Early August is an ideal time to visit Southeast Arizona. In a typical year, the late-summer prevailing winds bring moisture from the west coast of Mexico. Clouds begin to build in mid morning, and cooling isolated afternoon rains refresh the desert and mountains and carpet the grasslands with wildflowers. The summer rain also marks the onset of breeding for some of the local bird specialties. Montezuma Quail and Botteri's and Cassin's sparrows are at the peak of their singing and easier to locate, and this time of year has also proved better than the spring for Mexican vagrants.

Our ten days of birding are planned to give us an excellent chance of seeing virtually all of Southeast Arizona's breeding birds. Among the specialties we seek are Zone-tailed and Gray hawks, ten or more hummingbirds, Arizona Woodpecker, Thick-billed and Tropical kingbirds, Sulphur-bellied, Dusky-capped, and Buff-breasted flycatchers, Greater Pewee, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Mexican Chickadee, Bendire's Thrasher, Red-faced Warbler, Painted Redstart, Abert's Towhee, Rufous-winged, Five-striped, and Botteri's sparrows, Yellow-eyed Junco, and the beautiful Elegant Trogon. Additionally, we will search for any Mexican rarities that may be present, such as White-eared Hummingbird, Eared Quetzal, Rufous-capped Warbler, Flame-colored Tanager, and Streak-backed Oriole, all of which have been found in recent years.

Although many of the nightbirds have completed their nesting by mid-August and are less likely to be vocalizing (hence, less likely to be seen), we will still make an effort to locate as many as possible.

Our route forms a loop beginning and ending in Tucson with stops in the Chiricahua, Huachuca, and Santa Rita mountains, the Patagonia/Sonoita Creek area, Nogales, Willcox, and California Gulch. Scenery is spectacular, one-night stands are few, and the itinerary is arranged to maximize our chances for the local specialties as well as any vagrants that might appear.

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