Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Scott's  Oriole                         Icterus parisorum

53 SPECIES
So far: 194 SPECIES
 
Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 
 

16 AUG 06
 
Hi, all!
 
Had another blessed day today, although a little hairy driving that Arivaca  
Road in the dark!  Got to the main refuge entrance around 6:00, where a  tiny 
little Chihuahuan Raven greeted me first thing!  (Saw his bigger  cousin 
later...) The Cassin's Sparrows were all over, and never let up their singing 
all 

morning, no matter where I went in the grasslands!  But  thankfully the one 
target bird I really wanted in that habitat (besides the  "uncountable" 
Bobwhites) sang along the entrance road: Grasshopper Sparrow! Also had what I'm 

presuming was a Lesser Nighthawk batting around  in the distance.
 
The headquarters area was quite lively with both Bullock's and Hooded  
Orioles putting on a show, squabbling Say's Phoebes, several curious Lucy's  
Warblers, baby Barn Swallows (of several ages, from nestlings to fledged 
full-grown 

juveniles), and both Black-chinned and Rufous Hummers fighting over  the 
feeders. I peeked at the sightings board and noticed several interesting things 

at "Triangle Pond", but there was no reference to said pond  in any of their 
literature, so I asked a refuge guy who couldn't even find it on  his official 
quad map!  A volunteer named Bob pulled up about then, and he  wasn't sure, 
either, but said there was a small pond out by Aguirre Lake, so he took me out 

there (seeing as I could never find the Sonoran Grassland Trail they're always 

advertising).  I just hadn't gone far enough: it's a great  loop around 
(usually dry) Aguirre Lake, but we had some good birds, including several 
flocks 

of Yellow-headed Blackbirds and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher for the  trip.  There 
was indeed a little pond at the far end that had some good  things, including 
two Solitary Sandpipers and a Greater Yellowlegs!  He  also pointed out a 
strange mushroom that ironically I had seen at Patagonia Lake and had no clue 
what 

it was; it's evidently called Mycelia (sp?).
 
After the hike we went our separate ways (he tried to discourage me from  
continuing on that same road; he didn't have to convince me after I got stuck  
back there several years ago...), so I continued back, stopping every half  
mile. A convenient stop at the Bobwhite pens actually yielded several peeks at 

the little buggers (I've NEVER seen them in there before!), but while I  was 
watching them probably the best bird of the day popped up near the back: a  
White-crowned Sparrow! I usually don't give a second thought to songbirds that 

get inside pens, but now I'm wondering if somehow he got in there last  winter 
and couldn't get out!  So much for my mega-rarity...
 
Anyway, headed on to the Pronghorn Drive after that, where I actually saw a  
male Pronghorn!  Didn't hear any of the Bobwhite, but a Scaled Quail put in  
an appearance, and Gambel's Quail called at one stop.  Had great looks at a  
family of Cassin's Sparrows that were upset at where I parked, and a Botteri's 

and Rufous-winged Sparrow perched side by side.  Lark Buntings were back in  
force, and great flocks of White-winged Doves would power by every once in  
awhile (the Mournings all seemed to gather in the dips).  Had a couple of  
Swainson's Hawks soaring with the TVs, and "Lilian's" Meadowlarks sang here and 

there.  Even had a flock of Chipping Sparrows show up in the mesquite, and  a 
pair of Ash-throated Flycatchers flopped around there as well. At one spot also 

flushed the first Horned Larks of the trip.
 
After finishing that I wanted to hike the Arivaca Creek Trail, so pulled in  
there when I got there, and even that late in the morning it was a very birdy  
place: chats and Bell's Vireos were all over and very visible, and migration 
was  definitely underway with a small flock of Nashville Warblers and a single 
 Wilson's!  A brilliant Vermilion Flycatcher posed, and at the bench had a  
Yellow-billed Cuckoo singing and Summer Tanagers chuppering.  It was also  
clear that a mob of illegals had come down the creek as it was full of 
footprints! 

 
I had read a post about the Amado Sewage Ponds: a field trip had seen a  
Black Tern there, so I wanted to check it out. Headed back to Amado, and once 
in 

town saw some suspicious-looking doves on the wire--sure enough, they  were 
Collareds!  After a couple of "goose chases" I finally found the pond,  but 
there wasn't anything there, so I decided to head on in to Willcox and stop at 

the lakes before checking in--boy, have THEY had a lot of rain!  The  whole 
Twin Lakes area had little wetlands all over, which I've NEVER seen  before!  
THAT place was hopping, with "write-in" birds including a ratty-looking 
Redhead, 

an Eared Grebe, and at least one Red-necked Phalarope in  with all the 
Wilson's (who were very entertaining by not only turning circles on the water 
but 

on the shore as well)!  Other shorebirds included several  Baird's and Least 
Sandpipers, a single Western, a handful of Avocets, a couple  of Lesser 
Yellowlegs, what I presuming was a Long-billed Dowitcher (it was still pretty 
deeply 

rust overall), and a Black-necked Stilt somewhere (just heard it  call).  I 
ran into some other birders from California and we shared war stories, when one 

of them spotted a large flock of White-faced Ibis in the  distance!  A flock 
of Cinnamon Teal kept making the rounds as well, and  Ruddies were bobbing in 
the middle of the lake.  And it turns out I didn't  need the Black Tern at 
Amado because there was a beautiful bird still in  breeding plumage batting 
around right there!
 
Dipped on the Semi Sand and the Snowy Plover, but I was kind of in a hurry  
to get checked in; I can check again tomorrow after the Chiricauhas.  Bird  
List:
 
  EARED  GREBE                            Podiceps nigricollis
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Black-crowned  Night-Heron              Nycticorax nycticorax
WHITE-FACED  IBIS                       Plegadis chihi
Cinnamon  Teal                          Anas cyanoptera
REDHEAD                                Aythya americana
RUDDY  DUCK                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Gray  Hawk                              Asturina nitida
Swainson's  Hawk                        Buteo swainsoni
Scaled  Quail                           Callipepla squamata
Gambel's  Quail                         Callipepla gambelii
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
BLACK-NECKED  STILT                     Himantopus mexicanus
AMERICAN  AVOCET                        Recurvirostra americana
KILLDEER                               Charadrius vociferus
LONG-BILLED  DOWITCHER                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
GREATER  YELLOWLEGS                     Tringa melanoleuca
LESSER  YELLOWLEGS                      Tringa flavipes
SOLITARY  SANDPIPER                     Tringa solitaria
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularia
WESTERN  SANDPIPER                      Calidris mauri
LEAST  SANDPIPER                        Calidris minutilla
BAIRD’S  SANDPIPER                      Calidris bairdii
WILSON’S  PHALAROPE                     Phalaropus tricolor
RED-NECKED  PHALAROPE                   Phalaropus lobatus
BLACK  TERN                             Chlidonias niger
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
EURASIAN COLLARED  DOVE                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Yellow-billed  Cuckoo                   Coccyzus americanus
Lesser  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles acutipennis
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
Rufous  Hummingbird                     Selasphorus rufus
Gila  Woodpecker                        Melanerpes uropygialis
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Black  Phoebe                           Sayornis nigricans
Say's  Phoebe                           Sayornis saya
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
Cassin's  Kingbird                      Tyrannus vociferans
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
HORNED  LARK                            Eremophila alpestris
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
BLUE-GRAY  GNATCATCHER                  Polioptila caerulea
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Chihuahuan  Raven                       Corvus cryptoleucus
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
NASHVILLE  WARBLER                      Vermivora ruficapilla
Lucy's  Warbler                         Vermivora luciae
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Wilson's  Warbler                       Wilsonia pusilla
Yellow-breasted  Chat                   Icteria virens
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Canyon  Towhee                          Pipilo fuscus
Botteri's  Sparrow                      Aimophila botterii
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Rufous-winged  Sparrow                  Aimophila carpalis
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Lark  Bunting                           Calamospiza melanocorys
GRASSHOPPER  SPARROW                    Ammodramus savannarum
WHITE-CROWNED  SPARROW                  Zonotrichia leucophrys
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Pyrrhuloxia                            Cardinalis sinuatus
Black-headed  Grosbeak                  Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Lazuli  Bunting                         Passerina amoena
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
YELLOW-HEADED  BLACKBIRD                Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Hooded  Oriole                          Icterus cucullatus
Bullock's  Oriole                       Icterus bullockii

89 SPECIES
So far: 177 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

Hi, all!
 
What a blessed day today!  Headed out to Patagonia Lake first thing  (to grab 
a parking spot), picking up the first raven I felt half-way comfortable  
calling a Chihuahuan this trip. Coming in had what appears to be the regular 
mix 

of sparrows these days: Rufous-winged, Cassin's, Botteri's,  Rufous-crowned, 
and Black-throated!  Along the top of the trail where you  could view the 
lake, I thought for sure I had the target Neotropic Cormorant, as  it was so 
strangely patterned (it almost looked like one of those African white-breasted 

cormorants), but consulting the book later, evidently Neotropics are never that 

white below.  It was indeed wetter down at the bottom than I  had ever seen 
it, but there were several makeshift trails around the muddy  stuff; the only 
water birds in evidence were coots, Pied-billed Grebes, and a  pair of Mexican 
Ducks.  Hiked the now well-marked trail into the mesquite  and up the hill a 
little, and had a nice Lucy's Warbler come in as well as a  curious female 
Broad-billed Hummer and a nice Varied Bunting, but no gnatcatchers. On the way 

out heard some funny noises and caught sight of a Black-bellied Whistling Duck 

flying low over the lake!  Checked the other  lake accesses to try and find 
another cormorant, but it was pretty quiet except for a Green Heron; had a Gila 

Woodpecker and White-winged Dove posing in the  same tree for pictures, and a 
Turkey Vulture was sunning himself on the Boulder  Beach sign.  
 
I actually made it out of there before the kiosk opened, so I got a free  
ride this time!  Headed over to the Roadside Rest where I decided to bird  the 
area by car; I always feel a little creepy walking that stretch by myself, and 

sure enough, while I was there a suspicious-looking white van loaded with  
people (and driven by a Hispanic with a big hat) pulled in, but he apparently  
kept going at the other end.  Bird-wise had a Yellow-billed Cuckoo quietly  
calling, and as I crawled down towards the picnic table, that distinctive 
clipped 

song of the lost White-eyed Vireo hit the air!  He was very  cooperative and 
even allowed some pictures (and never stopped singing the whole  time)!  The 
competing Canyon Wren was anticlimactic...
 
Parked at the far end and decided to brave the Becard Trail, but there  
wasn't anything down there except a Black Phoebe (that I could see, anyway). I 

knew Sonoita Creek Preserve was closed, but was curious to see how road-birding 

would work out, so made it through the muddy wash crossing just  before the 
Patons and stopped every half mile to listen.  At the first stop  I heard a 
distinctive "tee--tee--tee" and had the first Violet-crowned  Hummingbird I've 
ever seen in its "natural habitat"! I tried to pish out every bunting I heard 

to check for Indigo, but they just weren't being  cooperative (the Blue 
Grosbeaks were very curious, naturally...)  At one of  the spots where you can 
actually look into the preserve, a beautiful Gray Hawk sat right in the open, 
and 

at another stop I kept hearing what sounded like part  of the high-pitched 
dawn song of the becard, but there were also several Lesser Goldfinches around 

who were probably the culprits. Other roadside birds included Abert's Towhees 

and Yellow-breasted Chats, but my exploration was  curtailed at the next 
creek crossing which was REALLY running high!
 
It was after nine by that point so I felt I could visit the Paton's place  
without disturbing anybody, so back I went, and had the whole place to myself, 

so I felt I could safely do some photography.  Violetcrowns were there  right 
away, of course, along with Broadbills (one with a band, I discovered  after 
editing the photos) and Blackchins.  There had been reports of a  Bronzed 
Cowbird, so I kept a close eye on the seed feeders as well, but the main 
customers 

there were White-winged Doves (it was amusing watching them try to  land on 
and then STAY on those feeders) and House Finches.  But about 25  minutes into 
my stay I just happened to check one of the hummer feeders, and  there was the 
Lucifer Hummingbird!!  I couldn't believe it; he was  gorgeous, and even 
stuck around for pictures!
 
I "changed watch" with a fellow who had just arrived with a video camera; I  
showed him which feeder the Lucifer had come into (and got his life 
Violetcrown while we were at it), then took off for Patagonia Lake again to try 
for 

another shot at the cormorant (and properly pay my dues). No cormorant, but did 

 pick up another trip bird: a Forster's Tern batting around the day use  
area! A Beardless Tyrannulet was plaintively calling there as well. The only 

birds at the beach now were tons of Great-tailed Grackles (and a guy  wearing 
not much more than a G-strap...)
 
Took off for Kino Springs after that, and actually missed the turn due to  
the construction (I remember a big sign being there)!  Checked in at the  pro 
shop (and got my doggie fix with their friendly Golden Retriever), where one of 

the guys told me they had a "white egret" at the first pond  and where to 
find it (since I didn't remember seeing another pond coming  in).  Made the 
circle around the pond that was right there, with the first interesting set of 

birds being a lineup of swallows that included Rough-winged,  Barn, Tree, and 
Cliff!  A pair of Tropical Kingbirds was giving a Gray Hawk  fits, and before 
long the Cassin's were in on it, too! Had a pair of Lazuli Buntings pop up, as 

well as a Lark Sparrow, but no Painteds.  Kept  flushing all sorts of doves; 
mostly Mourning but also several Grounds and at  least one Inca.  At the far 
end had a couple of Lucy's Warblers along with  a nice Wilson's (migration has 
started, I guess).  Ran into another group  of birders after I had circled the 
pond, led by a fellow who was evidently a  local and told me where to find the 
buntings (I wasn't even at the right pond),  so I thanked him and went on my 
way.  
 
Found the "first pond" at the big pulloff on the way out, and walked up the  
old path alongside the pond, where there was indeed a Great Egret!  Also  
flushed a Great Blue and Black-crowned Night Heron in the process, and down at 

the end of the trail (at least as far as I wanted to go before it got 
overgrown) 

 heard another buzz, pished, and THIS time the guy was cooperative: just 
happened to be a nice olive-green bunting who gave great views as she fed and 

buzzed!  Painted Bunting for the state!
 
I was shot after that so decided to call it a day and head into the hotel  in 
Nogales.  Bird list:
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
DOUBLE-CRESTED  CORMORANT               Phalacrocorax auritus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
GREAT  EGRET                            Ardea alba
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT  HERON              Nycticorax nycticorax
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING  DUCK          Dendrocygna  autumnalis
Mallard (Mexican  Duck)                 Anas platyrhynchos
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Gray  Hawk                              Asturina nitida
American Kestrel
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
FORSTER’S  TERN                         Sterna forsteri
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
Inca  Dove                              Columbina inca
Yellow-billed  Cuckoo                   Coccyzus americanus
Greater Roadrunner
Broad-billed  Hummingbird               Cynanthus latirostris
VIOLET-CROWNED  HUMMINGBIRD             Agyrtria violiceps
LUCIFER  HUMMINGBIRD                    Calothorax lucifer
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
Acorn  Woodpecker                       Melanerpes formicivorus
Gila  Woodpecker                        Melanerpes uropygialis
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Northern  Flicker                       Colaptes auratus
Northern  Beardless-Tyrannulet         Camptostoma  imberbe
Western  Wood-Pewee                     Contopus sordidulus
Black  Phoebe                           Sayornis nigricans
Tropical  Kingbird                      Tyrannus melancholicus
Cassin's  Kingbird                      Tyrannus vociferans
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
TREE  SWALLOW                           Tachycineta bicolor
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
Cliff Swallow
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Canyon  Wren                            Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Bridled  Titmouse                       Baeolophus wollweberi
White-breasted  Nuthatch                Sitta carolinensis
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
CHIHUAHUAN  RAVEN                       Corvus cryptoleucus
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
WHITE-EYED  VIREO                       Vireo griseus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Lucy's  Warbler                         Vermivora luciae
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
WILSON’S  WARBLER                       Wilsonia pusilla
Yellow-breasted  Chat                   Icteria virens
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Canyon  Towhee                          Pipilo fuscus
Abert's  Towhee                         Pipilo aberti
Botteri's  Sparrow                      Aimophila botterii
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Rufous-winged  Sparrow                  Aimophila carpalis
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Song  Sparrow                           Melospiza melodia
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Black-headed  Grosbeak                  Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Lazuli  Bunting                         Passerina amoena
Varied  Bunting                         Passerina versicolor
PAINTED  BUNTING                        Passerina ciris
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed Cowbird

75 SPECIES
So far:  153 SPECIES  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

14 AUG 06
 
Hi, all!
 
Met birding buddy Judy Pike at the Denny's in Sierra Vista for breakfast,  
then headed out to San Pedro House to hike the trail before it got hot. We had 

the whole place to ourselves (until a couple of gals came through doing  
their power walks), with the dominant grassland birds being Cassin's and  
Botteri's Sparrows and Blue Grosbeaks. It was pretty quiet down at the river, 
and it 

was quite muddy as well (I didn't know the river actually flowed  NORTH out 
of Mexico!).  We did manage to see several Yellow Warblers, and  Abert's 
Towhees were quite plentiful. The Chats started to tune up after awhile, and we 

also had a couple of nice subadult Vermilion Flycatchers.   We flushed several 
Common Ground Doves which promptly began to sing, and scanned muddy Kingfisher 

Pond for its namesake, finding only a family of Barn Swallows  still being 
fed by Mom! Three Mexican Ducks flew overhead, and a Gray Hawk whistled unseen 

from the trees.  Judy spotted an Empid that I'm pretty sure  was a Dusky 
Flycatcher: it flicked its tail upward (eliminating Gray), and  overall it 
appeared quite dull (paler below) with a weak eyering but with a mainly pale 
lower 

mandible.  It actually reminded me a little of our Alder  Flycatchers back in 
Michigan!  But I felt the eyering was too strong for  Willow, but I'm willing 
to be challenged on that; I got fair to midland photos if anyone would like to 

see them.
 
Heading back we had a marvelous view of a male Lazuli Bunting, and a  
Yellowthroat was perched up on a yucca until a Kestrel sent him into  hiding!  
"Lilian's" Meadowlarks sang from the grasslands on the way back as well, and we 

enjoyed a shrike making nasty noises!  A flock of Lark  Sparrows exploded from 
the side of the trails and gave great looks, and had a Bullock's Oriole chatter 

from the Big Cottonwood for the trip (during my  exercise walk on Saturday I 
had a Say's Phoebe for the trip, but we didn't see  him today).  There wasn't 
much at the seed feeders as they were pretty  empty, but the Lesser 
Goldfinches were attacking the thistle sock with a  vengeance!
 
Decided to do Carr Canyon first in case the monsoons decided to form early  
again, so up we went, stopping every half mile.  It was pretty quiet, but  we 
did have a couple of Scaled Quail scurry across the road early on (Judy calls  
them "coneheads"), and where the pavement ends I actually heard a Bobwhite  
singing!  I wasn't sure if it was someone's pet or if they have an  introduced 
population around here. Making our way up the road we added Bridled Titmouse, 

Black-headed Grosbeak, Canyon and Bewick's Wrens, Western Wood  Pewee, and a 
distant Greater Pewee singing!  Judy pointed out a waterfall  which her 
daughter's family had gone up over the weekend to see.  
 
We finally made it up to the top (someone had reported that the road was in  
pretty bad shape, but it wasn't any worse than it usually is, IMO), and a walk 
 around the Reef Campground started out pretty dead (except for a Robin), but 
we  shortly ran into a flock that included a family of White-breasted 
Nuthatches, a Brown Creeper, and Black-throated Gray Warbler. What Judy thought 
was 

a  Ruby-crowned Kinglet at first turned out to be a Hutton's Vireo (great ID 
lesson  there), but the highlight was a brilliant male Hermit Warbler that 
Judy spotted,  which happened to be a life bird for her!  Shortly after that a 
pretty Grace's Warbler came in, and several Yellow-eyed Juncos gave point blank 

views  as they fed on the ground.  The other campground had a flock of 
Bushtits and a juvenile Acorn Woodpecker begging from its parent; I thought we 
had 

a  strange flycatcher at first, the vocalizations were so high-pitched and  
squeaky!
 
Headed down after that and up to Ramsey Canyon, where a knockout  
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher put on a show on the way in! The feeders at the B&B 
were 

hopping (we spotted a Mag on the way in), but we dutifully headed  up to the 
parking area, enjoying a White-tailed Deer feeding on some salt in the parking 

lot! We checked on the preserve's feeders first, which were really quite dead 

except for a few Blackchins and one Anna's.  After 15 minutes we  headed up 
the trail, which was also very quiet except for a Painted Redstart (we passed a 

family and mused about their comment that it was "quite active" up at  the 
pond when it was "quite dead" when we got there!). The creek was running great 

guns; even Judy admitted she had never seen it that heavy!
 
After getting the required T-shirt we headed down to the B&B feeders to  
watch them for awhile, and soon a local guide with two clients came down and  
promptly pointed out the male Berylline Hummer that had just come in! He didn't 

stick around long, though, and most of the avian customers were Anna's,  
Blackchins, and Selasphorii (the book implies that Rufous is probably more 
likely 

this time of year), while a young Black-headed Grosbeak did his  "cockatiel" 
call overhead and then tried to sing!  
 
We then headed over to Miller Canyon and headed straight to Tom Beatty's  
because of the threat of rain (it had been thundering the whole time at Ramsey, 

which also but a damper--no pun intended--on the hike, and we saw a whopper of 
a  monsoon dumping near Bisbee, it looked like).  We handed over our ten 
bucks and chatted with Tom for awhile; it was really starting to look like the 

rain forest of the Andes, so we were anxious to get up to the Controlled Access 

Area  before it let loose!  There was another fellow up there shooting (with 
a  camera) who was very nice, and before long we were pointing out all sorts 
of  stuff to each other: mostly Broad-tailed, Anna's, and Blackchins, but also 
an  occasional female Broad-billed and Mag, but before long the star of the 
show  came in, a lovely male White-eared!  A Blue-throated also came in for a  
brief look, and later while editing my own photos, I think I may have  
inadvertently shot a female Calliope (Tom said they were around): very 
short-billed 

and short-tailed, but this bird showed no buffy underneath.   Again, if anyone 
would like to analyze the photo, let me know!
 
It was really getting dark, windy, and threatening (Judy was the only one  
with any sense and finally talked us all into leaving, but not before a  
brilliant male Mag landed right in front of us for pictures), but ironically by 
the 

time we got back down to the public area, the "threat" seemed to dissipate,  
and it was just gloomy and overcast!  So we sat at THOSE feeders for about  15 
minutes; the Lucifer had been coming in to the far feeder, and all the nice  
male Rufous Hummers seemed to be coming in down there as well, so I parked  
myself at that end to get some shots, when after awhile another White-eared 
came 

sailing in!  What a show!
 
Judy wanted to treat me to a Moolatte for my birthday (and it WAS still  
kinda threatening-looking), so we decided to call it a day and head for the 
Dairy 

Queen (and those things are GOOD!)!  Bird list:
 
  Mallard (Mexican  Duck)            Anas  platyrhynchos
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Gray  Hawk                              Asturina nitida
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
SCALED  QUAIL                           Callipepla squamata
NORTHERN  BOBWHITE (status?)        Colinus  virginianus
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Common  Ground-Dove                     Columbina passerina
INCA DOVE (at  Judy’s)                  Columbina inca
Broad-billed  Hummingbird               Cynanthus latirostris
WHITE-EARED  HUMMINGBIRD                Hylocharis leucotis
BERYLLINE  HUMMINGBIRD                  Saucerottia beryllina
BLUE-THROATED  HUMMINGBIRD              Lampornis clemenciae
Magnificent  Hummingbird                Eugenes fulgens
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
ANNA’S  HUMMINGBIRD                     Calypte anna
BROAD-TAILED  HUMMINGBIRD               Selasphorus platycercus
RUFOUS  HUMMINGBIRD                     Selasphorus rufus
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (probable)
Acorn  Woodpecker                       Melanerpes formicivorus
Gila  Woodpecker                        Melanerpes uropygialis
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Northern  Flicker                       Colaptes auratus
GREATER  PEWEE                          Contopus pertinax
Western  Wood-Pewee                     Contopus sordidulus
DUSKY FLYCATCHER  (probable)           Empidonax  oberholseri
SAY’S  PHOEBE                           Sayornis saya
Vermilion  Flycatcher                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
Sulphur-bellied  Flycatcher             Myiodynastes luteiventris
Cassin's  Kingbird                      Tyrannus vociferans
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Canyon  Wren                            Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
BUSHTIT                                Psaltriparus minimus
Bridled  Titmouse                       Baeolophus wollweberi
White-breasted  Nuthatch                Sitta carolinensis
Brown  Creeper                          Certhia americana
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Western  Scrub-Jay                      Aphelocoma californica
Mexican  Jay                            Aphelocoma ultramarina
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Hutton's  Vireo                         Vireo huttoni
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Black-throated Gray  Warbler           Dendroica  nigrescens
HERMIT  WARBLER                         Dendroica occidentalis
GRACE’S  WARBLER                        Dendroica graciae
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Painted  Redstart                       Myioborus pictus
Yellow-breasted  Chat                   Icteria virens
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Spotted  Towhee                         Pipilo maculatus
Canyon  Towhee                          Pipilo fuscus
Abert's  Towhee                         Pipilo aberti
Botteri's  Sparrow                      Aimophila botterii
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Yellow-eyed  Junco                      Junco phaeonotus
Black-headed  Grosbeak                  Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Lazuli  Bunting                         Passerina amoena
Eastern  Meadowlark                     Sturnella magna
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
BULLOCK’S  ORIOLE                       Icterus bullockii

74 SPECIES
So far: 141 SPECIES  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

11 AUG 06
 
Hi, all!
 
Part of me feels as though I should have gone to Mt Lemmon, but then again,  
I'm glad I wasn't up at three fighting the traffic!  The sunrise coming up  
behind the Santa Ritas was gorgeous, and of course the pre-dawn cacophony of  
sparrows was fun: LOTS of Rufous-wings in addition to the Black-throated and  
Cassin's, and Botteri's were further up the road, closer to the Proctor Trail. 

Several Great Horned Owls hooted again, and Blue Grosbeaks started  tuning up 
once the sun was up.  Had a funny-looking sparrow that I honestly  couldn't 
ID; my best guess was a strange-looking Chippie, and thankfully a more  
normal-looking bird popped up later on the road!  Loggerhead Shrikes and a  
Red-tailed Hawk posed for pictures, and had another Crissal Thrasher doing his 

"chewy-chewy" along with the Curvebills.  A new trip bird, Eastern  (Lilian's) 
Meadowlark, sang in the distance, and a female Hooded Oriole first called then 

perched briefly on the wire.  One stop was a little unnerving  as I heard 
Spanish-speaking male voices off in the bushes...
 
The Proctor Trail was very pleasant this early in the morning, but not real  
active; had the usual Bell's Vireos, Bewick's Wrens, and Canyon Wrens in the  
distance, plus a couple of Summer Tanagers closer to the end of the loop.   A 
distant Lazuli Bunting sat singing on the top of a tree, while a Varied sang  
unseen in the mesquite.  Ran into a couple of visiting birders from  Minnesota 
who were very excited about everything, naturally; back in the parking  lot a 
cooperative Botteri's Sparrow sat up and sang for them!
 
At the next stop along the road some Eastern Bluebirds called from  somewhere 
behind me, and up at the Madera Picnic Area picked up Painted Redstart  and 
Western Wood Pewee for the day.  The feeders at the lodge were quite  active, 
and the Magnificent Hummer gave a great show, flashing his green and  purple 
head! Several Blackchins and Broadbills fought and maneuvered around the bees, 

and House Finches and Lesser Goldfinches came in to the seed  feeders, every 
once in awhile being usurped by a Mexican Jay.  The Gray  Squirrels gathered 
acorns on the ground, and the Acorn Woodpeckers made a big  fuss on the 
"storage pole" next to the parking lot.
 
Checked out the B&B where the Flame-colored Tanager was supposed to  hang 
out, and ran into a fellow from North Dakota who was doing the same thing! The 

bird was a no-show (had another Mag at the hummer feeders,  though), so we 
chatted a bit while watching the line of cars heading up to the Mt Baldy 
parking 

lot...
 
That was actually my next destination, although I wasn't planning on hiking  
all the way up to the Thrush Spot again.  Barely found a parking spot, and  
started on up, chatting with a fellow from England who was after the thrush,  
among other things.  A White-breasted Nuthatch was being cute, a Plumbeous  
Vireo sang, and a Hepatic Tanager chupped from the trees, but it was really  
pretty dead; I sat at the bench for awhile hoping something would come in, but 

nada.
 
I wanted to hit the Greaterville Road after that (especially since the  
monsoons had been forming early), so careened down the hill and made the turn, 

doing the drive-a-mile bit. It was getting pretty warm, but the sparrows were 

still singing away, and another trip bird, a flock of Lark Buntings,  bounced 
across the road!  At the wash was a wonderful Varied Bunting as  well as 
another belligerent Bell's Vireo. You could see where the rains had indeed done 
a 

job on this road; in fact, I should have taken a picture of  the "lake" that 
took up most of the road at one point--there was barely enough room to squeeze 

by!
 
Up the canyon I dipped on the Black-chinned Sparrows I usually get in here  
(and remembered that when I do the week-long trip I usually do this road first 

thing in the morning), but got a magnificent Golden Eagle that had the ground 
 squirrels chirping in alarm, plus a family of Rock Wrens.  Up into the oak  
savannah had a Scott's Oriole singing and a Monty Quail churring, and finally 
up  into the wide open spaces had plenty of Western and Cassin's Kingbirds 
(mostly  the former).  Barn Swallows were swooping around up here as well.
 
I really wanted to do some more birding, but the storms were REALLY brewing  
already, so decided to just go ahead and check in at Sierra Vista, picking up 
my  trip Swainson's Hawk on the way.  Just made it, too; the Huachucas were  
getting clobbered!  (I felt sorry for anyone stuck up in the  canyons...)
 
Bird list:
 
  Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
SWAINSON’S  HAWK                        Buteo swainsoni
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
GOLDEN  EAGLE                           Aquila chrysaetos
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Gambel's  Quail                         Callipepla gambelii
Montezuma  Quail                        Cyrtonyx montezumae
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Great Horned  Owl                       Bubo virginianus
Broad-billed  Hummingbird               Cynanthus latirostris
Magnificent  Hummingbird                Eugenes fulgens
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
Acorn  Woodpecker                       Melanerpes formicivorus
Gila  Woodpecker                        Melanerpes uropygialis
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Western Wood-Pewee&                     Contopus sordidulus
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
Sulphur-bellied  Flycatcher             Myiodynastes luteiventris
Cassin's  Kingbird                      Tyrannus vociferans
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Phainopepla                            Phainopepla nitens
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Rock  Wren                              Salpinctes obsoletus
Canyon  Wren                            Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
Crissal  Thrasher                       Toxostoma crissale
Eastern  Bluebird                       Sialia sialis
Black-tailed  Gnatcatcher               Polioptila melanura
Bridled  Titmouse                       Baeolophus wollweberi
White-breasted  Nuthatch                Sitta carolinensis
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Mexican  Jay                            Aphelocoma ultramarina
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
Plumbeous  Vireo                        Vireo plumbeus
Hutton's  Vireo                         Vireo huttoni
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Painted  Redstart                       Myioborus pictus
Hepatic  Tanager                        Piranga flava
Summer  Tanager                         Piranga rubra
Canyon  Towhee                          Pipilo fuscus
Botteri's  Sparrow                      Aimophila botterii
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Rufous-winged  Sparrow                  Aimophila carpalis
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
LARK  BUNTING                           Calamospiza melanocorys
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Black-headed  Grosbeak                  Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Lazuli  Bunting                         Passerina amoena
Varied  Bunting                         Passerina versicolor
EASTERN  MEADOWLARK                     Sturnella magna
Hooded  Oriole                          Icterus cucullatus
Scott's  Oriole                         Icterus parisorum

63 SPECIES
So far: 124 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

  
11 AUG 06
 
Hi, all!
 
Part of me feels as though I should have gone to Mt Lemmon, but then again, I'm 
glad I wasn't up at three fighting the traffic! The sunrise coming up behind 
the Santa Ritas was gorgeous, and of course the pre-dawn cacophony of sparrows 
was fun: LOTS of Rufous-wings in addition to the Black-throated and Cassin's, 
and Botteri's were further up the road, closer to the Proctor Trail. Several 
Great Horned Owls hooted again, and Blue Grosbeaks started tuning up once the 
sun was up. Had a funny-looking sparrow that I honestly couldn't ID; my best 
guess was a strange-looking Chippie, and thankfully a more normal-looking bird 
popped up later on the road! Loggerhead Shrikes and a Red-tailed Hawk posed for 
pictures, and had another Crissal Thrasher doing his "chewy-chewy" along with 
the Curvebills. A new trip bird, Eastern (Lilian's) Meadowlark, sang in the 
distance, and a female Hooded Oriole first called then perched briefly on the 
wire. One stop was a little unnerving as I heard Spanish-speaking male voices 
off in the bushes... 

 
The Proctor Trail was very pleasant this early in the morning, but not real 
active; had the usual Bell's Vireos, Bewick's Wrens, and Canyon Wrens in the 
distance, plus a couple of Summer Tanagers closer to the end of the loop. A 
distant Lazuli Bunting sat singing on the top of a tree, while a Varied sang 
unseen in the mesquite. Ran into a couple of visiting birders from Minnesota 
who were very excited about everything, naturally; back in the parking lot a 
cooperative Botteri's Sparrow sat up and sang for them! 

 
At the next stop along the road some Eastern Bluebirds called from somewhere 
behind me, and up at the Madera Picnic Area picked up Painted Redstart and 
Western Wood Pewee for the day. The feeders at the lodge were quite active, and 
the Magnificent Hummer gave a great show, flashing his green and purple head! 
Several Blackchins and Broadbills fought and maneuvered around the bees, and 
House Finches and Lesser Goldfinches came in to the seed feeders, every once in 
awhile being usurped by a Mexican Jay. The Gray Squirrels gathered acorns on 
the ground, and the Acorn Woodpeckers made a big fuss on the "storage pole" 
next to the parking lot. 

 
Checked out the B&B where the Flame-colored Tanager was supposed to hang out, 
and ran into a fellow from North Dakota who was doing the same thing! The bird 
was a no-show (had another Mag at the hummer feeders, though), so we chatted a 
bit while watching the line of cars heading up to the Mt Baldy parking lot... 

 
That was actually my next destination, although I wasn't planning on hiking all 
the way up to the Thrush Spot again. Barely found a parking spot, and started 
on up, chatting with a fellow from England who was after the thrush, among 
other things. A White-breasted Nuthatch was being cute, a Plumbeous Vireo sang, 
and a Hepatic Tanager chupped from the trees, but it was really pretty dead; I 
sat at the bench for awhile hoping something would come in, but nada. 

 
I wanted to hit the Greaterville Road after that (especially since the monsoons 
had been forming early), so careened down the hill and made the turn, doing the 
drive-a-mile bit. It was getting pretty warm, but the sparrows were still 
singing away, and another trip bird, a flock of Lark Buntings, bounced across 
the road! At the wash was a wonderful Varied Bunting as well as another 
belligerent Bell's Vireo. You could see where the rains had indeed done a job 
on this road; in fact, I should have taken a picture of the "lake" that took up 
most of the road at one point--there was barely enough room to squeeze by! 

 
Up the canyon I dipped on the Black-chinned Sparrows I usually get in here (and 
remembered that when I do the week-long trip I usually do this road first thing 
in the morning), but got a magnificent Golden Eagle that had the ground 
squirrels chirping in alarm, plus a family of Rock Wrens. Up into the oak 
savannah had a Scott's Oriole singing and a Monty Quail churring, and finally 
up into the wide open spaces had plenty of Western and Cassin's Kingbirds 
(mostly the former). Barn Swallows were swooping around up here as well. 

 
I really wanted to do some more birding, but the storms were REALLY brewing 
already, so decided to just go ahead and check in at Sierra Vista, picking up 
my trip Swainson's Hawk on the way. Just made it, too; the Huachucas were 
getting clobbered! (I felt sorry for anyone stuck up in the canyons...) 

 
Bird list:
 
  Turkey Vulture                        Cathartes aura
  SWAINSON’S HAWK                       Buteo swainsoni
  Red-tailed Hawk                       Buteo jamaicensis
  GOLDEN EAGLE                          Aquila chrysaetos
  American Kestrel                      Falco sparverius
  Gambel's Quail                        Callipepla gambelii
  Montezuma Quail                       Cyrtonyx montezumae
  Mourning Dove                         Zenaida macroura
  White-winged Dove                     Zenaida asiatica
  Great Horned Owl                      Bubo virginianus
  Broad-billed Hummingbird              Cynanthus latirostris
  Magnificent Hummingbird               Eugenes fulgens
  Black-chinned Hummingbird             Archilochus alexandri
  Acorn Woodpecker                      Melanerpes formicivorus
  Gila Woodpecker                       Melanerpes uropygialis
  Ladder-backed Woodpecker              Picoides scalaris
  Western Wood-Pewee                    Contopus sordidulus
  Ash-throated Flycatcher               Myiarchus cinerascens
  Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher            Myiodynastes luteiventris
  Cassin's Kingbird                     Tyrannus vociferans
  Western Kingbird                      Tyrannus verticalis
  Northern Rough-winged Swallow         Stelgidopteryx serripennis
  Barn Swallow                          Hirundo rustica
  Phainopepla                           Phainopepla nitens
  Cactus Wren                           Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
  Rock Wren                             Salpinctes obsoletus
  Canyon Wren                           Catherpes mexicanus
  Bewick's Wren                         Thryomanes bewickii
  Curve-billed Thrasher                 Toxostoma curvirostre
  Crissal Thrasher                      Toxostoma crissale
  Eastern Bluebird                      Sialia sialis
  Black-tailed Gnatcatcher              Polioptila melanura
  Bridled Titmouse                      Baeolophus wollweberi
  White-breasted Nuthatch               Sitta carolinensis
  Verdin                                Auriparus flaviceps
  Loggerhead Shrike                     Lanius ludovicianus
  Mexican Jay                           Aphelocoma ultramarina
  Common Raven                          Corvus corax
  House Sparrow                         Passer domesticus
  Bell's Vireo                          Vireo bellii
  Plumbeous Vireo                       Vireo plumbeus
  Hutton's Vireo                        Vireo huttoni
  House Finch                           Carpodacus mexicanus
  Lesser Goldfinch                      Carduelis psaltria
  Painted Redstart                      Myioborus pictus
  Hepatic Tanager                       Piranga flava
  Summer Tanager                        Piranga rubra
  Canyon Towhee                         Pipilo fuscus
  Botteri's Sparrow                     Aimophila botterii
  Cassin's Sparrow                      Aimophila cassinii
  Rufous-crowned Sparrow                Aimophila ruficeps
  Rufous-winged Sparrow                 Aimophila carpalis
  Chipping Sparrow                      Spizella passerina
  Black-throated Sparrow                Amphispiza bilineata
  LARK BUNTING                          Calamospiza melanocorys
  Northern Cardinal                     Cardinalis cardinalis
  Black-headed Grosbeak                 Pheucticus melanocephalus
  Blue Grosbeak                         Passerina caerulea
  Lazuli Bunting                        Passerina amoena
  Varied Bunting                        Passerina versicolor
  EASTERN MEADOWLARK                    Sturnella magna
  Hooded Oriole                         Icterus cucullatus
  Scott's Oriole                        Icterus parisorum

63 SPECIES
So far: 124 SPECIES

 
Mary Beth Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
www.miriameaglemon.com
 
________________________________________________________________________
Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. 
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10 AUG 06
 
Hi, all!
 
Revisited the road up to the Whipple Observatory again, starting pre-dawn  as 
usual, and was inundated by all the Black-throated Sparrows singing  away!  
The usual desert fare joined the dawn chorus, but for a San Diegan it's always 

nice to hear specialties such as Cassin's and Rufous-winged Sparrows  in 
addition to the regulars (although it takes a bit of getting used to hearing  
Purple Martins in the desert when we only get them in the high mountains)! 
Added 

another Great Horned Owl, and lots of "Cardipyrrs" sang up the road;  wasn't 
able to get a positive ID on either until leaving later in the  morning!  
 
The whole purpose of doing this road was the possibility of Black-capped  
Gnatcatchers, and ironically, I didn't even have Black-TAILED until on the way 

out!  A new trip bird DID materialize, however: a couple of Crissal  Thrashers 
doing their distinctive "chewy-chewy" calls!  Also had  Curve-billed with 
their rude whistles, and lots of Blue Grosbeaks and Varied Buntings singing 
side 

by side for good comparison!  Up into the narrow  canyon added Bell's Vireo 
and lots of Canyon Wrens, and a Scott's Oriole made a  funny nasal note that 
sounded similar to the Black-vented Orioles we had in  Copper Canyon!  (Yeah, 
that thought crossed my mind, but I had one doing the same nasal note along 
Ruby 

Road, so as the saying goes, when you hear  hoofbeats, think horses, not 
zebras...)  Canyon Towhees were along here as  well, doing the same "greeting 
chatter" as our Californias back home, and was  surprised to hear the rising 
"pdrrip!" of a Western Tanager this low (guess they're dispersing already...). 

Bewick's Wrens were all over.
 
Working up the hill had more spectacular views, and startled a young buck  
White-tailed Deer in wonderful Monty Quail habitat (where they were churring  
enticingly). Then I heard a blowing sound I had also heard along Ruby Road and 

just assumed it was a Turkey Vulture (it sounded like the recording,  
anyway), and discovered it was the deer doing it! His mate was out of view, and 

they were "blowing" at each other; it was evidently an alarm call of some kind. 

He also waved his "white flag" for good measure...
 
Up in the higher elevation had most of the same birds I had two days ago,  
with the addition of Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, Spotted  
Towhee, and Steller's Jay (had a sweep along with Scrubbie and Mexican). Up at 

the top a flock of Band-tailed Pigeons flew over, and a funny wheezy noise  
turned out to be the wind whipping through the wings of the White-throated 
Swifts 

zooming overhead!  
 
Heading back down, I had seen an old road/trail on the other side of the  
ravine, so pulled in a little parking area down the hill a bit to see if there 

was any access, and I did indeed find an old, overgrown trail that I took a  
little of; it was pretty rough going, and there was LOTS of fresh bear scat  
around (one had taken a dump just inside the observatory gate the last time I  
was up here).  Had a great look at a pair of Rufous-crowned Sparrows along  
here, but just as I was about to call it quits, this brown bowling ball with  
wings suddenly exploded from the side of the hill, giving a panicked version of 

his trill, and it took me a minute to realize I had just actually SEEN a  
Montezuma Quail! (BVD, of course... :-) ) Almost at the trailhead I was trying 

to sneak up on a singing Hutton's Vireo when something else exploded  from the 
side of the trail; I had nearly stepped on a rattlesnake!   (Black-tailed, I 
think, from the pictures...)  
 
Cruised down the hill, and near that narrow canyon was a forest road (if  you 
care to call it that) labeled 4077; I just parked in the entrance and hiked  
down it for about five minutes.  This was a much better trail in  
cactus/mesquite habitat, with a great view of the two "humps". No gnatcatchers 
in here, 

but had a GREAT view of a singing Rufous-winged Sparrow  (in the shade, of 
course)! Took it slow the rest of the way out, just listening, and like I said, 

DID pick up Black-tailed Gnat, and got a knockout  view of a singing 
Pyyrhuloxia and added Botteri's and Lark Sparrows for the  day.
 
It was about 10:30 by then, so I decided to explore the other road  (Elephant 
Head), which I guess is the one that leads you to Chino Canyon.   I followed 
it to its terminus, where you come to a dirt road that goes back into  the 
national forest (the Elephant Trail head was four miles further), but I also 
had 

a great view of what I just left: Mt. Hopkins was shrouded in an  
ominously-developing monsoon, and it wasn't even 11:00 yet!!! I decided to walk 
a bit 

of the dirt road (I realized later that that was probably that area  you're 
supposed to pass through and not stop in) and was able to add a Roadrunner with 

lunch to the list before the thunder turned me back...  So  I came home early 
to input the data and decide whether to do Madera again  tomorrow or zip up to 
Mt Lemmon instead...
 
Bird List:
 
  Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Gambel's  Quail                         Callipepla gambelii
Montezuma  Quail                        Cyrtonyx montezumae
BAND-TAILED  PIGEON                     Patagioenas fasciata
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Great Horned  Owl                       Bubo virginianus
WHITE-THROATED  SWIFT                   Aeronautes saxatalis
Gila  Woodpecker                        Melanerpes uropygialis
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Arizona  Woodpecker                     Picoides arizonae
Western  Wood-Pewee                     Contopus sordidulus
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
Sulphur-bellied  Flycatcher             Myiodynastes luteiventris
Cassin's  Kingbird                      Tyrannus vociferans
Purple  Martin                          Progne subis
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Rock  Wren                              Salpinctes obsoletus
Canyon  Wren                            Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
CRISSAL  THRASHER                       Toxostoma crissale
Black-tailed  Gnatcatcher               Polioptila melanura
Bridled  Titmouse                       Baeolophus wollweberi
White-breasted  Nuthatch                Sitta carolinensis
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
STELLER’S  JAY                          Cyanocitta stelleri
Western  Scrub-Jay                      Aphelocoma californica
Mexican  Jay                            Aphelocoma ultramarina
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
Plumbeous  Vireo                        Vireo plumbeus
Hutton's  Vireo                         Vireo huttoni
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Hepatic  Tanager                        Piranga flava
Western  Tanager                        Piranga ludoviciana
SPOTTED  TOWHEE                         Pipilo maculatus
Canyon  Towhee                          Pipilo fuscus
Botteri's  Sparrow                      Aimophila botterii
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Rufous-winged  Sparrow                  Aimophila carpalis
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Pyrrhuloxia                            Cardinalis sinuatus
Black-headed  Grosbeak                  Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Varied  Bunting                         Passerina versicolor
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Scott's  Oriole                         Icterus parisorum

56 SPECIES
So far: 120 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

9 AUG 06
 
Hi, all!
 
Wow!  What a lightning show last night!  Thankfully the deluge  didn't close 
Ruby Road (as I had been deterred at least once before by a running  wash), 
and it was a delightful drive!  Started pre-dawn at the entrance to  the 
national forest with tons of Blue Grosbeaks and Cassin's Sparrows, and the 
token 

Rufous-winged adding his bright bouncing ball song.  Later on along  the road 
(which starts out in mesquite bosque) added Vermilion Flycatcher,  Cassin's 
Kingbird, Lucy's Warbler, and Ash-throated Flycatcher to the trip list. A 
couple 

of Border Patrol jeeps went tearing by me early on; I have  to confess that I 
feel safer down there with them around!
 
Pena Blanca Lake is always the most productive spot on the route, and as  
usual, I had the whole place to myself. Besides the wondrous rocky formations, 

there's lots of good riparian habitat, so had several Black Phoebes,  
Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Summer Tanagers, and Yellow Warblers for the day. 
Driving in 

a "Western" Flycatcher called outside the car; it sounded slurred  enough to 
me to call it a PS, but if someone who knows better would like to enlighten me 

on which is more likely, I'm open!
 
Spooked a Spotted Sandpiper along the stream on the way to the dock, and at  
the dock proper were two pairs of Moorhens (one on a nest, it looked like) and 
a  couple of Coots along with some funny ducks.  A Green Heron flew around  
"scalp"ing, and as I scanned I spotted a Gray Hawk, who promptly took off 
(their eyes must be REALLY good if they can spot you looking at them from THAT 
far 

 away!).  There are several "dead ends" that overlook the lake, and they're  
all worth checking IMO; at the last overlook before continuing on to Aravaca 
had  a Beardless Tyrannulet right over my head!  A family of Dusky-capped  
Flycatchers came in as well and started chasing each other while Brown-cresteds 

called across the lake.  Ground Doves were all over, as well as  White-winged 
and Mourning, and disturbed the morning convention of Turkey  Vultures all 
sunning themselves at one overlook!  Sometimes I have a hard  time telling the 
Blue Grosbeak from the Varied Bunting vocally, and at one stop  I thought this 
one song kinda went on and on and on, and sure enough, it was a  lovely Varied!
 
Headed on to Aravaca after that, enjoying the scenery and the  birdlife!  You 
shortly come to a lot of grassy area with scattered trees,  and a Montezuma 
Quail dutifully trilled along here (and just as dutifully  refused to show 
himself). Another Scott's Oriole sang a song that was worth transcribing it was 

so "on the money" musically!  Rufous-crowned  Sparrows were all over, plus a 
few Canyon Towhees.  Flowers were in good  form as well: I don't know my 
plants, but these smallish thorny bushes had beautiful pink and white "bristle" 

flowers!
 
There are lots of good rocky outcroppings along this road with oodles of  
Rock and Canyon Wrens, and at one little "ledge" a Roadrunner perched on top! I 

confess that I love messin' with Roadrunners, so I cooed at him  while trying 
to sneak up for a picture; he shortly jumped down and came closer  through 
the vegetation, then finally out in the open!  When he realized I  wasn't 
another Roadrunner he crossed the road and hopped into the mesquites... Passed 
the 

turnoffs to the famous canyons (which I'll never  go down alone); a small 
flock of Chipping Sparrows was feeding on the road near the turnoff to Sycamore 

Canyon.  One of these days I'm hoping one of those  rarities will make it to 
the GOOD road!
 
Once out of the national forest you pass through someone's ranch (where the  
grassland has been munched but good), and had a great view of a singing  
Botteri's Sparrow along here! (Cassin's were back in full force at this end as 

well...) A family of Gambel's Quail was much more cooperative than the Montys, 

and I had to laugh: you're out in the middle of NOPLACE, with ONE  building 
out there, and there was a House Sparrow!  Passed through a little  patch of 
wonderful riparian woodland where I had a real surprise: a couple of  
Thick-billed Kingbirds! Took a quick swing down to Aravaca Lake where I picked 
up 

Western Kingbird and Chats for the day (was surprised I didn't have any at Pena 

Blanca) and enjoyed the butterfly feeding frenzy down at the  lake.  Nothing 
out of the ordinary there, but had the only Red-winged  Blackbird of the day. 
The flowers along the entrance road were spectacular; at a  distance they 
reminded me of our California Poppies, but these had a reddish central spot to 
them. 

 
I really should have quit then (it was getting close to noon), but I needed  
a walk, so after finally finding Aravaca Cienega (I always get turned around  
coming in from Ruby Road) took a nice exercise walk around the two mile  loop. 
 It was pretty hot but dumping water on myself helped that part; I  was 
amazed that things were still singing up a storm in here, especially the chats! 

Picked up Song Sparrow for the day, and the Tropical Kingbirds were  hanging 
out around that big field like they always seem to do!  In the more  enclosed 
woodland had a pair of Cardinals, and as I was trying to pish them closer this 

young Bewick's Wren practically landed on me!  A Bell's Vireo  came in to 
investigate as well, but he was too skittish for pictures. Had another pair of 

Vermy Flys in here as well, and lots of Yellowthroats, but no  rails that I 
could get to respond. A nice male Lazuli Bunting gave a brief look, but for the 

first time the Gray Hawk wasn't in his regular tree!  I  had several along 
the route, however, including a young one sitting in the middle of the road in 

Aravaca, so he wasn't terribly missed.  On the way  out had a lovely Lark 
Sparrow in the bosque, so he's official now (I was doubting my record the first 

day at Madera because it dawned on me later that  Black-throated Sparrows can 
"snort", too, and in that early morning cacophony, that's probably what I had). 

 
I was hoping I could run through the wildlife drive before the monsoons  hit, 
but I had forgotten how long it takes to get out there from the cienega, so  
I stopped at headquarters long enough to use the restroom and grab a coke, 
then  tore back to Green Valley, narrowly missing the monsters already dumping 
their stuff (and that Aravaca Road looked like it was pretty beat up in spots; 

they  had evidently even closed it at one point)!  Bird List:
 
  Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
Black  Vulture                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Cooper's  Hawk                          Accipiter cooperii
GRAY  HAWK                              Asturina nitida
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Gambel's  Quail                         Callipepla gambelii
Montezuma  Quail                        Cyrtonyx montezumae
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
SPOTTED  SANDPIPER                      Actitis macularia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
COMMON GROUND  DOVE                     Columbina passerina
YELLOW-BILLED  CUCKOO                   Coccyzus americanus
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Broad-billed  Hummingbird               Cynanthus latirostris
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
Acorn  Woodpecker                       Melanerpes formicivorus
Gila  Woodpecker                        Melanerpes uropygialis
Ladder-backed  Woodpecker               Picoides scalaris
Northern  Flicker                       Colaptes auratus
NORTHERN BEARDLESS  TYRANNULET         Camptostoma  imberbe
PACIFIC-SLOPE  FLYCATCHER               Empidonax difficilis
BLACK  PHOEBE                           Sayornis nigricans
VERMILION  FLYCATCHER                   Pyrocephalus rubinus
DUSKY-CAPPED  FLYCATCHER                Myiarchus tuberculifer
ASH-THROATED  FLYCATCHER                Myiarchus cinerascens
Brown-crested  Flycatcher               Myiarchus tyrannulus
TROPICAL  KINGBIRD                      Tyrannus melancholicus
CASSIN’S  KINGBIRD                      Tyrannus vociferans
THICK-BILLED  KINGBIRD                  Tyrannus crassirostris
WESTERN  KINGBIRD                       Tyrannus verticalis
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Phainopepla                            Phainopepla nitens
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Rock  Wren                              Salpinctes obsoletus
Canyon  Wren                            Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Northern  Mockingbird                   Mimus polyglottos
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
Bridled  Titmouse                       Baeolophus wollweberi
White-breasted  Nuthatch                Sitta carolinensis
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Mexican  Jay                            Aphelocoma ultramarina
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
Hutton's  Vireo                         Vireo huttoni
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
LUCY’S  WARBLER                         Vermivora luciae
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
YELLOW-BREASTED  CHAT                   Icteria virens
SUMMER  TANAGER                         Piranga rubra
Canyon  Towhee                          Pipilo fuscus
Botteri's  Sparrow                      Aimophila botterii
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Rufous-winged  Sparrow                  Aimophila carpalis
CHIPPING  SPARROW                       Spizella passerina
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Song  Sparrow                           Melospiza melodia
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Black-headed  Grosbeak                  Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
LAZULI  BUNTING                         Passerina amoena
Varied  Bunting                         Passerina versicolor
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Hooded  Oriole                          Icterus cucullatus
Scott's  Oriole                         Icterus parisorum

75 SPECIES
So far: 115 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

Hi, all!
 
Was out pre-dawn again to bird the Tucson Mountain portion of Saguaro  
National Park, and just for fun I kept track of numbers (somewhat) today.   
Black-throated Sparrows were king of the roost, of course, followed closely by 

Mourning and White-winged Doves, Gambel's Quail, Curve-billed Thrashers, Gila  
Woodpeckers, Verdins, Brown-crested Flycatchers, Cactus Wrens, Gilded Flickers, 

and even Purple Martins (in fact, one almost nailed me zipping down the road)! 

The "Cardipyrrs" were in good numbers, too, but I only saw a few to  be able 
to positively identify to species (one Cardinal and three Pyrrs).   In fact, I 
thought I had one singing a rather strange song, and when I saw him  
silhouetted in terrible light, I thought, "That's funny--he doesn't have a 
crest!" 

He had to add a "chimp" to his song before I realized it was a Canyon Towhee... 

 
The Rufous-winged Sparrows were in good form as well, and a couple sang  
along the Esperanza Trail as usual (although one posed nicely along the road as 

well).  Had the best looks at the Pyrrs along this trail, too.  A  
Ladder-backed Woodpecker tried to hide behind an ocotillo stalk but wasn't very 

successful. Other nice trip birds picked up along the road included 
Phainopepla, 

Loggerhead Shrike, Kestrel, and several Canyon Wrens. Brown-headed Cowbird was 

new for the trip, but they weren't nice...  Over  by the visitor's center I 
strolled their nice paved nature trail which was loaded with Cactus Wrens, Gila 

Woodpeckers, and the like, but the best bird was  a Black Vulture soaring 
around with the Turkeys! Several Zebra-tailed Lizards waggled their tails at me 

as well!
 
Got done with the area around 10:00, so I decided to check out that new  road 
up to Elephant Head (picking up nesting Cliff Swallows under the freeway  
underpass on the way), even though I have a whole day set aside to explore 
that. 

 I was told that it was a relatively easy place to get Black-capped  
Gnatcatcher, so I wanted to try road-birding it, but having the time, I thought 
doing 

a dry run first would be a good idea.  The road Ed told me about  actually 
goes up to the Whipple Observatory (which hangs a right off of Elephant  Head 
Road proper), and once it leaves the pavement the road is in excellent  shape 
(although I ran into the grader, so it could have been freshly done). I drove 

straight to the top (the observatory itself is off limits)  and then started 
road-birding down, and what views!  It doesn't have the  nice high-elevation 
trees of Madera Canyon, but you do have some scrub oak and pinyons, enough that 

I could pick up Mexican Jay, Arizona Woodpecker, and  Hepatic Tanager for the 
day.  Rufous-crowned Sparrows were all over, and at  one spot I THOUGHT I may 
have heard a Gray Vireo, but other things were singing  and it was just a 
couple of notes here and there, so I wasn't sure.  Heard  another Yellow-eyed 
Junco, though, and Scrub Jay was new for the trip. There were lots of both Rock 

and Canyon Wrens along here, and at one draw heard  the descending whinny of 
a hiding Montezuma Quail!  A Bell's Vireo answered  with his more belligerent 
song, and a Scott's Oriole gave his lovely flute-like  melody.  
 
Down in the desert scrub things were still singing in the heat of the  day!  
Picked up a Varied Bunting along the road (a Blue Grosbeak was  singing 
further up at the "interpretive stop" that told you all about the observatory), 
and 

I had several Black-TAILED Gnatcatchers along here, but  nothing that sounded 
like the recordings of Black-capped (basically the cadence  of a California 
Gnat with the two-toned quality).  A singing Cassin's  Sparrow was a nice day 
bird.
 
A monsoon was suddenly forming, so I figured that would be a good time to  
head to Nogales; didn't work, as I ended up having to drive through THAT one,  
too, but, oh, what storm structure!!  That one was a beauty!
 
Bird list (birds in CAPS are new for the trip):
 
  BLACK  VULTURE                          Coragyps atratus
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
AMERICAN  KESTREL                       Falco sparverius
GAMBEL’S  QUAIL                         Callipepla gambelii
MONTEZUMA  QUAIL                        Cyrtonyx montezumae
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Gila  Woodpecker                        Melanerpes uropygialis
LADDER-BACKED  WOODPECKER               Picoides scalaris
Arizona  Woodpecker                     Picoides arizonae
GILDED  FLICKER                         Colaptes chrysoides
Western  Wood-Pewee                     Contopus sordidulus
BROWN-CRESTED  FLYCATCHER               Myiarchus tyrannulus
PURPLE  MARTIN                          Progne subis
CLIFF  SWALLOW                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
PHAINOPEPLA                            Phainopepla nitens
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
ROCK  WREN                              Salpinctes obsoletus
CANYON  WREN                            Catherpes mexicanus
NORTHERN  MOCKINGBIRD                   Mimus polyglottos
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
BLACK-TAILED  GNATCATCHER               Polioptila melanura
White-breasted  Nuthatch                Sitta carolinensis
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
LOGGERHEAD  SHRIKE                      Lanius ludovicianus
WESTERN SCRUB  JAY                      Aphelocoma californica
Mexican  Jay                            Aphelocoma ultramarina
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Hepatic  Tanager                        Piranga flava
Canyon  Towhee                          Pipilo fuscus
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Rufous-winged  Sparrow                  Aimophila carpalis
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Yellow-eyed  Junco                      Junco phaeonotus
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
PYRRHULOXIA                            Cardinalis sinuatus
Black-headed  Grosbeak                  Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Varied  Bunting                         Passerina versicolor
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
BROWN-HEADED  COWBIRD                   Molothrus ater
Scott's  Oriole                         Icterus parisorum

47 SPECIES
So far: 96 SPECIES
 
Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 
 

7 AUG 2006
 
Hi, all!
 
Apparently after not being seen all weekend, at least one of the Aztec  
Thrushes is back today! He was just before the creek crossing, by the large 
open 

area where everyone was apparently camped out over the weekend.   He showed up 
about 10:00.
 
Anyway, wanted to get that out first!  The plan was to meet birding  buddy 
and transplanted San Diegan Ed Post up at the trailhead at about 6:15, as  I 
wanted to start road-birding pre-dawn down in the Santa Rosa Grasslands. Didn't 

pick up any specialty night birds, but Great Horned Owl and Lesser  Nighthawk 
were nice (Ed pointed out a smushed one in the upper parking  lot...).  There 
were sparrows galore: Rufous-winged, Black-throated,  Botteri's, Cassin's, 
and Lark were all singing away, along with tons of Blue Grosbeaks. At one stop 

a Scott's Oriole chattered, and at the Proctor  Trailhead (to make a quick 
potty stop) picked up Curve-billed Thrasher, Hooded  Oriole, Rufous-crowned 
Sparrow, and Canyon Towhee. Heading straight up to the parking lot after that 

added Bridled Titmouse and Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher  out the car window; I 
love this place!!
 
Ed wheeled in shortly after I did, and after happy hellos we headed up the  
trail.  It wasn't too terribly bad if I took it slow; the first portion was  
nice and smooth, but past the bench (where the birds HAVE evidently been  
sighted) it gets a little rocky and you really have to watch your step. Before 

long a familiar face, Gjon Hazard (also from San Diego), caught up with us, so 

we plugged along and added Black-throated Gray Warbler, Painted Redstart,  
Arizona Woodpecker, and Mexican Jays.
 
Before long we came to the "camp" where a couple of other ladies were  
already keeping watch (they were from back east); Ed went across the creek and 
up 

the trail a little and I followed, as we were hearing suspicious-sounding  
"seeps" as described on one of the posts (like a Blue-throated Hummingbird, it 

said). A young Cooper's Hawk wasn't making things easy, but Lesser Goldfinches 

were all over.  We eventually went back down and joined the  ladies, where we 
had a couple of juvenile Hermit Thrushes, and a Western Wood  Pewee was 
exciting for them.  
 
Eventually we were joined by several other people (including Al Schmierer,  
who was a "partner in crime" leading field trips during the last Morro Bay Bird 

 Fest), and as the sun peeked out, there was more activity in the choke 
cherries: several Hepatic Tanagers came in close (we had also had some earlier, 

mistaking  their "chup" for a Hermit Thrush), a couple of Black-headed 
Grosbeaks, and both Hutton's and Plumbeous Vireos song-battling right over our 
heads 

as if to say, "Hey!! Pay some attention to US, will ya?!" A pair of Elegant 

Trogons came in and entertained everyone, and the male even starting  
song-battling with another trogon up the trail! Around 10:00 my 
almost-50-year-old 

bod had had it, so we made plans to leave (getting up off the  ground was the 
first challenge) when suddenly Ed zeroed his bins on the nearest  choke cherry 
tree and said, "I have the bird!"  That got people moving, and  thankfully I 
saw movement, got on it, and got a brief but identifiable look at a  beautiful 
male Aztec Thrush!  He lunged back into the bush, and while the  others 
waited for him to come out again, Ed suggested we discreetly move out, so off 
we 

went, happy with the morning's efforts!
 
We were just at the bench when one of the fellows came tearing down to  
gather more birders; he said the bird was just "sitting there"!  I got the  
impression that meant that a photo was possible and started back up (Ed 
continued on 

at that point), but after I started back up I changed my mind (a  combination 
of recognizing greed in myself when I see it, and laziness not  wanting to 
make that trek back up the trail) and tried to find Ed again, but I lost him. 

He said he was gonna check out Proctor Trail, but couldn't find  him there, 
either (found Gjon instead and told him about the thrush), so I did  the loop, 
picking up a brilliant Varied Bunting singing away on an ocotillo  stalk (just 
like Ed said they'd be, actually)!  Also along the trail were  more Bridled 
Titmice, Bell's Vireos, and something I couldn't place and spent an inordinate 

amount of time trying to pinpoint; when I finally did he was in lousy  light, 
with a deformed bill (it looked like), and when all I could make out was  a 
hood I realized it was a Yellow-eyed Junco.  (Kinda low, I thought, but  maybe 
he wasn't doing so well...)  One bare tree had a beautiful male  Western 
Tanager and two young kingbirds that I couldn't ID (probably Western, but I 
just 

wasn't sure).
 
A monsoon was dumping in the grasslands, so rather than drive through that  I 
drove back up to the feeders at the Santa Rita Lodge, and ran into one of the 
 gals who had been up at the thrush spot (she was from Tucson); she reported  
Magnificent Hummer (which I just briefly saw), Eastern Bluebirds, and plenty 
of  Broad-billed and Black-chinned Hummers.  An Acorn Woodpecker was trying to 
 access one of the seed feeders while a Warbling Vireo sang in the  
background.  
 
When it started thundering I decided to head on to the motel in Tucson, and  
ended up driving through the storm anyway; a couple of the washes were already 
 running, but not so deep that Jip couldn't make it.  Heading over to Ina  
Road I decided to make a quick stop at the Sweetwater Wetlands and try for the 

Purple Gallinule and Least Grebe; dipped on both but picked up several good  
birds for the day/trip, including "Mexican" Duck, Cinnamon Teal, Pied-billed  
Grebe, Moorhen, Green Heron, Gila Woodpecker, Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, and 

 Abert's Towhee.
 
Headed to the motel after that; what a day!  Bird list (including the  drive 
over):
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Cattle  Egret                           Bubulcus ibis
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
Mallard                                Anas platyrhynchos
Cinnamon  Teal                          Anas cyanoptera
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Cooper's  Hawk                          Accipiter cooperii
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
White-winged  Dove                      Zenaida asiatica
Red-crowned  Parrot                     Amazona viridigenalis
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Great Horned  Owl                       Bubo virginianus
Burrowing  Owl                          Athene cunicularia
Lesser  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles acutipennis
Broad-billed  Hummingbird               Cynanthus latirostris
Magnificent  Hummingbird                Eugenes fulgens
Black-chinned  Hummingbird              Archilochus alexandri
Elegant  Trogon                         Trogon elegans
Acorn  Woodpecker                       Melanerpes formicivorus
Gila  Woodpecker                        Melanerpes uropygialis
Arizona  Woodpecker                     Picoides arizonae
Northern  Flicker                       Colaptes auratus
Western  Wood-Pewee                     Contopus sordidulus
Sulphur-bellied  Flycatcher             Myiodynastes luteiventris
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Curve-billed  Thrasher                  Toxostoma curvirostre
Eastern  Bluebird                       Sialia sialis
Hermit  Thrush                          Catharus guttatus
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
F Aztec  Thrush                           Ridgwayia pinicola
Wrentit                                Chamaea fasciata
Bridled  Titmouse                       Baeolophus wollweberi
White-breasted  Nuthatch                Sitta carolinensis
Brown Creeper
Verdin                                 Auriparus flaviceps
Mexican  Jay                            Aphelocoma ultramarina
American  Crow                          Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Bell's  Vireo                           Vireo bellii
Plumbeous  Vireo                        Vireo plumbeus
Hutton's  Vireo                         Vireo huttoni
Warbling  Vireo                         Vireo gilvus
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Yellow Warbler&                         Dendroica petechia
Black-throated Gray  Warbler           Dendroica  nigrescens
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Painted  Redstart                       Myioborus pictus
Hepatic  Tanager                        Piranga flava
Western  Tanager                        Piranga ludoviciana
Canyon  Towhee                          Pipilo fuscus
Abert's  Towhee                         Pipilo aberti
Botteri's  Sparrow                      Aimophila botterii
Cassin's  Sparrow                       Aimophila cassinii
Rufous-crowned  Sparrow                 Aimophila ruficeps
Rufous-winged  Sparrow                  Aimophila carpalis
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Song  Sparrow                           Melospiza melodia
Yellow-eyed  Junco                      Junco phaeonotus
Northern  Cardinal                      Cardinalis cardinalis
Black-headed  Grosbeak                  Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Varied  Bunting                         Passerina versicolor
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Hooded  Oriole                          Icterus cucullatus
Scott's  Oriole                         Icterus parisorum

78 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 

 

Hi, all!

Just finished updating the web site with the Modoc County  trip report; the 
direct link is

_http://miriameaglemon.com/Trip%20Reports/Modoc/Title%20Page.htm_ 
(http://miriameaglemon.com/Trip%20Reports/Modoc/Title%20Page.htm) 

or you can go to the home page (below) and click on Trip  Reports.

Enjoy!  MB

Mary Beth Stowe
San Diego,  CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com) 
 

 
Hi, all!
 
I picked up enough new species on the way home to warrant a full trip list,  
I felt; the most significant sighting (to me) was a whole family of Chukar in  
Johannesburg, just past the San Bernardino County line along US395.  Other  
new trip birds either seen on the fly or heard during break stops or evening  
walks included Cactus Wren, Great-tailed Grackle, Band-tailed Pigeon, and  
Eurasian Collared Dove. For the County Listers: Final Modoc Co. tally was 156 

species!
 
I think I got home just in time: Jip's choking on all that dust...  :-P  
Complete trip list:
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Eared  Grebe                            Podiceps nigricollis
Western  Grebe                          Aechmophorus occidentalis
Clark's  Grebe                          Aechmophorus clarkii
American White  Pelican                 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Double-crested  Cormorant               Phalacrocorax auritus
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
Great  Egret                            Ardea alba
Snowy  Egret                            Egretta thula
Green  Heron                            Butorides virescens
Black-crowned  Night-Heron              Nycticorax nycticorax
White-faced  Ibis                       Plegadis chihi
Canada  Goose                           Branta canadensis
Wood  Duck                              Aix sponsa
Gadwall                                Anas strepera
Green-winged  Teal                      Anas carolinensis
Mallard                                Anas platyrhynchos
Cinnamon  Teal                          Anas cyanoptera
Northern  Shoveler                      Anas clypeata
Ring-necked  Duck                       Aythya collaris
Lesser  Scaup                           Aythya affinis
Bufflehead                             Bucephala albeola
Ruddy  Duck                             Oxyura jamaicensis
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Osprey                                 Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed  Kite                      Elanus leucurus
Bald  Eagle                             Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned  Hawk                     Accipiter striatus
Cooper's  Hawk                          Accipiter cooperii
Red-shouldered  Hawk                    Buteo lineatus
Swainson's  Hawk                        Buteo swainsoni
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
Golden  Eagle                           Aquila chrysaetos
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Peregrine  Falcon                       Falco peregrinus
Mountain  Quail                         Oreortyx pictus
California  Quail                       Callipepla californica
Chukar                                 Alectoris chukar
Ring-necked  Pheasant                   Phasianus colchicus
Sandhill  Crane                         Grus canadensis
Virginia  Rail                          Rallus limicola
Common  Moorhen                         Gallinula chloropus
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
Black-necked  Stilt                     Himantopus mexicanus
American  Avocet                        Recurvirostra americana
Semipalmated  Plover                    Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer                               Charadrius vociferus
Snowy  Plover                           Charadrius alexandrinus
Wilson's  Snipe                         Gallinago delicata
Long-billed  Dowitcher                  Limnodromus scolopaceus
Marbled  Godwit                         Limosa fedoa
Long-billed  Curlew                     Numenius americanus
Greater  Yellowlegs                     Tringa melanoleuca
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularia
Willet                                 Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Western  Sandpiper                      Calidris mauri
Least  Sandpiper                        Calidris minutilla
Wilson's  Phalarope                     Phalaropus tricolor
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
California  Gull                        Larus californicus
Western  Gull                           Larus occidentalis
Caspian  Tern                           Sterna caspia
Forster's  Tern                         Sterna forsteri
Rock  Pigeon                            Columba livia
Band-tailed  Pigeon                     Patagioenas fasciata
Eurasian  Collared-Dove                 Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
Greater  Roadrunner                     Geococcyx californianus
Barn  Owl                               Tyto alba
Northern  Pygmy-Owl                     Glaucidium californicum
Common  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles minor
Black  Swift                            Cypseloides niger
Vaux's  Swift                           Chaetura vauxi
White-throated  Swift                   Aeronautes saxatalis
Calliope  Hummingbird                   Stellula calliope
Rufous  Hummingbird                     Selasphorus rufus
Belted  Kingfisher                      Ceryle alcyon
Lewis'  Woodpecker                      Melanerpes lewis
Acorn  Woodpecker                       Melanerpes formicivorus
Williamson's  Sapsucker                 Sphyrapicus thyroideus
Red-breasted  Sapsucker                 Sphyrapicus ruber
Nuttall's  Woodpecker                   Picoides nuttallii
Downy  Woodpecker                       Picoides pubescens
Hairy  Woodpecker                       Picoides villosus
White-headed  Woodpecker                Picoides albolarvatus
Black-backed  Woodpecker                Picoides arcticus
Northern  Flicker                       Colaptes auratus
Pileated  Woodpecker                    Dryocopus pileatus
Olive-sided  Flycatcher                 Contopus cooperi
Western  Wood-Pewee                     Contopus sordidulus
Gray  Flycatcher                        Empidonax wrightii
Dusky  Flycatcher                       Empidonax oberholseri
Cordilleran  Flycatcher                 Empidonax occidentalis
Black  Phoebe                           Sayornis nigricans
Ash-throated  Flycatcher                Myiarchus cinerascens
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
Horned  Lark                            Eremophila alpestris
Purple  Martin                          Progne subis
Tree  Swallow                           Tachycineta bicolor
Violet-green  Swallow                   Tachycineta thalassina
Northern Rough-winged  Swallow         Stelgidopteryx  serripennis
Bank  Swallow                           Riparia riparia
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Golden-crowned  Kinglet                 Regulus satrapa
American  Dipper                        Cinclus mexicanus
Cactus  Wren                            Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Rock  Wren                              Salpinctes obsoletus
Canyon  Wren                            Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's  Wren                          Thryomanes bewickii
Winter  Wren                            Troglodytes troglodytes
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Marsh  Wren                             Cistothorus palustris
Sage  Thrasher                          Oreoscoptes montanus
Mountain  Bluebird                      Sialia currucoides
Townsend's  Solitaire                   Myadestes townsendi
Hermit  Thrush                          Catharus guttatus
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Wrentit                                Chamaea fasciata
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Bushtit                                Psaltriparus minimus
Mountain  Chickadee                     Poecile gambeli
Oak  Titmouse                           Baeolophus inornatus
Juniper  Titmouse                       Baeolophus ridgwayi
Pygmy  Nuthatch                         Sitta pygmaea
Red-breasted  Nuthatch                  Sitta canadensis
White-breasted  Nuthatch                Sitta carolinensis
Brown  Creeper                          Certhia americana
Loggerhead  Shrike                      Lanius ludovicianus
Steller's  Jay                          Cyanocitta stelleri
Western  Scrub-Jay                      Aphelocoma californica
Black-billed  Magpie                    Pica hudsonia
Clark's  Nutcracker                     Nucifraga columbiana
American  Crow                          Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
European  Starling                      Sturnus vulgaris
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Cassin's  Vireo                         Vireo cassinii
Warbling  Vireo                         Vireo gilvus
Cassin's  Finch                         Carpodacus cassinii
Purple  Finch                           Carpodacus purpureus
House  Finch                            Carpodacus mexicanus
Red  Crossbill                          Loxia curvirostra
Pine  Siskin                            Carduelis pinus
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
American  Goldfinch                     Carduelis tristis
Evening  Grosbeak                       Coccothraustes vespertinus
Orange-crowned  Warbler                 Vermivora celata
Nashville  Warbler                      Vermivora ruficapilla
Yellow  Warbler                         Dendroica petechia
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
MacGillivray's  Warbler                 Oporornis tolmiei
Common  Yellowthroat                    Geothlypis trichas
Western  Tanager                        Piranga ludoviciana
Green-tailed  Towhee                    Pipilo chlorurus
Spotted  Towhee                         Pipilo maculatus
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Brewer's  Sparrow                       Spizella breweri
Vesper  Sparrow                         Pooecetes gramineus
Lark  Sparrow                           Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated  Sparrow                 Amphispiza bilineata
Savannah  Sparrow                       Passerculus sandwichensis
Fox  Sparrow                            Passerella iliaca
Song  Sparrow                           Melospiza melodia
White-crowned  Sparrow                  Zonotrichia leucophrys
Dark-eyed  Junco                        Junco hyemalis
Black-headed  Grosbeak                  Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue  Grosbeak                          Passerina caerulea
Lazuli  Bunting                         Passerina amoena
Red-winged  Blackbird                   Agelaius phoeniceus
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Yellow-headed  Blackbird                Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Brewer's  Blackbird                     Euphagus cyanocephalus
Great-tailed  Grackle                   Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed  Cowbird                   Molothrus ater
Bullock's  Oriole                       Icterus bullockii

177 SPECIES

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 

 
Hi, all!
 
I honestly didn't think this last day wandering around the national forest  
would be too exciting based on yesterday's trip, but boy was I wrong!  I  
decided to explore some good dirt roads in the western part of the forest, so  
plotted out a route last night and headed pre-dawn this morning to road 42N60, 

northwest of Canby. Started the drive-a-mile bit about a half mile in, seeing 

as a truck was idling at the intersection, and finally heard what I felt  
comfortable calling a Pygmy Owl (as opposed to a squirrel or a solitaire...)! 

More of those funky-sounding Gray Flycatchers were  calling--GOSH, they sound 
harsh! I would love for someone who really knows these empids to do a thorough 

survey sometime on these back roads!  There's  a part of me that still thinks 
I'm hearing Hammond's!
 
For the most part, this section of the forest reminded me more of our San  
Diego mountains (and in some cases the San Bernardinos), as the birdlife was  
similar: a lot of Spotted Towhees, Pygmy Nuthatches, and Steller's Jays 
compared 

 to other parts of the NF, and in some cases particular birds (such as the  
Green-tailed Towhee) seemed to be missing altogether!  I had a LOT of  
nighthawks along this particular stretch as well. In between forests were 
patches of 

open sage/grassland and lava rocks with the expected Rock Wrens and  Mountain 
Bluebirds.
 
At county road 91 I crossed over onto what I THOUGHT was county road 56 (at  
least that was the plan), but I found myself on a road that was certainly  
passable compared to some roads I've taken my poor car on, but it wasn't the  
best: lots of soft dirt and portions that were very rocky, I assume to give the 

logging trucks some traction on the inclines.  And a good portion of THAT  
road did go through logging territory, but they had planted several pine trees 

that were at the stage of growth that almost made me expect a Kirtland's 
Warbler to pop up any moment (those of you who have visited the Jack Pine 
forests 

will know what I'm talking about)! The Chipping Sparrows and Juncos seemed to 

 like this area, and in spots that were a little more "devastated" I ran into 
 small "finch flocks" that, in addition to the Chippies and Juncos, often had 
 Brewer's, Vesper, and Cassin's Finches thrown in!
 
I then came upon a totally new habitat: what looked like high-altitude  
chaparral, and sure enough, a couple of Fox Sparrows song-battled! I assumed it 

was the Fat-billed type, and thankfully one of them started its  California 
Towhee-like "teep" to confirm it!  Another interesting sighting  was a pair of 
Harriers cruising the area!
 
Before long I came upon an intersection with several directional signs  
(which I was very glad to see), but according to said signs I was WAY off 
course! 

I would never dare wander around a National Forest without their  official 
National Forest map, but even WITH the map, you can obviously get  turned 
around! According to the signs I was south of Lava Campground when I thought I 
was 

well north of it, so I headed in that direction on a MUCH better  road!  At 
the turnoff I stopped to listen, heard tapping, and found a  female Willy Sap 
looking for lunch; it was like seeing a whole new bird!   Found the campground 
and took a walk around the loop, with the best bird being a  Cassin's Vireo 
that came in to investigate.
 
Headed up towards Long Bell Station after that, and hadn't gone far before  a 
dark woodpecker flew over; got enough of a bin look to confirm Lewis'!   That 
was totally unexpected and a special treat, although I DID have them at  Lava 
Beds years ago, which isn't too far away.  Nearby a Mountain Quail did  its 
"flicker" call, and at another stop down the road, a familiar gurgling  
overhead revealed a female Purple Martin sailing past! Also had a small flock 
of 

three Red Crossbills, an Olive-sided Flycatcher posing on a dead tree (and who 

took off just before I could digiscope him, naturally), and a lone  Pygmy 
Nuthatch actually came down to investigate!
 
The REAL CR 56 picks up at the guard station, so I took that back, and  since 
it was mid-day I packed in the drive-a-mile bit and decided to  reservoir-hop 
the rest of the day.  Passed through a LOT more of that  chaparral habitat, 
so had I found the RIGHT road, undoubtedly the Fox Sparrows would have been in 

there, too.  But once I got back out to CR 91 I pulled  the map out and 
figured out where I had gone wrong: the map shows the original forest road I 
was 

on going STRAIGHT, which it didn't, and I ended up on a  logging road that 
transected private land on a diagonal (the map still showed it was a "good" 
dirt 

road--if they say so) that took me straight to that  intersection south of 
Lava!  No WONDER I was turned around!
 
Anyway, now that I knew where I was :-) I headed over to Duncan  Reservoir.  
I've noticed that most of these "reservoirs" have a lot of  wetland habitat 
around them, so they aren't like the barren-sided reservoirs I'm  used to in 
southern California! Here picked up a small flock of female-type Bufflehead and 

a Belted Kingfisher for the day.  Then headed to  "Reservoir F", which was 
quite a bit larger but had a family of Pied-billed  Grebes and a lone 
Violet-green Swallow flying around.
 
From there headed towards "Reservoir C", but was in for a lovely surprise:  
the main road (part of the "Back Country Discovery Trail") takes you through  
Fairchild Swamp, which was just like taking an auto tour through a wildlife  
refuge: there was marvelous wetland habitat on both sides of the road!   
Unfortunately it was rather quiet, but did pick up Coots, White-faced Ibis, 
Canada 

Geese, Ring-billed Gulls, and Avocet for the day.  Rounding the  corner was 
another surprise: a pair of Sandhill Cranes!  There were also  these little 
"mountains" of what I assume are volcanic deposits, and yet another trip bird, 
a 

Canyon Wren, decided to call from one!
 
Once back into sage land I happened upon a real cowboy and his herd (along  
with the Border Collies), who was very amiable and sent me on through, as the  
herd was basically hogging the road--took awhile for them to scoot out of the  
way!  Just past that area was a little wetland called Joe Sweet Pond with  
more Buffleheads real close to the road.  Reservoir C was rather tiny and  
quiet, so headed on to the main drag I was on yesterday and down to Big Sage  
Reservoir, which was kind of a disappointment: it's huge according to the map, 
but 

the access point is a little arm (that DID look like our SoCal reservoirs),  
but I snuck down another road that was actually the dam, and had a great view 
of  the rather scuzzy-looking Rattlesnake Creek and a Great Blue Heron for the 
 day.
 
Headed down to Alturas after that; there are still so many dirt roads I'd  
love to explore, but alas, I have to leave for San Diego tomorrow... :-( Bird 

list:
 
  Pied-billed  Grebe                      Podilymbus podiceps
Great Blue  Heron                       Ardea herodias
White-faced  Ibis                       Plegadis chihi
Canada  Goose                           Branta canadensis
Mallard                                Anas platyrhynchos
BUFFLEHEAD                             Bucephala albeola
Turkey  Vulture                         Cathartes aura
Northern  Harrier                       Circus cyaneus
Red-tailed  Hawk                        Buteo jamaicensis
American  Kestrel                       Falco sparverius
Mountain  Quail                         Oreortyx pictus
Sandhill  Crane                         Grus canadensis
American  Coot                          Fulica americana
American  Avocet                        Recurvirostra americana
Spotted  Sandpiper                      Actitis macularia
Ring-billed  Gull                       Larus delawarensis
Mourning  Dove                          Zenaida macroura
NORTHERN PYGMY  OWL                     Glaucidium californicum
Common  Nighthawk                       Chordeiles minor
Belted  Kingfisher                      Ceryle alcyon
LEWIS’  WOODPECKER                      Melanerpes lewis
Williamson's  Sapsucker                 Sphyrapicus thyroideus
Hairy  Woodpecker                       Picoides villosus
Northern  Flicker                       Colaptes auratus
Olive-sided  Flycatcher                 Contopus cooperi
Western  Wood-Pewee                     Contopus sordidulus
Gray  Flycatcher                        Empidonax wrightii
Dusky  Flycatcher                       Empidonax oberholseri
Western  Kingbird                       Tyrannus verticalis
PURPLE  MARTIN                          Progne subis
Violet-green  Swallow                   Tachycineta thalassina
Cliff  Swallow                          Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn  Swallow                           Hirundo rustica
Golden-crowned  Kinglet                 Regulus satrapa
Rock  Wren                              Salpinctes obsoletus
CANYON  WREN                            Catherpes mexicanus
House  Wren                             Troglodytes aedon
Mountain  Bluebird                      Sialia currucoides
Townsend's  Solitaire                   Myadestes townsendi
American  Robin                         Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher                  Polioptila caerulea
Bushtit                                Psaltriparus minimus
Mountain  Chickadee                     Poecile gambeli
Pygmy  Nuthatch                         Sitta pygmaea
Red-breasted  Nuthatch                  Sitta canadensis
White-breasted  Nuthatch                Sitta carolinensis
Brown  Creeper                          Certhia americana
Steller's  Jay                          Cyanocitta stelleri
Common  Raven                           Corvus corax
House  Sparrow                          Passer domesticus
Cassin's  Vireo                         Vireo cassinii
Cassin's  Finch                         Carpodacus cassinii
Red  Crossbill                          Loxia curvirostra
Lesser  Goldfinch                       Carduelis psaltria
Yellow-rumped  Warbler                  Dendroica coronata
Western  Tanager                        Piranga ludoviciana
Spotted  Towhee                         Pipilo maculatus
Chipping  Sparrow                       Spizella passerina
Brewer's  Sparrow                       Spizella breweri
Vesper  Sparrow                         Pooecetes gramineus
“Fat-billed” Fox  Sparrow               Passerella iliaca
Dark-eyed  Junco                        Junco hyemalis
Black-headed  Grosbeak                  Pheucticus melanocephalus
Lazuli  Bunting                         Passerina amoena
Western  Meadowlark                     Sturnella neglecta
Brewer's  Blackbird                     Euphagus cyanocephalus

66 SPECIES
So far: 173 SPECIES  

Mary Beth  Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl AT aol.com
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/)