Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from The Arizona-New Mexico Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Friday, July 3 at 04:54 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Tiger,©Jan Wilczur

3 Jul Re: Off Topic: Snake ID requested [Jim Stuart ] 3 Jul Re: Off Topic: Snake ID requested [Diana Stuart - FCDX ] 3 Jul TNC Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve Open July 4th, 5th [Matt Killeen ] 3 Jul Off Topic: Snake ID requested [Richard Ditch ] 3 Jul AZ: Florida Canyon update-(Five-striped Sparrow!) [Chris West ] 3 Jul SE AZ: Marshall Gulch Re-opens on Mt Lemmon [Mark Stevenson ] 3 Jul FW: AZ: Willcox update 7/3/9 [Mark Stevenson ] 3 Jul Re: Video of wierd looking duck (suggestions please?) and Peach-faced Lovebirds [Cassidy Ruge ] 2 Jul Video of wierd looking duck (suggestions please?) and Peach-faced Lovebirds [Tommy DeBardeleben ] 2 Jul Re: Huachucas + Patagonia Wed and Thurs [Richard Fray ] 2 Jul Huachucas + Patagonia Wed and Thurs [Chris West ] 2 Jul White-crowned Sparrow - Kaibab National Forest (North District) ["Jacob C. Cooper" ] 2 Jul AZFO - New photos of Semipalmated Sandpiper, Rufous-winged Sparrow, White-winged Dove [Michael C Moore ] 2 Jul SE AZ: Green Valley WWTP - 2 July 09 [Michael Marsden ] 2 Jul SE AZ: White-eared Hummingbird at Carr Canyon, Huachuca Mountains plus others [keith kamper ] 2 Jul AZ: Willcox SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, MARBLED GODWITS etc this a.m. [David Stejskal ] 2 Jul NM RBA for 7/2/09 [] 1 Jul Best SE AZ site for photographing Hummingbirds? [Gus Stangeland ] 1 Jul AZ: Botteri's Influx, Cassin's Sp - San Pedro House & Moson Rd [Alan Miller ] 1 Jul Re: injured wildlife NM contacts [Rae Jean Schlimgen ] 1 Jul Northern Parula in Ramsey Canyon Preserve [Rick and Ricki Thompson ] 1 Jul Arizona State Parks, open or closed? Open [Mark Stevenson ] 1 Jul AZ: Rufous/Allen's at Paton's 1 July [Matt Brown ] 1 Jul SE AZ: Ash Canyon, Huachuca Mountains [Mary Jo Ballator ] 30 Jun Ramsey Canyon, AZ Singing male Northern Parula [Darlene Smyth ] 30 Jun AZ: Madera Canyon another Berylline [] 30 Jun AZ: Sweetwater Wetlands TAS field trip report [Darlene Smyth ] 30 Jun injured wildlife NM contacts [Rob Yaksich ] 29 Jun Fwd: LEAST TERN in Gilbert, plus SE AZ trip highlights [John Yerger ] 30 Jun AZ: Santa Cruz Flats--Crested Caracaras [Doug Jenness ] 29 Jun Portal CAFE closed for 1 day, July 1. [Helen Snyder ] 29 Jun Re: RFI: Le Conte's Thrasher [Henry Detwiler ] 29 Jun RFI: Le Conte's Thrasher [John Groves ] 29 Jun AZ: Chiricahuas update + possible Black-throated Blue Warbler [Chris West ] 29 Jun AZ -- Huachuca Canyon, 28 June, Trogons and More [Betsy Checchia ] 29 Jun Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve CLOSED July 1-3 due to Mt. Lion [Matt Killeen ] 29 Jun SF County pine grosbeaks/ hi country birds [Rob Yaksich ] 29 Jun SEAZ: California Gulch [Melody Kehl ] 29 Jun NM RBA for 6/29/09 [] 29 Jun Results: 2009 Chiricahua Mountains Trogon Census [Rick Taylor ] 29 Jun SE AZ: Empire Gulch Hooded Warbler continues [Richard Fray ] 28 Jun AZ: Video of Pacific Golden-Plover, Rufous-capped Warbler, etc. [Matt Brown ] 28 Jun AZFO - New photos of Pacific Golden-Plover, Flame-colored Tanager and Rufous-capped Warbler [Michael C Moore ] 28 Jun Riparian Bird Survey/ Webber Creek and East Verde River [Brian Ison ] 28 Jun 6/26: northern AZ sightings (various locations); tamarisk beetles [Eric Hough ] 28 Jun Golden Plover references - no sightings, long(ish) [Adam Sabatine ] 28 Jun Patagonia, AZ Area [Mike Bissontz ] 28 Jun AZ:06/28/09:Patagonia Rufous-capped Warblers ["Clifford A. Cathers" ] 28 Jun Belated Crested Caracara report, Cienega Creek (6/27/09) [Adam Sabatine ] 28 Jun Sierra Vista EOP Sunday Morning Walk (06/28/09) [Rick and Ricki Thompson ] 28 Jun Tucson, Sweetwater Wetlands [Mark Stevenson ] 28 Jun FW: AZ: Pacific Golden-plover is GONE [Mark Stevenson ] 27 Jun End of the day at Willcox [Mark Stevenson ] 27 Jun Continuing Madera specialties [LAWRENCE LIESE ] 27 Jun 06:27/09:Vail Arizona, Scaled Quail Young ["Clifford A. Cathers" ] 27 Jun Yuma County, 27 June 09 [Henry Detwiler ] 27 Jun Tucson RBA 27 June 2009 [John Yerger ] 27 Jun AZ: Cluff Ranch and Gila River Family Values [] 27 Jun Mt. Lemmon, AZ TAS trip today [Darlene Smyth ] 27 Jun Rufous-capped Warbler, Pacific Golden Plover [Merce & Michael ] 27 Jun Re: Pacific Golden-Plover at Willcox update [Gary Rosenberg ] 27 Jun AZ: Botteri's & Tropical Kingbird - San Pedro House [Alan Miller ] 27 Jun Hand-held Video of Pacific Golden Plover, Cochise Lake, Willcox AZ, June 27, 2009 [Rick and Ricki Thompson ] 27 Jun FW: Willcox Pacific Golden-Plover continues at 1130 [Mark Stevenson ] 27 Jun FW: Willcox Pacific Golden-Plover continues at 0945 [Mark Stevenson ] 27 Jun Re: Nesting Rufous-Capped Warbler in Patagonia TNC Preserve [Robin Baxter ] 27 Jun FW: Willcox Pacific Golden-Plover continues [Mark Stevenson ] 27 Jun Sharing Golden-plover info Saturday morning [Mark Stevenson ] 26 Jun Hummingbird info [Leanna Shaberly ] 26 Jun Pacific Golden-Plover, Wilcox Big Pond. 6/26/09 evening [Janine McCabe ] 26 Jun AZFO - New photos of Pacific Golden-Plover, Eastern Kingbird [Michael C Moore ] 26 Jun Pacific Golden Plover [Keith Kamper ] 26 Jun Madera Canyon, AZ Flame-colored Tanager, Berylline Hummer, Rose-breasted Grosbeak [Darlene Smyth ] 26 Jun Re: Uncertainty about Willcox Golden-plover ID becomes PACIFIC is the ID [Jamie Massey ] 26 Jun Re: Uncertainty about Willcox Golden-plover ID becomes PACIFIC is the ID [Mark Stevenson ] 26 Jun Uncertainty about Willcox Golden-plover ID [Mark Stevenson ] Subject: Re: Off Topic: Snake ID requested From: Jim Stuart <jnstuart61 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:54:42 -0700 I think my sister is correct (just a joke, we're presumably not related). It's more boldly marked than juvenile Coachwhips we see in NM, but I could not make it any other whipsnake species such as Sonoran or Striped. Very adept climbers and bird and bird egg eaters.   Thanks, Jim   James N. Stuart Albuquerque, NM jnstuart61 AT yahoo.com http://flickr.com/photos/stuartwildlife   --- On Fri, 7/3/09, Diana Stuart - FCDX wrote: From: Diana Stuart - FCDX Subject: Re: [BIRDWG05] Off Topic: Snake ID requested To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Date: Friday, July 3, 2009, 3:41 PM Lovely photos, Rich! It's a Coachwhip (Coluber flagellum). The facial pattern is diagnostic. For everyone: The best site for instant ID of all Arizona reptiles is www.reptilesofaz.org which is the web site of the Arizona chapter of Partners for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC). Click on any of the families and you will be taken to the ID keys for that family. For example, click on the snake icon and you'll get a color photo key to use for the pattern of whatever you saw. Click on the one you think you saw, and you get several photos, range maps, ecology and natural history. Diana Stuart (Closet herpetologist) -----Original Message----- From: NBHC AZ/NM Birds [mailto:BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Richard Ditch Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 2:08 PM To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: [BIRDWG05] Off Topic: Snake ID requested I've just posted three photos from our Phoenix back yard, taken  Thursday afternoon. Surely someone on this list is better at snake ID than I am, so  please let me know what this is. Rich Ditch Phoenix, AZ http://richditch.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/snake/ Subject: Re: Off Topic: Snake ID requested From: Diana Stuart - FCDX <dms AT MAIL.MARICOPA.GOV> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:41:11 -0700 Lovely photos, Rich! It's a Coachwhip (Coluber flagellum). The facial pattern is diagnostic. For everyone: The best site for instant ID of all Arizona reptiles is www.reptilesofaz.org which is the web site of the Arizona chapter of Partners for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC). Click on any of the families and you will be taken to the ID keys for that family. For example, click on the snake icon and you'll get a color photo key to use for the pattern of whatever you saw. Click on the one you think you saw, and you get several photos, range maps, ecology and natural history. Diana Stuart (Closet herpetologist) -----Original Message----- From: NBHC AZ/NM Birds [mailto:BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Richard Ditch Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 2:08 PM To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: [BIRDWG05] Off Topic: Snake ID requested I've just posted three photos from our Phoenix back yard, taken Thursday afternoon. Surely someone on this list is better at snake ID than I am, so please let me know what this is. Rich Ditch Phoenix, AZ http://richditch.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/snake/ Subject: TNC Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve Open July 4th, 5th From: Matt Killeen <mkilleen AT TNC.ORG> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:28:57 -0400 Wanted to let everyone know that we will be reopening the gates at The Nature Conservancy's Patagonia Sonoita Creek Preserve on Saturday morning, regular hours of 6:30am-4pm apply. We would encourage those of you who plan on visiting us in the coming weeks to hike/walk in groups. Be a little noisy as you go, maybe let those car keys jingle just a little bit more. We've been walking the trails extensively and have not come across the mountain lions or their fresh sign/tracks in the last few days. In the event that we or our visitors come across a mountain lion on or near our trails we will close the preserve down with little to no warning. We'll do our best to announce any additional closures as rapidly and broadly as we can. We appreciate your patience and understanding when it comes to the safety of our human and wildlife visitors. For additional information call the preserve at 520-394-2400 or email me. Thanks and have a good safe weekend. Matt ><>><>><>><>><>><>><> Matt Killeen SE AZ Asst. Preserves Mgr. The Nature Conservancy (520)378-2785 ext. 113 MKilleen AT TNC.org <><<><<><<><<><<><<>< Subject: Off Topic: Snake ID requested From: Richard Ditch <richditch AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:07:31 -0700 I've just posted three photos from our Phoenix back yard, taken Thursday afternoon. Surely someone on this list is better at snake ID than I am, so please let me know what this is. Rich Ditch Phoenix, AZ http://richditch.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/snake/ Subject: AZ: Florida Canyon update-(Five-striped Sparrow!) From: Chris West <swallowtailedkite AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:54:43 -0500 Hi all, Arrived at Florida Canyon around 10:00 this morning. No sign of the Rufous-capped Warblers. However, the Five-striped Sparrow did put in an appearance. It was pretty cool to see one outside of California Gulch! Rio Rico had 5 Black-bellied Whistling-ducks and Mr Flame put on a show at Madera Kubo. Birding along the road by the Patagonia Preserve this morning (still closed because of the Mt Lion) we heard several Tyrannulets calling. Eventually, we managed to see a few. Lifer for my friend and a way cool bird! Also saw a few Thick-billed Kingbirds and 3 Yellow-billed Cuckoos. Now off to nap for a while before heading back up to Madera. -- Happy Birding! --Chris W, Portal, AZ (currently Green Valley) Birding Guide for Southeast Arizona (520) 558-2307 http://swallowtailedkite.blogspot.com Chris.W.Birder AT gmail.com Subject: SE AZ: Marshall Gulch Re-opens on Mt Lemmon From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT WORLDNET.ATT.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:44:44 -0700 The road down from Summerhaven to Marshall Gulch Picnic area is open all the way to the end again (a delightful birding area when not jammed with picnickers) but the damaged section of the road is reduced to one lane. See the USFS press release at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/forest/news/2009/marshall-gulch-reopens-070209.pdf Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Subject: FW: AZ: Willcox update 7/3/9 From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT WORLDNET.ATT.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:38:53 -0700 Hi Birders, I spoke with Bill Scott and company who checked Willcox this AM. They saw two Marbled Godwits and the lone Ibis. For peep, they saw 3 Western Sandpipers, all with spotting on the flanks, unlike yesterday's Semipalmated Sandpiper. Good birding, Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Subject: Re: Video of wierd looking duck (suggestions please?) and Peach-faced Lovebirds From: Cassidy Ruge <casseagle AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 08:32:44 -0600 Tommy, That looks like it could be either a Shoveler in molt or a hybrid of some kind. Shoveler X Cinnamon is probably likely. Good Luck! Cassidy Ruge On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 10:59 PM, Tommy DeBardeleben wrote: > Hey everyone, > > Today I did some birding at Gilbert Water Ranch. It was nice out this > morning, and even rained a bit. I had some good highlights and shot some > video- > > Here is a video of some sort of hybrid looking duck, which to me, looks > like a possible Shoveler X Cinnamon Teal. Any suggestions and comments > would be highly appreciated! > Hybrid duck-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4q6ErG0rcM > > And also, here is a video of a small flock of Peach-faced Lovebirds. They > are fun to watch. > Lovebird video-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0qy8QJZQZU > > > Other Notables: > > All 3 common Egret species today > A few Northern Pintails > One American Wigeon > Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teals > At least 2 (maybe 3) Greater Yellowlegs-you can hear the Yellowlegs > calling towards the end of the Lovebird vid. > > > > Good birding, > Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona) > birdertjdebard.blogspot.com > -- Cassidy Romolo Ruge Bird Nut http://birdnutsblog.blogspot.com/ http://theroaringrovingruges.blogspot.com/ Subject: Video of wierd looking duck (suggestions please?) and Peach-faced Lovebirds From: Tommy DeBardeleben <sunsfan1331 AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 21:59:29 -0700 Hey everyone, Today I did some birding at Gilbert Water Ranch. It was nice out this morning, and even rained a bit. I had some good highlights and shot some video- Here is a video of some sort of hybrid looking duck, which to me, looks like a possible Shoveler X Cinnamon Teal. Any suggestions and comments would be highly appreciated! Hybrid duck-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4q6ErG0rcM And also, here is a video of a small flock of Peach-faced Lovebirds. They are fun to watch. Lovebird video-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0qy8QJZQZU Other Notables: All 3 common Egret species today A few Northern Pintails One American Wigeon Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teals At least 2 (maybe 3) Greater Yellowlegs-you can hear the Yellowlegs calling towards the end of the Lovebird vid. Good birding, Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona) birdertjdebard.blogspot.com Subject: Re: Huachucas + Patagonia Wed and Thurs From: Richard Fray <rpfray AT DAKOTACOM.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 20:58:19 -0700 Directions to Empire Gulch can be found on page 172 of Tucson Audubon Society's Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona, available from the TAS online shop: http://www.tucsonaudubon.org/natureshop/findingbirds.htm. More specifically, the cottonwood parking area described previously is here: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=31.787464,-110.635275&spn=0.006749,0.013808&t=h&z=17&msid=107123057976548471428.00046dc514088b0846208. Richard Fray Tucson AZ ----- Original Message ----- From: Chris West To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 8:10 PM Subject: [BIRDWG05] Huachucas + Patagonia Wed and Thurs Hi all, My friend Andy and I drove from Portal to the Huachucas yesterday. Here's a summary of what we found: Wilcox: 16 Long-billed Curlew 3 Marbled Godwits 1 juvie plegadis Ibis (probably White-faced) Am Avocet Black-necked Stilts Wilson's Phalaropes 1 Ring-billed Gull the ratty California Gull Ruddy Ducks Great Blue Heron Ramsey Canyon: Dipped on the Parula (it was mid afternoon) 1 Violet-crowned Hummer Broad-billed and Black-chinned Hummers Miller Canyon: White-eared, Berylline, Black-chinned, Magnificient, Broad-billed, Blue-throated, Broad-tailed and Anna's Hummingbirds Mary Jo's: Gray Hawk (heard) Lucifer Hummingbird 1 Violet-crowned Hummingbird Cooper's Hawk Today, we drove up to Patagonia after spending the morning at the San Pedro River Inn. At San Pedro, we found: Tropical Kingbird Botteri's Sparrow Cassin's Sparrow Gray Hawk Then we headed up towards Empire Gulch. After failing to even find the gulch (where the heck is it?? it's not in the ABA guide), much less the Hooded Warbler, we headed back out. On the way out (LC 900 I think), we came across a pair of Prairie Falcons and a lone singing Grasshopper Sparrow. Sorry, I have no idea exactly where. All those roads look alike. The Sinaloa Wren gave excellent looks along the highway in Patagonia. Paton's had the Violet-crowned Hummingbird and a Thick-billed Kingbird among other birds. The state park revealed Neotropic Cormorant, 1 Cinnamon Teal, Mallards, Least Bittern, Verdin and Black-tailed Gnatcatcher. Tomorrow, we're birding our way up to Madera and Florida Canyons and then heading to Tucson for the night. -- Happy Birding! --Chris W, Portal, AZ Birding Guide for Southeast Arizona (520) 558-2307 http://swallowtailedkite.blogspot.com Chris.W.Birder AT gmail.com Subject: Huachucas + Patagonia Wed and Thurs From: Chris West <swallowtailedkite AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 22:10:12 -0500 Hi all, My friend Andy and I drove from Portal to the Huachucas yesterday. Here's a summary of what we found: Wilcox: 16 Long-billed Curlew 3 Marbled Godwits 1 juvie plegadis Ibis (probably White-faced) Am Avocet Black-necked Stilts Wilson's Phalaropes 1 Ring-billed Gull the ratty California Gull Ruddy Ducks Great Blue Heron Ramsey Canyon: Dipped on the Parula (it was mid afternoon) 1 Violet-crowned Hummer Broad-billed and Black-chinned Hummers Miller Canyon: White-eared, Berylline, Black-chinned, Magnificient, Broad-billed, Blue-throated, Broad-tailed and Anna's Hummingbirds Mary Jo's: Gray Hawk (heard) Lucifer Hummingbird 1 Violet-crowned Hummingbird Cooper's Hawk Today, we drove up to Patagonia after spending the morning at the San Pedro River Inn. At San Pedro, we found: Tropical Kingbird Botteri's Sparrow Cassin's Sparrow Gray Hawk Then we headed up towards Empire Gulch. After failing to even find the gulch (where the heck is it?? it's not in the ABA guide), much less the Hooded Warbler, we headed back out. On the way out (LC 900 I think), we came across a pair of Prairie Falcons and a lone singing Grasshopper Sparrow. Sorry, I have no idea exactly where. All those roads look alike. The Sinaloa Wren gave excellent looks along the highway in Patagonia. Paton's had the Violet-crowned Hummingbird and a Thick-billed Kingbird among other birds. The state park revealed Neotropic Cormorant, 1 Cinnamon Teal, Mallards, Least Bittern, Verdin and Black-tailed Gnatcatcher. Tomorrow, we're birding our way up to Madera and Florida Canyons and then heading to Tucson for the night. -- Happy Birding! --Chris W, Portal, AZ Birding Guide for Southeast Arizona (520) 558-2307 http://swallowtailedkite.blogspot.com Chris.W.Birder AT gmail.com Subject: White-crowned Sparrow - Kaibab National Forest (North District) From: "Jacob C. Cooper" <black.hawk.birder AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:53:59 -0600 Hi all, While doing a survey today near the Grand Canyon's North Rim west of DeMotte Campground near FR22 I had a singing White-crowned Sparrow. The habitat is vaguely similar to Colorado areas I have seen them breeding in before, with an open meadow surrounded by low brush. I never got a look at the bird, unfortunately, but it was singing from a stand of Englemann Spruce with Aspen mixed in. If my memory serves me right, White-crowned Sparrows are a rare but regular breeder in Arizona, and I was surprised by the one I had this morning. I have more specific directions if anyone is interested in the location. Take care, -- Jacob Cooper Currently in Jacob Lake, AZ Subject: AZFO - New photos of Semipalmated Sandpiper, Rufous-winged Sparrow, White-winged Dove From: Michael C Moore <michael.moore AT ASU.EDU> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:09:31 -0700 Field Ornithologists, Dave Stejskal contributed photos of the Willcox Semipalmated Sandpiper, Cole Wolf contributed a photo documenting the eastward expansion of Rufous-winged Sparrows into Guadalupe Canyon, and Gus Hallgren photographed a melanistic or extremely dirty White-winged Dove in his backyard. Thanks Dave, Cole and Gus. Thanks to all who use the online form below to submit photos. It makes my job a lot easier and ensures your photos will be posted more quickly. Photos posted at: http://www.azfo.org click on "Photo Documentation" Arizona Field Ornithologists welcomes Arizona rarity photo contributions from all photographers throughout the state. Use our online form to submit photos: http://www.azfo.org/gallery/PhotoContribution.html If you enjoy the photo web site, please consider joining AZFO and supporting our other activities. Details on the web site. We strive for accuracy. Please email any corrections to postings to me. Mike Moore AZFO Photo Editor Gilbert, AZ Subject: SE AZ: Green Valley WWTP - 2 July 09 From: Michael Marsden <birdanza AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:48:20 -0700 Among the 26 species at Green Valley WWTP at noon today were: ad male Wood Duck (in partial eclipse), 7 Cinnamon Teal, ad male Redhead (here since at least June 3rd), 16+ Black-necked Stilts (no chicks seen), 18 Horned Larks & 5 Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Earlier in the morning, the continuing male and female Berylline Hummingbirds were active at the Kubo feeders at Madera Canyon. I also came across a (second?) male Berylline singing in the creek bed just south of the Amphitheatre. The Flame-colored Tanager was singing just about continuously until 11:00am or so.. Michael Marsden (520) 269-6240 Green Valley, AZ Subject: SE AZ: White-eared Hummingbird at Carr Canyon, Huachuca Mountains plus others From: keith kamper <keith AT ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:08:44 -0400 1 July 2009 Birders, Kay Stafford and I enjoyed a pleasant day in the Santa Ritas, Las Cienegas, and the Huachucas yesterday. Apologies for the late post. The nicest surprise was an adult White-eared Hummingbird that made a brief appearance where the Comfort Springs Trail, Carr Canyon, drops down and crosses the first dry stream crossing which is shortly before a wet crossing. The Red-faced Warbler pair was also present here but a bit elusive here. As expected Band-tailed Pigeons were conspicuous at the Reef Campground, as were singing Buff-breasted Flycatchers, Grace's Warblers, and the usual assortment of higher elevation species. Cave Canyon in the Santa Ritas was productive this morning, though nothing unexpected was observed save for a glimpse of a possible Lucifer Hummingbird. Unfortunately it didn't stick around so that we could confirm its identity. Cooperative Elegant Trogons and Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers entertained us as we hiked the Cave Canyon Trail. Even more entertaining was the altercation between Acorn Woodpeckers and an Arizona gray squirrel who was attempting to raid the woodpeckers stash. Fur definitely flew! Adult and juvenile Gray Hawks were observed along the trail. The Hooded Warbler was still singing at Empire Gulch, Las Cienegas NCA, but less cooperative than on some occasions. Botteri's Sparrows were abundant and heard throughout our visit. Several Common Nighthawks called overhead as they feed over the grasslands. Two Zone-tailed Hawks and a pair of Swainsons Hawks were observed near the ranch headquarters. Berylline and White-eared Hummingbirds showed well at Beatty's Guest Ranch, Huachuca Mountains, in the afternoon. As always, thanks to Tom Beatty for the incredible hummer viewing experience! Good Birding! Keith Kamper Tucson, AZ Adventure Birding Company Specializing in personalized guiding, especially in SE AZ and Mexico, and small-group custom and set-departure Tours http://adventurebirding.com http://adventurebirding.blogspot.com/ Subject: AZ: Willcox SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, MARBLED GODWITS etc this a.m. From: David Stejskal <dstejskal AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:53:34 -0700 Hi birders, I just got back home from checking out Willcox this morning with Mark Stevenson and Molly Pollock. The habitat there is improving quite a bit for shorebirds with more exposed shoreline there since my last visit in early June. Our best finds were an alternate adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER with a couple of alternate adult W. SANDPIPERS near the old 'dock' on the north shore, and two adult (female?) MARBLED GODWITS near the rock pile on the south shore just east of the westernmost blind. It looks like the Semi was the earliest returning fall bird that I've recorded in the state by a few days. The ratty-looking CALIFORNIA GULL remains (not sure how long this one's gonna live) we also had a couple of alternate adult GREATER YELLOWLEGS among the dozens of AMERICAN AVOCETS there (one pair of avocets had four tiny chicks swimming just offshore). WILSON'S PHALAROPE numbers are building and we also had four or five flyby adult male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS at the north shore. The long-staying AM. WIGEON and a drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL were camped out in the reeds at the golf course pond and the imm. NEOTROPIC CORMORANT that was first noted there earlier this spring was loafing in the biggest willow tree near the west end of the same pond. Benson sewage ponds was awfully quiet with a single alternate adult LESSER YELLOWLEGS and an alternate adult EARED GREBE. Good birding, Dave Stejskal Field Guides Inc. www.fieldguides.com 800-728-4953 Subject: NM RBA for 7/2/09 From: Pinyonjay AT AOL.COM Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 09:43:22 EDT - RBA *New Mexico Bird Report *July 2, 2009 *NMEX0907.02 . Transcript . Hotline New Mexico date: July 2, 2009 compiler Patricia R. Snider Phone: 719-846-3174 Cell phone 505-803-1807 e-mail address _pinyonjay AT aol.com_ (mailto:pinyonjay AT aol.com) . This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for July 2, 2009, sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are given for private property, please call before going to ask for permission. In ranch country do not stray off the roads. . Highlights: Brown Pelican, Black-capped Vireo. . . Places mentioned and a checklist of N.M. birds are in the N.M. Bird Finding Guide. Check for earlier reports and database at _http://www.nmbirds.org_ (http://www.nmbirds.org/) or in the archives of the AZ/NM listserve. For photos of rarities and directions to some birding sites check _http://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage_ (http://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage) . . For the Bird Records Committee and both Field Notes please send reports to Dr. Sartor O. Williams, III, 1819 Meadowview NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104 or to _sunbittern AT earthlink.net_ (mailto:sunbittern AT earthlink.net) . . . Birds Mentioned and Counties: . Neotropic Cormorant (Otero) Brown Pelican (San Juan American White Pelican (Guadalupe) Great and Snowy Egrets (Otero) Canvasback and Redhead (Otero) Ring-necked Duck (Chaves) Mississippi Kite (Eddy) Gray Hawk (Eddy) Zone-tailed Hawk (Grant) Montezuma Quail (Grant) Common Moorhen (Socorro) Snowy Plover (Chaves, Eddy) Black-necked Stilt (Bernalillo) Willet (Guadalupe) Marbled Godwit (Sierra) Red-necked Phalaropes (Chaves) Wilson’s Phalarope (Sierra, Otero) Franklin’s Gull (Eddy) California Gull (Sierra) Least Tern (Chaves, Eddy) Black Tern (Guadalupe) Eurasian Collared-Dove (Otero) Band-tailed Pigeon (Grant, Santa Fe) Common Ground-Dove (Hidalgo) Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Eddy) Barn Owl (Chaves, Grant) Great Horned Owl (Socorro) Elf Owl (Grant) Burrowing Owl (Bernalillo) Pygmy Owl (Grant) Whip-poor-will (Grant) Chimney Swift (Eddy) Broad-billed Hummingbird (Hidalgo) Lucifer Hummingbird (Hidalgo) Costa’s and Anna’s Hummingbirds (Hidalgo) Rufous Hummingbird (Santa Fe) Williamson’s Sapsucker (Santa Fe) Gray Flycatcher (Grant) Vermilion Flycatcher (Catron) Thick-billed Kingbird (Hidalgo) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Chaves) Horned Lark (Otero) Gray Vireo (Eddy) BLACK-CAPPED VIREO (Eddy) Yellow-throated Vireo (Eddy) Cave and Barn Swallows (EddY) Clark’s Nutcracker (Catron, Santa Fe) Bushtit (Grant) Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Eddy) Phainopepla (Santa Fe) Lucy’s Warbler (Doña Ana)) Cassin’s Sparrow (Santa Fe) Botteri’s Sparrow (Hidalgo) Rufous-winged Sparrow (Cochise, AZ) Varied Bunting (Eddy) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Otero) Bronzed Cowbird (Sierra, Eddy. Bernalillo) Pine Grosbeak (Santa Fe) Red Crossbill (Grant) . . In San Juan County: MB on June 19 at Morgan Lake had an adult BROWN PELICAN at the northeast boat ramp. . In Santa Fe County: RY on June 20 on the Tesuque road to the Santa Fe Ski Basin saw BAND-TAILED PIGEONS. On the Chamisa Trail on June 24 there was a female WILLIAMSON’S SAPSUCKER. On June 25 he reported PINE GROSBEAKS at the top of the Santa Fe Ski Basin chair lift With several CLARK’S NUTCRACKERS. JB on June 21 on CR 84 (parallel to NM 502) had a PHAINOPEPLA Fly over the marsh. JB on June 17 had his first RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in Santa Fe. PN on horseback off of Horton Road near Hill Ranch Road in Edgewood heard a singing CASSIN’S SPARROW. . In Guadalupe County; CR and SD on June 25 at Santa Rosa Lake saw a WILLET. three BLACK TERNS, and two WHITE PELICANS. . In Bernalillo County: DE on June 23 at the entrance to the Sandia Casino Golf Course saw a BURROWING OWL. And at the Sandia Memorial Garden Cemetery he again saw a BRONZED COWBIRD. JJ at the Isleta Marsh north of Los Lunas on June 29 had BLACK-NECKED STILTS. . In Socorro County: At Bosque del Apache Refuge on June 20 JP and WW saw a MOORHEN at the two-way road west on the Farm Loop. AM on June 24 had two immature GREAT HORNED OWLS at the Box Canyon on US60 west of Socorro. . In Chaves County: At Bitter Lake Refuge on the count of June 17 JSa tallied two RING-NECKED DUCKS, two LEAST TERNS, 109 SNOWY PLOVERS, seven RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and four BARN OWLS. CR and SD at the rest stop near Mesa saw two SCISSOR- TAILED FLYCATCHERS. . In Sierra/Grant County: And at North Monticello Point at Elephant Butte Lake on June 20 JP and WW saw two MARBLED GODWITS and a WILSON’S PHALAROPE. At the Rock Canyon Marina there was a second year CALIFORNIA GULL. . In Catron County: JO on June 19 had three CLARK’S NUTCRACKERS on the south fork of Negrito Creek and a pair of VERMILION FLYCATCHERS on the San Francisco River near the Tularosa River. . In Grant County: DG in mid-June in the Burro Mountains reported ZONE-TAILED HAWK, MONTEZUMA QUAIL, BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, BARN OWLS, ELF OWLS, PYGMY OWLS, WHIP-POOR-WILL, with many GRAY FLYCATCHERS, BUSHTITS, and RED CROSSBILLS. . In Hidalgo County: CW on June 21 had a LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD in upper Cottonwood Canyon. He put up two feeders .6 mile west of the cattle guard on the pass. MB, NP, MH, RV, and CW on June 27-28 had a pair of LUCIFERS, two male COSTA’S, an immature male ANNA’S, and a female BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD at the feeders. In Guadulupe Canyon the group found three THICK-BILLED KINGBIRDS in the NM part near the ranch. In the AZ part at the gate there was a RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW. CW had a COMMON GROUND-DOVE at Dunagan Crossing south of Animas on June 21. On June 19 he had the BOTTERI’S SPARROWS along the road. Guadalupe Canyon’s owners request that no one park at the entrance gate where it has been re-seeded. County Hwy.1 south of Animas crosses the Diamond A (Gray) Ranch. Because of events with thoughtless birders, one must NOT go off the road. . In Luna County: The rancher has objected to any birding around his corral near Hermanas. . In Doña Ana County: MS on June 27 reported the LUCY’S WARBLER is still at their home near Radium Springs. . In Otero County: MS and JZ on June 26 at the Holloman Lakes had a HORNED LARK feeding fledglings and a pair of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. Also still there was the CANVASBACK and NEOTROPIC CORMORANT with a REDHEAD, 14 WILSON’S PHALAROPES, two GREAT EGRETS, and a SNOWY EGRET. They found rain at Cloudcroft with many wildflowers in lush country. And along the road to Sunspot there was a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE. DG reported there has been changes with a kiosk, a boat ramp, a picnic and camping area, and a bird watching area. Lagoon G is open to birding again. There is a new sign in front calling it the Raptor Lake Recreation Area. . In Eddy County: In Slaughter Canyon near Rattlesnake Springs there are GRAY VIREOS and a pair of VARIED BUNTINGS. SW again saw the BLACK- CAPPED VIREO still singing on June 22. CR and SD did not find it on June 26. In West Slaughter Canyon there was a BLACK- TAILED GNATCATCHER and SW found up to ten GRAY VIREOS. At Rattlesnake Springs BW on June 17 recorded two BRONZED COWBIRDS and the GRAY HAWK. CR and SD did not find the YELLOW- THROATED VIREO on June 26, but had quite a few YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS. At Brantley Lake north of Carlsbad BS on June 13 saw three LEAST TERNS and two SNOWY PLOVERS. CR and SD on June 26 found one Least Tern, five plovers, and two FRANKLIN’S GULLS. BW on June 17 saw over Carlsbad a CHIMNEY SWIFT and several MISSISSIPPI KITES. SW reports that the powers that be in Whites City have torn down all swallow nests, destroying young and eggs, mostly of CAVE SWALLOWS, but a few were BARNS. . . Initials of Observers: JB, Jonathan Batkin; MB, Matt Baumann; SD, steve Drilling; DE, David Eulian; DG, David Griffin; MH, Michael Hilchey; JJ, Jim Joseph; AM, Amy Morrison; PN, Paul Noble; JO, Jerry Oldenettel; JP, John Parmeter; NP, Nick Pederson; CR, Chris Rustay; JSa, Jeff Sanchez; BS, Bill Scott; MS, Marcy Scott; RV, Raymond VanBuskirk; BW, Bill West; SW, Steve West; WW, Bill Wittman; CW, Cole Wolf; RY, Rob Yaksich; and JZ, Jimmy Zabriskie. . . Field Trips: . Central Audubon in Albuquerque has Thursday field trips. All phone numbers begin with 505. On July 9 to Capulin Springs in the Sandias with the Boettchers, 281-6726; July 16 to the Sandias for Three-toed Woodpeckers with Gale Owings, 255-8333; July 23 to the Simm’s Ranch and Bonnie Long’s home in the Manzanos for a potluck lunch, 379-1985, and on July 30 in the Sandias to the 10K Trail with Melissa Howard, 286-9365.. . On Saturday, July 11, Central Audubon will look for Los Alamos birds to Bandelier and the ski area, the Jemez to Jemez Falls. Contact is Jim Mosley at _ff1964 AT msn.com_ (mailto:ff1964 AT msn.com) . . On Sunday, July 12, Sangre de Cristo Audubon will bird the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Contact is Tom Taylor at 424-3238. . Mesilla Valley Audubon on July 18 will have a possible over nighter to the Sacramento Mountains, Karr Canyon, and Cloudcroft, and possibly the Peñasco Rio. For overnighters they will camp at Bluff Springs. Contact is David Griffin by July 16 at 575-382- 2080. . The Randall Davey Audubon Center in Santa Fe on upper Canyon Road has Saturday morning bird walks from 8:30 until 9:30. . The Forest Service has bird walks in the Sandia Mountains on Tuesday mornings. Meet at 8:30 at the Ranger Station in Tijeras. . . -End Transcript_[1]_ (aoldb://mail/write/template.htm#_ftn1) ……….. ____________________________________ _[1]_ (aoldb://mail/write/template.htm#_ftnref1) **************Dell Summer Savings: Cool Deals on Popular Laptops – Shop Now! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222696924x1201468348/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Faltfarm.mediaplex.com%2Fad%2Fck%2F12309%2D81939%2D1629%2D1) Subject: Best SE AZ site for photographing Hummingbirds? From: Gus Stangeland <gus AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 21:58:47 -0700 We are tentatively planning a trip from the Dallas ares to southeastern Arizona during the fist week of August. We are both serious bird photographers with professional quality Canon and Nikon equipment. Could any of you give us some recommendations as to the best place to visit in order to get the best shots and the most species. We could stay around the area for about 5 days or so. Thsnk you, Gus Stangeland Richardson, Texas Subject: AZ: Botteri's Influx, Cassin's Sp - San Pedro House & Moson Rd From: Alan Miller <tyrannulet AT MSN.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 17:37:04 -0700 We found thirty plus Botteri’s Sparrow (in grass and mesquite) along the first half mile of Del Valle Road starting just south of San Pedro House. The birds were up from 5:45 AM until at least 10:00 AM. Most were in full song, although a few were silent – seemingly in the company of full- throated songsters (do these represent bonded pairs?). On June 27th, we posted eleven singing Botteri’s Sparrow from this same section of road – stating our records showed this number similar to counts made in prior years. Today’s high count, after three days of heavy rain, surprised us - either these recent arrivals are merely passing through, or this is a banner year for the species (unprecedented so far as our records are concerned). We couldn’t find Cassin’s Sparrow along Del Valle Road (although we have had +50 later in July in prior years) or anywhere else in the San Pedro House area – so we drove over to Moson Road, which is outside the conservation area, and discovered a small population of singing Cassin’s Sparrow near the intersection of Moson and Barataria Roads. Ann & Alan Miller Sierra Vista Subject: Re: injured wildlife NM contacts From: Rae Jean Schlimgen <azraejean AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 14:18:43 -0700 Responding to Rob Yaksich's post concerning injured wildlife in N.M and Arizona. For injured wildlife in S.E. Arizona, one can call the Wildlife Hotline: 520-903-1104.  Volunteers from several rehab groups man the phone and direct calls to the wildlife rescue group best suited for dealing with that particular animal or bird. For raptors and large animals, ie: bobcat, javelina, coyote, one can call Tucson Wildlife directly.  That number is: 520-290-9453. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum does NOT accept/rehab injured wildlife; a call there will be directed to Hills of Gold Rehab 743-0217. I hope this is helpful to birders who might spot an injured bird or animal while in the field. Rae Jean Schlimgen Tucson --- On Tue, 6/30/09, Rob Yaksich wrote: From: Rob Yaksich Subject: [BIRDWG05] injured wildlife NM contacts To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 10:51 AM Rob Yaksich NM State Parks ABQ/Santa Fe/Raton Hi all - the kestrel pair that has been nesting on the side of the Chino Bulding here in SF has fledged at least one youngster. It caused a bit of a ruckus this morning when it collided (lightly, thankfully) with a window in State Forestry. The little bugger is OK and managed to find its way into a pińon tree. If you encounter injured wildlife, there are resources in NM (and AZ too, but I only have NM contacts). They are: For ABQ area: Wildlife Rescue of NM (344-2500) SF/Espańola: Wildlife Center (753-9505) For areas outside these, I'd suggest you contact either one(both are -505- area code) for advice. They have good relationships with resources professionals across the state, including Game & Fish. Thanks mucho. Rob     "By His stripes, we are healed." - Isaiah 53 Subject: Northern Parula in Ramsey Canyon Preserve From: Rick and Ricki Thompson <rixandzax AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:59:10 -0700 The bird reported yesterday was seen and heard again today on both sides of the path just up from the visitors' center as described before. Ricki and I had it in the willows on the right side (going up) mid-morning. We and other birders had it later on the other side. It was still there at noon. Rick Thompson Sierra Vista AZ Subject: Arizona State Parks, open or closed? Open From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT WORLDNET.ATT.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:09:50 -0700 Due to the budget "situation" at the capital, Arizona State Parks were closed for at least a time today. The latest info found via Google News and at the AZ State Parks web site indicates that the parks are open again as the employees were authorized to report to work this AM. (This contradicts a TV news report just aired in Tucson.) http://azstateparks.com/press/2009/PR_07-01-09.html AZ State Parks, Phoenix, AZ - July 1, 2009, updated at 9 am) - Campers will be the happiest people in the state today to hear that the Arizona State Parks department are re-opening State Parks immediately. Because state employees were authorized to report to work this morning, all the park rangers will take down closed park signs at the gates to the State Parks and the public is welcome to come and enjoy the great outdoors. "Nobody is happier than we are to welcome guests back into the parks and to get ready for our biggest week of the year, the Fourth of July holidays," said Executive Director Renee Bahl. "During this difficult economic time it is critical that we continue to offer park opportunities for our residents and visitors. These rural communities rely on tourism to keep their restaurants, gas and retail businesses vibrant. Since the 30 State Parks generate $266 million in economic impact for the rural communities, the parks now are one of the last big revenue generators for outlying businesses who then contribute to the state budget." For more information about the 30 State Parks, other hiking opportunities such as hiking all the 550 State Trails, off-highway vehicle trails and other outdoor recreational and cultural opportunities in Arizona, see the website at the Arizona State Parks department at AZStateParks.com or call (602) 542-4174. Mark Stevenson, Tucson Subject: AZ: Rufous/Allen's at Paton's 1 July From: Matt Brown <mattbrownbirds AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 08:36:26 -0700 There was a quite green-backed adult male Rufous/Allen's-type hummingbird at the Paton's feeders this morning around 7:00. I got some video, but the bugger never opens his tail, keeping it in a horizontal to 45-degree-down point. It made no wing-whistle when hovering, but either the same or a different Selasphorus WAS making a shrill wing-whistle when chasing other hummers around by the feeders. Allen'ses are primarily fall migrants around here, starting early, but Rufouses will soon be pretty thick themselves, and the far more likely of the two. Matt Brown The Patagonia Birding & Butterfly Co. 520-604-6300 mattbrownbirdsATgmailDOTcom www.lifebirds.com Subject: SE AZ: Ash Canyon, Huachuca Mountains From: Mary Jo Ballator <2mjb AT MINDSPRING.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 07:36:09 -0700 First of season RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (male) greeted me at the south feeders this morning, along with LUCIFER (male and female) and the other five easy species. Map on web site. $5 per person admission gives you a 24-hour pass. Come in the morning and again in the afternoon (or vice-versa) on the same admission. Mary Jo Ballator, Host Ash Canyon Bed & Breakfast 5255 E. Spring Road Hereford, AZ 85615-9029 520/378-0773 Web page:http://AshCanyonBandB.com Subject: Ramsey Canyon, AZ Singing male Northern Parula From: Darlene Smyth <dsmyth3 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:40:00 -0700 Starr Saphir phoned this in to my voice mail this afternoon at 3p.m. Starr found a singing male Northern Parula this afternoon at Ramsey Canyon. Directions: walk past the hummer feeders on the little trail. Go left of the main trail ... there is a little "no access" road on the left. The bird was a few feet up trail on the right from the road. Darlene Comfy Birding www.comfortablebirdingforall.com Take a course in good water and air, and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own. Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you. John Muir Subject: AZ: Madera Canyon another Berylline From: KBAYBIRD AT AOL.COM Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:20:31 EDT Birders, Since our web site is still down, I am including a summary of yesterday's monitoring session at the Chuparosa Inn. You will note that we found a male Berylline along with 95 other birds. Anyone who is interested in observing the birds up close is welcome to come to our sessions. The next will be on Monday July 13 starting at about 0515. Most of the birds come early in the morning. Session report for Monday, June 29: It was a good day in Madera with 96 birds processed. Black-chinneds were the most numerous with 44 birds including 29 females of which six were gravid. There were three hatching year birds. Broad-billed numbers were up this session with 38 birds but only 10 females and one that was gravid. We had one HY bird. Most of the birds were in beginning body molt and four were molting primaries. The gravid female was also in heavy body molt and on primary 5 that is a demanding energy situation – molting and forming eggs at the same time. One of the recaptured male Broad-billeds was first banded in 2002 as an adult, so he is now at least eight years old. There were 12 Magnificents with seven females of which one was gravid. We also had one HY bird. We caught another adult female Anna’s that had two red spangles on the crown. We also caught one adult male Berylline in beautiful plumage, our third BEHU of the season. We had only seven visitors today – two from Minnesota and the rest local residents. Thanks to Joanna Fitzjarrald for trapping all morning, to Jenise Porter for recording, to Sheila Stangret for running bags and helping to trap. Laurens Halsey fed most of the birds and banded the last half of the morning’s session. Thanks as always to Luis and Nancy for keeping the feeders full and welcoming all our visitors and crew. Cheers, George West _kbaybird AT aol.com_ (mailto:kbaybird AT aol.com) Green Valley, AZ **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) Subject: AZ: Sweetwater Wetlands TAS field trip report From: Darlene Smyth <dsmyth3 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:05:14 -0700 A surprising number of birders turned out for an early morning stroll around Sweetwater Wetlands. We had new birders, great spotters, and old friends along and although we had nothing terribly unusual, we saw everything from madly embracing Bull Frogs, to Pied-billed Grebes working on a nest, to a handsome Peregrine Falcon, to a very drab drake Wood Duck in eclipse plumage, to snazzy Ruddy Ducks, a young Neotropic Cormorant posing for scope views, two owl species...Burrowing and Great-horned, and many species in between. A promised note to the participants: If the grebes do lay eggs they normally lay between 5 and 7; the eggs should take about 23 days to hatch if successful; the young are precocial and are carried on the backs of the adults, sometimes even during dives. This information, and much more, is found in The Birder's Handbook authors: Paul R. Ehrlich, David S. Dobkin and Darryl Wheye. This book carries this type of information (plus more) about all North American species. You can buy this book at the Tucson Audubon Nature Shop. Happy (unobtrusive) Birding, Darlene Comfy Birding www.comfortablebirdingforall.com Take a course in good water and air, and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own. Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you. John Muir Subject: injured wildlife NM contacts From: Rob Yaksich <grobyak AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:51:10 -0700 Rob Yaksich NM State Parks ABQ/Santa Fe/Raton Hi all - the kestrel pair that has been nesting on the side of the Chino Bulding here in SF has fledged at least one youngster. It caused a bit of a ruckus this morning when it collided (lightly, thankfully) with a window in State Forestry. The little bugger is OK and managed to find its way into a pińon tree. If you encounter injured wildlife, there are resources in NM (and AZ too, but I only have NM contacts). They are: For ABQ area: Wildlife Rescue of NM (344-2500) SF/Espańola: Wildlife Center (753-9505) For areas outside these, I'd suggest you contact either one(both are -505- area code) for advice. They have good relationships with resources professionals across the state, including Game & Fish. Thanks mucho. Rob "By His stripes, we are healed." - Isaiah 53 Subject: Fwd: LEAST TERN in Gilbert, plus SE AZ trip highlights From: John Yerger <john AT ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:18:24 -0700 Hi all, Certainly some of these sightings would have been of immediate interest to the listserv; my apologies for the unintentional delay in forwarding them. (Fortunately, I think that the most relevant were already reported by others.) John Yerger Tucson, AZ -------- Original Message -------- Subject: LEAST TERN in Gilbert, plus SE AZ trip highlights Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:31:40 -0400 From: Billy Weber To: rarebirdalert AT tucsonaudubon.org, john AT ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM Hi John, This is Billy Weber from Pennsylvania. I'm emailing both you and the RBA in case any of the below sightings would be of immediate interest to the listserve: Snowy Egret - 6/20 - Patagonia Lake (also Black-capped Gnatcatchers that day) Gray Hawk (imm.) - 6/25 - mouth of Cave Creek Canyon (unexpected location?) Least Tern (ad.) - 6/26 - Gilbert Water Ranch (hunted pond #7 at 5:45 p.m., then headed southeast) - my 300th state bird! Northern Saw-whet Owl - 6/23 - tooting persistently in the evening at Rustler Park (2-3 Flammulateds there as well), also possibly at Pinery Canyon Violet-crowned Hummingbird - 6/20 - among nine species (including Berylline and White-eared) at the Beatty's Guest Ranch Magnificent Hummingbird (fem.) - 6/23 - Patons' (reported independently by Robin Baxter) Yellow-throated Vireo - 6/20 - Patons', seen and heard (my folks and I are the "three Pennsylvania birders" Robin posted about) Gray Catbird - 6/24 - continuing Sunny Flat Campground bird (between sites 6 and 7 in the A.M.) Hooded Warbler (ad. male) - 6/23 - continuing Empire Gulch bird (has silver band on right leg) Rose-breasted Grosbeak (imm.) - 6/25 - continuing Madera Kubo bird (also the Flame-colored Tanager singing pervasively in the afternoon) Lesser Goldfinches seem to be "borrowing" nest material from the Sinaloa Wren. Thanks! Billy Weber Walnutport, PA robot_stories AT earthlink.net Subject: AZ: Santa Cruz Flats--Crested Caracaras From: Doug Jenness <d_jenness AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:23:44 +0000 June 29 Late this afternoon I spent a couple of hours in the Santa Cruz Flats area of Pinal Co. where I observed three subadult Crested Caracaras. All were feeding on the ground in the cattle pasture where Cripple Creek Rd. "t's with Baumgartner Rd. This is the third year in a row that caracaras have been observed in the summer in this area. Interestingly, the previous summer observations I've made appeared to be adults. In the same pasture about 25 Black Vultures, a few Common Ravens, and a Turkey Vulture were flocking, apparently attracted by some carrion. The caracaras were not part of this gathering and fed by themselves away from the others. I also observed a Swainson's Hawk east of Toltec Highway and south of Pretzer Rd. This isn't far from where I observed two Swainson's Hawks last year on July 7. They weren't recorded as breeding in this area during the Atlas surveys. The sod fields had some nice wet areas but no shorebirds other than a few Killdeer and a couple of Black-necked Stilts. Doug Jenness Catalina, AZ _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 Subject: Portal CAFE closed for 1 day, July 1. From: Helen Snyder <chickcharney2001 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:29:41 -0700 I just noticed a sign that the PORTAL CAFE will be closed Wed. July 1, for a kitchen upgrade.  The store and lodge will be open and they'll be taking reservations.  The store in Rodeo and the Rodeo Tavern will be open for meals.   Helen Snyder Portal AZ Subject: Re: RFI: Le Conte's Thrasher From: Henry Detwiler <henrydetwiler AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:04:19 -0400 Hi John, You might have a tough go of it at this time of year. Sometimes you can find them by tracking their claw prints in the sand; other times they might even respond to taped calls. In any case, I'd go at first light. One spot to find them is site #7 close to Tacna, described here: www.southwestbirders.com/swb_birdfinding_Tacna_Area.htm Another close-by spot is located by driving 1.4 miles north of old Hwy 80 (on Ave 45E) and then turning left on a dirt road known as Co 6 1/2 St (but not signed). The thashers live and feed in the abandoned ag fields south and north of this sandy road. Four-winged salt bush is the dominant vegetation here. I'll let others describe the Salome Hwy/Baseline Rd site, since I'm not so familiar with that one. Good luck! Henry Detwiler Yuma, AZ www.southwestbirders.com 928-210-6474 -----Original Message----- >From: John Groves >Sent: Jun 29, 2009 6:15 PM >To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU >Subject: [BIRDWG05] RFI: Le Conte's Thrasher > >I will be driving from El Paso to San Diego in late July (plenty hot, >eh?) and would like info on where to see Le Conte's Thrasher. > >Thanks >John Groves Subject: RFI: Le Conte's Thrasher From: John Groves <jgstudio AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:15:27 -0700 I will be driving from El Paso to San Diego in late July (plenty hot, eh?) and would like info on where to see Le Conte's Thrasher. Thanks John Groves Subject: AZ: Chiricahuas update + possible Black-throated Blue Warbler From: Chris West <swallowtailedkite AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:50:17 -0500 Hi all, I got back home from Colorado on Saturday. I picked up my friend Andy from the airport and we headed back to Portal. On the way back, we stopped at Wilcox and saw the Pacific Golden-plover. Sounds like we got lucky since the bird vanished the next day. Yesterday, I was leading some people up South Fork in search of a Trogon when I spotted a small blueish-green bird at the second stream crossing above the picnic area. Andy and I both noted a small white patch at the base of the primaries, a rather chunky look and a slower, lumbering movement as it foraged only a few feet off the ground. Unfortunately, we only saw bits and pieces of the bird as it bounced around through the leaves. Both of us came to the conclusion that it must have been a female Black-throated Blue Warbler. We can't be 100% certain but both of us have quite a bit of experience with this species and can't think of what else it could have been. We never did locate the bird again. Earlier that morning, the two Flame-colored Tanagers put on a show for us. The Cassin's Sparrows here are singing up a storm and the Thrashers have gone silent. I could not locate a Bendire's this morning. Otherwise, not too much going on on the birding front. We have had quite a bit of rain in the past few days. Yesterday, the creek was running all the way out past Dave Jasper's house. Crazy....... Keeps the temps down though! -- Happy Birding! --Chris W, Portal, AZ Birding Guide for Southeast Arizona (520) 558-2307 http://swallowtailedkite.blogspot.com Chris.W.Birder AT gmail.com Subject: AZ -- Huachuca Canyon, 28 June, Trogons and More From: Betsy Checchia <betsy.checchia AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:08:07 -0700 All -- I went up Huachuca Canyon early Sunday morning. About 2 minutes after I parked at the upper picnic area, a very wet and bedraggled Red-Tailed Hawk flew onto a naked branch at the top of one of the big sycamores. Its arrival got the attention of every bird in the neighborhood, so I had great looks at everything from Magnificent Hummingbirds to American Robins and Cooper's Hawks. At least 3 Sulphur-Bellied Flycatchers flew around the hawk's head voicing their squeaky disapproval. It appears there's at least one flycatcher nest in another of the sycamores in the picnic area, so they were amazingly active. I also saw a pair of Cordilleran Flycatchers during the melee. The hawk finally flew away after a pair of Cooper's Hawks started harrassing it. The only local birds that didn't participate in the action were a pair of male Elegant Trogons. They were croaking just up-canyon (I guess that would be south) from the picnic area, and I had great looks at both of them. I found a female Trogon farther up the canyon near the concrete dam. This area also had a singing Hermit Thrush, a pair of Buff-Bellied Flycatchers, more (at least 2) Sulphur-Bellied Flycatchers, and a very large, lonely Wild Turkey. Farther up-canyon, where the 4D Firebreak goes steeply up to the left of the main road, I heard a fourth Trogon, but couldn't find it with the binoculars. I also found a pair of Rufous-Crowned Sparrows and a Canyon Towhee here. As I was headed back down to the picnic area, a calling Peregrine Falcon flew overhead. I heard another falcon calling from the hillside across the creek, but couldn't see it because of the vegetation. Is it possible they could be nesting up there somewhere? Total of 42 species for the day. COL Betsy Checchia Ft. Huachuca, AZ Subject: Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve CLOSED July 1-3 due to Mt. Lion From: Matt Killeen <mkilleen AT TNC.ORG> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:19:13 -0400 The Nature Conservancy's Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve will be closed to the public July 1, 2, and 3. This closure is in response to recent and regular sightings of a mountain lion on and near our hiking trails. At the end of the week we will reevaluate our closure with regards to the weekend. At that time I'll post here again so you may be informed. I realize that given some of the recent sightings here this may come as a disappointment but we feel that this action is mandatory in protecting the safety of the visiting public as well as that of the mountain lion. I'm available to answer your questions off-list via the contact info below. Thanks for your understanding. Cheers, Matt ><>><>><>><>><>><>><> Matt Killeen SE AZ Asst. Preserves Mgr. The Nature Conservancy (520)378-2785 ext. 113 MKilleen AT TNC.org <><<><<><<><<><<><<>< Subject: SF County pine grosbeaks/ hi country birds From: Rob Yaksich <grobyak AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:02:32 -0700 Rob Yaksich NM State Parks ABQ/Santa Fe/Raton, NM Hi all - took our Venturing Crew kids hiking on Saturday up to Lake and Penitente Peaks in the Sangre de Cristos (Santa Fe County, NM). While taking a breather at the top of one of the chair lifts at SF Ski Area, we were treated to some very cooperative pine grosbeaks. I took several nice photos and was very happy to see them. Also got a young sharp-shinned hawk circling just below the summit of Lake Peak, and several Clark's nutcrackers. Oddly, though, no gray jays at all. That's part of the fun being at that altitude...bummer. Rob "By His stripes, we are healed." - Isaiah 53 --- On Mon, 6/29/09, Pinyonjay AT AOL.COM wrote: > From: Pinyonjay AT AOL.COM > Subject: [BIRDWG05] NM RBA for 6/29/09 > To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Date: Monday, June 29, 2009, 8:25 AM > > - RBA > *New  Mexico Bird Report > *June  29, 2009 > *NMEX0906.29 > . > Transcript > . > Hotline New Mexico > date:  June 29, 2009 > compiler Patricia R. Snider > Phone:  719-846-3174 > Cell  phone 505-803-1807 > e-mail  address _pinyonjay AT aol.com_ > (mailto:pinyonjay AT aol.com) > . > This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for June > 29, > 2009, sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. > When phone numbers are given for private property, please > call > before going to ask for permission.  In ranch country > do not > stray off the roads. > . > Highlights: Brown Pelicans, Arctic Tern, Black-capped  > Vireo. > . > . > Places mentioned and a checklist of N.M. birds are in the > N.M. > Bird Finding Guide.  Check for earlier reports and > database at > _http://www.nmbirds.org_ (http://www.nmbirds.org/) > or in  the archives of the AZ/NM listserve.  For > photos of > rarities and directions to some birding sites check > _http://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage_ > (http://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage) . > . > For  the Bird Records Committee and both Field Notes > please > send  reports to Dr. Sartor O. Williams, III, 1819 > Meadowview NW, > Albuquerque, NM, 87104 or to > _sunbittern AT earthlink.net_ > (mailto:sunbittern AT earthlink.net) > . > . > . > Birds  Mentioned and Counties: > . > Western Grebe (Bernalillo) > Neotropic Cormorant (Otero) > Brown  Pelican (Guadalupe, San Juan > Great  and Snowy Egrets (Otero) > Little  Blue Heron (Socorro) > Cattle  Egret (Sandoval) > Green-winged Teal (Rio Arriba) > Canvasback and Redhead (Otero) > Ring-necked Duck (Chaves) > Hooded  Merganser (Colfax) > Mississippi Kite (Eddy) > Northern Harrier (Eddy) > Gray  Hawk (Eddy) > Zone-tailed Hawk (Grant) > Montezuma Quail (Sierra, Grant) > Common  Moorhen (Socorro) > Snowy  Plover (Chaves, Colfax, Eddy) > Marbled Godwit (Sierra) > White-rumped Sandpiper (Colfax) > Red-necked Phalaropes (Chaves) > Wilson’s Phalarope (Rio Arriba, Chaves, Sierra, Otero) > California Gull (Sierra, San Juan) > Caspian Tern (San Juan) > ARCTIC  Tern (Colfax) > Least  Tern (Chaves, Eddy) > Eurasian Collared-Dove (Otero) > Band-tailed Pigeon (Grant, Santa Fe) > Common  Ground-Dove (Hidalgo) > Barn  Owl (Chaves, Grant) > Flammulated Owl (Taos) > Great  Horned Owl (Socorro) > Elf  Owl (Grant) > Burrowing Owl (Bernalillo) > Pygmy  Owl (Taos, Grant) > Spotted Owl (Sierra) > Whip-poor-will (Santa Fe, Grant) > Chimney Swift (Eddy) > Magnificent Hummingbird (Grant) > Broad-billed Hummingbird (Hidalgo) > Lucifer Hummingbird (Hidalgo) > Costa’s and Anna’s Hummingbirds (Hidalgo) > Rufous  Hummingbird (Santa Fe) > Williamson’s Sapsucker (Santa Fe) > Three-toed Woodpecker (Santa Fe) > Olive-sided Flycatcher (Grant) > Western Wood-Pewee (Eddy) > Gray  Flycatcher (Grant) > Vermilion Flycatcher (Catron) > Thick-billed Kingbird (Hidalgo) > Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Harding) > Horned  Lark (Otero) > Bell’s  Vireo (Socorro) > Gray  Vireo (Eddy, San Miguel) > BLACK-CAPPED VIREO (Eddy) > Yellow-throated Vireo (Eddy) > Cave  and Barn Swallows (EddY) > Clark’s Nutcracker (Catron) > Bushtit (Grant) > Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Eddy) > Western Bluebird (Grant) > Hermit  Thrush (Santa Fe) > Phainopepla (Santa Fe) > Olive  Warbler (Grant) > Lucy’s  Warbler (Eddy, Doña Ana)) > Black-and-White Warbler (Eddy) > Painted Redstart (Grant) > Cassin’s Sparrow (Harding) > Botteri’s Sparrow (Hidalgo) > Rufous-winged Sparrow (Cochise, AZ) > Varied  Bunting (Eddy) > Yellow-headed Blackbird (Otero) > Bronzed Cowbird (Sierra, Roosevelt, Eddy. Bernalillo) > Red  Crossbill (Grant) > . > . > In San  Juan County: > MB on June 19 at Morgan Lake had an adult  BROWN > PELICAN > at the  northeast boat ramp.  Also seen at > a  cove right of > the  ramp were the CASPIAN TERN, and several > CALIFORNIA GULLS. > . > In  Sandoval County: > TB had 56 CATTLE EGRETS flying over his  home in > Corrales > on  June 20. > . > In Rio  Arriba County: > JO at a pond north of the road to Heron  Lake on June > 20 > saw a  WILSON’S PHALAROPE, and GREEN-WINGED TEALS. > . > .In  Taos County: > JP and WW on June 13 at dawn near Ojo  Sarco had > calling > FLAMMULATED and PYGMY OWLS. > . > In  Santa Fe County: > RY on June 20 on the Tesuque road to the  Santa Fe Ski > Basin > saw  BAND-TAILED PIGEON AND HERMIT THRUSHES.  On > the Chamisa > Trail  on June 24 there as a female WILLIAMSON’S > SAPSUCKER. > JP, WW, and HS on June 19 at the Santa Fe  Ski Basin > had a > THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. > JB on June 21 on CR 84 (parallel to NM  502) had a > PHAINOPEPLA Fly over the marsh. > JB on June 17 had his first RUFOUS  HUMMINGBIRD in > Santa Fe. > JB on June 11 had a WHIP-POOR-WILL  calling in the > Black > Canyon  campground at Hyde State Park at Santa > Fe.  It is > west  of the loop at the far end and has been calling > for > over a  week. > . > In San  Miguel County: > On his Sabinoso BBS CR on June 17 found  GRAY VIREOS > between > the  Canadian River and Sabinoso with a pair on Burro > Hill. > In  Harding County: > CR on June 17 found good numbers of  CASSIN’S > SPARROWS > near  Roy with a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER on NM 102 > east of > Bueyeros. > . > In  Colfax County: > MB and NP on June 13 had an ARCTIC TERN  on Lake 13 of > the > Maxwell Refuge with two SNOWY PLOVERS and ten  > WHITE-RUMPED > SANDPIPERS.  Later JP  and WW saw the tern, the > plover and > sandpipers, and a male HOODED MERGANSER. > . > In  Guadalupe County: > RM, ranger at Santa Rosa Lake SP.,  reported an > immature > BROWN  PELICAN, present from June 7 to at least June > 10, has > been  near the boat ramp. > . > In  Roosevelt County: > HM on June 11 at Oasis SP north of  Portales reported > a > BRONZED COWBIRD. > . > In  Bernalillo County: > DE on June 23 at the entrance to the  Sandia Casino > Golf > Course  saw a BURROWING OWL. > And at the Sandia Memorial Garden  Cemetery he again > saw > a  BRONZED COWBIRD. > JJ saw a WESTERN GREBE in the Rio Grande  on June 14 > between > the  Rio Grande Nature Center and the Oxbow. > . > In  Socorro County: > At Bosque del Apache Refuge on June 20 JP and WW saw a > MOORHEN at the two-way road west on the Farm  > Loop.  Later > there  was a singing BELL’S VIREO.  > Refuge  personnel on June > 10  reported an adult LITTLE BLUE HERON at the pond on > the > east  side of the two-way road. > AM on June 24 had two immature GREAT  HORNED OWLS at > the > Box  Canyon on US60 west of Socorro. > . > In  Chaves County: > At Bitter Lake Refuge on the count of  June 17 JSa > tallied > two  RING-NECKED DUCKS, two LEAST TERNS, 109 SNOWY > PLOVERS, 24 > WILSON’S PHALAROPES, seven RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and > four > BARN  OWLS. > . > In  Sierra/Grant County: > At Emory Pass in the Black Range JP, WW,  and LL on > June 6 had > two  SPOTTED OWLS on the east side. > At the bridge below Kingston there was a  male > MONTEZUMA QUAIL. > At  Hillsboro there was a male BRONZED COWBIRD. > And at North Monticello Point at Elephant  Butte Lake > on June > 20 JP  and WW saw two MARBLED GODWITS and a WILSON’S > PHALAROPE. > At the Rock Canyon Marina there was a  second year > CALIFORNIA > GULL. > . > In  Catron County: > JO on June 19 had three CLARK’S  NUTCRACKERS on the > south fork > of  Negrito Creek and a pair of VERMILION FLYCATCHERS > on the San > Francisco River near the Tularosa River. > . > In  Grant County: > DG in mid-June in the Burro Mountains  reported > ZONE-TAILED > HAWK,  MONTEZUMA QUAIL, BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, BARN > OWLS, ELF OWLS, > PYGMY  OWLS, WHIP-POOR-WILL, and OLIVE WARBLERS, with > a singing > OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER on June 22, many GRAY FLYCATCHERS, > BUSHTITS, WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, PAINTED REDSTARTS, and RED > CROSSBILLS. > RS had a ZONE-TAILED HAWK on the road to Bill Evans Lake > on > June  15. > JP, WW, and LL on June 4 on Signal Peak  there was a a > male > MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD. > . > In  Hidalgo County: > CW on June 21 had a LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD in upper > Cottonwood > Canyon.  He says a  fire has been there and in > western Clanton. > He put  up two feeders six miles west of the cattle > guard on the > pass.  MB, NP, MH, RV,  and CW on June 27-28 had > a pair of > LUCIFERS, two male COSTA’S, an immature male ANNA’S, > and a > female  BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD at the feeders. > In Guadulupe Canyon the group found three  > THICK-BILLED > KINGBIRDS in the NM part near the ranch.  In the AZ > part at > the  gate there was a RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW. > CW had a COMMON GROUND-DOVE at Dunagan  Crossing south > of > Animas  on June 21.  On June 19 he had the  > BOTTERI’S SPARROWS > along  the road. > Guadalupe Canyon’s owners request that no  one park > at the > entrance gate where it has been  re-seeded. > County Hwy.1 south of Animas crosses the  Diamond A > (Gray) > Ranch.  Because of  events with thoughtless > birders, one must > NOT  go off the road. > . > In  Luna County: > The rancher has objected to any birding  around his > corral > near  Hermanas. > . > In  Doña Ana County: > MS on June 27 reported the LUCY’S WARBLER  is still > at their > home  near Radium Springs. > . > In  Otero County: > MS and JZ on June 26 at the Holloman  Lakes had a > HORNED LARK > feeding fledglings and a pair of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. > Also  still there was the CANVASBACK and NEOTROPIC > CORMORANT > with a  REDHEAD, 14 WILSON’S PHALAROPES, two GREAT > EGRETS, and > a  SNOWY EGRET. > They found rain at Cloudcroft with many  wildflowers > in lush > country.  And along  the road to Sunspot there > was a EURASIAN > COLLARED-DOVE. > DG reported there has been changes with a kiosk, a boat > ramp, > a  picnic and camping area, and a bird watching area. > Lagoon  G is open to birding again.  There  > is a new sign in > front  calling it the Raptor Lake Recreation Area. > . > In  Eddy County: > In Slaughter Canyon near Rattlesnake  Springs there > are GRAY > VIREOS  and a pair of VARIED BUNTINGS.  BW  > and AF on June 17 had > the  BLACK-CAPPED VIREO again.  JG and SV  > found it singing on > June  19 (photo).  SW again saw it still  > singing on June 22. > In  West Slaughter Canyon there was a BLACK-TAILED > GNATCATCHER > and he  found up to ten GRAY VIREOS. > At Rattlesnake Springs BS on June 13  found a > YELLOW-THROATED > VIREO  at the adjacent Washington Ranch with LUCY’S > WARBLER at > the  Springs.  He recorded on June 14 the  > GRAY HAWK.  JG had the > one,  maybe two, singing Yellow-throats on June 19 > with a singing > male  BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at the hackberry grove > by the > orchard at the Springs.  SW and TH on June 18 had a > late > WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE.  BW on June 17 recorded two > BRONZED > COWBIRDS and the GRAY HAWK. > At Brantley Lake north of Carlsbad BS on  June 13 saw > three  LEAST TERNS and two SNOWY PLOVERS. > SW and TH had a male HARRIER at the Black  River near > the > Springs on June 18. > BW on June 17 saw over Carlsbad a CHIMNEY  SWIFT and > several > MISSISSIPPI KITES. > SW reports that the powers that be in  Whites City > have torn > down  all swallow nests, destroying young and eggs, > mostly of > CAVE  SWALLOWS, but a few were BARNS. > . > . > Initials of Observers: > JB,  Jonathan Batkin;  MB, Matt  > Baumann;  TB, Terry Brownell; > DE,  David Eulian;  AF, Andy Fenner;  DG, > David Griffin; > JG,  John Groves;   MH, Michael > Hilchey;  TH, Tom Hines; > JJ,  Jim Joseph;  LL, Lane Leckman;  HM, > Holly Marchman; > AM,  Amy Morrison;  RM, Robert  > Mumford;  JO, Jerry Oldenettel; > JP,  John Parmeter;  NP, Nick  > Pederson;  CR, Chris Rustay; > JSa,  Jeff Sanchez;  BS, Bill Scott;  MS, > Marcy Scott; > RS,  Roland Shook:  HS, Heidi Simms;  RV, > Raymond VanBuskirk; > SV,  Steve Vinson;  BW, Bill West;  SW, > Steve West; > WW,  Bill Wittman; CW, Cole Wolf;  RY,  Rob > Yaksich; > and  JZ, Jimmy Zabriskie;  . > . > . > Field  Trips: > . > Central Audubon in Albuquerque has Thursday field trips. > All  phone numbers begin with 505.  On  July > 2 is to Bosque del > Apache  Refuge with Rebecca Gracey, 242-3821; on July > 9 to > Capulin Springs in the Sandias with the Boettchers, > 281-6726; > July  16 to the Sandias for Three-toed Woodpeckers > with Gale > Owings, 255-8333; July 23 to the Simm’s Ranch and Bonnie > Long’s  home in the Manzanos for a potluck lunch, > 379-1985, > and on  July 30 in the Sandias to the 10K Trail with > Melissa > Howard, 286-9365.. > . > On  Saturday, July 11, Central Audubon will look for > Los Alamos > birds  to Bandelier and the ski area, the Jemez to > Jemez Falls. > Contact is Jim Mosley at _ff1964 AT msn.com_ > (mailto:ff1964 AT msn.com) . > . > On  Sunday, July 12, Sangre de Cristo Audubon will > bird the > Santa  Fe Ski Basin.  Contact is Tom Taylor  > at 424-3238. > . > Mesilla Valley Audubon on July 18 will have a > possible  over > nighter to the Sacramento Mountains, Karr Canyon, and > Cloudcroft, > and  possibly the Peñasco Rio.  For  > overnighters they will camp > at  Bluff Springs.  Contact is David  > Griffin by July 16 at 575-382- > 2080. > . > The  Randall Davey Audubon Center in Santa Fe on upper > Canyon > Road  has Saturday morning bird walks from 8:30 until > 9:30. > . > The  Rio Grande Nature Center has Saturday and Sunday > bird > walks  at 8:30 in May. > . > The  Forest Service has bird walks in the Sandia > Mountains on > Tuesday mornings.  Meet at 8:30 at the Ranger Station > in > Tijeras. > . > . > -End  Transcript_[1]_ > (aoldb://mail/write/template.htm#_ftn1) > ……….. > > > ____________________________________ > > _[1]_ (aoldb://mail/write/template.htm#_ftnref1) > > > **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See > yours in just 2 easy > steps! > (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221823281x1201398699/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= > JunestepsfooterNO62) > Subject: SEAZ: California Gulch From: Melody Kehl <outdoor1 AT COX.NET> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:09:58 -0700 Having visited the gulch 4 times this week. . . I thought I would pass on what I can. We have heard the bird each and every time. . . but the first time it was so far away, that only a couple people were able to pull the call. The bird seems to be roosting wherever the mood hits him each night. Every night he starts in from a different area. Every night at a different time. . . anywhere from 7:20 to 9. We have seen him twice out of the 4 visits. Albeit, last night was a momentary eye shine, the night before offered really fantastic views. Five-striped Sparrows were very difficult 2 out of 3 visits (we skipped them one evening). Again, there seems to be no particular pattern this year. However, we have managed to get good looks. . . eventually. . . usually by 7, which rushes us for the nightjar. The road in is getting rougher. . . caution is advised with the start of the rains. A few other notes from the last week of whirlwind birding. . . Beatty's is still giving 9 species of hummers, but this time it took 12 minutes. Again, a special thanks to these special people for allowing us to visit their property and share their birds. Carr Canyon was excellent for flycatchers and warblers, even though it was the middle of the day. Sinaloa Wren was seen well along the road, by the nest. . . but it took 4 hours of standing. Rufous-capped Warblers in Florida Canyon are still in stealth mode. They should be finishing up shortly. Nothing on the Five-stripe, but I really haven't spent much time looking. Melody Kehl http://www.melodysbirding.com Subject: NM RBA for 6/29/09 From: Pinyonjay AT AOL.COM Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:25:38 EDT - RBA *New Mexico Bird Report *June 29, 2009 *NMEX0906.29 . Transcript . Hotline New Mexico date: June 29, 2009 compiler Patricia R. Snider Phone: 719-846-3174 Cell phone 505-803-1807 e-mail address _pinyonjay AT aol.com_ (mailto:pinyonjay AT aol.com) . This is Pinyon Jay with the New Mexico Bird Report for June 29, 2009, sponsored by the New Mexico Ornithological Society. When phone numbers are given for private property, please call before going to ask for permission. In ranch country do not stray off the roads. . Highlights: Brown Pelicans, Arctic Tern, Black-capped Vireo. . . Places mentioned and a checklist of N.M. birds are in the N.M. Bird Finding Guide. Check for earlier reports and database at _http://www.nmbirds.org_ (http://www.nmbirds.org/) or in the archives of the AZ/NM listserve. For photos of rarities and directions to some birding sites check _http://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage_ (http://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage) . . For the Bird Records Committee and both Field Notes please send reports to Dr. Sartor O. Williams, III, 1819 Meadowview NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104 or to _sunbittern AT earthlink.net_ (mailto:sunbittern AT earthlink.net) . . . Birds Mentioned and Counties: . Western Grebe (Bernalillo) Neotropic Cormorant (Otero) Brown Pelican (Guadalupe, San Juan Great and Snowy Egrets (Otero) Little Blue Heron (Socorro) Cattle Egret (Sandoval) Green-winged Teal (Rio Arriba) Canvasback and Redhead (Otero) Ring-necked Duck (Chaves) Hooded Merganser (Colfax) Mississippi Kite (Eddy) Northern Harrier (Eddy) Gray Hawk (Eddy) Zone-tailed Hawk (Grant) Montezuma Quail (Sierra, Grant) Common Moorhen (Socorro) Snowy Plover (Chaves, Colfax, Eddy) Marbled Godwit (Sierra) White-rumped Sandpiper (Colfax) Red-necked Phalaropes (Chaves) Wilson’s Phalarope (Rio Arriba, Chaves, Sierra, Otero) California Gull (Sierra, San Juan) Caspian Tern (San Juan) ARCTIC Tern (Colfax) Least Tern (Chaves, Eddy) Eurasian Collared-Dove (Otero) Band-tailed Pigeon (Grant, Santa Fe) Common Ground-Dove (Hidalgo) Barn Owl (Chaves, Grant) Flammulated Owl (Taos) Great Horned Owl (Socorro) Elf Owl (Grant) Burrowing Owl (Bernalillo) Pygmy Owl (Taos, Grant) Spotted Owl (Sierra) Whip-poor-will (Santa Fe, Grant) Chimney Swift (Eddy) Magnificent Hummingbird (Grant) Broad-billed Hummingbird (Hidalgo) Lucifer Hummingbird (Hidalgo) Costa’s and Anna’s Hummingbirds (Hidalgo) Rufous Hummingbird (Santa Fe) Williamson’s Sapsucker (Santa Fe) Three-toed Woodpecker (Santa Fe) Olive-sided Flycatcher (Grant) Western Wood-Pewee (Eddy) Gray Flycatcher (Grant) Vermilion Flycatcher (Catron) Thick-billed Kingbird (Hidalgo) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Harding) Horned Lark (Otero) Bell’s Vireo (Socorro) Gray Vireo (Eddy, San Miguel) BLACK-CAPPED VIREO (Eddy) Yellow-throated Vireo (Eddy) Cave and Barn Swallows (EddY) Clark’s Nutcracker (Catron) Bushtit (Grant) Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Eddy) Western Bluebird (Grant) Hermit Thrush (Santa Fe) Phainopepla (Santa Fe) Olive Warbler (Grant) Lucy’s Warbler (Eddy, Doña Ana)) Black-and-White Warbler (Eddy) Painted Redstart (Grant) Cassin’s Sparrow (Harding) Botteri’s Sparrow (Hidalgo) Rufous-winged Sparrow (Cochise, AZ) Varied Bunting (Eddy) Yellow-headed Blackbird (Otero) Bronzed Cowbird (Sierra, Roosevelt, Eddy. Bernalillo) Red Crossbill (Grant) . . In San Juan County: MB on June 19 at Morgan Lake had an adult BROWN PELICAN at the northeast boat ramp. Also seen at a cove right of the ramp were the CASPIAN TERN, and several CALIFORNIA GULLS. . In Sandoval County: TB had 56 CATTLE EGRETS flying over his home in Corrales on June 20. . In Rio Arriba County: JO at a pond north of the road to Heron Lake on June 20 saw a WILSON’S PHALAROPE, and GREEN-WINGED TEALS. . .In Taos County: JP and WW on June 13 at dawn near Ojo Sarco had calling FLAMMULATED and PYGMY OWLS. . In Santa Fe County: RY on June 20 on the Tesuque road to the Santa Fe Ski Basin saw BAND-TAILED PIGEON AND HERMIT THRUSHES. On the Chamisa Trail on June 24 there as a female WILLIAMSON’S SAPSUCKER. JP, WW, and HS on June 19 at the Santa Fe Ski Basin had a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. JB on June 21 on CR 84 (parallel to NM 502) had a PHAINOPEPLA Fly over the marsh. JB on June 17 had his first RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in Santa Fe. JB on June 11 had a WHIP-POOR-WILL calling in the Black Canyon campground at Hyde State Park at Santa Fe. It is west of the loop at the far end and has been calling for over a week. . In San Miguel County: On his Sabinoso BBS CR on June 17 found GRAY VIREOS between the Canadian River and Sabinoso with a pair on Burro Hill. In Harding County: CR on June 17 found good numbers of CASSIN’S SPARROWS near Roy with a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER on NM 102 east of Bueyeros. . In Colfax County: MB and NP on June 13 had an ARCTIC TERN on Lake 13 of the Maxwell Refuge with two SNOWY PLOVERS and ten WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS. Later JP and WW saw the tern, the plover and sandpipers, and a male HOODED MERGANSER. . In Guadalupe County: RM, ranger at Santa Rosa Lake SP., reported an immature BROWN PELICAN, present from June 7 to at least June 10, has been near the boat ramp. . In Roosevelt County: HM on June 11 at Oasis SP north of Portales reported a BRONZED COWBIRD. . In Bernalillo County: DE on June 23 at the entrance to the Sandia Casino Golf Course saw a BURROWING OWL. And at the Sandia Memorial Garden Cemetery he again saw a BRONZED COWBIRD. JJ saw a WESTERN GREBE in the Rio Grande on June 14 between the Rio Grande Nature Center and the Oxbow. . In Socorro County: At Bosque del Apache Refuge on June 20 JP and WW saw a MOORHEN at the two-way road west on the Farm Loop. Later there was a singing BELL’S VIREO. Refuge personnel on June 10 reported an adult LITTLE BLUE HERON at the pond on the east side of the two-way road. AM on June 24 had two immature GREAT HORNED OWLS at the Box Canyon on US60 west of Socorro. . In Chaves County: At Bitter Lake Refuge on the count of June 17 JSa tallied two RING-NECKED DUCKS, two LEAST TERNS, 109 SNOWY PLOVERS, 24 WILSON’S PHALAROPES, seven RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and four BARN OWLS. . In Sierra/Grant County: At Emory Pass in the Black Range JP, WW, and LL on June 6 had two SPOTTED OWLS on the east side. At the bridge below Kingston there was a male MONTEZUMA QUAIL. At Hillsboro there was a male BRONZED COWBIRD. And at North Monticello Point at Elephant Butte Lake on June 20 JP and WW saw two MARBLED GODWITS and a WILSON’S PHALAROPE. At the Rock Canyon Marina there was a second year CALIFORNIA GULL. . In Catron County: JO on June 19 had three CLARK’S NUTCRACKERS on the south fork of Negrito Creek and a pair of VERMILION FLYCATCHERS on the San Francisco River near the Tularosa River. . In Grant County: DG in mid-June in the Burro Mountains reported ZONE-TAILED HAWK, MONTEZUMA QUAIL, BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, BARN OWLS, ELF OWLS, PYGMY OWLS, WHIP-POOR-WILL, and OLIVE WARBLERS, with a singing OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER on June 22, many GRAY FLYCATCHERS, BUSHTITS, WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, PAINTED REDSTARTS, and RED CROSSBILLS. RS had a ZONE-TAILED HAWK on the road to Bill Evans Lake on June 15. JP, WW, and LL on June 4 on Signal Peak there was a a male MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD. . In Hidalgo County: CW on June 21 had a LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD in upper Cottonwood Canyon. He says a fire has been there and in western Clanton. He put up two feeders six miles west of the cattle guard on the pass. MB, NP, MH, RV, and CW on June 27-28 had a pair of LUCIFERS, two male COSTA’S, an immature male ANNA’S, and a female BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD at the feeders. In Guadulupe Canyon the group found three THICK-BILLED KINGBIRDS in the NM part near the ranch. In the AZ part at the gate there was a RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW. CW had a COMMON GROUND-DOVE at Dunagan Crossing south of Animas on June 21. On June 19 he had the BOTTERI’S SPARROWS along the road. Guadalupe Canyon’s owners request that no one park at the entrance gate where it has been re-seeded. County Hwy.1 south of Animas crosses the Diamond A (Gray) Ranch. Because of events with thoughtless birders, one must NOT go off the road. . In Luna County: The rancher has objected to any birding around his corral near Hermanas. . In Doña Ana County: MS on June 27 reported the LUCY’S WARBLER is still at their home near Radium Springs. . In Otero County: MS and JZ on June 26 at the Holloman Lakes had a HORNED LARK feeding fledglings and a pair of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. Also still there was the CANVASBACK and NEOTROPIC CORMORANT with a REDHEAD, 14 WILSON’S PHALAROPES, two GREAT EGRETS, and a SNOWY EGRET. They found rain at Cloudcroft with many wildflowers in lush country. And along the road to Sunspot there was a EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE. DG reported there has been changes with a kiosk, a boat ramp, a picnic and camping area, and a bird watching area. Lagoon G is open to birding again. There is a new sign in front calling it the Raptor Lake Recreation Area. . In Eddy County: In Slaughter Canyon near Rattlesnake Springs there are GRAY VIREOS and a pair of VARIED BUNTINGS. BW and AF on June 17 had the BLACK-CAPPED VIREO again. JG and SV found it singing on June 19 (photo). SW again saw it still singing on June 22. In West Slaughter Canyon there was a BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER and he found up to ten GRAY VIREOS. At Rattlesnake Springs BS on June 13 found a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO at the adjacent Washington Ranch with LUCY’S WARBLER at the Springs. He recorded on June 14 the GRAY HAWK. JG had the one, maybe two, singing Yellow-throats on June 19 with a singing male BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at the hackberry grove by the orchard at the Springs. SW and TH on June 18 had a late WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE. BW on June 17 recorded two BRONZED COWBIRDS and the GRAY HAWK. At Brantley Lake north of Carlsbad BS on June 13 saw three LEAST TERNS and two SNOWY PLOVERS. SW and TH had a male HARRIER at the Black River near the Springs on June 18. BW on June 17 saw over Carlsbad a CHIMNEY SWIFT and several MISSISSIPPI KITES. SW reports that the powers that be in Whites City have torn down all swallow nests, destroying young and eggs, mostly of CAVE SWALLOWS, but a few were BARNS. . . Initials of Observers: JB, Jonathan Batkin; MB, Matt Baumann; TB, Terry Brownell; DE, David Eulian; AF, Andy Fenner; DG, David Griffin; JG, John Groves; MH, Michael Hilchey; TH, Tom Hines; JJ, Jim Joseph; LL, Lane Leckman; HM, Holly Marchman; AM, Amy Morrison; RM, Robert Mumford; JO, Jerry Oldenettel; JP, John Parmeter; NP, Nick Pederson; CR, Chris Rustay; JSa, Jeff Sanchez; BS, Bill Scott; MS, Marcy Scott; RS, Roland Shook: HS, Heidi Simms; RV, Raymond VanBuskirk; SV, Steve Vinson; BW, Bill West; SW, Steve West; WW, Bill Wittman; CW, Cole Wolf; RY, Rob Yaksich; and JZ, Jimmy Zabriskie; . . . Field Trips: . Central Audubon in Albuquerque has Thursday field trips. All phone numbers begin with 505. On July 2 is to Bosque del Apache Refuge with Rebecca Gracey, 242-3821; on July 9 to Capulin Springs in the Sandias with the Boettchers, 281-6726; July 16 to the Sandias for Three-toed Woodpeckers with Gale Owings, 255-8333; July 23 to the Simm’s Ranch and Bonnie Long’s home in the Manzanos for a potluck lunch, 379-1985, and on July 30 in the Sandias to the 10K Trail with Melissa Howard, 286-9365.. . On Saturday, July 11, Central Audubon will look for Los Alamos birds to Bandelier and the ski area, the Jemez to Jemez Falls. Contact is Jim Mosley at _ff1964 AT msn.com_ (mailto:ff1964 AT msn.com) . . On Sunday, July 12, Sangre de Cristo Audubon will bird the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Contact is Tom Taylor at 424-3238. . Mesilla Valley Audubon on July 18 will have a possible over nighter to the Sacramento Mountains, Karr Canyon, and Cloudcroft, and possibly the Peñasco Rio. For overnighters they will camp at Bluff Springs. Contact is David Griffin by July 16 at 575-382- 2080. . The Randall Davey Audubon Center in Santa Fe on upper Canyon Road has Saturday morning bird walks from 8:30 until 9:30. . The Rio Grande Nature Center has Saturday and Sunday bird walks at 8:30 in May. . The Forest Service has bird walks in the Sandia Mountains on Tuesday mornings. Meet at 8:30 at the Ranger Station in Tijeras. . . -End Transcript_[1]_ (aoldb://mail/write/template.htm#_ftn1) ……….. ____________________________________ _[1]_ (aoldb://mail/write/template.htm#_ftnref1) **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221823281x1201398699/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= JunestepsfooterNO62) Subject: Results: 2009 Chiricahua Mountains Trogon Census From: Rick Taylor <rtaylor AT BORDERLAND-TOURS.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:08:25 -0700 June 27, 2009 marked the 30th anniversary of the Elegant Trogon census in the Cave Creek-South Fork Canyon complex in the Chiricahua Mountains. This year 15 volunteers turned up 15 trogons: 4 pairs, 6 males, and 1 female. Undoubtedly some females went undetected, probably because they were incubating or brooding in nest cavities. Elevation-wise, the lowest trogon recorded was near the Vista Point in the main canyon of Cave Creek several hundred yards below the South Fork confluence. Trogons were found more-or-less continuously up S. Fork from the canyon mouth for approximately 2.5 miles beyond the road end at the S. Fork Picnic Area, a stretch of riparian 4 miles long. Additional pairs of trogons were found in the main canyon above Sunnyflat Campground, in the summer home area above the Southwestern Research Station, and a mile above the Research Station in the North Fork of Cave Creek. Results were comparable with previous years. An effort was also made to tabulate other species that share Elegant Trogon habitat. No Gray-collared Becard was found, but participants in two adjacent territories observed perhaps the same Flame-colored Tanager. A minimum of 4 pairs of Buff-breasted Flycatchers were located in the upper basin between the Southwestern Research Station and Herb Martyr Picnic Area. Thanks to everyone that volunteered, and especially to Douglas Ranger District Biologist Glenn Klingler, who organized this year's census. --Rick Taylor -- Explore the Living Museums of the World BORDERLAND TOURS 2550 W. Calle Padilla, Tucson, AZ 85745 Phone: (520) 882-7650 FAX: (520) 792-9205 http://www.borderland-tours.com Subject: SE AZ: Empire Gulch Hooded Warbler continues From: Richard Fray <rpfray AT DAKOTACOM.NET> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:51:46 -0700 Thanks to Mark for posting my (non)sightings from Willcox Twin Lakes yesterday (28th June). There's nothing to add to that, but I spent a while late morning/early afternoon at Empire Gulch in Las Cienegas, north of Sonoita. The male HOODED WARBLER was in the same previously-described spot by the last of the water as you walk left (west) from the parking area with the large fallen cottonwood (more directions in SE AZ guide books). I found it within a few minutes of arriving at the spot, took a few dismal record shots and watched it for maybe a minute before it headed further back (north). I then spent a pleasant couple of hours hanging around this area watching various birds come in to drink and bathe, but didn't see the warbler again. The whole gulch was lively in the relative cool, with at least three singing male INDIGO BUNTINGS (plus a female coming to drink), a pair of COMMON GROUND-DOVES, a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW coming to drink, calling GRAY HAWKS and scads of YELLOW WARBLERS, LUCY'S WARBLERS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, SUMMER TANAGERS, BLUE GROSBEAKS etc. Also, I *thought* I heard the Yellow-throated Vireo sing briefly a couple of times in the tallest cottonwood by the Hooded Warbler spot, but I couldn't find it so make of that what you will. CASSIN'S SPARROWS were bouncing around all over the grasslands. As Clifford mentioned earlier, photography today was not what we're used to in Arizona in June. The Hooded Warbler was photographed looking down into the bottom of the vegetation by the stream, in the rain, under heavy skies, below the cottonwoods... I was getting 1/15 at ISO 1600! I'll post a few photos to my website in due course: http://www.rpf-wildlife-photos.com/blog/ Richard Fray Tucson AZ Subject: AZ: Video of Pacific Golden-Plover, Rufous-capped Warbler, etc. From: Matt Brown <mattbrownbirds AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:50:01 -0700 I finally got some video of the Willcox Pacific Golden-Plover up on my youtube account, now that the bird is gone, along with a very short, shaky clip of one of the Patagonia Rufous-capped Warblers. I also stuck up some more Sinaloa Wren videos, and one from today of a very pretty Black-tailed Rattlesnake. They can be seen at the following squrl: I also put some photos of the warbler, plus some other miscellany, on my flickr photostream, which is AT : Matt Brown Patagonia, AZ 520-604-6300 mattbrownbrdsATgmailDOTcom Subject: AZFO - New photos of Pacific Golden-Plover, Flame-colored Tanager and Rufous-capped Warbler From: Michael C Moore <michael.moore AT ASU.EDU> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:03:11 -0700 Field Ornithologists, Rick Taylor contributed a nice shot of the diagnostic wing tip features of the Pacific Golden-Plover. He also contributed a photo of one of the two Flame-colored Tanagers now being seen behind the Southwest Research Station in Cave Creek Canyon. Clifford Cathers and Robin Baxter contributed additional photos of the Patagonia Rufous-capped Warblers. Robin documented nest building behavior. Thanks to Rick, Clifford and Robin! Thanks to all who use the online form below to submit photos. It makes my job a lot easier and ensures your photos will be posted more quickly. Photos posted at: http://www.azfo.org click on "Photo Documentation" Arizona Field Ornithologists welcomes Arizona rarity photo contributions from all photographers throughout the state. Use our online form to submit photos: http://www.azfo.org/gallery/PhotoContribution.html If you enjoy the photo web site, please consider joining AZFO and supporting our other activities. Details on the web site. We strive for accuracy. Please email any corrections to postings to me. Mike Moore AZFO Photo Editor Gilbert, AZ Subject: Riparian Bird Survey/ Webber Creek and East Verde River From: Brian Ison <lwrkenai AT COX.NET> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:46:08 -0700 Hi Birders, While doing a Riparian Bird Survey Saturday, June 27, near the confluence of the East Verde River and Webber Creek in Gila County northwest of Payson I noted at least 5 Dusky-capped Flycatchers- 3 in 1 group chasing each other. I watched one bird flycatch and bring an insect to a possible nesting site in a tall juniper. Also, there was a pair of Common Blackhawks and several Belted Kingfishers. At the cabin in Pine I noted a Rufous Hummingbird (m)- possibly an early migrant?-at feeders. Also, I was surprised to see a Townsend's Solitaire (juv.) drinking water. Gambel's Quail were feeding also, one pair had at least 8 chicks. Good Birding, Brian Ison Scottsdale lwrkenai AT cox.net Subject: 6/26: northern AZ sightings (various locations); tamarisk beetles From: Eric Hough <thebirdwhisperer22 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:27:10 -0700 On 6/26 while on my way back to southern Nevada from Heber where I had been visiting family, I took "the scenic route" and drove down through Payson over to Camp Verde where I tried for the Yellow-throated Vireos at Montezuma Well. Unfortunately, I was unable to see the birds. However, I did hear a vireo singing periodically (every 5-10 minutes) from the top of a cottonwood near the edge of the ag. field at the picnic area. I waited around the tree for about 45 minutes before giving up, never getting a glimpse of the vireo. It sounded to me like a Plumbeous, but listening later on to my iPod, the Yellow-throated song sounds similar to me. Would Plumbeous be at Montezuma Well at this time of the year?? Before getting to the Well, I stopped along the way at one of the overlooks along the Mogollon Rim off of the Woods Canyon Lake Rd. and at the East Verde River. After the Well, I stopped at the Cameron Trading Post, a pulloff in the pines just north of Jacob's Lake, the vista point/rest area southeast of Fredonia, and a pulloff southeast of Colorado City (all of the stops corresponding with bathroom breaks). Although I didn't get any bird lifers (the Yellow-throated Vireo has now become a new "nemesis bird" for me!!!), I did get one plant lifer with sego lilies (Calochortus nuttalii) near Jacob's Lake. Also, while driving through the Virgin River Gorge in the extreme northwestern part of the state in the late afternoon, I saw that the tamarisks were all brown as far down as the Cedar Pocket exit. This indicates that the tamarisk beetle that was introduced to eradicate the tamarisks is at least this far down the Virgin River now (before this I heard it was only at St. George, UT). While those that released the beetles had good intentions, it now appears that the beetles are defoliating the tamarisks during the time of year that the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatchers are nesting. With decreased canopy cover, it is thought that the flycatchers will abandon their nests with increasing nest site temperatures (less shade) and predation levels will be higher (fewer leaves = less camouflage for nests). I have posted a few mediocre photos I got of an Olive Warbler and a Grace's Warbler, along with a few of the sego lilies on the N. AZ Audubon forum at this link: http://www.nazaudubon.com/sightings/viewthread.php?tid=3471 Anyways, here are my sightings for the locations I mentioned above: **Mogollon Rim overlook off of Woods Canyon Lake Rd.: Acorn Woodpecker Western Wood-Pewee Cordilleran Flycatcher Violet-green Swallow (w/ fledglings) Mountain Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch Pygmy Nuthatch (w/ fledglings) House Wren Canyon Wren (w/ 1 fledgling) American Robin Western Bluebird (w/ fledglings) Olive Warbler (w/ fledglings) Grace's Warbler (w/ fledglings) Yellow-rumped Warbler Western Tanager (w/ fledglings) Dark-eyed Junco **East Verde River: Turkey Vulture Hairy Woodpecker (1) Black Phoebe Bewick's Wren House Wren Canyon Wren Yellow Warbler Lucy's Warbler [oriole sp.] Lesser Goldfinch House Finch **Montezuma Well: Red-tailed Hawk Mourning Dove Eurasian Collared-Dove Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Gila Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Western Wood-Pewee Brown-crested Flycatcher Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Northern Rough-winged Swallow Violet-green Swallow Bell's Vireo [vireo sp.]-1 Verdin White-breasted Nuthatch Bridled Titmouse Bewick's Wren Canyon Wren Rock Wren European Starling Yellow Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Summer Tanager Abert's Towhee (w/ fledglings) Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal Blue Grosbeak Brown-headed Cowbird Lesser Goldfinch House Finch **FR 119 between Montezuma Well and Wet Beaver Creek Rd.: Juniper Titmice (several) Crissal Thrasher (1) **Cameron Trading Post: Western Kingbird SUMMER TANAGER (1 female) Bullock's Oriole House Sparrow **Jacob's Lake area: Plumbeous Vireo Western Bluebird Grace's Warbler Western Tanager Pine Siskin (30+) **vista/rest area southeast of Fredonia: Juniper Titmouse (5+) **pulloff southeast of Colorado City: Ash-throated Flycatcher Western Kingbird Say's Phoebe Common Raven [possible Bendire's Thrasher] Black-throated Sparrow Good birding!!! Eric Hough thebirdwhisperer22 AT yahoo.com Subject: Golden Plover references - no sightings, long(ish) From: Adam Sabatine <birdman538 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:24:00 -0700 Hi All, just thought I'd mention that "The Shorebird Guide" (orange cover) by Michael O'Brien, Richard Crossley and Kevin Karlson from 2006 offers some good reference photos of the subject bird including a molting adult on the bottom of page 42 and two photos, side by side, one of a molting adult Pacific and one of a molting adult American on page 43. There are also several other photos on pages 40-43 of breeding and non-breeding Adults and juveniles which give a good idea of posture and structure. On page 37, there are two photos of molting Americans (including one shot of both molting American Golden Plovers with a molting Black-bellied Plover as well) and two more photos of molting birds on page 38, one of a molting American and Black-bellied side by side and one of a molting bird in flight. There's even a photo on page 312 of a "presumed" juvenile American x Pacific Golden-Plover hybrid. In "Shorebirds: an Identification Guide" by Peter Hayman, John Marchant and Tony Prater (1986) plates 31 and 32 on pages 99 and 100 were somewhat helpful. Plate 31 includes Eurasian Golden-Plover (*Pluvialis apricaria) *and Grey Plover aka Black-bellied Plover *(Pluvialis squatarola)* and plate 32 show Pacific Golden-Plover *(P. fulva)* and American Golden-Plover *(P. dominica). *This plate was the most helpful as it compares all three Plovers (Eurasian, American and Pacific Golden) both at rest and in flight. Page 277 includes text on Eurasian Golden-Plover. Pages 278-280 include identification tips and plumage descriptions of Pacific and American Golden-Plovers, as well as a figure of the profile outlines of Eurasian, Pacific and American Golden-Plovers, which I found useful is comparing posture/structure. Pages 94-106 of "Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest" by Dennis Paulson (1993) shows comparison photos of American vs. Pacific in nonbreeding plumage on page 102 and two similar photos of birds in juvenile plumage on the top of page 103, as well as a lot of helpful information on both species such as behavior, structure, plumage in all seasons and a very long section for each species listing identification tips in each plumage. I found this section especially helpful. The only other shorebird reference I could find on mine and Keith's bookshelf is a book I picked up at a yard sale/flea market somewhere back in Pennsylvania called "Guide to the Identification and ageing of Holarctic Waders" by A.J. Prater, J.H. Marchant (who also co-authored "Shorebirds:an ID Guide") and J. Vuorinen (1977). On pages 65-69, Lesser Golden-Plover ( American GP), Golden Plover (Eurasian GP) and Grey Plover (Black-bellied) are covered in detail with information on how to age the birds in the hand and biometrics comparing the measurements of the three species. This book, of course, was the least amount of help, since I'll not be holding a Pacific and/or American Golden-Plover anytime soon, but there are a few drawings showing different feather groupings for each species, so the 1$ spent at that yard sale is justified I guess. I found the first book mentioned to be the most helpful as far as the photos go, but the second and third ones I mentioned have the best text info on id tips and plumage characteristics. Sorry for rambling a little, but I was just hoping some of that info would help someone else, as it did me, answer the "Why is it a Pacific and not an American?" question. Bird On, Adam Sabatine birdman538 AT gmail.com Tucson, AZ Subject: Patagonia, AZ Area From: Mike Bissontz <seetrogon AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:16:14 +0000 A morning walk along Harshaw Creek Rd, near Patagonia, Az, provided looks at  54 species. Species seen included Gray Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, Western Wood Pewee, Vermillion Flycatcher, Dusky-capped, Ash-throated and Brown-crested Flycatchers, Sulpher-bellied Flycatchers,Lucy's Warblers, Summer and Hepatic Tanagers, Black-headed and Blue Grosbeaks, Bronzed and Brown-headed Cowbirds and Bullock's Oriole. White-tailed Deer were also seen drinking from the creek. Michael Bissontz seetrogon AT comcast.net Subject: AZ:06/28/09:Patagonia Rufous-capped Warblers From: "Clifford A. Cathers" <azcliffy AT Q.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:05:13 -0700 I was waiting for Robin Baxter or Matt Brown to post, but I'm guessing they're apparently busy! I arrived at Patagonia-Sauna Creek Preserve at 8:15 AM to find Matt Brown and guest already on the RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLERs. Matt showed me the nest spot as they were leaving (thanks Matt!). As they left, I got one last intimate sortie with the birds and got a few photos. As with all Canon EOS photos, with the handheld 100-400 IS lens pulled out to 400 mm and an 800 ISO setting on a cloudy day, the photos are decent but not awe inspiring. The photos are at: http://www.economybirding.com/Rarities02.html The tail was behind a branch so I framed the crop to exclude it. I really only had the opportunity for about 8 photos before the birds worked their way south of the path and disappeared into the cottonwood grove. They sang sporadically for about 15 minutes and then went silent for about an hour. At about 9:30 AM, Robin Baxter and Rob Van Zandt showed up just in time for the birds to suddenly appear back by the bench and start singing and foraging in a large circle around the apparent nest spot. I never saw the birds at the location Matt pointed out to me. I saw one take a huge piece of grass into a second grass tuft north of the path right after Matt left but the birds were never closer to me than in the first 15 minutes. After seeing this species in years past in lower and upper Sycamore Canyon, French Joe Canyon and most recently in Florida Canyon, seeing them in the preserve, on flat ground, at such close range, almost feels like cheating(!). It's hard to tell if they'll actually nest or not but they are building in at least two spots and it's a great time to get a good view of them. There's absolutely no reason to ever leave the path to see them and you shouldn't anyway. Larry Smith arrived as I was leaving so killer photos should be in the works. Other birds in the area included YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOs, VERMILION FLYCATCHERs, BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERs, YELLOW WARBLERs, ABERT'S TOWHEEs, BRIDLED TITMOUSE, BEWICK'S WREN, GRAY HAWKs, PHAINOPEPLAs, BLUE GROSBEAKs, LUCY'S WARBLERs, SUMMER TANAGERs, RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWs and more. Thanks to everyone for the updates on this beautiful pair of warblers. Clifford A. Cathers Economy Birding Services, Inc. "Quality Birding With Your Budget in Mind" http://www.economybirding.com 520-762-3201 home 520-982-3272 cell AZCliffy AT q.com Subject: Belated Crested Caracara report, Cienega Creek (6/27/09) From: Adam Sabatine <birdman538 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:32:24 -0700 Hi all, I passed out pretty quickly yesterday after returning from a trip to Cienega Creek and successful Golden Plover stop in Wilcox yesterday, so therefore forgot (neglected?) to post before falling asleep. While Jake Mohlmann, John Yerger and Keith Kamper were birding the streamside area of Cienega Creek yesterday, I was off by myself further down the railroad tracks on the drier side of the tracks/creek trying to photograph a family of Black-tailed Gnatcatchers in some dense mesquite, when I looked up and the large raptor flying directly overhead surprisingly turned out to be a CRESTED CARACARA. I was down in the wash and surrounded by dense mesquite so the looks I got didn't last long, though the straight wing shape and white throat, tail and wing patches were unmistakable. This was still in Pima County and the bird flew off in a Northeasterly direction. John Yerger helped me look up/realize that Crested Caracara is listed as casual this time of the year in southeastern Arizona away from their breeding grounds in the state further west. Even if this were a post-breeding wanderer, it still seems quite out of place in this area at this time of the year. The only other sightings I've had of this bird in the state have been out in the Santa Cruz flats during winter. Just a heads up for anyone birding the area anytime soon.Also, to bird Cienega Creek you must apply for a permit over the phone and give the dates (you're allowed 8 days per month I believe) you wish to bird the area, then they'll send you the permit back through e-mail. I'm not sure exactly who you need to contact, but Keith Kamper ( keith AT adventurebirding.com) would probably be able to tell you more about the process (he's usually the one who acquires the permit) if you contact him off-list. Other interesting birds seen yesterday morning included a calling ZONE-TAILED HAWK (which kind of sounded a little like a Common Black Hawk to me), several calling GREY HAWKS, about half a dozen INDIGO BUNTINGS and other "usuals" such as SUMMER TANAGERS, BELL'S VIREOS, BROWN-CRESTED and ASH-THROATED (nest found) FLYCATCHERS, a family group of BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHERS, LUCY'S and YELLOW WARBLERS and RUFOUS-CROWNED and RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS. Bird On, Adam Sabatine birdman538 AT gmail.com Tucson, AZ (formerly, Bangor, PA) Subject: Sierra Vista EOP Sunday Morning Walk (06/28/09) From: Rick and Ricki Thompson <rixandzax AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:18:08 -0700 A grand total of three of us made the weekly two-hour bird walk this morning. The total bird species count was only 25, but included a yellow- breasted chat (not on checklist), tropical kingbird (not on checklist), and male wood duck (not on list for summer). We also had good looks at a large javelina in the grassy area at the NE corner. Rick Thompson Sierra Vista AZ Subject: Tucson, Sweetwater Wetlands From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT WORLDNET.ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:15:17 -0700 Hi Birders, Lots of bird activity under partly overcast skies this morning. Nothing new or different for me, but plenty of same old still interesting stuff. Neotropic Cormorant- 2 adults in their favored location on the rocky berm between the eastern recharge basins. 1 immature on its favored stick in the western ponds Wood Duck- the male has swiftly molted out of stunningness into a less Technicolor plumage. He was over toward the west end too. Cattle Egret- one flew over early in the AM not to be seen again. Tropical Kingbird still a pair on the island west of the gazebo. The pair that was over on the west end on Thursday was not present this AM. Violet-green Swallow-1 adult. Lots of procreative activity to observe. Remember, Monday is spray day so the gates aren't unlocked until 0800. Good birding, Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Subject: FW: AZ: Pacific Golden-plover is GONE From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT WORLDNET.ATT.NET> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:01:15 -0700 From the Tucson Audubon Society's RBA voice mail at 520-798-1005 X 1 Richard Fray called from Willcox to report that he could not locate the PAGP from 7-8 this morning. Present were: Neotropic Cormorant Long-billed Curlew Lesser Yellowlegs-3 etc. Thanks to Richard for the important and timely update. Good birding, Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Subject: End of the day at Willcox From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT WORLDNET.ATT.NET> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:49:57 -0700 Hi Birders, Bill Scott reports the PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER still present at 7:30. Also reported today were 2 Lesser Yellowlegs (casual), the ugly California Gull (both by Will Russell), several Long-billed Curlews (Lainie Epstein and Molly Pollock), the Neotropic Cormorant (Jay Hand) and the varying collection of Wilson's Phalaropes. Thanks to everyone who contributed for today's updates. Good birding, Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Subject: Continuing Madera specialties From: LAWRENCE LIESE <larryliese AT PRODIGY.NET> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:43:03 -0700 P:inau Merlin and I had the pleasure of taking two friends from Tubac "officially" birding for their first time.  It was quite a bit of fun seeing them enjoy a variety of cool birds in Madera Canyon.  We didn't want to overload them so did a half-day's worth and got about fifty species.  Highlights were the Flame-colored Tanager, female Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Berylline Hummingbird at Madera Kubo (plus lots of other neat species there), a male Varied Bunting getting drinks at the waterfall spot off the Proctor Road trail, the good-sized flock of Wild Turkeys coming out of the woods and down to the feeders at the lodge area, scope views of a stunning Hooded Oriole, calls of a trogon, plus a half-dozen male Blue Grosbeaks at the lodge feeders.  - Larry Liese Subject: 06:27/09:Vail Arizona, Scaled Quail Young From: "Clifford A. Cathers" <azcliffy AT Q.COM> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:35:15 -0700 Early this afternoon here in Vail, we enjoyed our first, brief thunderstorm of the season and the temperature dropped from 101 F to 72 F in about 10 minutes! Shortly thereafter, the SCALED QUAIL parents brought their young to the quail block in our front yard and I was finally able to get a few photos. As far as I can tell, the young are about 13 days old now. If interested, a photo is at: http://www.economybirding.com/Ophotos02.html Celebrate the rainy season! Clifford A. Cathers Economy Birding Services, Inc. "Quality Birding With Your Budget in Mind" http://www.economybirding.com 520-762-3201 home 520-982-3272 cell AZCliffy AT q.com Subject: Yuma County, 27 June 09 From: Henry Detwiler <henrydetwiler AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:34:42 -0700 Greetings Birders, After a week in hot & humid San Antonio, I'm back in hot and not-so-humid Yuma. But the biggest difference for me this morning wasn't the humidity, it was the lack of shade. A ball cap just doesn't quite compare to a big leafy tree. Just past Betty's Kitchen I was surprised to find not one INDIGO BUNTING, but three of them--two males on opposite sides of the Pratt restoration area, and a female on the north side. A SORA belting out it's whinny call below Laguna Dam was a surprise--they don't usually summer or breed here. I heard BLACK RAILS in three locations and CLAPPER RAIL in one spot--all along the east shore of Mittry Lake. One of the BLACK RAILs responded when I "pished." Go figure. A RUDDY DUCK pair with a juvenile was nice to see at Mittry Lake. But for the first time this season I saw no big grebes. Just over the Yuma County line in Imperial County, in the runoff at the base of Imperial Dam, the two summering ducks that Paul Lehman found remain: COMMON GOLDENEYE and AMERICAN WIGEON. My last stop was at the extreme east end of the Yuma West Wetlands. A quick snippet from the iPod brought the Bell's Vireo blasting out to greet me. Then it sang it's heart out for the next five minutes. I have yet to see any mate or offspring, though. Here's my total list for Yuma County for the morning, with approximate numbers seen: Pied-billed Grebe 3 Least Bittern 3 Great Blue Heron 1 Great Egret 1 Snowy Egret 2 Green Heron 2 Ruddy Duck 3 American Kestrel 1 Gambel's Quail 22 Black Rail 3 Clapper Rail 2 Sora 1 Common Moorhen 2 American Coot 12 Killdeer 6 Turkey Vulture 2 Rock Pigeon White-winged Dove Mourning Dove Inca Dove 8 Eurasian Collared Dove Greater Roadrunner 2 Burrowing Owl 1 Lesser Nighthawk 5 Black-chinned Hummingbird 1 Gila Woodpecker 4 Ladder-backed Woodpecker 5 Black Phoebe 2 Vermilion Flycatcher 1 Ash-throated Flycatcher 3 Western Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike 6 Bell's Vireo 1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 Cliff Swallow Verdin 5 Marsh Wren 1 Northern Mockingbird Crissal Thrasher 2 European Starling Common Yellowthroat 2 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 Abert's Towhee 12 Song Sparrow 3 Blue Grosbeak 4 Indigo Bunting 3 Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole 2 House Finch Lesser Goldfinch House Sparrow Directions to these locations are all found at www.southwestbirders.com Good birding! Henry Detwiler Yuma, AZ www.southwestbirders.com 928-210-6474 Subject: Tucson RBA 27 June 2009 From: John Yerger <john AT ADVENTUREBIRDING.COM> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:11:16 -0700 Hello Birders, This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for Southeast Arizona was made on June 27, 2009. The next update will be made on July 3. Phone your reports to 520-798-1005 X 1. Email your reports to rarebirdalert. In this report, where directions are not given, they can be found in the new 2007 edition of "Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona", published by and available from Tucson Audubon. Updates to the 7th edition, including new sites and access changes can be found at: www.tucsonaudubon.org/birding/updates_7th.htm Updates to the 6th edition, including new sites and access changes can be found at: www.tucsonaudubon.org/birding/updates.htm SEVERAL NEW IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS follow the sightings, including information on temporary closures and rules for access to other important birding areas. Abbreviation "var obs" = various observers. An asterisk (*) preceding a species name in the list indicates that it merits careful, full documentation. A pound sign (#) indicates that brief corroborating details are warranted. Please send documentation to the Arizona Bird Committee via the "ABC online form" link at http://www.azfo.org/gallery/2009/whatisABC.html, via email to ghrosenberg AT comcast.net or the ABC, P.O. Box 91856, Tucson, AZ 85720-1856. SPECIES MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT: *PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER #RUDDY GROUND-DOVE *BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD #LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD *EASTERN KINGBIRD *GREAT KISKADEE (unconfirmed) *YELLOW-THROATED VIREO *RED-EYED VIREO *SINALOA WREN (1st U.S. record present since Aug 2008) *BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER Gray Catbird NORTHERN PARULA HOODED WARBLER *KENTUCKY WARBLER *RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER *FLAME-COLORED TANAGER *FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (Florida Canyon - very rare outside the Pajaritos) Rose-breasted Grosbeak PATAGONIA This information is being published with the understanding that every visiting birder will behave ethically, with the utmost respect for the fragile habitat of the area and sensitivity towards actions that would adversely influence the bird's natural behavior. This should go without saying, but also do not cross the fence into the Preserve: The *SINALOA WREN, which was heard and seen regularly along Blue Haven Rd since its discovery in August 2008 (0.3 to 0.4 miles west of the Paton's residence), is now being observed regularly in a new location due to nest-building activity. To attempt for the wren at the second location, birders should park at the picnic tables at the south end of Patagonia just off Hwy 82. (NOTE: This is the TOWN of Patagonia, NOT the famous "Roadside Rest Area.") Please do not park on the shoulder of the highway. Walk along the shoulder of the southbound lane about 0.2 miles. Alternately, a pullout by the two big cottonwoods a few hundred yards farther south can accommodate two or three cars. At this point, there are several worn paths from the shoulder to the fence of the Preserve property leading to good viewing/listening areas for the bird. Two *RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLERS were seen in the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve on 6/26 (Matt Brown). One was singing and both were calling. They were located near the second bench along the Creek Trail (when heading upstream from the Visitor Center end of the Preserve). From the Paton's yard, a *YELLOW-THROATED VIREO was seen on 6/20 (fide Robin Baxter). Near the feeders, a #RUDDY GROUND-DOVE continued through at least 6/20 (var obs). WILLCOX A breeding-plumaged *PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was photographed on 6/26 at Willcox Twin Lakes (Mark Stevenson). It was present through at least 6/27. SAN PEDRO RIVER (San Pedro House) A *GREAT KISKADEE was reported here on 6/20 (Art Dennison). The report comes from the river path about half way from the position of the San Pedro House to Kingfisher Pond. No supporting ID details have been obtained, and the bird has not subsequently been relocated. SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS In Madera Canyon, a male *FLAME-COLORED TANAGER continues at Madera Kubo this week (var obs). However, it is not singing as much and therefore not as easy to detect as in previous months. Please note that to bird this area, you must park at the Ampitheater lot just downhill and walk up to Kubo. Parking spaces in front of Madera Kubo are private property. Up to two *BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRDS (one male/one female) were reported throughout the week (var obs). Continuing male and female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were of note here as well. A family of *BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS continued in the vicinity of the trail crossing Proctor Road on 6/23 (Melody Kehl). In Florida Canyon, *RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLERS were detected only once this week on 6/24 (Melody Kehl), above the sharp left turn in the stream that is located about 150 yards above the dam (which in turn is above the Florida Work Station). They are probably nesting now, and much more difficult to detect. Please do not play recordings of the Rufous-capped Warbler's song, as this may make the birds more difficult to detect in the future (this is a heavily birded area). Also, please do not walk up the steep hillsides out of the streambed. It is completely unnecessary to use these methods to see the birds. Subsequent reports of such behavior may result in the REMOVAL of the following directions from the RBA. Detailed directions for the RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLERS: Do not trample the dense vegetation in which they live!!! They seem to be attempting to nest, and it would benefit both the birds and birders not to disturb their efforts by straying from the streambed. Directions to the Florida Work Center can be found in the popular Southeastern AZ Bird Finding Guides. Park in the large parking area at the trail head near the locked entrance to the Work Center. There is a brick colored metal sign pointing to the trail. Continue up the trail which parallels the work center until you reach the next metal sign with similar names trails and saddles. At this point, the all trails head up toward the left, but you want to go right down to the Florida Canyon drainage itself. There is a new wire gate on your way up the trail which may require some strength to close. Please make sure you close this gate behind you. You are also near the upstream end of the Work Center at this point. From here begin hiking up the main drainage (which is the only one containing running water). Please note there is no trail from this point up to where the warblers were observed. If you continue up the wet drainage you will eventually come to a surprisingly large dam which supplies water to the Work Center. Once on top of the dam, look upstream and you will see a fairly large, lone sycamore within the drainage. The warbler pair were first detected about 100 m. or so above this sycamore next to the drainage but within a dense stand of high shrubs. PLEASE STICK TO THE DRAINAGE, DO NOT CLIMB NEARBY HILLS. A *FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW continues to be reported sporadically from Florida Canyon this week (var obs), just upstream from the dam. This species is a permanent resident in California Gulch and Sycamore Canyon (and therefore does not appear on the RBA from those areas); outside of these areas, however, they are considered extremely rare. A *BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD was seen about 100 yards up-trail from the Florida Canyon parking lot on 6/19 (Laurens Halsey). CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS A male *KENTUCKY WARBLER was photographed about 0.5 to 0.75 miles up the Basin Trail on 6/20 (Jim Joseph). This general mileage is taken starting at the trailhead at Herb Martyr Campground. The precise location was along the running creek, at the last point where the trail parallels the creek before it climbs up the side of the basin through an old burn area (and eventually to the ridgeline). There were already three small cairns along the trail in short succession. Two *FLAME-COLORED TANAGERS were seen at the Southwestern Research Station on 6/21 (Rick Taylor). They are a female and presumed juvenile. A GRAY CATBIRD continued in Sunny Flat Campground between campsites 2 and 3 through at least 6/24 (var obs). TUCSON A singing *RED-EYED VIREO was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands on 6/23 (Jake Mohlmann). It was near the NE corner of pond 8 (aka Towhee Pond). An *EASTERN KINGBIRD was found at Sweetwater on 6/25 (Mark Stevenson) and photographed (Andrew Core). Neither bird has been seen since. LAS CIENEGAS National Conservation Area A male HOODED WARBLER continued this week (sometimes singing) at Empire Gulch through 6/26 (var obs). Park in the lot with the huge fallen cottonwood, and walk west almost to the point where the trail ends at a barbed wire fence. This area features one last section of lush vegetation before clearing out into high, thin cottonwoods with very little undergrowth. The Vireo is often being seen in the high cottonwoods past the barbed wire fence. A male NORTHERN PARULA continued along Cienega Creek in Las Cienegas NCA on 6/21 (Keith Kamper, Doug Jenness). This spot is 4.4 miles from the "cottonwood" parking lot at Empire Gulch. [From the "cottonwood" parking lot at Empire Gulch, travel northeast to the road on the left signed "Fortynine Wash." There is an immediate fork here, keep right. Drive to the large pullout on the left with a small used fire ring. The wash is on the right. Just beyond the pullout the Parula was present, on the right (between the creek and the road).] HUACHUCA MOUNTAINS A *BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD continues at the CAS at Beatty's in Miller Canyon (var obs). A #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD also continued at those feeders this week (var obs), as did a VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD. Fee required for CAS. #LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDS are being seen at Ash Canyon B & B (Mary Jo Ballator). Multiple birds breed in the immediate area each year, and come to the feeders from March-September. Currently they are best seen in the early morning and just before sunset. Elsewhere in Arizona, this species is quite scarce. For the next few weeks, they will likely be easiest to see in the hour preceding dusk. Fee required. A male HOODED WARBLER was reported from Huachuca Canyon on 6/20 (Ann and Alan Miller), on the west side of the upper picnic area (1.7 miles from the yellow gate that marks the entrance to the canyon). CALIFORNIA GULCH and vicinity The summer resident *BUFF-COLLARED NIGHTJAR(s) was reported singing from the adjacent Oro Blanco Mine this week on 6/22 (fide Melody Kehl). ANNOUNCEMENTS FIRE SEASON - It is upon us. Do not park your car over fire-prone vegetation (where hot catalytic converters can start brush fires), don't throw cigarettes, and beware that you may find some canyons closed without prior warning due to fire danger. I-10 is under construction in Tucson between 29th Street and Prince Road. See http://www.i10tucsondistrict.com/29toP.html for details. CATALINA HIGHWAY - Lane closures are scheduled between mileposts 13 and 3.8 for the next two months. The closures will be from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays starting this week as crews replace drainage systems along the road. Flaggers will direct traffic during the lane closures. SIERRA VISTA - Construction continues on State Route 92 for the east side of the Huachuca Mountains. Be prepared for delays. FORT HUACHUCA - will suspend your driving privileges on Post for 30 days, on your first offense for talking or using a cell phone/Blackberry while driving. You MUST use a hands free device. SANTA CRUZ FLATS: Managers at the Evergreen Turf Farm (vicinity of Tweedy and Pretzer Rds) have requested that anyone birding there on the weekends please leave by 5:00 PM. This is due to security issues experienced by the Sod Farm. Birders are still welcome here at other times. BAIRD'S SPARROW HILL AND THE VACA RANCH CORRAL in the San Rafael Valley is considered to be off limits to birders due to the thoughtless actions of a few birders. DO NOT ENTER THE PROPERTY. Stopping within 0.25 mile of the corral is discouraged. PEŃA BLANCA LAKE - Remains closed for removal of the toxins from the lake. Ruby Road and Upper WHITE Rock Campground remain open. (Upper THUMB Rock picnic area is closed). GREEN VALLEY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: ALL birders in a party must sign in, not just one representative of said party. Also, please DO NOT park on the grass, due to fire danger from hot catalytic converters. Please note that the facility is putting in electric fences and gates to comply with Homeland Security procedures. Right now birders must use the back gate and follow the dirt road that will bring them right to the sign-in building. Once signed in, birders can drive to the usual parking area on the west side of the facility. AVRA VALLEY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: The facility remains closed to birders due to the ongoing construction. Updates will be added as they become available; anticipated completion is sometime in late summer. NOGALES SEWAGE PONDS: Remain closed to birders. CORONA DE TUCSON WASTEWATER RECLAMATION FACILITY: Access to the ponds here, about 1.5 miles west of Houghton Rd on Sahuarita Rd, has been granted strictly under the following conditions: 1) Site visitation MUST be prearranged. Normal hours are 6AM-4PM. All visitors must be off site before 4:00 pm. DUE TO UNFORESEEN WORK CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU MAY FIND THE FACILITY CLOSED PERIODICALLY EVEN IF YOU HAVE MADE PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS. RESPECT ANY CLOSURES! 2) A list with names and contact information of the persons/group that will be on site needs to faxed or emailed one day prior to arrival, to the Corona de Tucson WRF (Fax: 520-762-0591; Email: coronadetucson AT wwm.pima.gov). 3) ALL visitors must check in at the Facility office before they start roaming the site and again when they depart. The Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department is currently revising security procedures and these rules are subject to change any time. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Good birding, John Yerger Tucson, AZ Subject: AZ: Cluff Ranch and Gila River Family Values From: zapata86303 AT YAHOO.COM Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:22:19 -0700 Howdy Bird Folks,   The latest here in the Gila River Valley below the cloud-shrouded Pinaleno Mountains:   Add both Gray Hawk and Common Black-Hawk to the suite of birds here at the luff Ranch Wildlife Area.   Down on the Gila River the bird babies are out and about. Lots of new Song Sparrow following their parents down to the water's edge. Have seen juveniles following their parents or begging for Common Yellowthroat, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Bell's Vireo, Blue Grosbeak, Mallards galore (spooked a flock of about 100 off the river this morning).   But my favorite families are the Spotted Sandpipers. Their babies are so cute! And they do that butt-wagging thing their parents do, but they look a lot cuter doing it!   Countless turtle eggs on many of the sandbars and banks.   Yellow-billed Cuckoos have started to flood in wherever their are decent stands of tall cottonwoods in an other tamarisk ocean.   "Chuck-chuck-chuck-chuck, kowp   Rob Hunt, the Lost Ecologist Subject: Mt. Lemmon, AZ TAS trip today From: Darlene Smyth <dsmyth3 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:20:19 -0700 I suspect there is no need to tell you about the birds on Mt. Lemmon today since you must have all been there along with the rest of the Tucson population. The Mt. Lemmon highway looked like I-10, sounded like the Indianapolis Speedway, and parking was only available to those with a bit of creativity. We did have a good time and thanks go to Andy Robertson, Bill Wieboldt, and Starr Saphir for helping me lead this trip as we substituted for Bob Bates. We were very happy to learn Bob was doing much better today. Highlights were: INDIGO BUNTING... two in Prison Camp YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO...fly through in Prison Camp GREATER PEWEE...quite the songster and giving good looks in Rose Canyon. HAIRY WOODPECKER...in Summerhaven by the Mt. Lemmon Real Estate office WESTERN TANAGER....feeding a fledgling along the road to Mt. Bigelow YELLOW-EYED JUNCOS...showing off their fledglings almost under our feet several times...very cute (!) striped, brown-eyed babies. Birds were not numerous, but we managed excellent looks at most birds to the delight of the new birders in the group. We did not find any unexpected birds, and the warblers that were target birds for most of the group were elusive with the exception of a single Red-faced Warbler which slipped in while most of the group was too far away to be notified. Many thanks for all the good spotting and good cheer contributed by all our participants! Darlene Tucson, AZ Comfy Birding www.comfortablebirdingforall.com Take a course in good water and air, and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own. Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you. John Muir Subject: Rufous-capped Warbler, Pacific Golden Plover From: Merce & Michael <owlright AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:06:46 -0700 The warbler was out singing at the Patagonia-Sonoita TNC Preserve this morning, & the Pacific Golden Plover was present at 2:15 this afternoon, near the 'Danger' sign (the one with the grackle on top, half a mile past the old dock). Without taking a plane I don't think it's been possible to see both birds in the same day before, anywhere. Cheers! Michael Tarachow & Merce Dostale Hereford, AZ Subject: Re: Pacific Golden-Plover at Willcox update From: Gary Rosenberg <ghrosenberg AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:00:53 -0700 Hi all, I just got a call from Molly Pollock who was happily watching the continuing PAGP at Willcox at 4:00 pm - posing nicely for digiscopes! Gary Gary H. Rosenberg Tucson, AZ ghrosenberg AT comcast.net http://azfo.org/ArizonaBirdCommittee/index.html Subject: AZ: Botteri's & Tropical Kingbird - San Pedro House From: Alan Miller <tyrannulet AT MSN.COM> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:31:02 -0700 We had eleven (11) singing Botteri’s Sparrow from Del Valle Road which begins just south of San Pedro House and goes south through grassland and mesquite – we birded about one mile of this trail. The birds were up from 5:45 AM until 8:15 AM. Our records show that this number of individuals is about the same, for this mile, as during peak breeding season, i.e., late- July to mid-August. We also had two (2) Tropical Kingbirds at Kingfisher Pond, which, like Del Valle Road, is part of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA). See any SEAZ field guide for directions and detailed information about SPRNCA. Ann & Alan Miller Sierra Vista Subject: Hand-held Video of Pacific Golden Plover, Cochise Lake, Willcox AZ, June 27, 2009 From: Rick and Ricki Thompson <rixandzax AT AOL.COM> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:56:59 -0700 This one-minute video was pieced together from several clips I took this morning at about 0800 while viewing the bird with Ricki and several others. I think one can get a bit of a look under the tail. Hopefully there is something here to help ID the bird. One call was captured. Obviously, I'm not happy that the tripod and monopod were resting quietly at home. Matt Brown was there also and may have some better views. A hearty thank you to Mark Stevenson and to the others who posted ID information. The YouTube link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4xEGpiSuE0 Rick Thompson Sierra Vista AZ Subject: FW: Willcox Pacific Golden-Plover continues at 1130 From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT WORLDNET.ATT.NET> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:37:29 -0700 John Yerger reports the PAGP at the NE corner of the pond. Thanks John! Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Subject: FW: Willcox Pacific Golden-Plover continues at 0945 From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT WORLDNET.ATT.NET> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:28:17 -0700 John Saba reports the bird still present at 0945. Thanks John. Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Subject: Re: Nesting Rufous-Capped Warbler in Patagonia TNC Preserve From: Robin Baxter <baxterrobin AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:27:24 -0700 Hello all, After having a couple of visitors to Paton's yard exclaim how active the RCWA was down in the TNC preserve I went to look myself. I quickly found the pair and shortly thereafter watched one take nesting material into a grassy hole on the ground. It was in the same area where the bird was reported earlier. This was around nine o'clock this morning. I talked to a few other birders who also had seen nesting activity at the same spot. I will post my best photo with the AZFO but I hope the guy with the really good camera and photos posts his much better ones. This is along the Creek Trail past the third bench counting from the base of the steps off the Railroad Trail. This nest is very accessible so care and consideration should be exercised in observing it. Here at the Paton's I saw the Magnificent Hummingbird again yesterday afternoon but no sightings of the Ruddy Ground-dove since around the 19th or 20th. See ya, Robin Subject: FW: Willcox Pacific Golden-Plover continues From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT WORLDNET.ATT.NET> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:07:00 -0700 From the Tucson Audubon Society's RBA voice mail at 520-798-1005 X1 Doug Jenness reports the PAGP present this AM, observed from 0645-0730+. Thanks much to Doug for the thoughtful, real-time update. Happy Birding, Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Subject: Sharing Golden-plover info Saturday morning From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT WORLDNET.ATT.NET> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:21:33 -0700 Hi Birders, If you are heading out to Willcox this AM, I know that at least some of the people doing the Cave Creek trogon count this morning would appreciate knowing if the plover is still present today so they can make an informed decision about heading to Willcox after the count is done and (hopefully) before the plover departs. I know there is no computer terminal at Cochise Lake, but if you have a cell phone, please do call and report to the RBA voice mail at 520-798-1005 X1. I won't be available to post it in the early AM but certainly will in the AM. Thanks, Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Subject: Hummingbird info From: Leanna Shaberly <Bendires60 AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:10:26 -0700 For those that didn't see this on the U.S. News and World report website, you can read about a feathered 'top gun ' at http://www.usnews.com/articles/science/2009/06/10/hummingbird-pulls-top-gun-stunts.html Enjoy!! Leanna South Phoenix Subject: Pacific Golden-Plover, Wilcox Big Pond. 6/26/09 evening From: Janine McCabe <skua33 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:29:18 -0700 Hi Birders, Having missed rare shorebirds in the past, I decided to rush out to the Wilcox Twin Lakes (Big Pond) and hope to study the bird before dark. I arrived with 10 minutes of good light followed by 10 minutes of fading light. But lucky for me the Plover was found in the same place right away. Now these Golden Plovers are a real good challenge in any plumage. I consulted 4 field guides back at home after the sighting and by far the best reference I have is "Shorebirds, An Identification Guide" Peter Hayman, John Marchant, Tony Prater. Studying this bird I noted the undertail coverts being mostly white and black splotched which indicates toward Pacific. The other observation was size overall. Only having a Killdeer to compare it with though is tough to say. The bird did not seem to be that bulky. Being more familar with Black-bellied Plovers this bird was much more slender. I agree with Pacific based upon the under-tail coverts most strongly. It was a fun Life Bird for me! Thanks all. Janine McCabe Subject: AZFO - New photos of Pacific Golden-Plover, Eastern Kingbird From: Michael C Moore <michael.moore AT ASU.EDU> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:19:25 -0700 Field Ornithologists, Mark Stevenson contributed his photos of the Willcox Pacific Golden-Plover. Andrew Core contributed photos of the Sweetwater Eastern Kingbird. Thanks Mark and Andrew. Thanks to all who use the online form below to submit photos. It makes my job a lot easier and ensures your photos will be posted more quickly. Photos posted at: http://www.azfo.org click on "Photo Documentation" Arizona Field Ornithologists welcomes Arizona rarity photo contributions from all photographers throughout the state. Use our online form to submit photos: http://www.azfo.org/gallery/PhotoContribution.html If you enjoy the photo web site, please consider joining AZFO and supporting our other activities. Details on the web site. We strive for accuracy. Please email any corrections to postings to me. Mike Moore AZFO Photo Editor Gilbert, AZ Subject: Pacific Golden Plover From: Keith Kamper <spindalis AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:16:10 CDT Gavin, Jake and I are looking at the subject line bird at Willcox right now along the shore of the large pond past the old dock like structure.. We are attempting photos. --- Original Message --- From:"Mark Stevenson" Sent:Fri 6/26/09 2:20 pm To:BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subj:[BIRDWG05] Uncertainty about Willcox Golden-plover ID Hi Birders, I have received one opinion that today's Willcox Golden-plover may in fact be a Pacific instead of an American. I apologize for the uncertainty but the sun is still high in the sky and there is time to drive to Willcox today. Here you have the choice between going and maybe being disappointed that it's just an American after all or waiting, finding out it's Pacific after the sun goes down and the bird maybe already moved on. Your choice. Good birding, Mark Stevenson Subject: Madera Canyon, AZ Flame-colored Tanager, Berylline Hummer, Rose-breasted Grosbeak From: Darlene Smyth <dsmyth3 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:05:58 -0700 Starr, Don, John, and I birded several areas today and arrived at Madera Canyon later than we would have preferred. The grasslands were quiet on the way up, we did not have the Black-capped Gnatcatchers in Proctor, but in addition to the expected birds, had stunning looks at VARIED BUNTINGS (m and f) around 8a.m. In the Madera Kubo area from about 8:15 to 10:30, the FLAME-COLORED TANAGER was singing at the top of his lungs and gave nice scope views. A BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD swept in for a brief moment before 8:30 and was not seen again while we were there. The previously reported ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (female) made two stops at the seed feeder while we were there and was quickly picked out by Starr's sharp eyes. At about 10:50, just before the upper parking lots, an ELEGANT TROGON was calling quite close to the road as we were driving in, but did not stick around for any admiring glances. During the time we were birding the canyon it was fairly quiet and while we picked up most expected species, the total number of individuals was not high. Happy birding, Darlene Tucson, AZ Comfy Birding www.comfortablebirdingforall.com Take a course in good water and air, and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own. Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you. John Muir Subject: Re: Uncertainty about Willcox Golden-plover ID becomes PACIFIC is the ID From: Jamie Massey <er4az AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:20:20 -0400 If someone from Tucson wants to go see this bird today, I'll join them and pay for the gas. (My car doesn't have AC). I'm on the east side. Jamie Massey 290-1467 -----Original Message----- From: Mark Stevenson To: BIRDWG05 AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Sent: Fri, Jun 26, 2009 1:09 pm Subject: Re: [BIRDWG05] Uncertainty about Willcox Golden-plover ID becomes PACIFIC is the ID Hi Birders, Paul Lehman and Gary Rosenberg are calling this bird a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER. There is only one accepted record of Pacific for Arizona, a bird found by Rich Hoyer at Western Sod Farm 6 August 1998. Good birding, Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Subject: Re: Uncertainty about Willcox Golden-plover ID becomes PACIFIC is the ID From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT WORLDNET.ATT.NET> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:09:16 -0700 Hi Birders, Paul Lehman and Gary Rosenberg are calling this bird a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER. There is only one accepted record of Pacific for Arizona, a bird found by Rich Hoyer at Western Sod Farm 6 August 1998. Good birding, Mark Stevenson Tucson, AZ Subject: Uncertainty about Willcox Golden-plover ID From: Mark Stevenson <drbrdr AT WORLDNET.ATT.NET> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:53:36 -0700 Hi Birders, I have received one opinion that today's Willcox Golden-plover may in fact be a Pacific instead of an American. I apologize for the uncertainty but the sun is still high in the sky and there is time to drive to Willcox today. Here you have the choice between going and maybe being disappointed that it's just an American after all or waiting, finding out it's Pacific after the sun goes down and the bird maybe already moved on. Your choice. Good birding, Mark Stevenson