Southeast Arizona Rare Bird Alert

This update of Tucson Audubon Society’s Rare Bird Alert for Southeast Arizona was made on September 18, 2020. The next update will be made on September 25.

• The RBA number is 520-629-0510 ext 3 to report a rare bird, OR email rarebirdalert@tucsonaudubon.org .
• For additional sightings in the region, please see these important resources:
  • The Arizona-New Mexico Birding ListServ on the ABA site
  • The Arizona-New Mexico Birding ListServ on the Sialia site
  • The Arizona Birding Facebook page
• More info on Arizona’s rare birds, documentation and photos of review species may be found or submitted to AZFO.

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.

SPECIES MENTIONED

#Roseate Spoonbill
#Short-tailed Hawk
#Sabine’s Gull
#Common Tern
#White-eared Hummingbird
#Berylline Hummingbird
#Plain-capped Starthroat
#Lucifer Hummingbird
*EARED QUETZAL
#Green Kingfisher
#Eastern Phoebe
*ROSE-THROATED BECARD
#Red-eyed Vireo
#Black-capped Gnatcatcher
#Ovenbird
#Louisiana Waterthrush
#Hooded Warbler
#Rufous-capped Warbler
#Clay-colored Sparrow
#Painted Bunting
#Dickcissel
#Baltimore Oriole

ACCESS NOTE: Many areas remain closed due to COVID19, such as the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia and Nature Conservancy properties (i.e., Ramsey Canyon, Patagonia-Sonoita Creek) and Ft Huachuca is only issuing new passes to local residents. If in doubt, call ahead.

PORTAL & the CHIRICAHUAS (annotated map: http://goo.gl/maps/XfXfX)
*EARED QUETZALS were photographed along FR42 between Sunny Flat Campground and the Southwestern Research Station on 9/15 (Julien Ueda) and continued on 9/18 (m.ob.). Parking along FR42 is not an option, so park at Sunny Flat or the trailhead for Snowshed Trail #246 closer to the station.
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDS continued in many locations on the east flank of the Chiricahuas this week (m.ob.).
A #ROSEATE SPOONBILL was photographed over Willow Tank on 9/13 (Scott Olmstead).
#DICKCISSELS, #CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS and #PAINTED BUNTINGS were reported in many locations on the east flank of the Chiricahuas this week (m.ob.).

TUBAC area (annotated map: http://goo.gl/maps/yDqi0)
Multiple *ROSE-THROATED BECARDS continued about 0.7 miles north of the Tubac bridge this week (m.ob.).
#PAINTED BUNTINGS were reported along the Anza Trail in Tubac at the bridge, Santa Gertrudis Lane and Palo Parado Rd, (m.ob.).
A #GREEN KINGFISHER continued along the Santa Cruz River between Santa Gertrudis Lane and Clark Crossing Rd this week (m.ob.).
A pair of #GREEN KINGFISHERS was reported at Rancho Santa Cruz on 9/18 (Rob Rutledge).
A #CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was reported at Clark Crossing Rd on 9/12 (Cathy Beck) and 9/18 (Seth Ausubel).

TUCSON area
A #SHORT-TAILED HAWK was reported again over the Bear Wallow/Mt Bigelow area on Mt Lemmon on 8/12 and 9/13 (m.ob.). A #BROAD-WINGED HAWK was reported on 9/16 (Jim & Cynthia Krakowski).
An #EASTERN PHOEBE continued in Bear Canyon on Mt. Lemmon at Chihuahua Pine Picnic Area on 9/12 (m.ob.).
A #RED-EYED VIREO was reported at Lakeside Park on 9/18 (Mark Stevenson) and later photographed by many in the willows and mesquites at the south end of the lake.
#CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were reported this week at Rio Vista Natural Resource Park in northeast Tucson, Sam Lena/KERP, McCormick Park, and Reid Park (m.ob.).
#DICKCISSELS were reported from Marana, Arthur Pack Regional Park, Ft Lowell Park, Vista Del Prado Park, along the Santa Cruz at Congress, and in several private yards (m.ob.).

GRAHAM COUNTY
A dark-morph #SHORT-TAILED HAWK was reported again onMt Graham, this time at Arcadia CG on 9/13 (Alec Hopping)

WILLCOX
Two #SABINE’S GULLS continued at Lake Cochise by the Twin Lakes Golf Course in Willcox on 9/15 (Ron Beck). A #SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER and a Sanderling were also reported. A #DICKCISSEL was photographed on 9/18 (Jim Rorabaugh).

PATAGONIA
At Patagonia Lake (annotated map: http://goo.gl/GgNvs), a #COMMON TERN was reported on 9/12 (Kay Hawklee) and a #GREEN KINGFISHER was reported at the east end of the lake (Pete Gregoire).
A #PLAIN-CAPPED STARTHROAT continued at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds through 9/14 (m.ob.) – though still closed, the feeders there are being maintained and some are visible from adjacent Blue Haven Road. The staff have moved many of the feeders so they can be viewed without going on to Paton’s property. Again, the property is *CLOSED* but the bird can often be seen from the road. A #LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD continued on 9/12 (Jason Horn). A #CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was reported on 9/12 and 9/13 (m.ob.). A #PAINTED BUNTING continued on 9/14 (Jim & Cynthia Krakowski). NOTE: Thursday 9/24 is a planned workday on the property and may be noisy – trees getting trimmed with chainsaws and that sort of thing. Plan accordingly.
A few hints for how to make your visit more enjoyable and productive:
Please be courteous to the neighbors; if you need to turn your vehicle around, continue down the road to the TNC preserve sign (about a quarter-mile) rather than using their driveways.
Please park completely off the road to avoid interfering with thru traffic on Blue Heaven Road/Pennsylvania Ave. The Town Marshal patrols this road regularly. Parking is also available in Patagonia Town Park.
Keep an eye on the weather – monsoon rains can quickly make the creek crossing hazardous.
Remain outside the perimeter fence at all times.
#RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLERS continued this week (m.ob.) along Blue Haven Rd between the Paton Center and the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve.

SIERRA VISTA & the HUACHUCAS
In Miller Canyon, #WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRDS continued this week (m.ob.). #RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLERS continued this week (m.ob.) near Split Rock (about a mile from the parking area).
#LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDS continued at Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary (m.ob.) and in many locations on the east flank of the Huachucas this week (m.ob.).
A #BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD was photographed in Ramsey Canyon along the road near the Ramsey Canyon Inn on 9/14 (John Velasquez).
At the San Pedro House, a #LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was reported this week on 9/13 (m.ob.); the usual spot in the winter is between markers #6 and #7 south of the bridge.
In Hunter Canyon (https://goo.gl/CR4YXm), #RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLERS continued this week (m.ob.) in the upper canyon about 0.7 miles up the trail from the end of Hunter Canyon Road just as the trail enters the grove of trees.
A #RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER was reported in the Coronado National Monument on 9/6 (Neil Leman). It was in the wash at the picnic area, directly across from the restrooms. Map: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L372919
A #HOODED WARBLER was reported at the Casa de San Pedro B&B on 9/13 (Randy Kimmett).
A #DICKCISSEL was photographed at Brown Canyon Ranch on 9/15 (Ken Tracey).

NOGALES area
At Pena Blanca Lake (annotated map: http://goo.gl/zBbzl), a #PAINTED BUNTING continued and an #OVENBIRD was reported on 9/16 (Keith Kamper).

GREEN VALLEY & the SANTA RITAS
In Box Canyon (map: http://bit.ly/BoxCanyonAZ), #BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHERS continued this week (m.ob.).
A #CLAY-COLORED SPARROW continued at Canoa Ranch on 9/17 (m.ob.) and two #DICKCISSELS through 9/15 (Laurens Halsey).
Another #DICKCISSEL was reported at Quail Creek Park on 9/18 (Nick Pulcinella)
In Madera Canyon (map: http://goo.gl/dXBYP), a #BALTIMORE ORIOLE was photographed on 9/18 (Eric Kallen).

BENSON area
A #RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER continued on the Guindani Loop Trail at Kartchner Caverns State Park this week on 9/13 (Ethan Beasley).

AMADO
Two #CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were reported in Amado on 9/13 (Bill Lisowsky).

BUENOS AIRES NWR
At Arivaca Lake, a #DICKCISSEL was reported on 9/17 (Brian Nicholas).

Good birding!

-Andrew Core, Rare Bird Alert Compiler

Birding Southeast Arizona App

A great interactive companion to our Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona, our new app covers over 130 birding sites in six subregions in and around Tucson, all vetted by local experts. Search by nearest site, by bird, or by city and get exact directions! Keep track of your sightings and share with friends on Facebook.

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