Naturalist Journeys, LLC - Small Group Birding and Natural History Tours

Southeast Arizona Spring
April 26 - May 4, 2009 - Bird/Species Trip List
Guides: Peg Abbott, Dave Jasper (in Portal) with six participants

Anseriformes:
Anatidae - Ducks, Geese and Swans
Black-bellied Whistling Duck – great views in flooded agricultural fields off I-19 to Nogales, viewed from the Frontage Road
Mallard – numerous pair of Mexican Mallard’s sighted and a pair of ‘green-heads’ at Whitewater Draw
Blue-winged Teal – Whitewater Draw, about half a dozen birds
Cinnamon Teal – one pair mixed in with Blue-winged Teal at WW Draw
Northern Shoveler – one female at WW Draw
Ruddy Duck – Kino Springs Golf Course ponds

Galliformes:
Phasianidae – Partridges, Grouse and Turkeys
Wild Turkey – heard in Miller Cyn., seen at Ramsey Canyon – a highly vocal male

Odontiphoridae – Quail
Scaled Quail – seen driving in the Portal Road, then again quite well, one w/ brood of chicks near WW Draw, then again in Hereford near Casa de SP
Gambel’s Quail – common, seen daily

Ciconiiformes:
Ardeidae – Bitterns, Egrets, Herons
Great Blue Heron – line bird on a nest at Kino Springs Golf Course ponds
Snowy Egret – small flock at WWD
Cattle Egret – lone bird in with Snowy Egrets at WWD

Threskiornithidae – Ibises and  Spoonbills
White-faced Ibis – great views in flooded fields near Amado

Cathartidae- New World Vultures
Black Vulture – Kino Springs and Roadside Rest, views both perched and flying
Turkey Vulture – common, seen daily

Falconiformes:
Accipitridae – Kites, Eagles, Hawks and Allies
Gray Hawk – Kino Springs, Patagonia, San Pedro River
Swainson’s Hawk – seen on four days, great views in Sulphur Springs Valley
Zone-tailed Hawk – Patagonia, Chiricahuas, Huachucas, best views called by Carla close to Highway 92 where luckily we could pull off to enjoy fine views!
Red-tailed Hawk – common, seen daily
Golden Eagle – quick view over Miller Cyn., Huachucas

Falconidae – Falcons and Caracaras
American Kestrel  - seen on two days – phone wires while travelling
Prairie Falcon – seen heading down Portal Road and in mesquite lands near San Pedro River

Gruiformes:
Rallidae – Rails, Gallinules and Coots
American Coot – Kino Springs and WW Draw

Charadriiformes
Charadriidae – Lapwing and Plovers
Black-bellied Plover – winter plumage bird at WW Draw
Killdeer – flooded fields off I-19, WW Draw

Recurvirostridae – Stilts and Avocets
American Avocet – Whitewater Draw, several birds and several matings

Scolopacidae – Sandpipers, Curlews and Allies
Greater Yellowlegs – WW Draw
Lesser Yellowlegs – nice comparative study w/ Greater Yellowlegs at WW Draw
Spotted Sandpiper – a dozen or more birds at WW Draw
Sanderling – group of migrants passing through WW Draw
Western Sandpiper – 1 individual scoped at WW Draw
Least Sandpiper – 4-5 individuals at WW Draw
Baird’s Sandpiper – great scope views of two birds at WW Draw
Long-billed Dowitcher – several in breeding plumage among group of six or so at WW Draw
Wilson’s Phalarope – Whitewater Draw

Columbiformes:
Columbidae: Doves and Pigeons
Rock Pigeon – urban and farm areas
Band-tailed Pigeon – Chiricahuas and then great views at Carr Canyon
Eurasian Collared Dove – towns and ranches
White-winged Dove – common, seen daily
Mourning Dove – common, seen daily
Inca Dove – Tucson and San Pedro

Cuculiformes:
Cuculidae: Cuckoos, Roadrunners and Anis
Greater Roadrunner – a trip favorite – seen on four days

Strigiformes
Tytonidae: Barn Owls
Barn Owl – quick views at dusk in a nest box at Casa de San Pedro

Strigidae: Typical Owls
(HO) Western Screech Owl – heard only on excursion with Dave Jasper in Portal
Whiskered Screech Owl – seen with Dave Jasper in Portal
Great Horned Owl – great views at WW Draw
Elf Owl - Chiricahuas
(Mexican) Spotted Owl – one of the highlights of the trip, fantastic views up Miller Canyon. At close range it barely reacted to our presence and let several capture stunning photos (see pegabbott.wordpress.com for our Blog entry!)

Caprimulgiformes:
Caprimulgidae – Nighthawks and Nightjars
Lesser Nighthawk – seen coursing over the open fields near Casa de San Pedro

Apodiformes
Apodidae - Swifts
White-throated Swift – Chiricahuas and Huachucas

Trochilidae: Hummingbirds
Broad-billed Hummingbird – beautiful and common
White-eared Hummingbird – Beatty’s in the Huachucas
Violet-crowned Hummingbird – Patagonia feeders
Blue-throated Hummingbird – first seen in Madera, then other wooded areas
Magnificent Hummingbird – Chiricahuas and Huachucas
Lucifer Hummingbird – seen at two different feeders in the Huachucas
Black-chinned Hummingbird – Desert Museum and then daily
Anna’s Hummingbird – Patagonia, Chiricahuas and Huachucas
Costa’s Hummingbird – Desert Museum and feeders at Amado
Calliope Hummingbird – 1 immature seen at feeders at Ash Canyon
Broad-tailed Hummingbird – several locations, best views at Miller Canyon feeders

Trogoniformes
Trogonidae – Trogons
Elegant Trogon – Chiricahuas

Piciformes
Picidae: Woodpeckers
Acorn Woodpecker – common in oak-woodland habitat
Gila Woodpecker – seen well on our first day and then whenever in lowland cottonwood habitat
Red-naped Sapsucker – seen in desert areas on day one and then great views in the Chiricahuas
Ladder-backed Woodpecker – fine views in Chirihuahuas and Chiricahuas
Hairy Woodpecker - Chiricahuas
Arizona Woodpecker – fantastic first views on the feeder in Madera, then in Chiricahuas
Northern Flicker – Chiricahuas and Huachucas
Gilded Flicker – Kino Springs gave us a good chance to study this signature bird

Passeriformes
Tyrannidae: Tyrant Flycatchers
Northern Beardless Tyrannulet – Florida Canyon
Greater Pewee – Chiricahuas and Huachucas
Western Wood Pewee – Chiricahuas and Huachucas, just arriving and not plentiful but present
Willow Flycatcher – Patagonia and WW Draw
Hammond’s Flycatcher – seen at varying altitudes indicating migration is well underway
Gray Flycatcher – Chiricahuas, first seen near the research station
Dusky Flycatcher – Madera Canyon and the Huachucas
Cordilleran Flycatcher – several excellent looks, the first at Madera
Buff-breasted Flycatcher – perfect views at close range Huachucas
Black Phoebe – seen in all watered areas
Say’s Phoebe – tame and friendly, a lovely bird seen regularly
Vermilion Flycatcher – one of the trip favorites, seen at our first night lodgings and then daily
Dusky-capped Flycatcher – seen in good number, scope views good for comparative study
Ash-throated Flycatcher – vocal and present esp. in mesquite and scrub habitats
Brown-crested Flycatcher – also vocal, seen on most days
Tropical Kingbird – alert by call, we found this beauty back at its place at the San Pedro River Inn ponds
Cassin’s Kingbird – seen daily
Thick-billed Kingbird – excellent looks at the Roadside Rest, a life bird for many of our group
Western Kingbird – seen daily

Laniidae - Shirkes
Loggerhead Shrike – Sulphur Springs Valley and WWD

Vireonidae – Vireos
Bell’s Vireo – great views in Florida Canyon our first morning, heard or seen daily
Plumbeous Vireo – Chiricahuas and Huachucas
Hutton’s Vireo – seen most days
Warbling Vireo – first spotted in Madera then in Chiricahuas as well

Corvidae – Jays, Crows, Ravens and Magpies
Stellar’s Jay – Chiricahuas and Huachucas
Western Scrub Jay - foothills of Chiricahuas
Mexican Jay – common, seen in all oak-woodland habitat throughout our journey
Common Raven – common, seen daily
Chihuahuan Raven – Sulphur Springs Valley and WW Draw

Alaudidae – Larks
Horned Lark – Kino Springs

Hirundinidae – Swallows and Martins
Tree Swallow – Kino Springs
Violet-green Swallow - Chiricahuas
Northern Rough-winged Swallow – San Pedro
Barn Swallow – seen on several days

Paridae – Chickadees and Titmice
Mexican Chickadee – great looks at two locations, Chiricahuas
Bridled Titmouse - common

Remizidae - Verdins
Verdin – lower Madera and Huachucas

Aegithalidae - Bushtits
Bushtit – Chiricahuas and Huachucas

Sittidae – Nuthatches
Red-breasted Nuthatch – seen near Pinery Canyon picnic area
White-breasted Nuthatch – seen daily
Pygmy Nuthatch – Chiricahuas and Huachucas

Certhiidae - Creepers
(Mexican) Brown Creeper - Chiricahuas

Troglodytidae - Wrens
Cactus Wren – seen regularly first half of the journey (all but Huachucas)
(HO) Rock Wren – Chiricahua National Monument
Canyon Wren – seen well on several occasions. Memorable was its song as a background music to our Spotted Owl viewing
Bewick’s Wren - common
House Wren - common

Regulidae – Kinglets
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – seen daily

Sylviidae – Old World Warblers and Gnatcatchers
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Chiricahuas, seen well - several males singing

Turdidae – Thrushes
Western Bluebird – Chiricahuas
Swainson’s Thrush – Florida Canyon
Hermit Thrush – several sightings, Chiricahuas
American Robin – seen most days

Mimidae: Catbirds, Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Northern Mockingbird – seen daily
Bendire’s Thrasher –Sulphur Springs Valley near Elfrida
Curve-billed Thrasher – common throughout
Crissal Thrasher – seen on our final morning near San Pedro River

Sturnidae – Starlings
European Starling – Sulpher Springs Valley and Sierra Vista

Bombycillidae – Waxwings
Cedar Waxwing – Chiricahuas

Ptilognatidae – Silky Flycatchers
Phainopepla – great views on four days of our journey

Peucedramidae – Olive Warbler
Olive Warbler – Chiricahuas and Huachucas

Parulidae – Wood Warblers
Orange-crowned Warbler – Chiricahuas and Huachucas
Virginia’s Warbler – Chiricahuas and Huachucas
Lucy’s Warbler – all locations
Yellow Warbler – WW Draw and San Pedro
Yellow-rumped Warbler – all locations
Black-throated Gray Warbler – first great view at Madera, then seen Chircahuas and Huachucas
Townsend’s Warbler – big movement of this species this week, some days 20+
Hermit Warbler – quite a few in with flock sof Townsend’s in both Chiricahuas and Huachucas
Grace’s Warbler – excellent views Chiricahuas and Huachucas
MacGillivray’s Warbler – one individual San Pedro River near Casa de San Pedro
Common Yellowthroat – Florida Canyon, San Pedro
Wilson’s Warbler – common in variety of habitat, all locations
Red-faced Warbler – voted this group’s Trip Favorite bird, seen well on four days and always a big hit
Painted Redstart – first spotted in Madera, then other wooded canyons, lovely!
Yellow-breasted Chat – great views San Pedro River area, also Chiricahuas

Thraupidae – Tanagers
Hepatic Tanager – spectacular first views in Madera then seen in all oak-woodland habitat
Summer Tanager – star views along the San Pedro River
Western Tanager – first views Florida Canyon, then regular sightings
Note for our trip – the Flame-colored Tanager arrived just at the end of our journey and Paul and Priscilla who had an extra afternoon had a grand view of it!!

Emberizidae – Towhees, Sparrows and Allies
Green-tailed Towhee – seen most days
Spotted Towhee – Chiricahuas and HO Huachucas
Canyon Towhee – Chiricahuas and Huachucas
Abert’s Towhee – (is that Albert’s Towhee perhaps?) San Pedro and Chiricahuas
Rufous-winged Sparrow – seen well at the Desert Museum, then also Florida Canyon
Botteri’s Sparrow – San Pedro, great views!
Rufous-crowned Sparrow – Florida Canyon and near Desert Musuem, one of our first trip birds
Chipping Sparrow – fair numbers Patagonia and Chiricahuas
Lark Sparrow – beautiful views first two days of our journey
Black-throated Sparrow – first seen in Peg’s yard, then drier side of San Pedro 
Savannah Sparrow – Whitewater Draw
Song Sparrow – seen on several days
Lincoln’s Sparrow – Chiricahuas
White-crowned Sparrow – adults and first year birds seen on many days
Yellow-eyed Junco – Paul got one lined up for perfect photos for Eva, yeah!  Seen in all appropriate habitat

Cardinalidae – Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Buntings
Northern Cardinal – seen most days of the tour
Pyrrhuloxia – seen on several days
Black-headed Grosbeak – beautiful views and we have lasting appreciation of its beautiful song
Lazuli Bunting – we saw 20 or more at a time at feeders and in the wild, wow!
Indigo Bunting – few individuals mixed in with Lazuli flocks

Icteridae – Blackbirds, Orioles and Allies
Red-winged Blackbird – so nice to hear their sounds announcing spring Kino Springs and WW Draw
Eastern Meadowlark – breeding individuals spacing out to set up territories
Western Meadowlark – singing individuals I-19 corridor
Brewer’s Blackbird – Elfrida area
Great-tailed Grackle – common, seen most days
Brown-headed Cowbird – common, all too common!
Hooded Oriole – seen on four days, memorable sightings as they fed on flowering ocotillo
Bullock’s Oriole – seen on three days, strong in number
Scott’s Oriole – first beautiful view on the Portal Road going in to the research station, then on other days

Fringillidae – Fringilline and Cardueline Finches
House Finch - common
Pine Siskin - Chiricahuas
Lesser Goldfinch – seen on most days of the journey

Passeridae – Old World Sparrow
House Sparrow – common

Mammals
Badger San Pedro River area
Pronghorn Highway 82 near Sonoita
White-tailed Deer Madera Canyon, Ramsey Cyn., and Cave Creek in the Chiricahuas
Mule Deer Grassland areas and mountain foothills
Round-tailed Ground Squirrel Desert Museum area
Rock Squirrel Madera, Ramsey, Cave Creek and South Fork
Apache (Chiricahua) Fox Squirrel South Fork
AZ Gray Squirrel Huachuca race -- Carr Canyon, Santa Rita race – Madera
Harris’s Ground Squirrel throughout
Least Chipmunk Chiricahuas

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