Southeastern Arizona's Hawk Watch

Peter Collins searches the sky for raptors moving North

If January and February were about revisiting our regular neighboring feathered friends of southeastern Arizona; then March is about new beginnings. 

Red-tailed Hawk

The trickle of migration begins as raptors make their migratory move north along the Santa Cruz and San Pedro Riparian areas. It's an exciting time for birders as they complete their Arizona winter bird lists and wait patiently for the first signs of the spring migrating raptors during this first week of March. By the third week of March, the faucet is on full force!

The Snowbirds are on the move

 As I have pulled documentation photos from the past years, I smile from all the happy encounters I have had from these raptor gatherings.  So many snowbirds come together to see these amazing daily shows that it has become a social event for many birders.  Sometimes, it's the only time you see these people.  So my suggestion is to take it all in and enjoy the company. 

A pair of Common Black Hawks

So when and where does a birder go to see this spectacular event? And what do you need? I'll go over all of that in just a second, but let me begin with a basic first tip.  During the morning and sunset hours from anywhere in Southeastern Arizona, look up over any water corridor like the Santa Cruz river. Or at parks with watering holes.  Sometimes it's that easy.  Normally raptors move along the riparian corridors north, but from personal experiences, I can tell you that I've seen some random and cool sightings from my own home in midtown Tucson. 

Everyone gathers around the scope of a juvenile Bald Eagle.  What is it about that bird?  Well for this area, it's rare. 

So where can one go to see amazing raptors like the Common Black Hawk or Zone-tailed Hawk?  Let me begin with Tubac and the man who puts all this together every year, Peter Collins. This guy has a great sense of humor and a heart of gold.  In March, he counts raptors every morning from around 8 AM until noon (or beyond) at the Ronald Morriss County Park. For specific details, click on the link here. Bring a chair and a scope. And maybe a nice warm beverage. 

watch for eagles!

As the temps warm up, get ready for lift off as raptors begin to ride the thermals from the budding Cottonwood Trees.  Many hawks will fly right over your head! Every year I am surprised by a random rare bird sighting.  One year with Peter, I had a first record juvenile Bald Eagle fly over us.  I got the shots and we were able to document the bird.  As we were focusing on the eagle, a White-tailed Kite flew over!  Another amazing bird!  And when everything gets going, people will be calling out birds left and right.   

juvenile Black Hawk

Where does one park at the Ron Morriss County Park?  Inside the park!  There's enough parking space for everyone.  And if there isn't, you can park at the intersection of the road leading into the park and walk in.  DON'T park on the bridge.  DON'T congregate on the bridge.  You'll want to do it because you'll see a Common Black Hawk fly over your head.  You might hear the call of an early Gray Hawk as it flies out of the Cottonwoods.  And if you're on that bridge while it all happens, you might also see police lights flashing at you.  It's no joke so be careful NOT to congregate on that bridge. There's a resident who's watching. He's not looking at hawks; he's waiting for a birder to break the rules! Come inside the park and....park! 

A kettle of Vultures

As the coffee or tea courses through your body, you might feel the need to visit a bathroom.  You'll be happy to know that this park does have a nice restroom nearby. Also layer your clothing.  It's cold in the morning but as it warms up, you'll want to peel some of those clothes off.  

Zone-tailed Hawk

You'll learn about all the different types of Red-tailed Hawks.  You'll see numerous Common Black Hawks fly over.  Peter has been keeping track of their numbers for many many years. If you're lucky, you might even spy a very rare Short-tailed Hawk that likes to pass through the area every year. 

Red-tailed Hawk

You'll see large kettles of vultures, both Turkey and Black, mix into the aerial parade above you. While hawk migration can begin as early as the last days of February, the real show begins during the second and third weeks of March.  

Black Vulture

This year, we are expanding our hawk watch to Canoa Ranch lead by Mr. Brian Nicholas.  I am excited to join him for this new adventure.  I don't know what to expect, but that is what is exciting about this count.  Canoa Ranch is going to be something special as Pima County completes the wetland portion of the property by the end of this month. The water is already flowing into the cienegas. 

On a wet and overcast day, the newly created cienegas fills up with water....and promise. 

This ranch also sits along a major flyway for many birds.  So I'm looking forward to see what comes our way. The hawk watch at Canoa Ranch starts March 12th-16th from 10:00-1:00 each day at the ramada on the north/east side of the lake. Canoa Ranch is just south of Green Valley along the interstate.  Take the Canoa Ranch exit to get there. 

White-tailed Kite

During this time of year, several local birders will also count vultures/hawks along the washes of Tucson in areas like Ft. Lowell Park OR the Tanque Verde Wash east of the city.  It's fun!  I'd say if you haven't seen a Common Black Hawk or a Zone-tailed Hawk, head to Tubac with Peter Collins.  They're easier to spot there, but if you've "been there and done that", come and check out Canoa Ranch.  It'll all be brand new for everyone! 

Gray Hawk

We'll keep our eyes out for Gray and Swainson's Hawks.  Maybe a wandering Golden Eagle will pass over us.  There are so many wonderful possibilities.  Spring is a time of renewal.  It's also a time of beauty and excitement. 

Swainson's Hawk

As for Canoa Ranch, I'll be there on March 14th which is a Saturday.  I'm pretty excited about the possibilities.  Maybe I'll see you there?

Brian Nicholas leads his Saturday morning bird walks every Saturday at 8 AM. 

Welcome Surprises

A Sonoran Bumblebee stops for a look

Summer has officially left the desert and the end of the 2019 year is coming.  As we get closer to the start of the holidays, I've been enjoying some peaceful outings with friends and family. 

Our friend Bonnie from Wales came to visit. And it was a blast getting to hang out with Sherry too! We took a nice hike in Madera Canyon to find that elusive Elegant Trogon.  

After our hike, we sat at the Santa Rita Lodge feeders and watched a Black-throated Gray Warbler take a sip from the fountain. 

Swainson's Hawk

As we took my Santa Rita bird route, we had a lingering Swainson's Hawk fly over our heads.  This bird was most likely heading south for the winter. 

With the extreme temps gone now, it's SO nice to sit under a rock and absorb the natural world around us.  

A male Vermilion Flycatcher fluoresces in the autumn light. 

This year has been all about reflection. About friends.  About sharing the experience with others. I remember those days when I did all of my birding alone, but now, I can't imagine my world without these friends. 

Bronzed Cowbird

One night after a rough day at work, I went to a local park to count black birds.  Not everyone gets into the black birds, but I like this group a lot.  I sat on a lawn at a local park and watched them feed from the grasses. When I say black birds, I literally mean any bird that is black including cowbirds and blackbirds:)

Yellow-headed Blackbirds

To my surprise I discovered many of our wintering birds are coming back!  

juvenile Gray Hawk

While some of our summering ones still linger. 

I welcome the wintering birds.  I welcome those friendships both new and old.  And I welcome back these wonderful temperatures.  Winter has come.  Next week we celebrate autumn in the Pacific Northwest.  I hope you join me for our adventures with friend and bird guide Khanh Tran.  Until next time friends.....

A Pink Martini

Black-necked Stilts

Craving something sweet, I went shopping at the outdoor market.

Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge

So much eye candy everywhere.

Brewer's Sparrow

And it was cool and breezy!

The nice temps encouraged me to explore more.

Common ground-dove

It was nice to be able to linger around and look at things.

Giant Mesquite Bugs

In fact, the weather was SO nice that I didn't feel like rushing home right away. 

Lark Sparrow

It was hard to remember why I came to the outdoor market in the first place.

Wilson's Warbler

Keep her moving.

Clay-colored Sparrow

I went down the martini aisle.  I mean.....it looked right.

There's nothing better than a pink martini.  But it's all about getting the balance right and choosing a good vodka.

Swaison's Hawk

Most martinis are dry but this one had to be sweet.

As I walked further down the liquor aisle, I spotted my Triple Sec.  Now for the cranberry juice....

One. Two. Three shakes and voila!

Roseate Spoonbills

Pink Martini made.  So glad I went to the market!

Nothing better than a cool pink drink to celebrate the beginning of fall weather. 

The Roseate Spoonbills are rare for the state of Arizona.  For more on the birds discovered on this day in the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge, click here.  Until next time.....

Oculus Reparo

Greater Roadrunner

A little over a year ago, I updated my camera gear to a 500 mm lens.  She was a monster, but oh how magnificent were those photos!  

Turkeys put on a display at the Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon.  Photo taken with my cell phone

Now she's in the shop due to the zoom feature (which locked up on me last week). Here are the last of my 500 mm shots.  

My first White-faced Ibis of the year flies over my head at the Coachline Lake in Marana

I kept my emergency 300 mm lens from my last camera but oh.....I so notice the lack of detail in the photos now.  So while I wait for the 2 weeks to pass, migration is happening all around me. 

Rare for the US but common in our southern Sky Islands, the Buff-breasted Flycatchers are quite active on top of Carr Canyon

I have been swamped with work and with visitor's from out of state coming to bird.  It's so easy to escape and join others to find birds when there is a lot at home to get done:) Elf Owl vs Fixing The Ceiling Fan? Or Tufted Flycatcher vs watering the garden?

I might be reaching a new chapter in my life with our local birds in the sense that I don't need to drive two hours to see an American Golden Plover.  Instead, I'm okay birding a local patch nearby my house. 

My first of the year Grace's Warbler on top of Carr Canyon

And while I am without my lens, I'm actually enjoying the fact that I don't have it.  My binos have been all that I've been carrying lately. 

A beautiful Swainson's Hawk takes flight

So, I don't have any pictures of the Golden-crowned Sparrow I saw at a local resident's home this past week(thank you Cathy!). And it was also on that night that my camera lens decided to freeze up on me😠😠 I don't have a pic of the Broad-winged Hawk I saw getting harassed by a Great-tailed Grackle.  These are all rarities that I think require photo documentation, but it's not going to happen for the next several weeks.

Jenny (first person in the pic) tolerates Bill's crazy bird addiction.  When the Elf Owl shows, everyone is thrilled.  Madera Canyon this time of year is AWESOME! 

I went out one evening with Bill and Jenny from Wisconsin to Madera Canyon and helped them locate Elf and Whiskered Screech Owls.  We also got a visual of the Mexican Whip-poor-will.  All three were lifers. 

A bathing female Yellow Warbler at Sweetwater

On the day I saw this bathing Yellow Warbler, I met up with Nathan and Stella from Maryland at Sweetwater.  I'm not sure if Nathan's Dad will talk to me after he drove up a rocky road on Carr Canyon for the Tufted Flycatcher. He was visibly shaken and stayed inside of his car. I forget flatlanders are not used to our intense Arizona rugged landscape.  To him, I offer my sincerest apologies. I had new tires put on my passenger vehicle and showed them that I also made it up the road without incident.  They had a rental and it was really ok.....but still.  Finding some excellent birds can be challenging.  Their reward?  Beautiful views of the rare-to-the US Buff-breasted Flycatchers. 

Green Heron at Sweetwater

While I wait for my lens to return, I'll still continue birding.  

a large kettle of Turkey Vultures lands in the Arizona Cottonwoods for the night

One last note.  If you've been following Las Aventuras for a few years now, you'll recognize these characters:)  This year, our Great Horned Owl team, Mike, Janet, Peter and myself, purchased a new basket for our nesting owls.  

Great Horned Owl at my work site

 We weren't sure if they'd take to the new basket as they began nesting in the Saguaro nearby. 

 BUT, there were a lot of kids walking past that area and the owls decided to move to the new basket.  This year, there are only two owlets  because the first two eggs were placed inside the arm of the Saguaro.  When they moved to the basket, those eggs were abandoned. 

Anyhow, their progress is on track.  My biggest complaint?  That stupid string.  We were so worried that the basket would fall during our windy season in March that we overdid it:)  My guess is that this weekend or the next will be their first venture outside the basket. Both Mom and Dad are trying to push them out to get them on the ground.  Owlets learn to walk first.  Then fly(sometimes into buildings:) and then hang out with their parents before flying off into our nearby wash.  Until next time friends.....