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Arizona Trip - January 1995

Thanks to all those who gave advice on my midwinter Tucson expedition. Special thanks to Chuck Williamson and Sharon Goldwasser, who took special trouble even given their special troubles.

Dec 27: Arrived Tucson airport p.m., saw GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (only one of the trip) as cab pulled away.

Dec 28: Dawn at San Xavier mission -- wow, the sunrise colors on the white mission facade. Only PYRRHULOXIA of the trip seen here -- also a number of standard local goodies, ROCK WREN, BLACK-THROATED SPARROW included.

On to Madera Canyon. Stop at Florida Wash produces BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHERS, distinguished from BLUE-GRAY (seen later) by call. Also ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER -- given my ignorance, I'd say Myiarchus sp? except Lane's chart says only this one winters, and the call sounds familiar to me (in summer we have Ash-throated but not the others, where I live). Also VERDIN, HOUSE WREN, BEWICK'S WREN, BRIDLED TITMOUSE, RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW.

A little further up, in the oaks just below Santa Rita Lodge: PAINTED REDSTART! This beauty, unexpected, shows off for me. A highlight of the trip. Standard ticks at the picnic ground: YELLOW-EYED JUNCO, GRAY-BREASTED JAY. 10 lifers for this splendid day!

Dec 29: Tried East end of Speedway, Wentworth -- nothing much. Tucson sewage ponds -- no water. Silverbell (west bank of river) -- nothing much. Saguaro Monument west -- beautiful, great hike among the cacti, but not many birds (first "Gilded" Flicker).

Dec 30: Drive to Patagonia -- gorgeous morning, with broken sky over the grasslands. Refuge lovely but not very birdy, and after strenuous morning hiking it I don't spend too much time cruising the San Rafael valley looking for elusive longspurs (was that a V or a T?)

Dec 31: Pinal Air Park pecan grove (. Get there for sunrise, and shortly thereafter dove hunters arrive and start blazing away. But no matter: life VERMILION FLYCATCHER (female); life GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE; life ABERT'S TOWHEE soon becomes a trash bird here. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. Lots of Ravens and Redtails -- adult latter is on the ground, in the weeds, and lets me approach within 10 feet. Sick or hurt? I come back later and it is gone. Strangest find of the day: a CANYON WREN in the pecan grove, southeast corner, with a bunch of BREWER'S SPARROWS. Seems very out of habitat. Also AMERICAN PIPITS, LARK BUNTINGS, HORNED LARK, and a single WHITE-THROATED SWIFT in the neighboring fields. A great spot: 40 species, 5 lifers for me.

On way back, stopped at I-10 west frontage road near Ida Rd, on RBA report of Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Didn't see them, but large flocks of LARK BUNTINGS, HORNED LARKS, AMERICAN PIPITS. And looking up, where every overhead raptor on the trip to date has been a Red-tail, a beautiful HARRIS'S HAWK!

Jan 1 -- outside our room at 4:45 a.m., first bird of '95, a heard GREAT HORNED OWL.

72 species, 17 lifers for this first time birder in Tucson. Major dips: Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Crissal Thrasher. Nice visit with good friends, great scenery, and good eats. (Try El Charro for Mexican; Trio for post-modern international; Feed Lot in Continental for an oldfashioned American breakfast, esp welcome after 3 hrs early birding.)

Tom Grey

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