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[guy_incognito]

Just got back from a trip to SE Arizona. We left early morning on Friday from So Cal, and then left around noon the following Monday, giving us two full days and two half days in Arizona. I managed 16 lifers for the trip. My friends who had never been to AZ before, both got almost 40 lifers! The total bird count for the trip was close to 130 species. If I counted birds that I either heard or saw without getting a picture, I would have had 7 more lifers. Obviously this will not be a completely comprehensive report, or else it could be way too long!

I will try to provide enough details to be helpful for those interested in visiting AZ, but not too much. If you want more details, feel free to ask in this thread or by PM.

Lifers will be denoted by an asterisk.

[guy_incognito]

We set out without hard and fast plans. We were planning on camping, so we could be fairly flexible. After the long and hot drive to the Tucson area (no A/C), we decided we should just go for the glory right away and head towards California Gulch.

On the way to CA Gulch is Pena Blanca Lake. I told my friends we should at least stop for a few minutes so they could look for the Least Grebe. It was 2 pm and hot, but we were all amazed at the amount of bird activity. They started picking up lifers left and right. I shortly got my first lifer of the trip, but a disappointingly distant view of a Varied Bunting*.

[guy_incognito]

We then started on the 20 mile dirt road trip to California Gulch. About 2 miles in we spotted a smallish looking raptor flying by, it was a Gray Hawk.



Then at about 5 miles in we had a bigger and black raptor, which was a Zone-tailed Hawk.


On the way in to the gulch we also saw lots of Common Ground-Doves

[guy_incognito]

The directions can be a bit tricky, and we missed the spot originally. When we finally found the right area it was getting dark. We did get a disappointingly distant view of the target bird, so we had to decide what to do. In the end we figured we had come all that way and it looked like an interesting spot, so we wanted to try again in the morning, and camped out near by.

In the morning we were quickly able to find the target bird, and multiple of them...the Five-striped Sparrow*. Also took a short video clip of the bird singing...check out the link at the bottom.



Click for youtube video

[guy_incognito]

Other birds in the gulch included Bell's Vireo


Canyon Wren



There were many other species as well. One notable miss was hearing a singing Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, by never getting the camera on it.

[guy_incognito]

On the way back out we had this Bronzed Cowbird*, the first of many seen throughout the trip.

[guy_incognito]

The next stops would be in Patagonia, including the roadside rest area, the Paton's House, and the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve. It was hot and we were a little tired, so we didn't actually end up going into the preserve. Turns out someone who went in while we were there spotted 1 or 2 Thick-billed Kingbirds, which would have been a lifer for all of us. Next time, I guess.

Just outside of the Paton's house there was a Gray Hawk being harassed by a Kingbird.


The Gray Hawk retreated

[guy_incognito]

Paton's house is always a nice place to sit back and relax. The house is currently up for sale, so the exact future is not known at this point.

Gila Woodpecker



This is probably the most reliable location in the US to find Violet-crowned Hummingbird



Lucy's Warbler from another Patagonia spot. I had forgotten how small they are.

[guy_incognito]

The plan was then to head to the Madera Canyon area for the night, but with a couple stops on the way.

First was to swing by the Rio Rico ponds to try for an easy lifer...Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks*



As a bonus, we also had Tropical Kingbirds, and this flyby Swainson's Hawk



The next stop was Montosa Canyon to look for the reported Plain-capped Starthroat(s). This unfortunately was a fruitless stop.

[guy_incognito]

In Madera Canyon we planned to spend the evening doing some owling. This was the first time I'd done any owling, so it was a fun and educational experience. We were hearing Elf Owls and Whiskered Screech-Owls. Also heard lots of Common Poorwills and a few Mexican Whip-poor-wills.

Out of those, I only managed to photograph an Elf Owl*, but I must say that I was pretty ecstatic with the results. These owls really are small!

[guy_incognito]

Much of the next day was spent at Madera Canyon. We started at the base, and worked up into the canyon. First stop was along the Proctor Road turnout. Just about the first bird we came across was this Botteri's Sparrow*.



This area was pretty active, with Bell's Vireos, Summer Tanagers, Black-throated Sparrow, and Varied Buntings also around. Also heard some calling Montezuma Quail out in the distance. Went for a quick venture to try and see some, but couldn't find any. Figured it could take hours to have a chance to see any, and it would be exceedingly difficult to photograph them, so I opted to continue up the canyon.

[guy_incognito]

Once up in the canyon, it didn't take long to find our first Painted Redstart.



We spent some time at the Santa Rita Lodge feeders, and apparently missed the Rose-breasted Grosbeak by a matter of minutes. We then headed to the top of the road. From the edge of the parking lot I heard an Elegant Trogon call. My buddies weren't ready to leave, but told me to go ahead. I did manage a brief glimpse, and a far off view. We couldn't locate it once they arrived. While looking in this area my friend was able to spot a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher*.

[guy_incognito]

We then continued on the trails uphill into the canyon. On the way up we found this lone Yellow-eyed Junco* foraging on the ground.



There were lots of small flycatchers around, mainly Western Wood-Pewees. A few Cordilleran Flycatchers must have been in the mix. Also without close inspection, the Hutton's Vireo can be easy to confuse for an empid.



I had suspected I had seen some before, but never definitive enough to count it. Finally saw and heard this bird. The song along with the thin bill, more prominent yellow belly, and lack of rufous in the tail (seen when it flew) confirmed that we had a Dusky-capped Flycatcher*

[guy_incognito]

We were about a mile up the trail near the supposed Elegant Trogon spot. We had multiple groups returning from the spot with no good news. There was a report of a nesting site, but people were saying it looked old and abandoned. We continued on regardless. As we approached the area we heard the distinctive call, and shortly after laid eyes on this female Elegant Trogon*.



We stayed around a while longer. We had several more sightings, including this male who was looking quite stunning.



You can see that both were carrying food, so it seems likely there is indeed a nearby nest site.

[guy_incognito]

While waiting around for Trogons I stumbled across this male Plumbeous Vireo on a nest. He was incessantly calling, easily giving away his nest site.

[guy_incognito]

Before leaving Madera Canyon we spent a bit more time at the feeders.

Black-chinned Hummingbird



and a Blue Grosbeak

[guy_incognito]

Unfortunately one of the guys had to get back to work on Monday, so we dropped him off at the airport. Having a bit of time to kill, we then headed to Sweetwater Wetlands. I had told my friend there was a chance for Harris's Hawks at this site.

It was hot, and not too much activity. We did spot a lone Neotropic Cormorant, which was a lifer for my friend.


White-winged Doves were present by the boat load


We were basically ready to leave. I was at the drinking fountain by the parking refilling my water bottle in preparation for leaving when I heard the call of a hawk. I looked up and saw that it was a Harris's. In the time it took to ditch the water bottle and get my camera in position I could only manage a single shot.


Luckily my friend was in a better position and got good views of it.

[guy_incognito]

We then headed to Mt. Lemmon for our last night in AZ. Towards the top, we just pulled off at a roadsite turnoff. Almost immediately we were hearing a Whiskered Screech-Owl. But there was still too much road traffic and noise, so we figured our chances of actually seeing an owl there were pretty slim.

Once at the campsite at Rose Canyon Lake we went out to do some more owling. We first heard a Great Horned Owl, and moved on, figuring our target owls (the smaller ones) may not be around if a GHO was nearby. We ventured a bit further but didn't hear much. Eventually we heard a distant call, but couldn't figure it out at the time. It was late and the owl sounded so far away, we called it a night. In the morning we figured out it was a Flammulated Owl!

[guy_incognito]

In the early morning we heard lots of Mexican Whip-poor-wills calling. Near dawn there was the raucous of the morning chorus. The call that got me out of bed was the distinctive call of the Greater Pewee. It was still quite dark, so I couldn't find it. Once there was a bit more light, we finally got confirmatory views on a Cordilleran Flycatcher*.

[guy_incognito]

Later we did see a couple Greater Pewees*, who seem to like to be way high up at the top of the trees.



Another big reason we went to Rose Canyon Lake was to see a Buff-breasted Flycatcher*, who luckily were not hard to find.



Finally got my one and only hummingbird lifer of the trip, a Broad-tailed Hummingbird*