Tucson Audubon Society

Hello Birders,

This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for Southeast Arizona was made on March 12, 2010. The next update will be made on March 19. Phone your reports to 520-798-1005 X 1, or email your reports to rarebirdalert.

SEVERAL IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS follow the sightings, including information on temporary closures and rules for access to other important birding areas.  Abbreviation "m.ob." = multiple 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.

Documentation and photos of review species may be submitted at http://www.azfo.org/gallery/1main/whatIsABC.html.

For additional sightings in the region, please see the The Arizona-New Mexico Birding ListServ (Archive and sign-up)

SPECIES MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT INCLUDE:

American X Eurasian Wigeon (hybrid)

#GREATER SCAUP

Common Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser

*SHORT-TAILED HAWK

Violet-crowned Hummingbird

Elegant Trogon

#"YELLOW-SHAFTED" NORTHERN FLICKER

Western Scrub-Jay

Pinyon Jay

#RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN

Black-and-white Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

*RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER

Swamp Sparrow

#GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW

#MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Cassin's Finch

American Goldfinch

 

TUCSON and vicinity

The light morph *SHORT-TAILED HAWK continued in the area of the intersection of Seneca and Ridgeway streets, southwest of Grant and Wilmot through 3/12 (Bill Scott). Birders are asked to respect the privacy of homeowners. The hawk also made a surprise appearance about 2.5 miles to the southwest over backyard at Broadway and Swan on 3/7, where it was photographed (Moez Ali).

In NE Tucson, the male #YELLOW-SHAFTED NORTHERN FLICKER was seen at Agua Caliente Park through 3/10 (m.ob.). It favors the tall snags near the entrance, but be aware of Gilded and “Red-shafted” Flickers in the area. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and CASSIN’S FINCHES have been seen this week (m.ob.) with the PINE SISKIN flock in the picnic area north of the main building. Several CASSIN'S FINCHES were also present in a nearby residence on 3/7 (Clait Braun).

A #RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN was reported from Sabino Canyon Recreation Area on 3/7. It was feeding in a mistletoe clump in a tree along the Esperero Trail near where the trail crosses the paved road (Andrea Malone). It has not been reported since.

At Sweetwater Wetlands there were reports this week of continuing BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and WILSON'S WARBLER (m.ob.). The intermittent SWAMP SPARROW and 3 CASSIN’S FINCHES were present on 3/11 (Jerry Bock). On 3/12 there was a second-hand report of a male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK but no other details were available.

On 3/5 a female COMMON GOLDENEYE was behind the Hardesty Building at Randolph Park (Clive Green) at 22nd and Alvernon. At nearby Reid Park on 3/6, three female HOODED MERGANSERS were on the smaller pond (m.ob.).

SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS

A *RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER was seen on 3/10 in Florida Canyon just above the dam near the first sycamore tree (Stuart Healy).

BENSON and ST. DAVID area

An apparent male #GREATER SCAUP was present at the Benson WWTP on 3/9 (Clifford Cathers). A hybrid male AMERICAN x EURASIAN WIGEON was on the first pond on Curtis Flat Road south of St. David on 3/6, along with four COMMON MERGANSERS (Erika Wilson).

NOGALES

A female #GREATER SCAUP first found in February continued at Estralada Pond on the west side of Walmart in Nogales on 3/5 (Michael Marsden).

SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY

The male #GREATER SCAUP was seen again at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area near McNeal on 3/5. An early WESTERN SANDPIPER was also present (Stuart Healy).

TUMACACORI

The #RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN was spotted again on 3/8 along the De Anza Trail about 80 yards north of Santa Gertrudis Lane in Tumacacori (Stuart Healy).

NOTE: Santa Gertrudis Lane is a private road, but birders are currently welcome to park along the I-19 Frontage Rd just outside the lane's entrance and walk in. Please respect private property.

SIERRA VISTA AREA

The PINYON JAY and #GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continued at Battiste's B&B in Hereford at least through 3/5 (Tony Battiste). Please phone ahead before visiting (520)-803-6908.

SAN RAFAEL VALLEY

A flock of more than 20 #MCCOWN'S LONGSPURS were seen in the San Rafael Valley along FR58 on 3/8 (Stuart Healy).

PATAGONIA

At Patagonia Lake State Park the continuing ELEGANT TROGON was seen on 3/8 along Sonoita Creek upstream from the lake (Matt Brown). A VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD returned to the Paton’s yard on 3/6 ((Michael Marsden). The yard is open to visiting birders throughout the day as usual. Of local interest, a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY has been frequenting the area around 1st and Pennsylvania Avenues in Patagonia (Matt Brown).

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PATAGONIA - The Paton's yard remains open to birders.

MADERA CANYON - Road work is ongoing at multiple areas in Madera Canyon and some spots may be inaccessible.

CARR CANYON - The road into Carr Canyon has been closed due to winter weather.  Entry into restricted areas can result in a fine up to $5,000 or imprisonment.  For more information visit www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado.

SIERRA VISTA - Construction continues on State Route 92 on 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.  Check here for current entry requirements: http://www.tucsonaudubon.org/what-we-do/publications/133.html

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 off limits to birders due to the thoughtless actions of a few birders. DO NOT ENTER THE PROPERTY.  A sign has been posted previously stating that "stopping within 0.25 mile of the corral is prohibited."

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. Recent access change: you must now approach the gate and follow the directions on the call box there to contact the operators to open the gate for you.

AVRA VALLEY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: has now reopened! Gates now open at 6AM and close PROMPTLY at 2PM (do not linger, you will be locked inside). Please see this link for important information regarding access: http://listserv.arizona.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0908a&L=birdwg05&T=0&O=A&P=4747.

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:

• 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!
• 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).
• 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.

Andrew Core
Tucson, AZ