Our Field Guides Birding the Borders Tour was a big success, with a congenial group and a lot of cooperative birds, along with some decent weather throughout. We started off with a trip to the east side of the Rincon Mountains where a rare Nutting’s Flycatcher had been taking up residence along Paige Creek. Along with that were several other goodies ranging from tiny Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet and screaming Zone-tailed Hawk. Then for dinner that night, we were treated to the spectacle of a dozen or so Lesser Nighthawks swooping over a golf course pond next to the restaurant. The following morning we headed up into the Santa Catalina Mountains to Rose Canyon Lake Campground. It was full of singing birds and we had terrific views of Red-faced, Grace’s, and Virginia’s warbler, Painted Redstart, Olive Warblers, and our reason for going, a rare Pine Flycatcher on territory there. This is only the second one found north of the border. After another stop near the summit in Summerhaven we headed east toward the Chiricahuas. A stop at Cochise Lake in Willcox yielded Bendire’s Thrasher and a Snowy Plover among others.
The following day we headed into the high country of the Chiricahuas to look for Mexican Chickadee, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Greater Pewee, and Spotted Owl among other highlights. That afternoon we headed up the South Fork of Cave Creek Canyon and connected with a mostly silent Elegant Trogon! The following morning we headed off to Stateline Road and Rodeo, New Mexico for some desert grassland birding, stopping to see a pair of Thick-billed Kingbirds in Portal. Our luck held, and we had additional Bendire’s Thrashers and spied a Crissal Thrasher up singing in a mesquite tree. We spent some time watching feeders in Portal and Paradise. The George Walker House had a Lewis’s Woodpecker stealing the show while we were there, along with a couple of Juniper Titmouse.
The next day we decided to get an early start and head into the remote Rucker Canyon to see if we could track down a nesting Tufted Flycatcher. We were successful with that and had a few other nice birds. Then it was on to Bisbee for lunch and then to Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary for a long wait to see Lucifer Hummingbird there. Next we set off to explore the Huachucas. Our hike up into Hunter Canyon was scenic, but we failed to track down our hoped for targets. We fared better in St. David where we connected with a pair of Mississippi Kites. We then made a late afternoon visit to Miller Canyon where we connected with White-eared Hummingbird. We started the following morning tracking down Botteri’s Sparrow in some remnant grassland. We then visited Ramsey Canyon, where we saw a nesting Northern Pygmy-Owl and another Elegant Trogon. Then it was off to Patagonia with a stop at Felipe Guerrero’s yard for Violet-crowned Hummingbird. At the Patons Center we saw a nice mix of birds including a lingering Ruddy Ground Dove. After lunch we visited the Roadside Rest where Rose-throated Becards were working away at their nest. We then hit a couple of spots along the Santa Cruz River north of Nogales with a few new birds including Tropical Kingbird. The next day was a visit to Montosa Canyon where we connected with Five-striped Sparrow as well as a pair of recently arrived Varied Buntings. A short stop at the Canoa Ranch gave us a rare Least Tern and a flyover Peregrine Falcon. We then opted to head south for a siesta and then an afternoon of birding at Pena Blanca Lake, where Gilded Flicker and soaring Gray Hawk were highlights. We chose to do our last morning in Madera Canyon with the hope of quail and maybe Berylline, but both remained elusive. But it was a birdy time regardless. A visit to Florida Canyon got us a pair of Golden Eagles. We wrapped things up birding around Tucson a bit before cleaning up for our final dinner.
Thanks to all of you for making the trip just a joy to lead. It was great to spend time with some old friends and make new ones. I wish you all good health and look forward to our next visit together.
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Spatula discors)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata)
AMERICAN WIGEON (Mareca americana)
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)
MEXICAN DUCK (Anas diazi)
REDHEAD (Aythya americana)
RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris)
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
SCALED QUAIL (Callipepla squamata)
GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata)
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)
COMMON GROUND DOVE (Columbina passerina)
RUDDY GROUND DOVE (Columbina talpacoti)
A rare species in Arizona; we saw male that has been in the area for the past several months.
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus)
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis)
A great showing of these at the Hacienda del Lago golf course pond at dusk.
COMMON POORWILL (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)
MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Antrostomus arizonae)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis)
RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens)
BLUE-THROATED MOUNTAIN-GEM (Lampornis clemenciae)
Until recently known as Blue-throated Hummingbird, the name was changed to reflect it belonging in the genus Lampornis.
LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Calothorax lucifer)
A male eventually appeared at the Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri)
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna)
COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte costae)
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus)
BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Cynanthus latirostris)
WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD (Basilinna leucotis)
A male and female were seen at the feeders in Miller Canyon. This species is a rare breeder in the Huachucas.
VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD (Leucolia violiceps)
During the time of our tour, these were a bit thin on the ground, but we did have good looks at one in Felipe's yard in Patagonia.
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana)
SNOWY PLOVER (Charadrius nivosus)
One was present at Lake Cochise in Willcox. This species is a rare visitor in Arizona.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri)
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor)
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus lobatus)
Three at Lake Cochise were a nice find.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis)
LEAST TERN (Sternula antillarum)
Least Tern is a rare transient in the state, such as the one we observed at Canoa Ranch.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Nannopterum brasilianum)
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)
Great looks at one posed at Pena Blanca Lake.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos)
A pair of these were seen flying over Florida Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains.
MISSISSIPPI KITE (Ictinia mississippiensis)
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Accipiter striatus)
A bird was seen in flight up high near Barfoot Junction that we were able to document thanks to Paul's quick camera work! This species is a rare breeder in the sky islands.
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
HARRIS'S HAWK (Parabuteo unicinctus)
Our only one was seen in northeast Tucson on our way off of Mt. Lemmon.
GRAY HAWK (Buteo plagiatus)
Several sightings of this small Buteo. Its population has really grown in recent decades.
SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni)
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus)
Three different sightings.
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops trichopsis)
Paul's photo of the one we saw well is sporting a leg band.
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (Megascops kennicottii)
Nice view of one at Silver Creek.
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium gnoma)
Great scope views of one in Ramsey Canyon.
ELF OWL (Micrathene whitneyi)
SPOTTED OWL (Strix occidentalis)
ELEGANT TROGON (Trogon elegans)
Two good sightings of this iconic species.
BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon)
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
LEWIS'S WOODPECKER (Melanerpes lewis)
One at the George Walker House in Paradise was welcome and unexpected.
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)
GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis)
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Dryobates scalaris)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Dryobates villosus)
ARIZONA WOODPECKER (Dryobates arizonae)
NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer)
GILDED FLICKER (Colaptes chrysoides)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Pachyramphus aglaiae)
NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma imberbe)
It was a great tour for this species with at least four different sightings of this tiny flycatcher.
TUFTED FLYCATCHER (MEXICAN) (Mitrephanes phaeocercus tenuirostris)
GREATER PEWEE (Contopus pertinax)
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus)
GRAY FLYCATCHER (Empidonax wrightii)
PINE FLYCATCHER (Empidonax affinis)
A stakeout bird continuing at Rose Canyon Lake on Mt. Lemmon, making it only the second documented occurrence of this species in the United States.
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER (Empidonax difficilis)
This Cordilleran lookalike is strictly a migrant through southern Arizona, and we had a calling bird in Montosa Canyon and another in Florida Canyon.
CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax occidentalis)
Quite a few seen and heard on this tour beginning at Rose Canyon Lake.
BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax fulvifrons)
Great looks at one at East Turkey Creek and another was at Rucker Canyon.
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer)
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens)
NUTTING'S FLYCATCHER (NUTTING'S) (Myiarchus nuttingi inquietus)
A rather motley one on territory east of Tucson was a welcome stakeout. The damage to its bill prevents it from doing proper feather maintenance.
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus)
SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes luteiventris)
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans)
THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD (Tyrannus crassirostris)
WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis)
BELL'S VIREO (Vireo bellii)
HUTTON'S VIREO (Vireo huttoni)
PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus)
WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)
STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri)
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY (WOODHOUSE'S) (Aphelocoma woodhouseii woodhouseii)
MEXICAN JAY (Aphelocoma wollweberi)
CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus)
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
MEXICAN CHICKADEE (Poecile sclateri)
This species occurs in the US primarily in the Chiricahuas, though there are a small number of observations from southwest New Mexico in relatively inaccessible areas.
BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi)
JUNIPER TITMOUSE (Baeolophus ridgwayi)
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps)
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
BUSHTIT (Psaltriparus minimus)
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis)
PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea)
BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
ROCK WREN (Salpinctes obsoletus)
Montosa Canyon was the place for this species and the next.
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus)
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)
CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre)
BENDIRE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei)
A good tour for this species with three different encounters.
CRISSAL THRASHER (Toxostoma crissale)
Good views of one perched up in a mesquite.
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
WESTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia mexicana)
SWAINSON'S THRUSH (Catharus ustulatus)
Three sightings was a good number of this scarce Spring migrant.
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus)
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
CEDAR WAXWING (Bombycilla cedrorum)
PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens)
OLIVE WARBLER (Peucedramus taeniatus)
In its own family, we had good views of this species at Rose Canyon Lake and in the high country of the Chiricahuas.
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus)
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)
RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW (Peucaea carpalis)
BOTTERI'S SPARROW (Peucaea botterii)
FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (Amphispizopsis quinquestriata)
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata)
YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus)
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (ORIANTHA) (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha)
SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia)
CANYON TOWHEE (Melozone fusca)
ABERT'S TOWHEE (Melozone aberti)
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps)
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens)
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (CHIHUAHUAN) (Sturnella magna lilianae)
Since the tour, this population of meadowlark has been officially split into Chihuahuan Meadowlark, Sturnella lilianae.
HOODED ORIOLE (Icterus cucullatus)
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii)
SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus)
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
LUCY'S WARBLER (Leiothlypis luciae)
VIRGINIA'S WARBLER (Leiothlypis virginiae)
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) (Setophaga coronata auduboni)
GRACE'S WARBLER (Setophaga graciae)
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens)
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi)
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)
RED-FACED WARBLER (Cardellina rubrifrons)
PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava)
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus)
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
BLUE GROSBEAK (Passerina caerulea)
VARIED BUNTING (Passerina versicolor)
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus)
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii)
BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (Lepus californicus)
CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis)
HARRIS'S ANTELOPE SQUIRREL (Ammospermophilus harrisii)
ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)
ROUND-TAILED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus tereticaudus)
MEXICAN FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus nayaritensis)
ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis)
COYOTE (Canis latrans)
COLLARED PECCARY (Tayassu tajacu)
MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)
NIGHTSNAKE (Hypsiglena torquata)
WESTERN DIAMOND-BACKED RATTLESNAKE (Crotalus atrox)
CHIRICAHUA LEOPARD FROG (Lithobates chiricahuensis)
POND SLIDER (Trachemys scripta) [I]
ORNATE TREE LIZARD (Urosaurus ornatus)
CLARK'S SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus clarkii)
YARROW'S SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus jarrovii)
SONORAN SPOTTED WHIPTAIL (Aspidoscelis sonorae)
TIGER WHIPTAIL (Aspidoscelis tigris)
Totals for the tour: 192 bird taxa and 13 mammal taxa