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3 Feb San Pedro House Correction [John Broz ] 3 Feb AZ: San Rafael Grasslands--Rough-legged Hawk [Michael Lester ] 3 Feb SEAZ: Catalina State Park - CCSP, GCSP + Red FOSP [Philip Kline ] 3 Feb SEAZ San Pedro House, Sierra Vista [John Broz ] 3 Feb TAS Sandia Crest Trip in March is now FULL [vivian mac kinnon ] 3 Feb Patagonia, AZ Town Common birds [Tom Arny ] 3 Feb Santa Cruz flats [Melody Kehl ] 3 Feb Sa [Melody Kehl ] 3 Feb AZFO - new photos of Eastern Phoebe, Red Fox Sparrow, Hutton's Vireo [Mike Moore ] 3 Feb WAZ: Nutting's Flycatcher, 2 Feb 2012 [Henry Detwiler ] 3 Feb Anza Trail at Clark's Crossing Rd (Carmen,AZ) 2/2/12 [Diane Touret ] 3 Feb FW: AZ: Fire burns 100 acres (so far) in the Chiricahuas [Mark Stevenson ] 2 Feb SEAZ: SB Oriole, RC Warbler, RB Robin - 2 Feb 2012 [Joe Hammond ] 2 Feb AZ: Gilbert Water Ranch usual birds [Richard Ditch ] 2 Feb Black sea gulls message, I just noticed my key board lock the number 1 & 2, making 12 rather than 2 gulls. [Keith Graves ] 2 Feb Re: wintering White-winged Doves in N ew Mexico [jgstudio AT aol.com ] 2 Feb SEAZ: Mt. Lemmon, Rose Canyon, 4 species [Farrish Sharon ] 2 Feb eBird Workshop, Saturday, March 24, 2012, 9 a m – 1 pm, Tucson [Matthew Brooks ] 2 Feb Thursdays Daily Star (2/2) Frozen Black Sea Gull Pictures page A15 [Keith Graves ] 2 Feb Some Birds at Patagonia, AZ Town Common, Feb 2, 2012 [Tom Arny ] 2 Feb Paton House at Patagonia [lmorgan11637 ] 2 Feb se AZ: Ina Rd Bridge - Blue Grosbeak [Andrew Core ] 2 Feb SE AZ: Tucson Kennedy Park OSPREY [John Higgins ] 2 Feb Re: wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico ["Emily A. Lee" ] 2 Feb Re: wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico [Rob Yaksich ] 2 Feb NM RBA 2/2/2012 [Matt Baumann ] 2 Feb Re: wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico [chris mccreedy ] 2 Feb Re: wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico [Douglas Carver ] 2 Feb Steak-backed oriole [William Higgins ] 2 Feb wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico [Janet M Ruth ] 2 Feb SEAZ: Willcox, St D, Benson date correction, no sightings [Lainie Epstein ] 2 Feb FW: AZ: Oracle State Park reopens on a limited basis [Mark Stevenson ] 2 Feb SEAZ: Willcox, St D and Benson 1/31/12 [Lainie Epstein ] 2 Feb Patagonia Area 2/1/12 [Diane Touret ] 2 Feb CAZ: Tempe Marsh 2/1/12: Bat; Common Merganser; Night Heron ["Myron L. Scott" ] 1 Feb FW: SEAZ: Tubac Rarities CORRECTION - "Red" Fox Sparrow [Laurens Halsey ] 1 Feb Re: SEAZ: Whitewater Draw, 02/01/10 [Richard Carlson ] 1 Feb White-winged Dove Sightings [Ken Bielek ] 1 Feb SEAZ: 02/01/2012 San Rafael Valley; Patagonia Lake [Stuart Healy ] 1 Feb Re: SEAZ: San Rafael Valley, Patagonia and beyond [Marion - Erickson ] 1 Feb SEAZ: Whitewater Draw, 02/01/10 [Melody Kehl ] 1 Feb Molino Black-chinned & Scrub Jay [Richard Carlson ] 1 Feb Re: SEAZ: Tubac Rarities [Richard Carlson ] 1 Feb SE AZ Portal [Bob Rodrigues ] 1 Feb SE AZ: Tucson Sam Lena Park MERGANSERS [John Higgins ] 1 Feb NM: Albuquerque, Alameda Bridge Thayer's Gull [Matt Baumann ] 1 Feb WAZ: Bill Williams Hutton's Vireo [David Vander Pluym ] 1 Feb SEAZ: Tubac Rarities [Laurens Halsey ] 1 Feb RFI: Gilbert Water Ranch Thrashers [Magill Weber ] 1 Feb AZ: N. Beardless-Tyrannulet at Agua Caliente Park [Rick Taylor ] 1 Feb U of A Campus Farm White-throated Sparrow [Richard Hoyer ] 1 Feb Painted Bunting at Bill Williams [David Bell ] 1 Feb Gilbert Riparian Preserve update ["alexgwoodruff AT live.com" ] 1 Feb SEAZ Tubac Streaked-backed Oriole [Laurens Halsey ] 1 Feb Gilbert Riparian Preserve ["alexgwoodruff AT live.com" ] 1 Feb Re: Note on wintering White-winged Doves [Troy Corman ] 31 Jan CEAZ: Rio Salado [TRACY McCarthey ] 31 Jan SEAZ Continuing Vermilion Fly in Palominas [Tom Leskiw ] 31 Jan SEAZ: San Rafael Valley, Patagonia and beyond [Melody Kehl ] 31 Jan CEAZ:Eastern Bluebird at Coon Bluff [James Kopitzke ] 31 Jan Clark's Crossing, De Anza Trail: BROWN THRASHER [Alan Schmierer ] 31 Jan Re: AZ Gil bert Water Ranch loc ked gate u pdateţ [BILL HIGGINS ] 31 Jan Re: Note on wintering White-winged Doves [Mark Stevenson ] 31 Jan Note on wintering White-winged Doves [Stuart Healy ] 31 Jan Fwd: early White Winged Dove (Green Valley) ["Dr. George C. West" ] 31 Jan SWAZ: Yuma West Wetlands, January 2012 [Henry Detwiler ] 31 Jan AZ Gilbert Water Ranch locked gate update [Richard Ditch ] 31 Jan Re: AZ Gilbert Water Ranch alert ["Phyllis B. Martin" ] 31 Jan SE AZ: Tucson Kennedy Park OSPREY [John Higgins ] 31 Jan Re: NM Curry Co-HYBRID ROSS GOOSE - SNOW GOOSE - WOOD DUCK [Deb Whitecotton ] 31 Jan AZ Gilbert Water Ranch alert [Richard Ditch ] 31 Jan NM Curry Co-HYBRID ROSS GOOSE - SNOW GOOSE - WOOD DUCK [Deb Whitecotton ] 31 Jan SEAZ Palominas Birdwalk [Gordon Lewis ] 31 Jan SEAZ: Tubac Streaked-back Oriole [Jan Wilson ] 31 Jan AZFO - new photos of McCown's Longspur, Streak-backed Oriole [Mike Moore ] 31 Jan Re: early White Winged Dove (Green Valley) [Northe Osbrink ] Subject: San Pedro House Correction From: John Broz <johnbroz1944 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 17:54:25 -0700 I saw a Black Throated Sparrow not a Black Chinned. Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: AZ: San Rafael Grasslands--Rough-legged Hawk From: Michael Lester <mlester AT EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 15:45:42 -0700 Hi All, I relocated the light-morph Rough-legged Hawk in the San Rafael Grasslands ~1130 today. Follow the main road from the west end of the valley and pass Vaca Corral. About 1.3 miles past the corral, there will be a turn to the right/south (I believe this is the main road). Take this road about 4.8 miles to where I had the bird soaring on the east side of the road. This is about 0.5 miles after crossing the Santa Cruz River (dry). In Patagonia, I was unable to find the Williamson's Sapsucker between 730 and 8 nor between 1215 and 1245. While I didn't see the male Hepatic Tanager in the morning, I was able to find it in the afternoon. -- Michael Lester Research Assistant School of Natural Resources & Environment USGS SBSC Sonoran Desert Research Station 1110 E. South Campus Dr. Room 123 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721 mlester AT email.arizona.edu Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ: Catalina State Park - CCSP, GCSP + Red FOSP From: Philip Kline <pgkline_uk AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 14:16:07 -0800 The sparrow bonanza continues at Catalina State Park.  I was hoping to get some photos of the Clay-colored Sparrow and it was practically the first bird I saw in its usual spot along the birding trail.  Unfortunately, it quickly flew and I never saw it again.  A few minutes later, I spotted the continuing 1st-year Golden-crowned Sparrow found several days ago by Larry Norris.  I did manage some poor, distant photos of this bird; all the sparrows (except for the Black-throateds) were rather skittish this morning.  See link to ebird checklist below for photos.  I also found yet another Red Fox Sparrow; this really has been an unprecedented winter for them in Arizona, at least to my memory--it's much harder to find a Slate-colored Fox Sparrow in SE Arizona this year.  This one was where the small creek joins Sutherland Wash from the east about halfway between the parking lot and the first wash crossing along the Sutherland Trail.  See link to map below for exact location.  There's also a somewhat better photo of this bird embedded in the ebird checklist.  http://maps.google.com/maps?q=32.426788,-110.905267&hl=en&num=1&t=h&z=18 At the camping area, the pair of Western Scrub Jays were at their usual spot at the entrance to Campground A.  A Red-naped Sapsucker was in the same area and a Lark Bunting was also close by.  About a dozen Western Bluebirds were close to the entrance station on the way out at noon.  Couldn't buy a Crissal Thrasher for the second visit in a row.  I usually at least hear them in winter on almost every visit. Here's a link to the checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9749882 Good birding, Philip Kline Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ San Pedro House, Sierra Vista From: John Broz <johnbroz1944 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 14:47:03 -0700 I saw an American Goldfinch today eating the top of a dried sunflower family plant about 75 feet east of the house. The bird was pointed out to me by a Colorado visitor. There have been two recent reports of American Goldfinch around the house including one yesterday that reported the bird on the metal fence facing the parking lot. The log on the porch reflects further sightings of the winter wren at post number 6 on the nature trail. Sparrowing continues to be good. I saw Black Chinned, Brewers, Chipping, Lark, White Crowned, Lark Bunting, Lincoln, Savannah, Song, and Vesper today. Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: TAS Sandia Crest Trip in March is now FULL From: vivian mac kinnon <arcvivian AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 09:34:29 -0800 The trip to Sandia Crest that Lainie and I are leadin Howdy Birdsters, The trip to Sandia Crest that Lainie and I are leading for TAS in early March is now full. I'm happy to put you on the wait list if anybody should drop out. I just ask that you contact me about it on the email listed for the TAS trip, v_mackinnon AT yahoo.com  as it is too hard for my limited tech skills to go back and forth from this email to that one. Good birding! Virtual Vivian "And forget not that the Earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." -- Kahlil Gibran Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Patagonia, AZ Town Common birds From: Tom Arny <tarny AT THERIVER.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:23:51 -0700 Another nearly two hours at the Patagonia Town Common this morning (Feb 3, 2012) from 8 AM to 10 AM failed to turn up the Williamson's Sapsucker, although several Red-naped Suckers were there, along with Acorn, Ladder-back, and Gila Woodpeckers. A group of Minnesota birders found a male Hepatic Tanager in the row of Walnut Trees near the Gazebo. The tanager hung around about half an hour. The morning was pretty chilly ...approx. 23 F. Tom Arny tarny AT theriver.com Box 545, Patagonia, AZ USA 85624 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Santa Cruz flats From: Melody Kehl <outdoor1 AT COX.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:21:45 -0700 Mountain plovers at curry and Ellis. Melody Kehl melodysbirding.com So many birds, So little time!! Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Sa From: Melody Kehl <outdoor1 AT COX.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:20:20 -0700 Nta Melody Kehl melodysbirding.com So many birds, So little time!! Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: AZFO - new photos of Eastern Phoebe, Red Fox Sparrow, Hutton's Vireo From: Mike Moore <mcmoore32 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 06:16:28 -0700 Field Ornithologists, Michael Lester contributed photos of a Nogales Eastern Phoebe, Laurens Halsey of a Carmen Red Fox Sparrow and, under Regional Rarities, David Vander Pluym a Hutton's Vireo which is rare in La Paz County. Thanks Laurens, Michael and David! Thanks to all who use the online form below to submit photos. It makes my job a lot easier and ensures your photos will be posted more quickly. The AZFO Photo Gallery is found at: http://www.azfo.org click on "Photo Documentation" The AZFO Sound Library of sound recordings is found at: http://www.azfo.org click on "Sounds Library" Arizona Field Ornithologists welcomes Arizona rarity photo contributions from all photographers throughout the state. Use our online form to submit photos: http://www.azfo.org/gallery/PhotoContribution.html AZFO also welcomes contributions to it Sounds Library of bird vocalization recorded in Arizona and nearby areas. See more information here: http://www.azfo.org/SoundLibrary/sounds_contribute.html If you enjoy the AZFO web site, please consider joining AZFO and supporting our other activities. Details on the web site. We strive for accuracy. Please email any corrections to postings to me. Mike Moore AZFO Photo Editor Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: WAZ: Nutting's Flycatcher, 2 Feb 2012 From: Henry Detwiler <henrydetwiler AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 06:15:15 -0700 Posted for Sally & Kenyon Stebbins -- thanks for the update! --- The continuing Nutting's Flycatcher was seen on Feb. 2 from approx. 7:50 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. in its previously reported location near Mile 2 on the Planet Ranch Road in the Bill Williams River NWR. The bird called three times between 7:30 a.m. and 7:50 a.m. from the rock wall side of the road (not the river side), before we saw it. For nearly one hour it continued to call periodically while it foraged somewhat actively along the rock wall side of the road, often perching for nearly one minute, allowing for excellent scope views by the nine folks present. At 8:50 a.m. the bird flew across the road and landed in the tall willows along the river's edge. We continued to hear it call from these distant trees until we left around 9:10 a.m. Thanks to all who have reported this bird over the past few weeks -- we were thrilled to see it today under nearly ideal conditions. Sally & Kenyon Stebbins, Harbor Springs, Michigan Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Anza Trail at Clark's Crossing Rd (Carmen,AZ) 2/2/12 From: Diane Touret <dctouret AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 06:11:41 -0700 I arrived at Clark's Crossing Rd in Carmen at 8AM, which was just a little too early for my personal comfort (very cold along the river drainage), but had some really good sightings over the next 3.5 hrs: N. BEARDLESS-TYRRANULET, a very close Gray Flycatcher, BROWN THRASHER, LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES (at least 2 mixed with the abundant Lesser Goldfinches in the cottonwoods), and the "Red" FOX SPARROW reported by Laurens Halsey. This FOX SPARROW is very bright, with a brown crown, gray face, chestnut cheek, and a bright red-chestnut rump, tail, and wings. He has reddish streaks below and a bicolored, relatively narrow bill. I missed the Eastern Phoebe (again, this is my jinx bird species this winter) and the Cassin's Vireo that were also reported. There were a lot of birds feeding in or below the hackberries (Amer. Robins, Western Bluebirds, N. Flickers, N.Cardinals, etc) or up in the cottonwood catkins (goldfinches, House Finches, Yellow-rumped Warblers, etc). Diane Touret (Tucson, AZ) Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: FW: AZ: Fire burns 100 acres (so far) in the Chiricahuas From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT ATT.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 05:47:21 -0700 http://azstarnet.com/news/local/wildfire/c82faa8c-e290-5b36-8e44-711e606e39d3.html I don't know the exact location of this fire so can't say if any well known birding areas are nearby but it's not in the areas burned last year, which took in most but not all of the well known birding areas. There were no lightning strikes yesterday. Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ: SB Oriole, RC Warbler, RB Robin - 2 Feb 2012 From: Joe Hammond <jwhammond31 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 20:09:10 -0700 Greetings, Dan Sanders, Doreene Linzell, and I had a great day (2 Feb 2012) of birding here in Southeast Arizona beginning at the Anza Trail north of Bridge Road in Tubac, then moving on to Florida Canyon where we met up with Laurens Halsey, and finally ending up along Golden Bell Road in St. David. The day was very successful as we found all three of our target birds: Streak-backed Oriole, Rufous-capped Warbler, and Rufous-backed Robin. Here are the highlights: Anza Trail north of Bridge Road: The previously reported STREAK-BACKED ORIOLE was present from about 7:40 a.m. until about 8:00 a.m. foraging in cottonwoods that can be seen from where Laurens described yesterday--about 50 feet north of the first brown trail marker. A scope made viewing much easier as the trees the bird was using were fairly far away. Florida Canyon: Thanks to the keen eyes and ears of Laurens, we were able to get fantastic looks at the two RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLERs as they worked their way up-canyon from above the lone sycamore to just downstream of the bend. I believe this was at around noon. They took a lot of work, but persistence paid off as we zeroed in on their location by listening for their calls. Numerous Black-chinned Sparrows were also great to see in the canyon. In addition, Laurens saw the RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN near the parking area just before we arrived at about 10:00 a.m. 234 Golden Bell Road, St. David: It took some patience but we finally found one of the previously reported RUFOUS-BACKED ROBINs at 4:35 p.m. in a dense tangle on the east side of the grove of trees across from house #234. It spent a lot of time sitting in the tangle, but did come out to feed on hackberries periodically. Good birding! Joe Hammond Rio Rico, AZ Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: AZ: Gilbert Water Ranch usual birds From: Richard Ditch <richditch AT Q.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 19:28:07 -0700 I spent two very productive hours taking photos of common winter birds at the SW corner of pond 5. The Clay-colored Sparrow never came in while I was there, nor even Brewer's Sparrow. One male Lawrence's Goldfinch showed up for a short time but never came down to a good photo position. The gate at the north end of ponds 5 and 6 was locked when I came to it around 7:15 with plenty of light; it was unlocked around 7:30. I understand the reasons the gates are now locked at night (vandalism, quads, guns, and cat feeders were mentioned). I'm glad someone showed up at 7:30 to unlock the gate. I just wish it could be 30 minutes or so earlier and I hope there are no problems or delays on future visits. Species seen from this limited part of the Ranch (in the order seen): Canada Goose, Mallard, Abert's Towhee, Black-necked Stilt, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, American Coot, American Avocet, Long-billed Dowitcher, Snow Goose, Ross' Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Northern Shoveler, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Least Sandpiper, Pied-billed Grebe, Killdeer, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Inca Dove, Ruddy Duck, Great Blue Heron, Neotropic Cormorant, Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck, Curve-billed Thrasher, Gila Woodpecker, White-crowned Sparrow, Verdin, House Finch, Green Heron, American Pipit, Northern Mockingbird, Mourning Dove, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Osprey, Euopean Starling, Lawrence's Goldfinch, Anna's Hummingbird, Peach-faced Lovebird, Lincoln's Sparrow, Song Sparrow, House Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Ruby- crowned Kinglet. Rich Ditch Phoenix web site: www.richditch.com photo blog: richditch.wordpress.com Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Black sea gulls message, I just noticed my key board lock the number 1 & 2, making 12 rather than 2 gulls. From: Keith Graves <ibkg AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 19:19:06 -0700 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: wintering White-winged Doves in N ew Mexico From: jgstudio AT aol.com <jgstudio@AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 17:56:11 -0700 This is an interesting question. What indeed does this mean for the saguaro ecology. I believe you are correct about these over-wintering doves belonging to the eastern race and can tell you that they are plenty aggressive and fecund to boot. I feared that European Collared Doves would out-compete our resident White-wings. No worries, mate. The WWDO has stepped up their game. They are very well adapted to suburban settings and have increased in our area every year since about 1982. If indeed your WWDO are these boys, they just might prove problematic. John Groves El Paso Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4GLTE smartphone ----- Reply message ----- From: "Rob Yaksich" To: Subject: [BIRDWG05] wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico Date: Thu, Feb 2, 2012 10:54 am It's been my understanding, and please correct it if I'm wrong, that the WWDOs in the Sonoran desert are a different race? These are cactus pollinators and migrate accordingly, whereas those in NM and expanding their range are not and seem more urban dependent. Perhaps it's this other race of white-wings moving into the desert? I wonder what that means for pollination ecology where the two would overlap, especially if the newcomers take off in the same manner that they have in NM (my ABQ feeder went from 1 in 1997 to too-#*#*#*-many in a matter of a few years).  Rob Y   Rob Yaksich ABQ/Raton, NM (home) Cromwell, CT (Holy Apostles College & Seminary) "Let the earth bless the Lord... All you birds of the air, bless the Lord. All you beasts wild and tame, bless the Lord. You sons of men, bless the Lord... Praise and exalt him above all forever. ~Daniel 3:52, 58-60 ________________________________ From: chris mccreedy To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Sent: Thursday, February 2, 2012 12:29 PM Subject: Re: [BIRDWG05] wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico I have a question on the doves - I found 8-9 on my Atascosa Highlands CBC turf (the Rock Corral).  The strange thing for me was to find them at the top of the watershed (~3800'), apparently roosting mid-day in oaks - when they had the entire Santa Cruz River Valley available below them.  It was upsetting! I wondered: were they after acorns?  The Birds of North America account does not mention acorns as a food source, but I found a mention in 'The Behavior of Texas Birds' that WWDO eat acorns.  Perhaps acorns are among the things that these eastern WWDO are working with as they expand westward and northward? McCreedy On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 11:56 AM, Douglas Carver wrote: > Janet -- > > Thanks for confirming through the CBC what I have been observing.  I moved > to Santa Fe in 2002, and I did not remember seeing any wintering > White-winged Doves my first couple of winters, but then I started noting > more and more.  I had a gentle argument with a fellow birder that the > wintering population of the White-winged was expanding, but he insisted > they had always been around.  I moved to Albuquerque in 2005, but still > birded both Santa Fe and Albuquerque -- and in Albuquerque I noticed that > the Mourning Doves were being displaced in winter by more and more > White-winged Doves. > > Douglas Carver > Albuquerque, NM > > On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 7:41 AM, Janet M Ruth wrote: > > > In response to Troy's note about White-winged Doves in winter in AZ .... > > based on my experience with the Albuquerque Christmas Bird Count, and a > > quick look at the CBC records for Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces, > > there has been a definite expansion and increase in abundance of WWDO in > > winter northward in NM as well. > > > > In Las Cruces in 1981 they had 5 birds, in 1988 and 1989 they had about > > 300, in 1991 and 1992 they had 500-600, and from 1999 to 2009 they had > > from 6000 to 18500! > > > > In Albuquerque starting in 1995 we had 5 birds, by 2004 we had 79, and > > from 2005 - 2009 we had from 223 - 760. > > > > In Santa Fe starting in 1998 they had 1 bird and by 2009 they had 88. > > > > Janet M. Ruth, Ph.D. > > Research Ecologist > > USGS Arid Lands Field Station > > UNM Biology Department > > MSC03 2020 > > 1 University of New Mexico > > Albuquerque, NM  87131-0001 > > 505-346-2870 or 2872  Ext. 12 > > 505-277-0304 FAX > > janet_ruth AT usgs.gov > > > > "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, > > would it?" > > > > - Albert Einstein > > > > Date:    Wed, 1 Feb 2012 07:21:19 -0700 > > From:    Troy Corman > > Subject: Re: Note on wintering White-winged Doves > > > > One of my favorite topics...the changing seasonal status of birds! > > > > Best I can tell is that a small number of White-winged Doves have > > regularly > > wintered locally in some residential and urban settings in southeastern > AZ > > > > since at least the mid-80's. However, sometime during the early to > > mid-1990s, I learned that winter population of these doves in similar > > setting in southern New Mexico had begun to increase dramatically. I > heard > > > > recent accounts that in some neighborhoods of Las Cruces wintering > > White-winged Doves had greatly outnumbered Mourning Doves. For about a > > decade, this winter population has expanded west and began to spread into > > some of Arizona's eastern towns and communities. This began in > > Eagar/Springerville in the White Mountains of all places, but quickly > > spread > > to many towns in Graham Co. such as Thatcher, Safford and Duncan. > > Surprising > > numbers of these birds now winter in these towns among the ever > increasing > > > > population of Eurasian Collared-Doves. This hardy northern wintering > > population may very well explain those birds that appear to be year-long > > residents that Mark mentions further west and northwest in Page and > > Flagstaff. Most of the Sonoran Desert nesting population typically do not > > arrive until March and April. These two different populations are > > discussed > > in Dave Brown's, Arizona Game Birds. > > > > Troy Corman > > Phoenix, AZ > > > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html > > To contact a listowner, send a message to: > > mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > > > > > > -- > Dilexi iustitiam et odivi iniquitatem, propterea morior in exilio. > > (I have loved justice and hated iniquity, therefore I die in exile.) > >    -- the last words of Saint Pope Gregory VII (d. 1085) > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html > To contact a listowner, send a message to: > mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ: Mt. Lemmon, Rose Canyon, 4 species From: Farrish Sharon <farrishsharon AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 15:43:23 -0700 We spent a breezy to windy morning hiking from the highway to Rose Canyon Lake finding only 4 species (Am Robin, Pygmy Nuthatch, Yellow-eyed Junco and Common Raven. There were no birds on the lake. The canyon has many remnant snow fields, but the pussy willows are budding. As expected at this time of year, Molina Basin had the most bird activity. Rose Canyon Campground is closed and gated for the season. It was nice to see that campground improvements are underway. Mark and Farrish Sharon Farrish Sharon farrishsharon AT gmail.com Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: eBird Workshop, Saturday, March 24, 2012, 9 a m – 1 pm, Tucson From: Matthew Brooks <glacierbirder AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 14:34:36 -0800 Hi folks! Just wanted to pass on this announcement. This workshop is definitely worth attending. -matt! ---------------------------- eBird Workshop Date and Time: Saturday, March 24, 2012, 9 am – 1 pm Location: Pima Community College NW Campus, Tucson, Arizona Led by eBird Project Leader Brian Sullivan Cost of the workshop: $25   You’ve probably been hearing a lot about eBird (www.ebird.org), the online birding tool that is changing the face of modern birding. eBird is an internet-based checklist program built for birders by birders, whose goal is to harness the power of both birding and science. It allows you to keep track of your bird records online and share them with the birding community, while making them available for science and conservation efforts. eBird allows birders to post sightings, keep life lists, and manage their personal records. This workshop will teach you what eBird is and why it’s important that you contribute, give you tips on how to make your entries as useful as possible, show you what it can do for you as a birder, and teach you how to get started. Join eBird Project Leader Brian Sullivan for a look at this remarkable tool, and get empowered to make your observations count! Recommended for all levels of eBird users. Limited to 45 participants, so sign up soon!   Co-hosted by Tucson Audubon Society (TAS) and Arizona Field Ornithologists (AZFO.org).   Register online at: http://www.tucsonaudubon.org/what-we-do/education/eduadult/223.html or by contacting BĂ©tĂ© Pfister at 520-209-1812 or bpfister AT tucsonaudubon.org Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Thursdays Daily Star (2/2) Frozen Black Sea Gull Pictures page A15 From: Keith Graves <ibkg AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 15:31:52 -0700 Never been there but thought I would enjoy trying to Identify the 12 using Peter Harrison's SEABIRDS (1983). I think I identified the lower right as a Black-headed Gull, 1st winter. I can not come up with the upper left one although it has some pretty striking patterns. Anyone know what they are? Some times you bird with binocular's and Spotting scopes, other times... it a hand lens. Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Some Birds at Patagonia, AZ Town Common, Feb 2, 2012 From: Tom Arny <tarny AT THERIVER.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 15:20:21 -0700 Reports of the Williamson's Sapsucker in the center of Patagonia prompted me to look for the bird this afternoon (Feb 2, 2012). I spent an hour and a half (from 12:30 to 2PM) but failed to find the Sapsucker. Perhaps half a dozen other people were looking too. This was my third unsuccessful attempt to see the bird. I did see Ladder-back, Acorn, and Gila Woodpeckers, Say's Phoebe, a Plumbeous Vireo, about 6 Western Bluebirds, a Phainopepla, Ruby- crowned Kinglet, and Yellow-rumped Warbler, plus the usual over- flying Ravens. A quick word about geography of the Town Common: Two yellow-ish town buildings (one the old Patagonia RR Station) are at the northeast end of the common with a large pine between them. That pine has many fresh sap-wells, so the sapsucker is likely still around. When facing the Stage Stop Inn, the Patagonia Visitors' Center is a little to the left of the Stage Stop, near a Bike Rental place. A pine tree with dripping sap (and a few sap-wells) is almost directly opposite the Visitors' center. There are many trees on the common: pines, junipers, sycamores, and a line of walnuts by the covered gazebo. When I saw the sapsucker near the gazebo back on November 9, 2011 the bird was in a walnut tree. All these trees make the common attractive to birds, but also difficult to search, and, of course, the Sapsucker might cover a much larger territory. Tom Arny tarny AT theriver.com Box 545, Patagonia, AZ USA 85624 Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Paton House at Patagonia From: lmorgan11637 <lmorgan11637 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 13:49:55 -0700 I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the warm welcome that I have received at the Paton House. I would also like to thank the Paton family for affording this opportunity to me and Michael and Donna for all their help making the transition a smooth one. Now on to the bird news,yesterday Feb 1st was remarkable, the Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Broad Billed, Black-chinned and Anna's all made their appearance . It never fails when you are having a party, some uninvited guests will show up, the Sharp-shinned hawk was first then came the circling Red-tailed Hawks and finally not to be left out Mr Cooper's Hawk. The Paton House back yard is OPEN, come by and say hello and watch some birds with me. Larry Morgan Paton House Patagonia Az lmorgan11637 AT gmail.com Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: se AZ: Ina Rd Bridge - Blue Grosbeak From: Andrew Core <andrewcore AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 12:35:01 -0700 I checked out the area south of the Ina Rd bridge in Marana this morning and was surprised to find a nice male Blue Grosbeak along the channel - I saw it from the bridge and got a few quick photos before it disappeared. Blue Grosbeaks are "casual" in winter (which is rarer than "rare", I believe) and most reports are from Santa Cruz County with a few in Cochise; I don't recall any from Pima but there probably are some. A little further south I detoured into the floodplain and found 3 Lawrence's Goldfinches, which in my experience are harder to find in winter and spring than they are in fall. List and flight photo (I have other blurry photos if anyone wants.): http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9743348 No Wood Ducks for me today, but last week in the evening I saw 10-12 fly up out of the (off-limits) pit that is northwest of the bridge. Andrew -- Andrew Core Tucson, AZ Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SE AZ: Tucson Kennedy Park OSPREY From: John Higgins <jghiggins AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 19:29:52 +0000 Thursday at noon OSPREY was flying over the lake and later perched o n the highest tower. Red-tail ed Hawk and Cooper's Hawk were perched nearby.   Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico From: "Emily A. Lee" <emily AT EMILYLEE19.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:41:21 -0700 For the past two winters in my Belén, NM yard there have been plentiful Eurasian collareds with few white wings, while both summers featured mainly WWDOs. For the past few days Eurasians have been noisy in the big bare trees around. Emily On Feb 2, 2012, at 10:54 AM, Rob Yaksich wrote: > It's been my understanding, and please correct it if I'm wrong, that the WWDOs in the Sonoran desert are a different race? These are cactus pollinators and migrate accordingly, whereas those in NM and expanding their range are not and seem more urban dependent. Perhaps it's this other race of white-wings moving into the desert? I wonder what that means for pollination ecology where the two would overlap, especially if the newcomers take off in the same manner that they have in NM (my ABQ feeder went from 1 in 1997 to too-#*#*#*-many in a matter of a few years). > > Rob Y > > > Rob Yaksich > > ABQ/Raton, NM (home) > Cromwell, CT (Holy Apostles College & Seminary) > > > "Let the earth bless the Lord... > All you birds of the air, bless the Lord. > All you beasts wild and tame, bless the Lord. > You sons of men, bless the Lord... > Praise and exalt him above all forever. ~Daniel 3:52, 58-60 > > > ________________________________ > From: chris mccreedy > To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Sent: Thursday, February 2, 2012 12:29 PM > Subject: Re: [BIRDWG05] wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico > > I have a question on the doves - I found 8-9 on my Atascosa Highlands CBC > turf (the Rock Corral). The strange thing for me was to find them at the > top of the watershed (~3800'), apparently roosting mid-day in oaks - when > they had the entire Santa Cruz River Valley available below them. It was > upsetting! > > I wondered: were they after acorns? The Birds of North America account does > not mention acorns as a food source, but I found a mention in 'The Behavior > of > Texas Birds' that WWDO eat acorns. Perhaps acorns are among the things > that these eastern WWDO are working with as they expand westward and > northward? > > McCreedy > > On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 11:56 AM, Douglas Carver wrote: > >> Janet -- >> >> Thanks for confirming through the CBC what I have been observing. I moved >> to Santa Fe in 2002, and I did not remember seeing any wintering >> White-winged Doves my first couple of winters, but then I started noting >> more and more. I had a gentle argument with a fellow birder that the >> wintering population of the White-winged was expanding, but he insisted >> they had always been around. I moved to Albuquerque in 2005, but still >> birded both Santa Fe and Albuquerque -- and in Albuquerque I noticed that >> the Mourning Doves were being displaced in winter by more and more >> White-winged Doves. >> >> Douglas Carver >> Albuquerque, NM >> >> On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 7:41 AM, Janet M Ruth wrote: >> >>> In response to Troy's note about White-winged Doves in winter in AZ .... >>> based on my experience with the Albuquerque Christmas Bird Count, and a >>> quick look at the CBC records for Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces, >>> there has been a definite expansion and increase in abundance of WWDO in >>> winter northward in NM as well. >>> >>> In Las Cruces in 1981 they had 5 birds, in 1988 and 1989 they had about >>> 300, in 1991 and 1992 they had 500-600, and from 1999 to 2009 they had >>> from 6000 to 18500! >>> >>> In Albuquerque starting in 1995 we had 5 birds, by 2004 we had 79, and >>> from 2005 - 2009 we had from 223 - 760. >>> >>> In Santa Fe starting in 1998 they had 1 bird and by 2009 they had 88. >>> >>> Janet M. Ruth, Ph.D. >>> Research Ecologist >>> USGS Arid Lands Field Station >>> UNM Biology Department >>> MSC03 2020 >>> 1 University of New Mexico >>> Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 >>> 505-346-2870 or 2872 Ext. 12 >>> 505-277-0304 FAX >>> janet_ruth AT usgs.gov >>> >>> "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, >>> would it?" >>> >>> - Albert Einstein >>> >>> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 07:21:19 -0700 >>> From: Troy Corman >>> Subject: Re: Note on wintering White-winged Doves >>> >>> One of my favorite topics...the changing seasonal status of birds! >>> >>> Best I can tell is that a small number of White-winged Doves have >>> regularly >>> wintered locally in some residential and urban settings in southeastern >> AZ >>> >>> since at least the mid-80's. However, sometime during the early to >>> mid-1990s, I learned that winter population of these doves in similar >>> setting in southern New Mexico had begun to increase dramatically. I >> heard >>> >>> recent accounts that in some neighborhoods of Las Cruces wintering >>> White-winged Doves had greatly outnumbered Mourning Doves. For about a >>> decade, this winter population has expanded west and began to spread into >>> some of Arizona's eastern towns and communities. This began in >>> Eagar/Springerville in the White Mountains of all places, but quickly >>> spread >>> to many towns in Graham Co. such as Thatcher, Safford and Duncan. >>> Surprising >>> numbers of these birds now winter in these towns among the ever >> increasing >>> >>> population of Eurasian Collared-Doves. This hardy northern wintering >>> population may very well explain those birds that appear to be year-long >>> residents that Mark mentions further west and northwest in Page and >>> Flagstaff. Most of the Sonoran Desert nesting population typically do not >>> arrive until March and April. These two different populations are >>> discussed >>> in Dave Brown's, Arizona Game Birds. >>> >>> Troy Corman >>> Phoenix, AZ >>> >>> Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html >>> To contact a listowner, send a message to: >>> mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Dilexi iustitiam et odivi iniquitatem, propterea morior in exilio. >> >> (I have loved justice and hated iniquity, therefore I die in exile.) >> >> -- the last words of Saint Pope Gregory VII (d. 1085) >> >> Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html >> To contact a listowner, send a message to: >> mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU >> > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html > To contact a listowner, send a message to: > mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html > To contact a listowner, send a message to: > mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Emily A. Lee Valencia County, NM http://emilylee19.com/ Baha'i Faith: www.bahai.us “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.” ~ Baha'i Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico From: Rob Yaksich <grobyak AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 09:54:20 -0800 It's been my understanding, and please correct it if I'm wrong, that the WWDOs in the Sonoran desert are a different race? These are cactus pollinators and migrate accordingly, whereas those in NM and expanding their range are not and seem more urban dependent. Perhaps it's this other race of white-wings moving into the desert? I wonder what that means for pollination ecology where the two would overlap, especially if the newcomers take off in the same manner that they have in NM (my ABQ feeder went from 1 in 1997 to too-#*#*#*-many in a matter of a few years).  Rob Y   Rob Yaksich ABQ/Raton, NM (home) Cromwell, CT (Holy Apostles College & Seminary) "Let the earth bless the Lord... All you birds of the air, bless the Lord. All you beasts wild and tame, bless the Lord. You sons of men, bless the Lord... Praise and exalt him above all forever. ~Daniel 3:52, 58-60 ________________________________ From: chris mccreedy To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Sent: Thursday, February 2, 2012 12:29 PM Subject: Re: [BIRDWG05] wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico I have a question on the doves - I found 8-9 on my Atascosa Highlands CBC turf (the Rock Corral).  The strange thing for me was to find them at the top of the watershed (~3800'), apparently roosting mid-day in oaks - when they had the entire Santa Cruz River Valley available below them.  It was upsetting! I wondered: were they after acorns?  The Birds of North America account does not mention acorns as a food source, but I found a mention in 'The Behavior of Texas Birds' that WWDO eat acorns.  Perhaps acorns are among the things that these eastern WWDO are working with as they expand westward and northward? McCreedy On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 11:56 AM, Douglas Carver wrote: > Janet -- > > Thanks for confirming through the CBC what I have been observing.  I moved > to Santa Fe in 2002, and I did not remember seeing any wintering > White-winged Doves my first couple of winters, but then I started noting > more and more.  I had a gentle argument with a fellow birder that the > wintering population of the White-winged was expanding, but he insisted > they had always been around.  I moved to Albuquerque in 2005, but still > birded both Santa Fe and Albuquerque -- and in Albuquerque I noticed that > the Mourning Doves were being displaced in winter by more and more > White-winged Doves. > > Douglas Carver > Albuquerque, NM > > On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 7:41 AM, Janet M Ruth wrote: > > > In response to Troy's note about White-winged Doves in winter in AZ .... > > based on my experience with the Albuquerque Christmas Bird Count, and a > > quick look at the CBC records for Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces, > > there has been a definite expansion and increase in abundance of WWDO in > > winter northward in NM as well. > > > > In Las Cruces in 1981 they had 5 birds, in 1988 and 1989 they had about > > 300, in 1991 and 1992 they had 500-600, and from 1999 to 2009 they had > > from 6000 to 18500! > > > > In Albuquerque starting in 1995 we had 5 birds, by 2004 we had 79, and > > from 2005 - 2009 we had from 223 - 760. > > > > In Santa Fe starting in 1998 they had 1 bird and by 2009 they had 88. > > > > Janet M. Ruth, Ph.D. > > Research Ecologist > > USGS Arid Lands Field Station > > UNM Biology Department > > MSC03 2020 > > 1 University of New Mexico > > Albuquerque, NM  87131-0001 > > 505-346-2870 or 2872  Ext. 12 > > 505-277-0304 FAX > > janet_ruth AT usgs.gov > > > > "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, > > would it?" > > > > - Albert Einstein > > > > Date:    Wed, 1 Feb 2012 07:21:19 -0700 > > From:    Troy Corman > > Subject: Re: Note on wintering White-winged Doves > > > > One of my favorite topics...the changing seasonal status of birds! > > > > Best I can tell is that a small number of White-winged Doves have > > regularly > > wintered locally in some residential and urban settings in southeastern > AZ > > > > since at least the mid-80's. However, sometime during the early to > > mid-1990s, I learned that winter population of these doves in similar > > setting in southern New Mexico had begun to increase dramatically. I > heard > > > > recent accounts that in some neighborhoods of Las Cruces wintering > > White-winged Doves had greatly outnumbered Mourning Doves. For about a > > decade, this winter population has expanded west and began to spread into > > some of Arizona's eastern towns and communities. This began in > > Eagar/Springerville in the White Mountains of all places, but quickly > > spread > > to many towns in Graham Co. such as Thatcher, Safford and Duncan. > > Surprising > > numbers of these birds now winter in these towns among the ever > increasing > > > > population of Eurasian Collared-Doves. This hardy northern wintering > > population may very well explain those birds that appear to be year-long > > residents that Mark mentions further west and northwest in Page and > > Flagstaff. Most of the Sonoran Desert nesting population typically do not > > arrive until March and April. These two different populations are > > discussed > > in Dave Brown's, Arizona Game Birds. > > > > Troy Corman > > Phoenix, AZ > > > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html > > To contact a listowner, send a message to: > > mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > > > > > > -- > Dilexi iustitiam et odivi iniquitatem, propterea morior in exilio. > > (I have loved justice and hated iniquity, therefore I die in exile.) > >    -- the last words of Saint Pope Gregory VII (d. 1085) > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html > To contact a listowner, send a message to: > mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: NM RBA 2/2/2012 From: Matt Baumann <mb687 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 10:50:01 -0700 New Mexico Rare Bird Report February 2, 2012 Compiler: Matt J. Baumann Phone: 505-264-1052 E-mail address: mb687 AT yahoo.com This is the New Mexico Rare Bird Report for February 2, 2012, sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are given for private property, please call before going to ask for permission. In ranch country, do not stray off the roads. Places mentioned in the report, a checklist of N.M. birds, and more locations on uncommon and specialty species can be found in the N.M. Bird Finding Guide. You can purchase the NM Bird Finding Guide at http://www.nmbirds.org/?page_id=83. A more complete, updated version of the checklist can be found at http://www.nmbirds.org/?page_id=1666 for prior records of species in New Mexico, search the online archive of the NMOS Field Notes at http://nhnm.unm.edu/partners/nmos/index.html or refer to prior RBA’s and reports on the AZ/NM listserv at http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html. For photos of rarities and directions to some birding sites, check http://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage or the New Mexico Rarities Group on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/groups/nmrarities/. NMOS is now on Facebook, search for New Mexico Ornithological Society. The following link provides a list of the review species in New Mexico http://www.nmbirds.org/wp-content/reviewlist20072.pdf. Details for any of these species or species not on the checklist should be sent to Dr. Sartor O. Williams, III, 1819 Meadowview NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104 or to sunbittern AT earthlink.net. Details will be used for the Bird Records Committee, North American Birds and the NMOS Field Notes. Review species are in CAPITAL letters. Birds Mentioned and Counties: Tundra Swan (San Miguel) BARROW’S GOLDENEYE (Taos) Pacific Loon (Sandoval) Green Heron (Sandoval) White-tailed Kite (Luna) Long-billed Curlew (Luna, Socorro) MEW GULL (Sierra) Thayer’s Gull (Bernalillo, Sierra) LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Sierra) GLAUCOUS GULL (Dona Ana, Sierra) Common-ground Dove (Hidalgo) Red-headed Woodpecker (De Baca) Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker (Dona Ana) Northern Shrike (Colfax) PACIFIC WREN (Bernalillo) Winter Wren (Bernalillo, Eddy) Gray Catbird (Eddy) American Tree Sparrow (Santa Fe) Field Sparrow (De Baca) Fox Sparrow (Eddy, Santa Fe) Harris’s Sparrow (Socorro, Taos) Golden-crowned Sparrow (Bernalillo) RUSTY BLACKBIRD (Bernalillo, Union) Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Bernalillo) Black Rosy-Finch (Bernalillo) Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Bernalillo) COMMON REDPOLL (Santa Fe) BERNALILLO County: Tingley Beach area: --RUSTY BLACKBIRDS: The four birds continue to be seen south of the two ponds in the bosque at this location. Look for the long building, approximately 0.25 miles south of the southernmost pond, with a metal roof and a large blue mural on the side. The building is in the ABQ Zoo. The blackbirds were last reported in the wet area to the west of this building until January 24. -- STUB-TAILED WRENS: Up to two WINTER WRENS and a single PACIFIC WREN have been reported from the location above. The wrens have been reported in an open patch of water with a large tangle of Russian Olives in the blackbird area until February 1. Both species of wrens have been heard well. --Wolf and Archdeacon reported that the previously reported first cycle THYER’S GULL was back near the Alameda Bridge in Albuquerque on the afternoon of February 1. --Hawksworth found another WINTER WREN along the eastside drain closest to the river along the footbridge 200 yards south of I-40 January 10. --Pederson found a PACIFIC WREN in Cienega Canyon in the Sandia Mountains December 26. The bird was seen near the Cienega Creek Nature Trail sign in the canyon. It was seen in the willow thicket just above the small wooden bridge near this sign. The bird continued until December 28. --Gary Shirk reported the continuing GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW in Embudito Canyon December 26. --Wolf reported a vocal eastern WINTER WREN along the irrigation ditch on the east side of the Rio Grande River north of the Alameda Bridge December 3. He reported that the bird was seen along the ditch 20 yards past where the ditch bends east. Rustay and Drilling found the bird in the same area again January 15. --All three Rosy-Finches are being seen at Sandia Crest currently. Follow rosyfinch.com for updates and check ebird, Cibola NF-- Sandia Crest or Cibola NF--Sandia Crest Rd, for sightings. COLFAX County: --Parmeter, Wittman and Leckman reported two NORTHERN SHRIKES north of Springer Lake January 21. They later found another northeast of Lake 13 on the Maxwell NWR the same day. CURRY County: --NOTE: Please check-in at the Clovis WWTP offices before birding the settlement ponds. DE BACA County: --Rustay reported a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER in Ft. Sumner and another at Bosque Redondo SP January 29. He also found five FIELD SPARROWS along a small drainage at the southeast end of Sumner Lake the same day. DONA ANA County: --Goin reported a NORTHERN (YELLOW-SHAFTED) FLICKER at Leasburg SP January 28. --VanBuskirk reported that the continuing GLAUCOUS GULL was still present at the Sunland Park Casino racetrack pond on the evening of January 3. EDDY County: --Bob Nieman reported a WINTER WREN in the marshy area below Brantley dam January 27. --Bob Nieman reported the Carlsbad Caverns CBC turned up a red FOX SPARROW and two GRAY CATBIRDS at Rattlesnake Springs December 17. Krueper and Ruth reported one FOX SPARROW and a GRAY CATBIRD at Rattlesnake Springs January 14. HIDALGO County: --Pederson and Baumann reported a COMMON-GROUND DOVE in Rodeo December 31. LUNA County: --Lucas Foerster reported a LONG-BILLED CURLEW 6-7 miles south of I-10 on Gage Rd. January 19. --Howe reported a pair of WHITE-TAILED KITES at mile marker 32 on hwy 26 between Hatch and Deming January 11. This is roughly 4.2 miles east of Nutt. OTERO County: --One can walk past the gate to Stinky Lake at the Holloman Lakes, but not drive in and can still bird there. MT on June 3 reported Lagoon G still closed, with many of the salt cedars removed. SANDOVAL County: --Krueper reported a probable PACIFIC LOON on Cochiti Lake January 18. --Krueper, Ruth and Cindy Ramotnik reported a GREEN HERON at the north end of the Corrales Bosque December 18. It was found along the drainage ditch about 200 meters north of the Harvey Jones Channel. The bird was relocated by Krueper and Ruth December 29. SAN MIGUEL County: --The CNMAS field trip located five TUNDRA SWANS at Crane Lake on the Las Vegas NWR refuge January 28. SANTA FE County: --Krueper reported three AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS and a FOX SPARROW in Galisteo Creek January 18. --Batkin and Clark reported up to six AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS along Galisteo Creek January 8. --Bo Olcott photographed a COMMON REDPOLL in his Santa Fe yard December 22. The location is 89 Arroyo Coyote Road, about a mile south and a mile east of the Lone Butte Store & Gas Station (the store is near the SR-14/CR-44/CR-45 intersection). Please contact Bo at 505-474-5327 prior to going and looking for the bird. It was seen again January 24. SIERRA County: --Parmeter and Oldenettel reported the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Rock Canyon Marina, Elephant Butte SP, January 27. They had an adult THAYER’S GULL and the first cycle THAYER’S GULL at South Monticello Point, Elephant Butte SP, the same day. --Cleary reported two first cycle GLAUCOUS GULLS, the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, and the first cycle THAYER’S GULL in Monticello Cover, Elephant Butte SP, January 20. He saw at least one of the GLAUCOUS GULLS and the first cycle THAYER’S GULL from Monticello Cove and off Three Sisters Point, Elephant Butte SP, February 1. He said the best strategy to viewing the gull is to drive out to the wind propeller on the South Monticello Point overlook and the gulls will be below this location. --Parmeter, Wittman, Leckman and Oldenettel reported seeing the MEW GULL on the tires at Rock Canyon Marina, Elephant Butte SP, January 13 and 14. SOCORRO County: --Rustay, Brandt, Parmeter and Wittman reported that they saw the LONG- BILLED CURLEW at Bosque del Apache NWR January 2. It was seen off the Willow Deck and apparently has been present since mid-December. One curlew was reported from this same location January 20 and 21. --Oldenettel reported an immature HARRIS’S SPARROW at his Luis Lopez house December 14. It continued to January 27. TAOS County: --Hite and Dunn reported an immature HARRIS’S SPARROW in the willows beside the Rio Pueblo just upstream from the confluence with the Rio Grande January 27. From the small bridge over the Rio Grande where Highways 567 and 570 meet there is a short dirt road that heads up the Rio Pueblo to a primitive camping area, and we found the bird about 200 yards up the Rio Pueblo from this campground while walking along the trail (an old blocked-off dirt road) that continues up the creek. --Rustay and Mary Pat Day reported an immature male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE south of the Arroyo Hondo Campground at Orilla Verde January 14. UNION County: --Oldenettel photographed two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS at a cattle feedlot just north of hwy 64/406 intersection east of Clayton December 28. Field Trips: FEBRUARY 2 Embudo Canyon with Donna Royer: 869-6882, dlroyer AT earthlink.net Meet at 9:00 a.m. in the parking lot nearest the trail head which is located at the east end of Indian School Road N.E. It is an easy 1.5 mile walk ending before noon. Saturday, February 11: Alameda Open Space Leader: Judy Liddell, jliddell AT msn.com Meet at 9:00 AM in the open space parking lot. We will be looking for wintering waterfowl on the river, checking the flocks of gulls for any vagrants and scouting for wintering sparrow, as well as enjoying normal winter species, e.g. Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and American Goldfinches. This is a trip that can be enjoyed by all levels of birders. Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico From: chris mccreedy <cristofolos AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 12:29:09 -0500 I have a question on the doves - I found 8-9 on my Atascosa Highlands CBC turf (the Rock Corral). The strange thing for me was to find them at the top of the watershed (~3800'), apparently roosting mid-day in oaks - when they had the entire Santa Cruz River Valley available below them. It was upsetting! I wondered: were they after acorns? The Birds of North America account does not mention acorns as a food source, but I found a mention in 'The Behavior of Texas Birds' that WWDO eat acorns. Perhaps acorns are among the things that these eastern WWDO are working with as they expand westward and northward? McCreedy On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 11:56 AM, Douglas Carver wrote: > Janet -- > > Thanks for confirming through the CBC what I have been observing. I moved > to Santa Fe in 2002, and I did not remember seeing any wintering > White-winged Doves my first couple of winters, but then I started noting > more and more. I had a gentle argument with a fellow birder that the > wintering population of the White-winged was expanding, but he insisted > they had always been around. I moved to Albuquerque in 2005, but still > birded both Santa Fe and Albuquerque -- and in Albuquerque I noticed that > the Mourning Doves were being displaced in winter by more and more > White-winged Doves. > > Douglas Carver > Albuquerque, NM > > On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 7:41 AM, Janet M Ruth wrote: > > > In response to Troy's note about White-winged Doves in winter in AZ .... > > based on my experience with the Albuquerque Christmas Bird Count, and a > > quick look at the CBC records for Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces, > > there has been a definite expansion and increase in abundance of WWDO in > > winter northward in NM as well. > > > > In Las Cruces in 1981 they had 5 birds, in 1988 and 1989 they had about > > 300, in 1991 and 1992 they had 500-600, and from 1999 to 2009 they had > > from 6000 to 18500! > > > > In Albuquerque starting in 1995 we had 5 birds, by 2004 we had 79, and > > from 2005 - 2009 we had from 223 - 760. > > > > In Santa Fe starting in 1998 they had 1 bird and by 2009 they had 88. > > > > Janet M. Ruth, Ph.D. > > Research Ecologist > > USGS Arid Lands Field Station > > UNM Biology Department > > MSC03 2020 > > 1 University of New Mexico > > Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 > > 505-346-2870 or 2872 Ext. 12 > > 505-277-0304 FAX > > janet_ruth AT usgs.gov > > > > "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, > > would it?" > > > > - Albert Einstein > > > > Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 07:21:19 -0700 > > From: Troy Corman > > Subject: Re: Note on wintering White-winged Doves > > > > One of my favorite topics...the changing seasonal status of birds! > > > > Best I can tell is that a small number of White-winged Doves have > > regularly > > wintered locally in some residential and urban settings in southeastern > AZ > > > > since at least the mid-80's. However, sometime during the early to > > mid-1990s, I learned that winter population of these doves in similar > > setting in southern New Mexico had begun to increase dramatically. I > heard > > > > recent accounts that in some neighborhoods of Las Cruces wintering > > White-winged Doves had greatly outnumbered Mourning Doves. For about a > > decade, this winter population has expanded west and began to spread into > > some of Arizona's eastern towns and communities. This began in > > Eagar/Springerville in the White Mountains of all places, but quickly > > spread > > to many towns in Graham Co. such as Thatcher, Safford and Duncan. > > Surprising > > numbers of these birds now winter in these towns among the ever > increasing > > > > population of Eurasian Collared-Doves. This hardy northern wintering > > population may very well explain those birds that appear to be year-long > > residents that Mark mentions further west and northwest in Page and > > Flagstaff. Most of the Sonoran Desert nesting population typically do not > > arrive until March and April. These two different populations are > > discussed > > in Dave Brown's, Arizona Game Birds. > > > > Troy Corman > > Phoenix, AZ > > > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html > > To contact a listowner, send a message to: > > mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > > > > > > -- > Dilexi iustitiam et odivi iniquitatem, propterea morior in exilio. > > (I have loved justice and hated iniquity, therefore I die in exile.) > > -- the last words of Saint Pope Gregory VII (d. 1085) > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html > To contact a listowner, send a message to: > mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico From: Douglas Carver <dhmcarver AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 09:56:38 -0700 Janet -- Thanks for confirming through the CBC what I have been observing. I moved to Santa Fe in 2002, and I did not remember seeing any wintering White-winged Doves my first couple of winters, but then I started noting more and more. I had a gentle argument with a fellow birder that the wintering population of the White-winged was expanding, but he insisted they had always been around. I moved to Albuquerque in 2005, but still birded both Santa Fe and Albuquerque -- and in Albuquerque I noticed that the Mourning Doves were being displaced in winter by more and more White-winged Doves. Douglas Carver Albuquerque, NM On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 7:41 AM, Janet M Ruth wrote: > In response to Troy's note about White-winged Doves in winter in AZ .... > based on my experience with the Albuquerque Christmas Bird Count, and a > quick look at the CBC records for Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces, > there has been a definite expansion and increase in abundance of WWDO in > winter northward in NM as well. > > In Las Cruces in 1981 they had 5 birds, in 1988 and 1989 they had about > 300, in 1991 and 1992 they had 500-600, and from 1999 to 2009 they had > from 6000 to 18500! > > In Albuquerque starting in 1995 we had 5 birds, by 2004 we had 79, and > from 2005 - 2009 we had from 223 - 760. > > In Santa Fe starting in 1998 they had 1 bird and by 2009 they had 88. > > Janet M. Ruth, Ph.D. > Research Ecologist > USGS Arid Lands Field Station > UNM Biology Department > MSC03 2020 > 1 University of New Mexico > Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 > 505-346-2870 or 2872 Ext. 12 > 505-277-0304 FAX > janet_ruth AT usgs.gov > > "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, > would it?" > > - Albert Einstein > > Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 07:21:19 -0700 > From: Troy Corman > Subject: Re: Note on wintering White-winged Doves > > One of my favorite topics...the changing seasonal status of birds! > > Best I can tell is that a small number of White-winged Doves have > regularly > wintered locally in some residential and urban settings in southeastern AZ > > since at least the mid-80's. However, sometime during the early to > mid-1990s, I learned that winter population of these doves in similar > setting in southern New Mexico had begun to increase dramatically. I heard > > recent accounts that in some neighborhoods of Las Cruces wintering > White-winged Doves had greatly outnumbered Mourning Doves. For about a > decade, this winter population has expanded west and began to spread into > some of Arizona's eastern towns and communities. This began in > Eagar/Springerville in the White Mountains of all places, but quickly > spread > to many towns in Graham Co. such as Thatcher, Safford and Duncan. > Surprising > numbers of these birds now winter in these towns among the ever increasing > > population of Eurasian Collared-Doves. This hardy northern wintering > population may very well explain those birds that appear to be year-long > residents that Mark mentions further west and northwest in Page and > Flagstaff. Most of the Sonoran Desert nesting population typically do not > arrive until March and April. These two different populations are > discussed > in Dave Brown's, Arizona Game Birds. > > Troy Corman > Phoenix, AZ > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html > To contact a listowner, send a message to: > mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > -- Dilexi iustitiam et odivi iniquitatem, propterea morior in exilio. (I have loved justice and hated iniquity, therefore I die in exile.) -- the last words of Saint Pope Gregory VII (d. 1085) Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Steak-backed oriole From: William Higgins <whiggins11 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 08:31:50 -0700 As previously reported, the streaked-back oriole was seen again yesterday morning (Feb 1) around 8 AM and at 9 AM and perhaps again at mid-day. Thanks to the other birders who were present and who spotted the bird. A couple of the people that I met asked me to put up some photos so they could get some more views of this stunning bird. No national geo shots here, but taken together, they show various angles of the oriole, including the nicely patterned back. Here's a link to the photos. http://smu.gs/xj4zy8 Bill Higgins Tucson Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: wintering White-winged Doves in New Mexico From: Janet M Ruth <janet_ruth AT USGS.GOV> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 07:41:50 -0700 In response to Troy's note about White-winged Doves in winter in AZ .... based on my experience with the Albuquerque Christmas Bird Count, and a quick look at the CBC records for Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces, there has been a definite expansion and increase in abundance of WWDO in winter northward in NM as well. In Las Cruces in 1981 they had 5 birds, in 1988 and 1989 they had about 300, in 1991 and 1992 they had 500-600, and from 1999 to 2009 they had from 6000 to 18500! In Albuquerque starting in 1995 we had 5 birds, by 2004 we had 79, and from 2005 - 2009 we had from 223 - 760. In Santa Fe starting in 1998 they had 1 bird and by 2009 they had 88. Janet M. Ruth, Ph.D. Research Ecologist USGS Arid Lands Field Station UNM Biology Department MSC03 2020 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 505-346-2870 or 2872 Ext. 12 505-277-0304 FAX janet_ruth AT usgs.gov "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" - Albert Einstein Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 07:21:19 -0700 From: Troy Corman Subject: Re: Note on wintering White-winged Doves One of my favorite topics...the changing seasonal status of birds! Best I can tell is that a small number of White-winged Doves have regularly wintered locally in some residential and urban settings in southeastern AZ since at least the mid-80's. However, sometime during the early to mid-1990s, I learned that winter population of these doves in similar setting in southern New Mexico had begun to increase dramatically. I heard recent accounts that in some neighborhoods of Las Cruces wintering White-winged Doves had greatly outnumbered Mourning Doves. For about a decade, this winter population has expanded west and began to spread into some of Arizona's eastern towns and communities. This began in Eagar/Springerville in the White Mountains of all places, but quickly spread to many towns in Graham Co. such as Thatcher, Safford and Duncan. Surprising numbers of these birds now winter in these towns among the ever increasing population of Eurasian Collared-Doves. This hardy northern wintering population may very well explain those birds that appear to be year-long residents that Mark mentions further west and northwest in Page and Flagstaff. Most of the Sonoran Desert nesting population typically do not arrive until March and April. These two different populations are discussed in Dave Brown's, Arizona Game Birds. Troy Corman Phoenix, AZ Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ: Willcox, St D, Benson date correction, no sightings From: Lainie Epstein <lainie95us AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 06:02:14 -0800 Monday 1/30/12, sorry Lainie Epstein Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: FW: AZ: Oracle State Park reopens on a limited basis From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT ATT.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 06:51:25 -0700 Oracle State Park to celebrate its reopening with day of events Read more: http://azstarnet.com/news/local/northwest/oracle-state-park-to-celebrate-its-reopening-with-day-of/article_d128ff0f-f8b3-5e8d-9684-a74320f6a229.html#ixzz1lES15Zip Official web site: http://azstateparks.com/Parks/ORAC/index.html Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ: Willcox, St D and Benson 1/31/12 From: Lainie Epstein <lainie95us AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 05:43:40 -0800 So sorry for the late post but with the negative reports about the cranes I thought I should post this: Mon 1/31 at Cochise Lake, there were >2000 cranes streaming in at about 0700 I had a Short-eared Owl fly right over me heading towards the golf course. One Black-crowned Night-heron in the smaller pond near the golf course in the tree where they are usually seen. Small flock of about 30 Chestnut-collared longspurs. No shorebirds except Killdeer.   Then I headed to St David: the Rufous-backed robins were still present and I didn't have to get out of the car, I had the best light and was so close (because I didn't have a camera!). Then quickly found the Brown Thrasher foraging on the ground at the Monastery, again the best views. Upon entering the Monastery, there is dripping water from pipes. Great for attracting all the sparrows and bluebirds (Westerns only). The pecan grove is also getting watered regularly and is icy in the morning, lots of birds on the ground everywhere. I have gone to the Sage Thrasher spot multiple times in the past 2 wks and they haven't been present. This last time I played a tape. The resident mockingbird almost flew into my car! The STP and golf course ponds have been uninteresting.   Working is not for the birds. Lainie Epstein Benson Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Patagonia Area 2/1/12 From: Diane Touret <dctouret AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 05:04:08 -0700 After an unenthusiastic and unsuccessful try for Baird's and Grasshopper Sparrows in the San Rafael Valley (where I did see Stuart and Cody, but couldn't join them on the "Lone Tree" hill because my low-slung car doesn't like crossing the ditch at the edge of the road that leads to the parking area), I went on to try for the birds reported at the Sonoita Creek Preserve. I started out with a fantastic look at the co-operative resident WESTERN SCREECH-OWL in its regular cottonwood tree-hole, and then went on to check the springs area along the Cienega Loop. A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE flew in and posed briefly before totally vanishing, but there was no Rufous-backed Robin or Eastern Phoebe. In the hackberries along the Railroad Trail, Alan Schmierer and I found a few Amer. Robins and Northern Flickers, but no Rufous-backed. Later, on my own, I saw a BELTED KINGFISHER along the Creek and a small mixed flock of EASTERN and WESTERN BLUEBIRDS in the hackberries near the turn-off to the Visitor Center. Paton's had mostly the usual, but a single PINE SISKIN and a VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD were new for me for this year. As a wonderful end to my birding day, the male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER opposite the Stage Stop Inn gave great views in the early afternoon. Diane Touret (Tucson,AZ) Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: CAZ: Tempe Marsh 2/1/12: Bat; Common Merganser; Night Heron From: "Myron L. Scott" <gaia_3 AT NETZERO.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 06:48:00 GMT Beautiful sunset and mild weather at Tempe Marketplace's Tempe Marsh overlook tonight(McClintock and Rio Salado c. 5 PM). Male Common Merganser still present, couple of Black-Crowned Night Heron beginning their evening hunt and, the highlight, at least one very active insectivorous bat. A woman we met birding there said she recently had seen a Great Horned Owl flying east to west above around sunset and a large raccoon at that location. - 2/1/12 Myron Scott Tempe Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: FW: SEAZ: Tubac Rarities CORRECTION - "Red" Fox Sparrow From: Laurens Halsey <desert-harrier AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 23:16:49 -0700 After looking at photographs this evening I withdraw my report of the "Slate-colored" Fox Sparrow and replace it with a "Red" Fox Sparrow. I didn't look at this bird through binocs, just the camera, oops! http://www.flickr.com/photos/64340965 AT N07/6805055571/. To be submitted to AZFO shortly. Laurens -----Original Message----- From: Laurens Halsey [mailto:desert-harrier AT cox.net] Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 1:29 PM To: 'BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU' Subject: SEAZ: Tubac Rarities Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: SEAZ: Whitewater Draw, 02/01/10 From: Richard Carlson <rccarl AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 19:29:17 -0800 No Whitewater cranes on Monday either. Many cranes on K Settlement Rd. We passed them by to see the big flocks at Whitewater. /:;()$& AT . Many Chestnut-collared Longspurs at Willcox. Missed the Elfrida bakery too, closes at 2. Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: White-winged Dove Sightings From: Ken Bielek <amaziliab AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 18:27:26 -0800 Birders: Dovetailing into the discussion regarding White-winged Dove winter sightings (pun intended), I have seen the subject bird three times this fall/winter season: on 11/20/11 and on 12/05/11, one was seen from our yard; on 01/27/12, one was perched in our backyard fig tree for about ten minutes. Our home is on 15th Avenue in Central Phoenix, ½ mile north of Encanto Park. In past years, I have seen them sporadically in the neighborhood or in Encanto Park during the “winter season,” always singly. Ken Bielek Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ: 02/01/2012 San Rafael Valley; Patagonia Lake From: Stuart Healy <stuarthealy AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 19:25:51 -0700 Wednesday, February, 2012 18 degrees in Harshaw Canyon before sunrise. low 70s in Patagonia in the afternoon Highlights while birding with Cody from Tucson today. San Rafael Valley At least 2, possibly 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS were hunting along FR58 ranging from about 0.3 to 0.6. miles from the west end of valley from ~7:15-8:15am. However, unlike recent visits, the birds did not show well and we didn't see any of them sitting on the fence. We also dipped on Kites. On the plus side, we had great success with scope views of 3 BAIRD'S SPARROWS and 2 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS near Lone Tree (in the grass, no fence-sitters seen). Some 100 CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS were in the grass northwest of Vaca Ranch Corral A few LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES were on Harshaw Creek Road Patagonia Lake State Park The birding was quite slow in the afternoon but we ground out 50 species. Male BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER between 2nd and 3rd washes in the BRIDLED TITMOUSE flock accompanied by a male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. Paton's Yard VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD was a regular visitor. Other birders called out what would be an early female Black-chinned Hummer but I saw only female ANNA'S. Of minor note was a Black-backed LESSER GOLDFINCH. The male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER continues in the pine between the Visitor Center and the adjacent building on the central green in Patagonia (spotted by Diane Touret). Stuart Stuart Healy, Western U.S. Bird Guide, Specializing in SE Arizona and the White Mountains. (520) 458-7603 stuarthealy AT cox.net http://www.aztrogon.com Photo equipment for sale: http://www.aztrogon.com/ForSale.htm Birding journal: http://www.aztrogon.com/Journal/Main.htm Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: SEAZ: San Rafael Valley, Patagonia and beyond From: Marion - Erickson <marione AT JUNO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 19:00:31 -0700 Jamie Massey and I saw the Williamson's Sapsucker in the same tree in the city of Patagonia next to the Visitor Center at around noon today. Marion Erickson > Williamson's Sapsucker was found in the tree east of the Visitor > Center in > Patagonia. > Melody Kehl > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ: Whitewater Draw, 02/01/10 From: Melody Kehl <outdoor1 AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 18:58:22 -0700 Worked our way to Whitewater Draw. Not one crane dazzled us with beauty. Not One!!! We did see cranes all the way along 191, but nothing at the draw. The water is seriously low. Several Soras tried to stand-in for the cranes and did an admirable job. No bittern for us. Melody Kehl So Many Birds, So Little Time http://www.melodysbirding.com "May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds." Edward Abbey Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Molino Black-chinned & Scrub Jay From: Richard Carlson <rccarl AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 16:54:14 -0800 Molino basin's Sparrow flock now has at least a dozen Black-chinned Sparrows. A pair of Scrub Jays also showed up. I've never seen them there, even though habitat looks perfect. Only Mex. Jays until now. RCarlson Tucson Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: SEAZ: Tubac Rarities From: Richard Carlson <rccarl AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 16:48:27 -0800 No luck with any of the Tubac rarities from 11 to noon. Consolation prizes were a Javelina and several Gulf Fritillary butterflies. RCarlson Tucson Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SE AZ Portal From: Bob Rodrigues <brod410 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 16:27:27 -0700 Late this morning we had 6 Lawrence's Goldfinches including at least 3 males at the Foothills Road/Big Thicket feeders. This is only the second record that I am aware of for this species on the property. The feeders are located on Foothills Road about 0.5 miles north of Portal Road. Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SE AZ: Tucson Sam Lena Park MERGANSERS From: John Higgins <jghiggins AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 21:33:36 +0000 Wednesday at 1 p.m. two female COMMON MERGANSERS and twelve HOODED MERGANSERS were at the south end of the big pond north of the Probation Office. Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: NM: Albuquerque, Alameda Bridge Thayer's Gull From: Matt Baumann <mb687 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 14:30:55 -0700 Cole Wolf called to report that he and Thomas Archdeacon are currently looking at the previously reported first cycle THAYER'S GULL at Alameda Bridge in Albuquerque. This gull went unreported for a couple weeks but seems like it may use this area again in the coming days. Good Birding, Matt Baumann Albuquerque, NM Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: WAZ: Bill Williams Hutton's Vireo From: David Vander Pluym <scre AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 16:20:06 -0500 Lauren Harter and I went out this morning Feb 1 to look for the Painted Bunting that David Bell had reported in the Bill Williams River NWR. We started at the milepost 2.0 spot where the Nutting's Flycatcher likes to hang out and walked along the edge of the riparian (as best we could) to a bit past where he had, had the bird. We were unable to relocate it or any of the other previously reported birds but just inside the riparian in a mixed species flock I picked out a HUTTON's VIREO which is causal in La Paz County. We heard that the NUTTING's FYCATCHER did make an appearance this morning back at the mp 2.0 spot. Good birding David Vander Pluym Lake Havasu City Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ: Tubac Rarities From: Laurens Halsey <desert-harrier AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 13:29:04 -0700 Apologies for the typos in the previous message concerning the STREAKED-BACKED ORIOLE, cold fingers & tiny keyboard. As mentioned in previous report, the STREAKED-BACKED ORIOLE was first seen by Margi Elliot of Albuquerque at 08:00. The bird remained in the top of a cottonwood for less than a minute before flying west the cottonwoods along the western edge of the riparian zone where we all got scope views (about eight people around initially). Today's discovery spot (N31 45'38.6" W110 50'45.3") was about fifty feet north of a brown trail marker (the only brown one I saw in the area, approximately a quarter mile north of Bridge Road along the Anza Trail). According to others, the oriole returned to this vicinity later in the morning. Others saw the EASTERN PHOEBE and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER closer to the road. I drove around to Clark's Crossing south of Tubac. I was able to re-find the BROWN THRASHER in the same vicinity Alan Schmierer photographed it yesterday. It sang several times and seemed to spend much of its time under some hackberry trees east of the trail along with a large number of American Robins (many flying back & worth across the trail) and Cedar Waxwings. I heard a Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet and a Cassin's Kingbird (possibly two). A Slate-colored Fox Sparrow popped up briefly in the brush next to the trail. An EASTERN PHOEBE was at the crossing near the foot bridge. Yesterday (1/31/12) around the Santa Cruz Flats - In the sod fields north of Pretzer & west of Tweedy (viewed from Tweedy) 22 Mountain Plovers, at least 6 McCOWN'S and at least 4 CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS. One of the male McCown's was about 80% into alternate plumage sporting bold black chest patch & rusty median coverts and all four identified Chestnut-collared were males with rusty napes & blackish bellies. Bendire's & Sage Thrashers and Sage Sparrows put on a good show on Toltec Butte north of Pretzer. A dark-phased Ferruginous Hawk was hanging around Pretzer about a 1.25 west of Tweedy. Only two Crested Caracaras seen at Baumgartner & Wheeler. Laurens --------- Laurens R. Halsey - Desert Harrier Guiding Service www.desertharrier.com desert-harrier AT cox.net Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: RFI: Gilbert Water Ranch Thrashers From: Magill Weber <magill_weber AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 11:38:43 -0800 I'm hoping someone can provide more info on the spate of Crissal and Bendire's Thrashers that have been reported to eBird at Gilbert Water Ranch lately. Are any of these legit sightings? And has anyone seen the Brown Thrasher lately out there? Thanks, Magill Weber, Phoenix Sent from my iPhone Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: AZ: N. Beardless-Tyrannulet at Agua Caliente Park From: Rick Taylor <rtaylor AT BORDERLAND-TOURS.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 12:01:52 -0700 On a brief visit to Agua Caliente Park in mid-morning today, February 1, Barbara Bickel and I found a Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet about 75 yards beyond the bridge north of the Rose House. Also in the park were dozens of American Robins, a flock of Western Bluebirds, and perhaps 50 or more Cedar Waxings. Palm fruits were the major attraction. --Rick Taylor -- Explore the Living Museums of the World BORDERLAND TOURS 2550 W. Calle Padilla, Tucson, AZ 85745 Toll-free: (800) 525-7753 Phone: (520) 882-7650 FAX: (520) 792-9205 http://www.borderland-tours.com Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: U of A Campus Farm White-throated Sparrow From: Richard Hoyer <birdernaturalist AT ME.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 11:30:36 -0700 Wednesday, Feb 1 Dear Birders, On a short bike ride in my neighborhood this morning in N-C Tucson I found a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. It was with a large flock of White-crowned, Brewer's, and Savannah Sparrow in the weedy sink on the north side of the now defunct U of A cattle pens about 1/4 mile E of Allen Rd and Campbell Ave. Nearly as rare in this particular part of Tucson were a GREATER ROADRUNNER along Christmas Wash immediately E of the old feed lots (the N extension of Jackson Ave.) and a BEWICK'S WREN in Rio Vista Natural Resource Park (at the N end of Tucson Blvd, south of the Rillito River). Good Birding, Rich --- Rich Hoyer Tucson, Arizona Senior Leader for WINGS http://wingsbirds.com my blog: http://birdernaturalist.blogspot.com fabulous bloggers: http://birdingblogs.com --- Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Painted Bunting at Bill Williams From: David Bell <d AT VIDBELL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 10:18:51 -0800 Yesterday afternoon while birding the Bill Williams NWR I found a female-type Painted Bunting. The bird was near the 2.3 mile marker or so on Planet Ranch road. The exact location was http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:34.27943,-114.06446, which is at the transition from the mesquite to the taller riparian forest. It was last seen heading into the riparian forest. My apologies if this bird has already been reported by others. Description: bright green upperparts, clean grayish/green underparts, a plain green face, a cream-colored eyering and a pale chin. Photos and a description have been posted with the checklist on eBird: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9731461. Please feel free to contact me offline if you would like additional information. David Bell Pasadena, CA Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Gilbert Riparian Preserve update From: "alexgwoodruff AT live.com" <alexgwoodruff@LIVE.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 08:45:57 -0700 the gates have now been opened to the preserve. I did not speak to the warden, but saw the vehicle at the gates from the other side off the anglers lake. Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Phone Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ Tubac Streaked-backed Oriole From: Laurens Halsey <desertharrier AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 08:29:02 -0700 0800 !Anza Trail 0.25 mile north of brdge. Foujnd by EMargi llliott. ------- Laurens R. Halsey - Desert Harrier Guiding Service Green Valley, AZ www.desertharrier.com Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Gilbert Riparian Preserve From: "alexgwoodruff AT live.com" <alexgwoodruff@LIVE.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 07:47:02 -0700 The riparian preserve appears to be locked again this morning. I passed a warden's vehicle leaving as I was entering from the parking lot, but there are chains on the gates. I am hoping the gates will open soon, it is a long driver back to Buckeye! Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Phone Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: Note on wintering White-winged Doves From: Troy Corman <aplomado AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 07:21:19 -0700 One of my favorite topics...the changing seasonal status of birds! Best I can tell is that a small number of White-winged Doves have regularly wintered locally in some residential and urban settings in southeastern AZ since at least the mid-80's. However, sometime during the early to mid-1990s, I learned that winter population of these doves in similar setting in southern New Mexico had begun to increase dramatically. I heard recent accounts that in some neighborhoods of Las Cruces wintering White-winged Doves had greatly outnumbered Mourning Doves. For about a decade, this winter population has expanded west and began to spread into some of Arizona's eastern towns and communities. This began in Eagar/Springerville in the White Mountains of all places, but quickly spread to many towns in Graham Co. such as Thatcher, Safford and Duncan. Surprising numbers of these birds now winter in these towns among the ever increasing population of Eurasian Collared-Doves. This hardy northern wintering population may very well explain those birds that appear to be year-long residents that Mark mentions further west and northwest in Page and Flagstaff. Most of the Sonoran Desert nesting population typically do not arrive until March and April. These two different populations are discussed in Dave Brown's, Arizona Game Birds. Troy Corman Phoenix, AZ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Stevenson" To: Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 5:01 PM Subject: Re: [BIRDWG05] Note on wintering White-winged Doves Hi Birders, To the list of colder places in Arizona where White-winged Doves (WWDO) winter I'd add Page (on the northern edge of the state) and St Johns where they have wintered for some years or even decades and Flagstaff where they have wintered for at least a few years. One (imperfect) way to look at the question of whether or not more WWDO are wintering in AZ in this century would be to look at CBC data. Anyone interested can make graphs etc at http://birds.audubon.org/historical-results Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: CEAZ: Rio Salado From: TRACY McCarthey <tmccarthey AT MSN.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:21:35 -0700 On a brief stop at Rio Salado on my way home from work, I had a calling, female SUMMER TANAGER along with the BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER I see everytime I go down there. Tracy McCarthey Phoenix, AZ Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ Continuing Vermilion Fly in Palominas From: Tom Leskiw <tomleskiw AT SUDDENLINK.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:20:54 -0600 Birders, The VERMILION FLYCATCHER was again in our yard today, after not being noted for about 2 weeks. A flock of 75 Lark Buntings continues. And, echoing Stuart Healy's comments re: wintering WHITE-WINGED DOVES, we've had 1-2 at our feeder since we arrived the 1st week in December. best, Tom Leskiw Palominas Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ: San Rafael Valley, Patagonia and beyond From: Melody Kehl <outdoor1 AT COX.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:20:34 -0700 3 Short-eared Owls wowed us from 7:00 to about 7:30. One actually had an interaction with an early Harrier. 3 White-tailed Kites All of the above within site of the junction at the west end of the valley. No Baird's Sparrows, but tons of Savannahs. Chestnut-collared Longspurs gave us a fly-by Williamson's Sapsucker was found in the tree east of the Visitor Center in Patagonia. Paton's gave us the White-throated Sparrow and a Lazuli Bunting. Melody Kehl So Many Birds, So Little Time http://www.melodysbirding.com "May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds." Edward Abbey Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: CEAZ:Eastern Bluebird at Coon Bluff From: James Kopitzke <james.kopitzke AT COX.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:40:41 -0700 Birders, While exploring Coon Bluff Recreation Area about 11:15 AM today, along the lower Salt River in Maricopa County, I ran into two fellow birders, who mentioned that they had just seen an Eastern Bluebird in with a flock of Western Bluebirds. Sarah and the other woman whose name I have now forgotten left, while I continued to search for the bird. After about 5 minutes of working the bluebird flock, I refound a nice male Eastern Bluebird. Orange throat, extensive white underparts, and lack of any rufous on the back were all quite evident. I followed the flock for about 20 minutes and had several nice looks at the bird. No photos were taken. The flock moved around quite a bit, with many members coming to the ground to feed. They mostly stayed near the parking area, in the open mesquites, and the area heading towards the cliffs. As this is a second potential county record, someone with a good camera might want to track down this bird and get photographic documentation. Jim Kopitzke Mesa Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Clark's Crossing, De Anza Trail: BROWN THRASHER From: Alan Schmierer <aaschmierer AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:23:55 -0800 This morning between 9 and noon there was a BROWN THRASHER along the De Anza Trail about 0.2 miles south of Clark's Crossing Road. This is about 100 feet south of "the railroad tie" which marked the Black-throated Blue Warbler earlier in the season, and about 100 feet north of where Matt Brown and I first noted the thrasher on 11/11/2010. It was maddeningly secretive, but I got a few fair pics.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/6798250461/in/set-72157624419725101 Also in the area were 2 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES and a Red-shafted / Gilded or Yellow-shafted Flicker. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/6798251111/in/set-72157624419725101/ Alan Schmierer PO Box 626 Patagonia, AZ  85624 805-801-3701 (cell) PHOTOS AT:  www.flickr.com/photos/sloalan/sets Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: AZ Gil bert Water Ranch loc ked gate u pdateţ From: BILL HIGGINS <bill_higgins_tempe AT MSN.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:22:08 -0700 I would like to thank Scott for getting back to us as soon as he knew about our concerns and letting us know what was being done. Thanks, Bill HigginsTempe, AZ Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: Note on wintering White-winged Doves From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT ATT.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:01:29 -0700 Hi Birders, To the list of colder places in Arizona where White-winged Doves (WWDO) winter I'd add Page (on the northern edge of the state) and St Johns where they have wintered for some years or even decades and Flagstaff where they have wintered for at least a few years. One (imperfect) way to look at the question of whether or not more WWDO are wintering in AZ in this century would be to look at CBC data. Anyone interested can make graphs etc at http://birds.audubon.org/historical-results Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Note on wintering White-winged Doves From: Stuart Healy <stuarthealy AT COX.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:41:15 -0700 With the recent spate of posts about White-winged Doves, it's worth mentioning that, counter intuitively, a fair number of them have always wintered in the colder places (colder compared to Tucson and Phoenix). Locations where they can be reliable found in winter include Bisbee, Sierra Vista, St. David and Patagonia. In my neighborhood, they normally start singing in mid January. However, this year I first heard them on December 31 and they have been going at it every day since. The earlier onset of singing is presumably due to the warmer than average days this winter (albeit often under 32 degrees in my yard when the birds start to sing before sunrise). Stuart Stuart Healy, Western U.S. Bird Guide, Specializing in SE Arizona and the White Mountains. Personal Guiding and Custom Tours; 220 Stardust St., Sierra Vista, AZ 85635. (520) 458-7603 stuarthealy AT cox.net http://www.aztrogon.com Birding journal: http://www.aztrogon.com/Journal/Main.htm I'd rather be birding (and I usually am) Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Fwd: early White Winged Dove (Green Valley) From: "Dr. George C. West" <kbaybird AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:18:35 -0500 Birders, White-winged Doves have been all-winter residents for the past several years in the pecan groves in Sahuarita, Continental, and Green Valley. We see from a few to many on our daily walks. Often they are feeding in the groves with Mourning Doves, but sometimes in small groups on their own. Perhaps it is only a recent occurrence that they have overwintered - global warming? as most of them migrate south into Mexico. We had one bird that we banded in Phoenix shot in Michoacan a few years ago. Cheers, George & Ellen West Green Valley or Pinetop, AZ kbaybird AT aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Northe Osbrink To: BIRDWG05 Sent: Tue, Jan 31, 2012 5:42 am Subject: Re: early White Winged Dove (Green Valley) On 1/30/2012 10:51 AM, Peter Salomon wrote: > Just heard and saw a singing WHITE WINGED DOVE in my neighborhood near Tanque Verde and Cam Prinicpal in Tucson. We've had at least one here in Green Valley near the corner of Continental and Abrego for roughly two weeks. Northe Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SWAZ: Yuma West Wetlands, January 2012 From: Henry Detwiler <henrydetwiler AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:26:54 -0700 Greetings Birders, At lunch today (Jan 31) I had a young male SUMMER TANAGER below and west of the hummingbird garden at the Yuma West Wetlands. Over the past week Al & Helga Borgardt have made almost daily trips to the West Wetlands and have seen the following: - YELLOW-BREASTED SAPSUCKER - below the hummingbird garden (may be the one Paul Lehman had last fall) - numerous CRISSAL THRASHERS, especially at the east and west ends - HERMIT THRUSH - below the hummingbird garden - HOODED ORIOLE - below the hummingbird garden Directions to this site are on the web at: http://www.southwestbirders.com/guide_yuma_west_wetlands.htm and in our Yuma County birding guide: http://www.southwestbirders.com/bird_book.htm Good birding, Henry Detwiler Yuma, AZ www.SouthwestBirders.com Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: AZ Gilbert Water Ranch locked gate update From: Richard Ditch <richditch AT Q.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:20:53 -0700 I just got this reply from Scott Anderson, Director of the Riparian Preserve: "Sorry about your experience. We had a person out sick this morning and another's day off today so we fell behind in getting gates open. We've taken action to make sure it doesn't happen again. We do close them at dusk and will open them at dawn every day. During breeding season we may close some of the internal trails from time to time, but there will be a notice posted when we do that. Happy birding. Thanks. Scott" Rich Ditch Phoenix Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: AZ Gilbert Water Ranch alert From: "Phyllis B. Martin" <bird6216 AT COX.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:42:41 -0800 We were at the Gilbert Water Ranch this morning and we were told the ranger that usually opens the gates was ill. As we were leaving around noon someone else opened them. Adam Martin -----Original Message----- From: NBHC AZ/NM Birds [mailto:BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Richard Ditch Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 9:14 AM To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: [BIRDWG05] AZ Gilbert Water Ranch alert I found locked gates this morning at all the trails near pond 6 preventing access to the spot where the Clay- colored Sparrow has been. No reason was posted. Rich Ditch Phoenix Sent from my iPhone Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SE AZ: Tucson Kennedy Park OSPREY From: John Higgins <jghiggins AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:52:54 +0000 Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. OSPREY eating fish on the big tower south of the lake.  Did not see Cave Swallow. Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: NM Curry Co-HYBRID ROSS GOOSE - SNOW GOOSE - WOOD DUCK From: Deb Whitecotton <dwhitec7097 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:47:26 -0700 Photo's are now posted for anyone wanting to look in reference to my last post. Lot's of looks on the hybrid goose but little feedback yet through the list thus far. ALL feedback is appreciated! http://www.flickr.com/photos/sn8kebyte/ Happy Birding! Deb Whitecotton Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: AZ Gilbert Water Ranch alert From: Richard Ditch <richditch AT Q.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:13:45 -0700 I found locked gates this morning at all the trails near pond 6 preventing access to the spot where the Clay- colored Sparrow has been. No reason was posted. Rich Ditch Phoenix Sent from my iPhone Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: NM Curry Co-HYBRID ROSS GOOSE - SNOW GOOSE - WOOD DUCK From: Deb Whitecotton <dwhitec7097 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:38:48 -0700 At Greene Acres Lake in Clovis NM yesterday there were a few notable species I wanted to report. Among hundreds of Canadian Geese there was a lone male COMMON MERGANSER (successfully eluded a photo op no matter where I went) 1 SNOW GOOSE and a HYBRID GOOSE, possibly a ROSS/CANADIAN? Head, neck, bill and feet all point to ROSS but body plumage leans real hard towards CANADIAN. I have posted some of the photo's I took to my flickr for input on the subject. Another note that might not be too uncommon for others but was a FIRST for my life list and certainly deserves an honorable mention was an absolutely beautiful pair of WOOD DUCKS. They tried to stay out of sight under the foot bridge on the west end of the lake. They would only come out briefly when someone walked across the bridge. Photo's of the hybrid mix goose that's open for discussion and opinions are posted in their own set at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sn8kebyte/sets/72157629115643653/ Photo's of other mentioned species will be added shortly to my account also (except the male Common Merganser who eluded a "good" photo op). Happy Birding!! Deb Whitecotton Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ Palominas Birdwalk From: Gordon Lewis <ranchogulag AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:36:09 -0700 Three owl day, BURROWING, BARN and GREAT HORNED. AM ROBIN, COMMON GROUND DOVE, LOGGERHEADED SHRIKE, GREAT BLUE HERON, lots of Sparrows and the usual suspects. Next walk is Monday at 8am at 10663 Hwy 92 in Palominas, free and open to all. Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: SEAZ: Tubac Streaked-back Oriole From: Jan Wilson <Janfreedom AT PACBELL.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:51:14 -0700 Oriole showed up at 7:35am and still eating in Cottonwood tree 1/4 mile on west sided trail north of Tubac bridge. Bird finally came into greet large flock of various species. Jan Wilson Green Valley Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: AZFO - new photos of McCown's Longspur, Streak-backed Oriole From: Mike Moore <mcmoore32 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:08:51 -0700 Field Ornithologists, John Groves contributed photos of a McCown's Longspur and Bryan Patrick contributed some new photos of the Tubac Streak-backed Oriole which were added to the existing page. Thanks John and Bryan! Thanks to all who use the online form below to submit photos. It makes my job a lot easier and ensures your photos will be posted more quickly. The AZFO Photo Gallery is found at: http://www.azfo.org click on "Photo Documentation" The AZFO Sound Library of sound recordings is found at: http://www.azfo.org click on "Sounds Library" Arizona Field Ornithologists welcomes Arizona rarity photo contributions from all photographers throughout the state. Use our online form to submit photos: http://www.azfo.org/gallery/PhotoContribution.html AZFO also welcomes contributions to it Sounds Library of bird vocalization recorded in Arizona and nearby areas. See more information here: http://www.azfo.org/SoundLibrary/sounds_contribute.html If you enjoy the AZFO web site, please consider joining AZFO and supporting our other activities. Details on the web site. We strive for accuracy. Please email any corrections to postings to me. Mike Moore AZFO Photo Editor Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: early White Winged Dove (Green Valley) From: Northe Osbrink <nosbrink AT COX.NET> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:42:41 -0700 On 1/30/2012 10:51 AM, Peter Salomon wrote: > Just heard and saw a singing WHITE WINGED DOVE in my neighborhood near Tanque Verde and Cam Prinicpal in Tucson. We've had at least one here in Green Valley near the corner of Continental and Abrego for roughly two weeks. Northe Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdwg05.html To contact a listowner, send a message to: mailto:BIRDWG05-request AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU