Birding Southeast Arizona

Flew into Tucson 4/19 and left a week later. Birded every dang day. Some times were epic, and we got our first warbler waves of the year. Of course, we also struck out on some species and outings. They can’t all be winners. We did get well acquainted with the area so we’ll be able to pick up all those missing species when we go back. S-u-u-u-u-u-r-e we will.

Places visited: Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains. In the Huachuca mountains: Garden and Scheelite Canyon, Miller Canyon, Ash Canyon, Ramsey Canyon. Also Patagonia/Sonoita Preserve, Saguaro National Park. Mount Lemmon in the Santa Catalinas.

Tops:

• Ran into our new buddies Rob and George from Hamilton, Ontario on day one. We hiked up the Hopkins Fork with them day two and they proved quite well prepared and enthusiastic. They helped us ID the cryptic Empidonax Flycatchers (Hammond’s vs. Cordilleran vs. …). George spotted a pair of rare Elegant Trogans about the same time we got hit with a wave of new warblers. Their enthusiasm was infectious. At the time, Rob already had 80-some lifers on the trip. Way cool.
• We stayed at Madera Kubo in Madera Canyon a few days. The Arizona Rare Bird Alert for the week opened with sightings of a Flame-Colored Tanager at the Kubo. Sure enough, right off the front porch.
• We have never seen a feeder setup like the one that Mary Jo Ballator maintains at Ash Canyon B&B. She does take day-guests, but we are so staying there next time. Half-dozen hummer feeders (including a visiting Lucifer’s hummer), suet feeders filled with home-made suet, jelly, seed, water, a Whiskered Screech-Owl in the nest box. She had a great procession of birds coming to her back porch. And she helped us get a Lucifer’s hummer. Good for hours of entertainment.
• When birding the Patagonia Wayside Rest the border patrol chopper buzzed the neighboring ridgeline repeatedly. Only 20 miles from the Mexican border, we saw border patrol regularly but had no real trouble.
• Our plan came together well. We hit good spots, had a good plan and adequate preparation. Turns out, we are birders. 121 species, including 61 lifers.
• Bird of the trip will go to Red-faced Warbler. Finally got him on Mount Lemmon on our last day. And look out Montezuma’s Quail. Next time, you are ours.

Year list is up to 209 species. Spring migration is just kicking off in Minnesota.