Arizona in Early March

By Cory Ritter

Although it would possibly seem as though Luke and I went to Madera Canyon together, that is not the case. This is the second part of my trip from California to Michigan in early March. Last I left you, I was on my way to Bill Williams NWR near Lake Havasu, Arizona. I was short on time for my trip to Michigan, and the part that suffered the most was my time in Arizona. I knew there were two main stops I wanted to make. First, to try my luck at the Nutting's Flycatcher that had been seen for quite some time at Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge, and second, to try to find as many lifers as possible at Madera Canyon--just south of Tuscon. The problem was that I had only budgeted one day for Arizona (far too little, I know). And with these two locations being six hours apart, I didn't have much time to waste.

I arrived at Planet Ranch Road, where the Nutting's Flycatcher had been reported, to find a couple groups of birders already looking for the bird. One group told me that they had been hearing it call from the roadside, so I joined the group in searching. We waited around for a while, often hearing but not seeing our target bird. Meanwhile, there was a busy Canyon Wren tending to its nest across the road. Although I had heard a Canyon Wren in Colorado the previous summer, this was my first visual! Additionally, I was treated to a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Phainopepla, and my lifer Gila Woodpecker while waiting around! Not a bad consolation prize if I am not to see this Nutting's Flycatcher, I thought to myself. But with a little persistence, the Nutting's Flycatcher finally showed itself. It flew out and perched in a relatively distant tree. I was able to get an adequate view of the bird in my scope before it flew off once again. Although distance wouldn't have allowed for any good photographs of the Nutting's Flycatcher, an untimely lens error kept me from getting any photos at this location. Reluctantly, I moved on to my next destination of Madera Canyon.

I arrived at Madera Canyon without much time to spare. I had some intel on some good spots, but it was a combination of too early in the season and too late in the day to find the birds I was hoping for--most notably, Painted Redstart. However, I was able to get some good looks at lifers Mexican Jay, Bridled Titmouse, Verdin, and Arizona Woodpecker in addition to Acorn Woodpecker, Lesser Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Northern Cardinal.

Acorn Woodpecker, Madera Canyon, AZ

Bridled Titmouse, Madera Canyon, AZ

Lesser Goldfinch, Madera Canyon, AZ

I was losing daylight quickly, and wanted to make the most of it. So, I birded along the road as I left Madera Canyon. I was hoping for Cactus Wren and/or Greater Roadrunner, but was unable to find either. I was, however, lucky enough to find my year Black-throated Sparrow, and Green-tailed Towhee among the succulents on the roadside.

So, while I was unable to spend as much time in Arizona as I would have liked and I missed out on some target species at Madera Canyon, I did pick up the Nutting's Flycatcher among some other awesome life birds. The way I look at it is that I'm leaving some lifers for my next trip to Arizona.

Birding Southeast Arizona

By Luke Musher

As I mentioned yesterday, I spend a day birding in the Madeira Canyon and Patagonia last week.  Though short, it was a successful trip, and I got lots of good year birds and even a few lifers.  My friend Will and I camped the night before at the Bog Springs Campground in Madeira Canyon, but I didn't spend very much time owling, so the only owl I got was Whiskered Screech-Owl, a lifer for me.  The next morning I started hiking before 6am freezing my butt off, but getting great bird.  Black-throated Gray Warblers, Scott's Oriole, Bridled Titmouse, Hutton's Vireo, and Bewick's Wren among others were all singing and I eventually got great looks at all of these (except HUVI).  I walked to the Santa Rita Lodge and watched the feeders for a while seeing 5 species of hummingbirds including Broad-billed, Broad-tailed, Anna's, Black-chinned, and after much waiting a gorgeous male Magnificent Hummingbird (appeared very briefly so no photos).  Also at the feeders were several dozen Chipping Sparrows, 8 or so Lazuli Bunting, several Black-headed Grosbeaks, Mexican Jays, a beautiful male Scott's Oriole.  

I then walked up to the amphitheater, picking up Hepatic Tanager and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher along the way.  Finally I began hiking down the mountain stopping again briefly at the lodge, and the Madeira Picnic area, and then worked my way down the trail to the Proctor Road Parking Area.

Blue-gray Gnatchatcher, Madeira Canyon, AZ

Lot's of great birds along this stretch of trail.  Highlights for me included Arizona Woodpecker, Rufous Hummingbird, Dusky-capped, Ash-throated and Western (Cordilleran/Pacific-slope) Flycatchers, Cassin's Kingbird, Cassin's Vireo, Verdin, Lucy's, Wilson's, Black-throated Gray, and Townsend's Warblers, and Canyon Towhee.

Black-headed Grosbeak (w/ Lazuli Buntings in background), Santa Rita Lodge, AZ

Lazuli Bunting, Madeira Canyon, AZ

Mexican Jay, Madeira Canyon, AZ

Scott's Oriole, Santa Rita Lodge, Madeira Canyon, AZ

Canyon Towhee, Madeira Canyon, AZ

From there, Will met me with the car and we drove to Patagonia.  We stopped very briefly at the Florida Wash and had boatloads of Bell's Vireos singing. In Patagonia we met up with Frenchie (whom we worked with at PRBO) who is now working on a project looking at heavy metal build up in populations of Song Sparrows in the Patagonia area.  French and her boss, Michael Lester, took us around the area looking for various things from hummingbirds to cormorants. We got great birds despite missing others such as Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Rufous-backed Robin, and Neotropic Cormorant.  Our time was limited though so the birds we did get were still great.  Some highlights/new day birds included, Zone-tailed and Gray Hawks, Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Gila Woodpecker, Bullock's and Hooded Orioles, Lark Bunting, Western Grebe, several species of waterfowl, Gray and Vermillion Flycatchers, Plumbeous Vireo, Painted Redstart, Green-tailed and Abert's Towhees, and Pyrruloxia.

Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Paton's Yard, Patagonia, AZ

Zone-tailed hawk, Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Patagonia, AZ

Southeast Arizona Hummingbirds

By Luke Musher

Sorry for the long break in posting, everybody, but I've been super busy for the past two weeks driving across the country and getting ready for my next job, and Cory is swamped with his own work.  Neither Cory nor I are in Point Reyes anymore, but we'll be posting about our new jobs soon enough.  As you may know, Cory is at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory counting hawks for the spring.  I will be starting a job banding shorebirds on Delaware Bay for New Jersey Audubon starting Monday.  Until then, I have some great hummingbird photos to share with you from the day I spent birding in southeastern Arizona last week.  I only had a day there, so I only birded Madeira Canyon and Patagonia.  I did fairly well, seeing Broad-billed, Costa's, Anna's, Black-chinned, Violet-crowned, Magnificent, Broad-tailed, and Rufous Hummingbird, though only photographed a few species.  More photos of other birds from SE AZ to come.

Broad-billed Hummingbird, Santa Rita Lodge, Madeira Canyon, AZ

Broad-billed Hummingbird, Santa Rita Lodge, Madeira Canyon, AZ

Broad-billed Hummingbird (female), Santa Rita Lodge, Madeira Canyon, AZ

Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Paton's Yard, Patagonia, AZ

Broad-billed Hummingbird, Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Patagonia, AZ

Black-chinned Hummingbird, Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Patagonia, AZ

Black-chinned Hummingbird, Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Patagonia, AZ