Tucson Audubon Society

Hello Birders,

This update of Tucson Audubon Society's Rare Bird Alert for Southeast Arizona was made on March 5, 2010. The next update will be made on March 12. 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:

Greater White-fronted Goose

#GREATER SCAUP

Common Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

Osprey

Bald Eagle

Common Black-Hawk

*SHORT-TAILED HAWK

Crested Caracara

Mountain Plover

#RUDDY GROUND-DOVE

Elegant Trogon

Williamson's Sapsucker

#"YELLOW-SHAFTED" NORTHERN FLICKER

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet

#EASTERN PHOEBE

Pinyon Jay

#RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN

#VARIED THRUSH

Black-and-white Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Painted Redstart

*RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER

Hepatic Tanager

*PURPLE FINCH

 

TUCSON and vicinity

The light morph *SHORT-TAILED HAWK was spotted at the intersection of Speedway and Craycroft on 3/4 (Will Russell). On 3/1 it was seen circling over the intersection of Speedway and Wilmot (Jim Notestine). This bird has wintered in the area southwest of Grant and Wilmot. Birders are asked to respect the privacy of homeowners.

In NE Tucson, the #YELLOW-SHAFTED NORTHERN FLICKER was last reported from Agua Caliente Park on 2/25 (Mark Stevenson). A NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET and an early COMMON BLACK-HAWK were reported from the park on 3/4 (Richard Carlson).

3 #RUDDY GROUND-DOVES were noted north of Tucson near the Red Rock Feedlot on 2/19 (Nick Bonomo).

On 2/27 two female COMMON GOLDENEYES and two female HOODED MERGANSERS were behind the Hardesty Building at Randolph Park (Rob Payne) at 22nd and Alvernon.

An OSPREY was seen on 2/28 at Kennedy Park (John Higgins).

At Sweetwater Wetlands there were reports this week of a continuing BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and WILSON'S WARBLER (m.ob.).

SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS

A *RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER continued at least through 3/2 in Florida Canyon (m.ob.). It has been seen frequently just above the dam, often near the first sycamore tree.

PORTAL area

A female *PURPLE FINCH was coming to feeders at the George Walker House in Paradise this week through 3/4 (Alan Miller). A female WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER was seen on 3/2 along the South Fork Road near the intersection with the main Cave Creek Canyon Road. (Narca Moore-Craig).

SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY

The male #GREATER SCAUP was seen again at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area near McNeal on 2/28 (Gale Owings).

SIERRA VISTA AREA

A female #GREATER SCAUP was visible from the viewing platform at the Sierra Vista EOP on 3/3 (Stuart Healy). The PINYON JAY was seen again at Battiste's B&B in Hereford on 2/28 (Monte Taylor). Please phone ahead before visiting (520)-803-6908. The jay was seen at a nearby private residence on 3/5 (Charles Melton).

PATAGONIA

At Patagonia Lake State Park an #EASTERN PHOEBE was found on 3/4 along the birding trail in the second bosque after the stairs (Steve Tucker). The ELEGANT TROGON , PAINTED REDSTART and HEPATIC TANAGER continued through 3/4 along Sonoita Creek a short distance upstream from the lake (m.ob.), and an immature BALD EAGLE was seen soaring over the east end of the lake on 3/2 (David Dunford).

TUBAC and TUMACACORI area

A #RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN was spotted on 2/26 on the De Anza Trail just north of Santa Gertrudis Lane in Tumacacori (David Dunford). On 3/4 a female #VARIED THRUSH was reported from the river crossing (Mary Gustafson). A HEPATIC TANAGER was reported along the De Anza Trail just north of the bridge in Tubac on 2/28 (Edwin Price).

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.

GREEN VALLEY

On 3/1, 4 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE continued at the Green Valley STP (m.ob.) and a CRESTED CARACARA was along White House Canyon Rd just past the school on the way to Madera Canyon (Darlene Smyth).

SANTA CRUZ FLATS

21 MOUNTAIN PLOVERS were in the first circle of sod to the northwest of Tweedy and Pretzer Roads on 2/27 (Rich Hoyer).

 

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