FIELD GUIDES BIRDING TOURS: ARIZONA'S SECOND SPRING

Field Guides Tour Report

ARIZONA'S SECOND SPRING

Aug 4, 2012 to Aug 13, 2012

Megan Crewe & Tayler Brooks

Enjoy our triplist below! For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please visit our TOUR PAGE.

Click on the link at right to see this triplist in printable PDF format with media only on page 1.

A Spotted Owl sighting is always a thrill, even when (as here) the beastie turns its back on us. Photo by guide Megan Crewe.

Mention that you're headed to Arizona for some birding in August, and people are likely to look at you as if you've gone nuts. After all, everybody knows that Arizona in the dead of summer is hot. Very hot. But birders know something else. Arizona in August is hot, but not as hot as it is earlier in the summer, thanks to the monsoon rains that regularly soak the southeastern part of the state from late July through August. Not only do they help to lower temperatures, they also bring a flush of rampant green, transforming the state with waving fields of grass and a carpet of wildflowers. And with that vegetative growth comes a rush of birds, drawn by the conditions to a second breeding season -- the state's "second spring".

From our first afternoon's outing to the saguaro-studded hills west of Tucson to our last morning's jaunt along the twisting Sonoita Creek, our 10-day tour provided many highlights. A Five-striped Sparrow chortled from branches so close to the path that binoculars were pretty much superfluous. A Short-tailed Hawk circled high above a craggy ridge in the Chiricahua Mountains, sharing a thermal with a Red-tailed Hawk for useful comparison. A calling Whiskered Screech-Owl glared down at us from a branch just overhead. A band of Pygmy Nuthatches swarmed through tall pines, accompanied by a busy gang of Olive, Red-faced, Townsend's, Hermit, Grace's and Black-throated Gray warblers. Thousands of Wilson's Phalaropes spun like tops on a sun-drenched lake. A Buff-breasted Flycatcher hunted from a roadside bush. Two male Lucifer Hummingbirds flashed their purplish gorgets as they slaked their thirst at a bed and breakfast's shady feeders.

Abert's Towhees bounced down sandy trails in front of us (or scratched along their margins). A Greater Pewee swooped back and forth through the midstory of a pine-scented forest. Two tiny Elf Owls flashed back and forth from their nest hole to nearby trees and wires, carrying insects to their youngsters and occasionally stopping to toot challenges into the darkness. A Mississippi Kite sat in a huge cottonwood, occasionally dropping briefly out of view before returning to its branch with yet another dragonfly clutched in its talons. Gilded Flickers and Gila Woodpeckers sized up potential nest holes in saguaro cacti. Brazilian Free-tailed Bats poured past from their roost under a bridge, while a trio of Lesser Nighthawks quartered the sandy flats nearby. A trio of sparrows -- Botteri's, Rufous-crowned and Grasshopper -- provided a grassland symphony as they belted their songs from (respectively) a thick clump of weeds, a leafless tree and a split rail fence. And, of course, the easy camaraderie of the group just added to the fun!

Thanks to all of you for joining us for the adventure. I hope to see you all again somewhere, some day! -- Megan

KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant

Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)

The recharge ponds at Sweetwater Wetlands provide an irresistible draw to waterbirds passing over the surrounding desert. Photo by Megan Crewe.

MALLARD (MEXICAN) (Anas platyrhynchos diazi)

BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors)

CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera) – Easily the most common duck at Sweetwater Wetlands. Although the males were easily identifiable thanks to their red irises, all of them were in rather subdued eclipse plumage.

NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)

RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis) – A handful -- including a male in spanking new breeding plumage -- floated on one of the little retention ponds at Sweetwater Wetlands.

Odontophoridae (New World Quail)

SCALED QUAIL (Callipepla squamata)

GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii) – Relatively common throughout, with especially nice looks at a big mob scurrying back and forth across the road (rather like hyperactive wind-up toys) in the Saguaro National Park our toasty first afternoon.

MONTEZUMA QUAIL (Cyrtonyx montezumae) – We had a wonderful chorus from the hillsides above Huachuca Canyon on our first morning, but sadly never saw one -- despite considerable efforts throughout the tour! [*]

Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)

WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) – A trio -- a tom and two hens -- made their way along the edge of a pasture, seen as we headed back out of Harshaw Canyon on our last morning.

Podicipedidae (Grebes)

PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)

Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) – Two rested beside one of the little ponds at Sweetwater Wetlands, allowing us to study the distinctively pointy back edges of their gular pouches.

Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)

GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)

GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax) – A few roosted among the tamarisk trees around one of the ponds at Sweetwater Wetlands, including an adult that proved incredibly adept at hiding itself among the tiny leaves.

Cathartidae (New World Vultures)

After seeing many Swainson's Hawks on the wing, it was a treat to find this one perched -- and completely unfazed by our stopping right beside it! Photo by participant Will Fulmer.

BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)

TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)

Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)

MISSISSIPPI KITE (Ictinia mississippiensis) – It took a bit of searching -- and a few passes up and down the main road through St. David's -- but we eventually had fine looks at three or four birds either soaring, hunting or resting in a big cottonwood.

NORTHERN HARRIER (Circus cyaneus)

COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)

HARRIS'S HAWK (Parabuteo unicinctus) – An adult perched, calling, on a phone pole near the sewage treatment plant buildings across the road from Sweetwater Wetlands.

GRAY HAWK (Buteo nitidus)

SHORT-TAILED HAWK (Buteo brachyurus) – Fine flight studies of a bird soaring in circles over Barfoot Peak in the Chiricahua Mountains. Though the patterning on its flight feathers is reminiscent of that on the Swainson's Hawk, its shape is completely different -- and we had a convenient immature Red-tailed Hawk circling in the same thermal to compare it to.

SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni)

ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) – We had eye level views of one soaring over Carr Canyon, seen from one of the MANY switchbacks on the rough gravel road up the mountain. The flight profile of this species is strikingly similar to that of the Turkey Vulture, which may allow it to lurk unnoticed among a vulture flock -- until it drops on unsuspecting prey, that is!

RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)

Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)

AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)

PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) – A big female powered in from the far distance, then raked across the Twins Lakes at Willcox, scattering shorebirds in her wake.

Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)

COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)

AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)

Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus) – Two or three pattered among the shorebirds along the edge of Twin Lakes in Willcox.

KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)

Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)

BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)

AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana) – Dozens snoozed on Twin Lakes, all in their drabber winter plumage.

Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)

SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)

GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)

WILLET (Tringa semipalmata)

LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)

LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius americanus) – One (probably a male, given the shorter length of its bill) mingled with the mobs of shorebirds on Twin Lakes.

MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa)

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (Calidris pusilla)

WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri)

LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla) – Scores trotted along the margins of Twin Lakes, their pale legs showing nicely in the strong afternoon light.

BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (Calidris bairdii) – Relatively common on the shores of Twin Lakes, looking decidedly taller and longer-winged than the other peeps.

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus)

A Greater Roadrunner surveys its domain from a dirt pile beside the winding road up Carr Canyon. Photo by Megan Crewe.

WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor) – Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds spun like tops on the surface of (or loafed along the edges of) the Twin Lakes near Willcox.

Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)

RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis) – A youngster flew past and landed on a muddy island in the middle of Twin Lakes -- though it beat a hasty retreat when the Peregrine powered through!

Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)

ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]

BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata)

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto)

WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica) – Seen daily, and their monotonous "who cooks for you" calls were a regular part of the tour soundtrack.

MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)

INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)

COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Columbina passerina)

Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (Coccyzus americanus)

GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus)

Strigidae (Owls)

WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (Megascops kennicottii) – We heard one calling several times from the creek that ran behind our Portal hotel, but couldn't entice the singer out for a view. [*]

WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops trichopsis) – After a frustrating evening spent scuttling up and down a road high in the Chiricahuas, trying to lay eyes on one calling bird, we were rewarded the following night with fantastic views of another calling bird right up the road from our Portal hotel.

ELF OWL (Micrathene whitneyi) – We had a fabulous unexpected encounter with these tiny owls in Miller Canyon, when one zipped in to a hole in a roadside telephone pole just as we drove by. We spent a fun 20 minutes watching while the pair brought a succession of tasty morsels for their chicks -- in between tooting challenges from nearby branches, that is!

SPOTTED OWL (Strix occidentalis) – With a little help from local landowner Tom Beatty, we had fine scope views of a sleepy adult and its wide-eyed youngster in the leafy upper stretches of Miller Canyon.

Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)

LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis) – At least three bounced back and forth over the sandy plain edging the Santa Cruz River in west Tucson, fighting against the strong winds sweeping in from the approaching monsoon.

COMMON POORWILL (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) – We chased one down a dry creek bed near Portal (searching intently while it called from thick bushes) and were eventually rewarded with superb views when it hovered right above us.

MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Caprimulgus arizonae arizonae) – We heard one singing from way up a Chiricahua creek bed during our high elevation nightbird excursion. [*]

Apodidae (Swifts)

WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis)

Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)

MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens)

BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Lampornis clemenciae)

LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Calothorax lucifer) – Not one, but TWO handsome males made repeated visits to feeders at the Ash Canyon B&B, giving us all fine chances to study them -- which was particularly fortunate, since another male at Richard and Rose Ann's had proved singularly uncooperative!

BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri)

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna)

BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus)

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus rufus)

CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (Stellula calliope) – A little female (or youngster) made several quick visits to one of the feeders at Richard and Rose Ann's, looking tiny compared to the other hummers.

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Cynanthus latirostris)

VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia violiceps) – Seen on several days, with our best views coming in Patagonia, where one bird made multiple visits to a feeder in the Paton's back yard. We also had nice studies of a lichen-decorated nest on a low branch at Ramsey Canyon -- though the single youngster in it stayed steadfastly out of view.

Trogonidae (Trogons)

ELEGANT TROGON (Trogon elegans) – A male made multiple swooping passes over us in Huachuca Canyon, moving from song perch to song perch as he worked his way up and down the canyon.

Picidae (Woodpeckers)

Gila Woodpeckers were widespread in the lower, drier areas we visited. Photo by participant Will Fulmer.

ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)

GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis)

LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Picoides scalaris)

HAIRY WOODPECKER (Picoides villosus)

ARIZONA WOODPECKER (Picoides arizonae) – At least two around the parking lot at Cave Creek proved extraordinarily confiding, spending long minutes rummaging up and down nearby tree trunks.

NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer)

GILDED FLICKER (Colaptes chrysoides) – One in nice comparison with a pair of Gila Woodpeckers at Saguaro National Park, showing well as they clung to the trunk of the huge cacti.

Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)

NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma imberbe) – One of these little flycatchers put on a nice show at Montosa Canyon, flicking through the top of a roadside tree and singing repeatedly. Its small size, pointed crest and pinkish bill are distinctive.

GREATER PEWEE (Contopus pertinax) – One high in the Huachuca Mountains played a bit hard to get initially, but eventually hunted back and forth from branches in the midstory of the pine forest along the Carr Canyon road.

WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus)

WILLOW FLYCATCHER (Empidonax traillii)

GRAY FLYCATCHER (Empidonax wrightii) – A migrant sitting on the fence wire along State Line Road early one morning was a nice surprise. Its habit of dipping its tail (phoebe-like) rather than raising it is unique among Empidonax flycatchers.

DUSKY FLYCATCHER (Empidonax oberholseri)

BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax fulvifrons) – Great views of one hunting right beside the road in Garden Canyon. This is certainly among the most distinctive of the (typically quite drab) Empidonax flycatchers!

BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)

SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) – One hunted from tall weeds in a field along State Line Road.

VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer)

ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens)

SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes luteiventris) – Particularly common in the big sycamores along the creek in Huachuca Canyon, with two or three pairs proving satisfyingly cooperative.

TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus) – Best seen at Sweetwater Wetlands, where a couple of close twittering birds hunted along the edges of one of the ponds.

CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans)

THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD (Tyrannus crassirostris) – This was truly an 11th-hour save; we found one perched high in a tree in Patagonia on our last morning, en-route to the airport.

WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis)

Laniidae (Shrikes)

This tiny lichen-covered cup is the nest of a Violet-crowned Hummingbird. There was a single baby inside, but it only poked its head up high enough to see when its mother arrived with food. Photo by Megan Crewe.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)

Vireonidae (Vireos)

BELL'S VIREO (Vireo bellii) – Best seen in Montosa Canyon, where one shared a tree with an equally tiny tyrannulet. We heard its jumbled song daily from the stream corridor behind our Portal hotel.

PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus)

CASSIN'S VIREO (Vireo cassinii)

HUTTON'S VIREO (Vireo huttoni)

WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus)

Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)

STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri)

WESTERN SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma californica)

MEXICAN JAY (Aphelocoma wollweberi) – Common and widespread throughout much of the tour, particularly in the Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains. Their "drink drink drink" calls were good reminders (on those hot days) to keep sipping from our water bottles!

CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus)

COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)

Hirundinidae (Swallows)

NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)

PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis) – A pair made repeated visits to their cavity nest in a saguaro cactus in the Saguaro National Park our first afternoon. This was a real surprise for the east coasters, who had only ever seen Purple Martins nesting in man-made boxes! [N]

TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)

VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina)

BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)

CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

Paridae (Chickadees and Tits)

MEXICAN CHICKADEE (Poecile sclateri) – These hoarse-voiced southern chickadees were seen with several of the mixed flocks we found high in the Chiricahuas.

BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi)

JUNIPER TITMOUSE (Baeolophus ridgwayi) – A pair hunted in low vegetation along the edge of Richard and Rose Ann's yard in Portal, distracting us briefly from our search for Lucifer Hummingbird.

Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)

VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps) – Judging by the number of remarkably drab youngsters we saw, this species had an exceptionally good breeding year.

Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)

BUSHTIT (INTERIOR) (Psaltriparus minimus plumbeus)

Sittidae (Nuthatches)

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis)

PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea) – Several noisy little groups swarmed through the pines high in the Chiricahuas.

Certhiidae (Treecreepers)

BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana)

Troglodytidae (Wrens)

CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) – Seen nicely on several days, including a pair chortling from atop a yucca plant along State Line Road.

ROCK WREN (Salpinctes obsoletus)

CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus)

BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)

HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)

Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)

BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila melanura) – Especially nice looks at one preening (and occasionally calling) in a shady bush in Montosa Canyon; for a few brief seconds, we thought we'd found the elusive Black-capped Gnatcatcher. Darn!

Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)

Nothing like a good look at a Spotted Owl to make a hot hike up a steep hill worthwhile! Photo by guide Megan Crewe.

EASTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia sialis)

HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus)

AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)

Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)

BENDIRE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei)

CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre)

CRISSAL THRASHER (Toxostoma crissale) – One scurried around in a creek bed near Portal, flashing in and out of view as it chased after insects.

Sturnidae (Starlings)

EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]

Ptilogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)

PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens) – Quite common along Blue Heaven Road in Patagonia, where there was apparently plenty of mistletoe to nibble on.

Peucedramidae (Olive Warbler)

OLIVE WARBLER (Peucedramus taeniatus) – A female with a mixed flock along the Carr Canyon Road was trumped by a pumpkin-headed male high in the Chiricahuas.

Parulidae (New World Warblers)

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Oreothlypis celata)

LUCY'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis luciae) – One flitted through a roadside bush, a bonus bird at our first Swainson's Hawk spot -- though it certainly made us work for our views!

NASHVILLE WARBLER (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)

VIRGINIA'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis virginiae)

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)

YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)

GRACE'S WARBLER (Setophaga graciae)

BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens)

TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi)

HERMIT WARBLER (Setophaga occidentalis)

RED-FACED WARBLER (Cardellina rubrifrons) – After a bit of angst over our first -- seen by only some of the group near our trogon spot -- we happily had multiple fine encounters with this handsome species in the Huachucas and the Chiricahuas.

PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus) – Quite common in the mountains, where their habit of fanning that distinctive tail and flashing back and forth from perch to perch made them relatively easy to find.

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens) – We heard many chortling from thick brush along creek beds around Patagonia, and spotted several singing from open perches along Blue Heaven Road. Rampant hormones sure make it easier to spot the (usually invisible) skulkers!

Emberizidae (Buntings, Sparrows and Allies)

SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)

RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps)

CANYON TOWHEE (Melozone fusca)

ABERT'S TOWHEE (Melozone aberti) – Best seen at Sweetwater Wetlands, where a couple of birds bounced along the edge of the trail.

RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW (Peucaea carpalis) – One danced through the bushes around us in Saguaro National Park, panting in the 100+ degree heat.

BOTTERI'S SPARROW (Peucaea botterii) – One belted his song out from the top of dense weed clumps in the Sonoita grasslands, giving us all great opportunities to study him in the scope.

CASSIN'S SPARROW (Peucaea cassinii)

CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)

LARK SPARROW (Chondestes grammacus)

Audio clip for Five-striped Sparrow

FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (Amphispiza quinquestriata) – Wow! It doesn't get much easier than that; we'd walked less than 50 yards down the hill towards California Gulch when a sparrow flew across the valley, landed in a tree right beside us and began to sing. How great was that?! It saved us a long climb on a very hot day, and the only way it could have been closer is if it had landed on one of us!

BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata)

LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) – A big flock shifted restlessly through the scruffy vegetation along State Line road near Portal, rising into view with much flashing of white-patched wings and then dropping out of sight again. Fortunately, many perched up on bushes or fence wires, giving us great chances to study them in the scope.

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (Ammodramus savannarum)

SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia)

YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus)

Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)

Last year's massive fires had a big impact on the high forests of the Chiricahua Mountains, but there was one silver lining -- a profusion of wildflowers bloomed EVERYWHERE, in just about every hue imaginable. Photo by Megan Crewe.

HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava) – A female skulked through a tree over the road up Garden Canyon, headed for her well-camouflaged nest. We also had nice looks at a pair high on the Carr Canyon road.

SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)

WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)

NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)

PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus)

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus)

BLUE GROSBEAK (Passerina caerulea)

LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena)

VARIED BUNTING (Passerina versicolor) – Especially nice looks at several males in Montosa Canyon, singing from treetops along the road we walked while looking for Black-capped Gnatcatchers. We had others, including a couple of brown females, in California Gulch.

Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)

EASTERN MEADOWLARK (LILIAN'S) (Sturnella magna lilianae)

YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) – A couple of bright-headed males sat up in a leafless little tree at Sweetwater Wetlands.

GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)

BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus)

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)

HOODED ORIOLE (Icterus cucullatus) – A nicely orange male foraged along the edge of a field in Portal on our first afternoon there, and we saw others along Silver Creek Road, in Montosa Canyon and en route to California Gulch.

BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii)

SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum) – At least one young male, already showing quite a bit of black on his head, foraged among the flowers in Montosa Canyon.

Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies)

HOUSE FINCH (Carpodacus mexicanus)

RED CROSSBILL (Loxia curvirostra) – A noisy group made several passes past our lunch spot near Rustler Park in the Chiricahuas, drawing a particularly excited response from Tayler, who was keen to record their calls. This "call type" of the Red Crossbill is found from southern Arizona and New Mexico down into the mountains of Mexico.

LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)

Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)

HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]

A Mule Deer, his impressive rack of antlers still covered with velvet, snoozed beside the road in the Sonoita grasslands. Photo by Megan Crewe.

BRAZILIAN FREE-TAILED BAT (Tadarida brasiliensis) – Hundreds streamed past us in the half-light of an early dusk (thanks to that fast approaching monsoon rainstorm), heading out for the evening from their day roost under a big highway bridge. This species is called "free-tailed" because their tail is not included in the webbing of their wings, like it is in most bat species.

EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus)

DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii)

BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (Lepus californicus)

CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis)

HARRIS'S ANTELOPE SQUIRREL (Ammospermophilus harrisii)

SPOTTED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus spilosoma)

ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)

ROUND-TAILED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus tereticaudus)

ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis)

ARIZONA COTTON RAT (Sigmodon arizonae)

COYOTE (Canis latrans)

EASTERN SPOTTED SKUNK (Spilogale putorius)

STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis)

BOBCAT (Lynx rufus)

MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus)

WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Totals for the tour: 190 bird taxa and 17 mammal taxa