IOU Trip to Southeast Arizona
August 4 – 13, 2006

Trip Report | Participants | Trip List | More Photos and Other Critters

Friday, August 4 – The group arrived at Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix on time and the loaded vans were headed south on Interstate 10 by 10:00 AM.  At the rest area north of Casa Grande, most folks had good looks at their life Cactus Wren.  The first birding stop was just past the Red Rock feedlots where we came to a stop at the flooded Santa Cruz River.  Although the target Ruddy Ground-Dove was a no-show, no one was disappointed by the brilliant Vermilion Flycatcher or handsome Phainopepla.  Black Phoebe was actively flycatching.  Blue Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting and Ash-throated Flycatchers added to the color.  Large numbers of  White-winged and Common Ground-Doves were seen along this road with an occasional Inca Dove flying by.  We had first looks at Gambel’s Quail, Curve-billed Thrasher and Gila Woodpecker.  After a good start to the day’s list, it was on to the Cracker Barrel at Marana for lunch and the Green Valley Best Western which had “Welcome, Ornithologists Union” on their sign. With anticipation of Aztec Thrushes, we pushed on to Madera Canyon and began the trek up the Carrie Nation trail with a brief rest at the bench built in memory of former IOU member Bud Gode. Western Wood-Pewee, Sulphur-bellied and Dusky-capped Flycatchers were calling here and everyone got some nice views.  Encouraged by positive reports from the folks on the way down, we made our way up the rocky path to the magic chokecherry tree.  Alas, the thrushes had left about 20 minutes before we arrived but everyone had stunning looks at a male Hepatic Tanager among other birds eating the fruit.  Oh yes, a few of the group saw Lesser Goldfinch.  To add insult to injury, a note was found in the trail on the way down that two Aztecs had been observed there shortly after we had passed on our way up the hill.  The consolation prize was a displaying Painted Redstart.  The day ended with some owling.  Elf Owls were uncharacteristically quiet but a Whiskered Screech-Owl sounded off at the upper picnic area.

Saturday, August 5 – After a convenience store breakfast we birded our way back into Madera Canyon with stops at the Continental School, Florida Wash, and Proctor Road.  Florida Wash produced great views of Varied Bunting.  Bell’s Vireo did its normal pop out and then hide routine.  We recorded all four Aimophila sparrows there as well.  Cassin’s and Botteri’s were singing everywhere in the grasslands but only a few saw the Rufous-winged.  A Rufous-crowned teed up on a bush for scope views.  Time spent at the Madera Kubo B&B did not produce the hoped-for Flame-colored Tanager but other birds of the oak forests, such as Bridled Titmouse, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Acorn Woodpecker, were plentiful and the hummingbirds such as Magnificent and Broad-tailed were delightful.  Before starting up the Carrie Nation trail again, everyone got good looks at a couple of soaring Zone-tailed Hawks.  Once again the Aztec Thrushes eluded us but a baby Elegant Trogon helped alleviate some of the disappointment.  A Black-tailed Rattlesnake near the path either delighted or terrified the group members. After a late lunch and short nap, an optional drive along Box Canyon Road produced several scrubland birds including our first flocks of migrating Lark Sparrows and Lark Buntings.  Several were able to see their first  Ladder-backed Woodpecker, a bird seen by all over the course of the week.  Sunset back at the Continental School proved successful with everyone getting good looks at  Rufous-winged Sparrow, Verdin and Lesser Nighthawk – and of course, Lesser Goldfinch.

Sunday, August 6 – Departing at oh-dark-hundred we headed straight for Ruby Road.  A short break at Pena Blanca Lake was quite birdy and nearly everyone had great looks at  Black-tailed Gnatcatcher among other thorn scrub species.  The drive through the grasslands was full of song as Aimophila sparrows were singing and the trip’s only Western Bluebird teed up for a look.  Along the road everyone had their first views of Cassin’s Kingbird and could compare them to the Western Kingbirds seen earlier.  Another break at the turn-off to California Gulch produced a calling baby Gray Hawk and its parent who obligingly came out of the trees to soar around a bit.   After fording some normally dry stream crossings and making our way over the narrow, rocky road we arrived at  “The Gulch” and walked the old roadbed down to the stream.  The star was a Five-striped Sparrow on the hillside above us as a Rock Wren taunted.  Another nice find was a migrating Pacific-slope Flycatcher.  We stopped briefly at Sycamore Canyon on our way back to civilization but the Rufous-capped Warbler was a no-show at high noon.  An after-lunch side trip to the Rio Rico ponds found Tropical Kingbird, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, White-faced Ibis, and other wetland species.  Heading toward Patagonia we made a stop at Kino Springs where most got a look at a female Painted Bunting as well as Lazuli and Indigo Buntings.  The final stop of the day was at Marion Paton’s yard along Sonoita Creek where everyone got their first taste of hummingbird feeder watching.  Among the numerous Black-chinned, Rufous, Anna’s and Broad-billed Hummingbirds were nice Costa’s and Violet-crowned.  Oh, did I mention there were also Lesser Goldfinches feeding in the area?

Monday, August 7 – Early morning birding at the famous Patagonia Rest Area produced a family of Thick-billed Kingbirds.  The stream was high and had recently flooded and birding along the fence line was difficult.  There was no sign of the Rose-throated Becard.  After breakfast we drove to Lake Patagonia State Park and everyone had killer views of our target,  Black-capped Gnatcatcher.  On the way out of the park, Jim spotted a lump under the guard rail and nearly everyone piled out of the vans to watch a pair of  Montezuma Quail scurry across the highway.  Birding along the edge of the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Sanctuary produced the regular riparian species such as Summer Tanager and Yellow-breasted Chat.  On the way to Sierra Vista a side trip along Elgin Road allowed folks to see the extensive white in the tail of Lilian’s Meadowlark, the southwestern sub-species of Eastern Meadowlark.  Late afternoon at the Ash Canyon B&B feeders was a delightful time watching many hummingbirds including our first Lucifer.  A few managed a look at Arizona Woodpecker and everyone finally had good looks at Canyon Towhee – and Lesser Goldfinch.

Tuesday, August 8 – Early morning birding along the San Pedro River was thwarted by a locked gate at the San Pedro House.  We returned there after breakfast and found the river full of water and the lower trails very muddy from recent flooding.  Some were able to see a Lucy’s Warbler bouncing around at streamside and Abert’s Towhees were fairly common.  Several family groups of  Vermilion Flycatchers put on quite a show.  Most of the day was spent in Carr Canyon.  Several folks in one van were able to observe a Greater Pewee teed up on our way up the mountain.  Small warbler flocks were non-existent but we did find Yellow-eyed Junco, both Mexican and Steller’s Jays,  Dusky Flycatcher, Hutton’s and Plumbeous Vireos, and Grace’s Warbler.  After a picnic lunch Judy spotted what was no doubt the bird of the trip in terms of rarity – a Red-eyed Vireo! White-throated Swifts were moving about high in the sky and it took a lot of looking and following them for everyone to get identifiable looks.  On the way back down Jim found the group a Buff-breasted Flycatcher that obligingly perched in the sunlight to show off his warm color.  On a late afternoon trip to Ramsey Canyon we found a Berylline Hummingbird coming to a feeder at the B&B as Gould’s Wild Turkey wandered around the yard.  The seed feeders hosted – what else? – Lesser Goldfinch.

Wednesday, August 9 – We entered Fort Huachuca at 7:00 AM and birded our way through the grasslands where Botteri’s and Cassin’s Sparrows were singing on their breeding grounds.  A leisurely walk back down the canyon from Upper Garden Canyon Picnic Area got everyone nice views of an adult  Elegant Trogon.  On the way back to the vans, we had good looks at  Canyon Wren which up to this point had been heard but not seen.  We then proceeded up the canyon to the mouth of Sawmill Canyon where Linda D. found us a posed pair of  Arizona Woodpeckers.  A couple of  Red-faced Warblers sang but we could not get looks at anything but a  Grace’s Warbler and a few  Lesser Goldfinch. The clouds began rolling in and the rain began as we started down the mountain, putting the Scheelite Canyon hike for Spotted Owl on hold until the following morning. Instead we had a bite of lunch and met Bob Behrstock at Beatty’s Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon where Bob helped everyone sort through the multitude of hummingbirds visiting the feeders. Of the ten species seen here, White-eared was new for the trip and everyone had good looks at male Calliope and  Blue-throated. The photographers in the group had ample opportunity to snap some nice photos. The evening ended with dinner at the Mesquite Tree and a spectacular lightning show over the valley and the mountains.

Thursday, August 10 – With the intent to hike Scheelite Canyon this morning, we again entered Fort Huachuca only to find the gate to Garden Canyon locked.  After a couple of phone calls and seeing the washed out Lower Garden Picnic Area, it became apparent that the previous day’s rains had impacted the road to a point where entry would not be possible.  The Spotted Owl would have to wait for another trip. We then proceeded eastward through the Sulphur Springs Valley with stops at Whitewater Draw, Thrasher Corner, and Elfrida.  A family of Scaled Quail was spotted and we added several shorebirds at Whitewater Draw where the water level was very high. The Great Horned Owl peering at us from the rafters of the barn was cool.  At Thrasher Corner a  Bendire’s Thrasher responded and gave everyone good views.  Along Mormon Road in Elfrida one van had looks at a Crissal Thrasher that teed up briefly and then disappeared, never to be seen again.  As a consolation, all finally had nice views of a Pyrrhuloxia.  We arrived in Portal at 3:00 PM where everyone had some free time to wander this birdy little village.  Western Tanagers and Lesser Goldfinches were seen about town and the hummer feeders were active.  After dinner we went owling at the Herb Martyr and Stewart campgrounds.  At Herb Martyr, a family of  Whiskered Screech-Owls was cooperative and gave all some fine looks.  A stop on the way down was not successful for owls but did provide a spectacular moonrise through the peaks. The recently fledged Elf Owls at Stewart were only briefly seen in flight at various times and managed to hide from flashlight beams. On the return to the motel, many got to observe the Mexican Long-nosed Bats slurping from the hummer feeders and Mexican Free-tailed Bats grabbing bugs from around the lights.

Friday, August 11 – The morning began birding the wash below Portal and Dave Jasper’s feeders.  A few saw a Crissal Thrasher before it dropped back into the scrub.  Everyone had nice looks at  Band-tailed Pigeons as they came down from the mountains to feed in the lower elevations and Western Scrub Jays and Lesser Goldfinches came in to the feeders.  After breakfast it was off to the higher elevations of the Chiricahuas.  A stop at Onion Saddle found several  Mexican Chickadees, a major target species for this area.  Since the clouds were once again building, we made our way down the west side to Pinery Canyon campground in hopes of finding Red-faced Warbler.  Instead we found raindrops and no warbler flocks.  Back up the mountain at Rustler Park the rain got heavier and even included a bit of hail.  We slowly headed back down and ate our sack lunches at the wet South Fork picnic area where everyone enjoyed Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers and Hepatic Tanagers.  Evening owling was far less productive than the previous night although most got to hear at least one distant  Western Screech-Owl.

Saturday, August 12 – We birded Paradise Road in hopes of finding  Black-chinned Sparrow.  Although one sang from the hillside, no one could ever find it.  Black-throated Sparrows were plentiful and it was neat to hear a Greater Roadrunner calling after seeing them all week.  A  Northern Pygmy-Owl tooted from the wash below.  Most got brief looks at Scott’s Oriole at one of two places.  After a delightful breakfast at the George Walker House in Paradise, everyone was able to observe Juniper Titmouse as it came to the feeders and a female Scott’s Oriole as well as male Hooded Oriole added to the scene.  And of course there were the ubiquitous  Lesser Goldfinches. Having been pretty much rained out in the higher elevations the day before, we elected to leave the Chiricahuas by way of the mountain road.  Although the Barfoot Junction trail was quiet with only a few Yellow-eyed Juncos singing, a couple of Short-tailed Hawks rose and soared overhead. Then it was back down to the Pinery Canyon campground.  After a few minutes someone spotted a warbler flock and we had  Hermit,  Black-throated Gray, Grace’s, Olive and Red-faced Warblers.   Red-breasted Nuthatch and Cordilleran Flycatcher joined in the fray. Much to everyone’s dismay, and before everyone could see every species, the flock vanished as rapidly as it first appeared.  As we returned to the vans a begging juvenile raptor caught our attention and shortly thereafter a possible Prairie Falcon flew over.  A short stop at Lake Cochise in Wilcox added several more shorebirds and gave us phenomenal vistas of desert storms moving across the area.  Our final stop of the day was at Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson where a Purple Gallinule became number 500 on Kelly’s life list.  Our final dinner together at El Charro in north Tucson was great fun.

Sunday, August 13 – Because of the events of the week and heightened airport security, we left Marana at 7:30 AM heading towards Sky Harbor airport for the first flight out.  Was there a Lesser Goldfinch at the hotel before we left?  One last rest stop at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument gave us one more life bird for most – Gilded Flicker.   With Cactus Wrens chattering to the background of Indian flutes playing on the park’s PA system, this last moment of birding in morning Sonoran Desert air was a fitting end to a wonderful trip filled with laughter and dings, nice birds including hundreds of Lesser Goldfinches, and great camaraderie.  And we will never forget that it created Linda the Lister and John the Birder!

Jim Bangma & Ann Johnson, Leaders