Crazy Daisy

Five-striped Sparrow

Every year, I wonder how I'll end up seeing the Five-striped Sparrow in Arizona because somehow I always do. I never plan on searching for the bird but it's the birding community that demands to see this very special sparrow.  So once again this year, birder friends from Wisconsin really needed to end the search for their nemesis sparrow.  It was the last one on their list for the lower 48 of the US.  In Phoenix, my friends take people to see the LeConte's Thrasher.  Down here, it's the Red-faced Warbler and Five-striped Sparrow that people want to see. 

A very bright Warbling Vireo!

Last year in December, I had some sort of sinus infection that affected my hearing loss.  For several months, I wasn't able to hear the lower/softer hoot/chip notes of the birds and I became a little scared. The allergies/sinus infection cleared up and my ears are back to 100 percent again.  The reason I share this story?  Had I not heard the chip notes of the bird, I wouldn't have been able to pinpoint the location of the Five-striped Sparrow on the hillside. My eyes are soooo bad, but my ears act like my binoculars and locating beacons. 

Veined Ctenucha Moth

So as we all searched for birds, we noticed lots of wonderful bugs (and a snake!)  It's fun helping people find their birds and teaching them their calls.  

We did VERY well that day.  We heard and saw all of the Southern Arizona specialties like the Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Elegant Trogon, Sulfur-bellied Flycatchers, Five-striped Sparrow and even heard Montezuma Quail!  

I have to say though, the female Elegant Trogon was SILENT and I would have missed that one completely if it wasn't for Tom's eyes!  Even with his scope, I had a hard time finding the bird.  The female blended in perfectly with her surroundings at a very healthy distance (so for Tom to spot this bird with his binoculars was epic).  

Tiny Checkerspot

We had beautiful weather that day in Box and Florida Canyons.  

If you come to Southern Arizona this time of year, it's hard NOT to notice all the insects.  There are SO MANY strange and beautiful looking bugs. 

Sleepy Orange

 States in the US continue reporting a decline in bee populations.  I'm not sure if that's happening here in Arizona.  But again, I'm not sure if they've done research in the state.  What I can tell you is that I've observed healthy populations of bee species here in Southern Arizona.  I don't see the Sonoran Bumble Bee often, but then again, I'm not looking for it while on my treks.  I try to stay away from the buggier trails like the DeAnza trail this time of year.  I showed Tom and Carol a piece of this awesome trail and now I am regretting it with all the chigger bites:)  Chiggers are the worst!  

As we said our good-byes for the morning, we took a photo remembering the awesome views of the Five-striped Sparrow.  No longer a nemesis for these two amazing birders.  

An awesome moment!  Note to self, hair cut needed and that hat I'm wearing makes me look goofy

As I headed home looking forward to a shower from the suspect chigger attack on my legs, I looked over at the water treatment plant to see if I could spot the rare Brown Pelican.  I saw the bird and I saw a ton of birders there.  The pelican has been at this spot for weeks now. Surely they weren't there for that bird.  I continued down the highway and something inside of me told me to check the listserv.  Sure enough, another common but rare migrant for this time of year, the Sabine's Gull, was hanging out at the Amado WTP.  I high tailed it back to that spot to add this bird to my Pima County list.  

Sabine's Gull

There are several lifetime goals as a birder in general.  First priority, life birds.  Second priority, AZ State birds.  Third priority, Pima County birds. On this day I added Lucifer Hummingbird, Sabine's Gull and Five-striped Sparrow to my Pima County list.  Super exciting!  That doesn't happen very often!

While there, yet another state bird was being reported, the Roseate Spoonbill.  And not just one but TWO!  So Deborah Carney said let's go and I said ok.  I wasn't feeling the drive alone to Willcox after a busy morning out so I am grateful to her for driving and her optimism even after they were reported GONE!  It didn't change the fact that we were heading to Willcox.  It's a beautiful location and the sunsets are incredible.  The smell isn't so good because there is sewage here but if you plug your nose....

After not seeing the spoonbills, I began to watch the birders and just take in the surroundings.  This soft spoken birder took advantage of the cooler breezy weather to walk the grasslands around the "lake".  Just speaking with him made me feel at ease.  

There we stood, Deborah, this kind man and myself watching the White-faced Ibis settle in for the evening.  We watched for Lesser Nighthawks but no luck.  I went over the nighthawk calls with both birders and told them to listen for the "rarer" Common Nighthawk that could be passing through the area. I've had them here in the area before.  I was with Ms. Kathie Brown the first time we heard them so many years ago.  And on this night we were rewarded with a couple loud "PEENTS".  Not a bad way to end the day.  Until next time.....

PS.  This is the best time of year to see our butterflies!  They are everywhere!

Painted Lady

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

Blue-throated Hummingbird feeding from Salvia

A couple weeks ago, we made a trek into Portal for several days. I needed a break from my home life.  We have a mentally ill man who lives across from us and has been harassing all the residents at El Presidio. We had to file a "no contact" order with the judge.  On Thursday, he attacked my partner and was served his papers.  Thankfully, no one was hurt.  Any more incidents from him and he'll be in jail permanently.  So we'll be watching:)

In Paradise, AZ at the George Walker House

So enough on the bad stuff. We headed to Portal, Arizona.  It has got to be one of THE BEST places to visit in Arizona.  It's off the beaten track but it's so worth the time and effort.  In fact, I have to admit that it's on my top ten favorite places to bird in Arizona.  The city of Portal is nestled within the wild and pristine mountains of the Chiricahua Mountains. 

Birders come here to search for Mexican rarities and of course, Mexican Chickadees. But you'll find lots of other things to keep your eyes and legs busy. 

Portal is unpredictable.  Rain, during the monsoon season, can flood campgrounds and roads quickly.  Several times this season, bridges and roads were closed off due to flooding.  The wildlife is outstanding.  There are snakes, bears, and lots of skunks!  This is one place where you'll need to be mindful of your surroundings.  

Remember, in Cave Creek canyon it's off limits to play audio devices.  Guest starring: Donna

And we had a blast.  We went with friends Magill and Muriel and discovered several other friends camping along the trails.  My buddy Donna from New Mexico was hanging out with her son picking up snakes and just getting some of that much needed fresh air. 

Forest fires get mixed reactions.  I think they are great!  At Rustler Park, there was a devastating burn several years ago, but today, new pine trees are growing and the wildflower show is OUTSTANDING.  Fire is natural and okay.  As long as they are not caused by idiot people.

For the birders who are reading this post.  September is a great time to visit Portal because warblers and hummingbirds are migrating in great numbers.  One of the few times we have Calliope Hummingbirds come through Southern Arizona is during the month of September.  During our visit, Calliopes were EVERYWHERE!  It's also the most reliable place for Blue-throated Hummingbirds. 

Calliope Hummingbirds are rare for Southern Arizona except during their fall migration

Now my buds Muriel and Magill were crazy.  This was a true birding trip.  They were mad birders trying to see how many birds they could find over the three day weekend.  We found 151 bird species in Cave Creek Canyon, Rustler and Barfoot Parks, the Southwestern Research Station, the George Walker House and the Canyon Creek Lodge.  I think I added 5 new bird species to my year list!   

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

On our way to and from from Portal, we stopped at Wilcox Lake to find some rarities. We had two Black-bellied Plovers wandering a part of the "lake" which was nice to observe.   

Long-billed Curlews

But I gotta say, I'm loving the road treks.  I think this time of year I become part landscape photographer and part bird detective.  The heat is beginning to let up a little and while birders here are very exhausted from the intensity of temps, they are starting to feel a tad better.  I write this because a lot of people have been talking about their drained energy levels.  I am not exempt from those discussions but thanks to my journal entries over the past several years, I know it's the heat that kills our spirit and energy.  Soon full birder power will be restored my friends. September is definitely not a month to sleep when it comes to the bird world.  Migration is at full strength and rarities are popping up left and right. 

Swainson's Hawk feeding at San Simon

Finally for today, I'd like to share this collage of chickadees.  There are several more in North America but here are the 3 that can be seen in Arizona.  Let me be specific.  The most common Chickadee for Arizona is the Mountain species(center).  The Mexican Chickadee(bottom) is only found in the Chiricahua mountains of Southern Arizona.  Popular places to find the birds are at Rustler and Barfoot Parks.  The Black-capped Chickadee is probably the most difficult one to find.  Why?  Well, let me tell you.  This is a fun challenge for down the road.  These birds come into Northern Arizona during the winter months BUT they are found in some very remote places. And birders love challenges!  Have you heard of Colorado City?  If you haven't, it's a city of the infamous polygamous Mormons who don't like outsiders.  There has been some talk between Arizona listers about going to visit this area in a larger group to find these birds together. Last year during a survey mission on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, I "met" several of these people in caravans driving the trails.  They waved and were polite people wearing clothing from the 80's.  Their hairdos were from the 70's.  And I was intrigued.  I always love exploring and understanding a new culture of humanity not touched by the Western Wal-mart and Starbucks world.  In any case, a plan is forming for a very exciting trek into the unknown. The Black-capped Chickadee is a common bird for most people in the US. But here in Arizona, it's a rare gem.  Now that sounds like an adventure!

Until next time friends.....

Close Inspections

I found a magical fairy village in the middle of the woods!

August is a whole month of crazy.  Monsoon is in full swing and so is migration.  It's the one time of year when everything all comes together.  But the temps are brutal in the desert and surrounding areas. 

Enjoying the cool breeze of a monsoon storm in Sierra Vista along the San Pedro River

And it is during this time of year that I collect my data for migrating warblers, shorebirds and birds listed as endangered or in decline.  Did they nest?  Are there juveniles? Are there more or less of these birds coming through the area right now?  After chasing life birds in Chiapas, I just felt I needed to connect more with "my birds" and do quality study. 

The monsoon clouds build over Cochise Lake in Wilcox

While I love the grasslands, I'm not a huge fan of the chiggers and bugs.  Right around the first couple weeks of August, we hit the peak season of monsoon.  It's during this time of year we begin to see some early migrants passing through our area while also observing difficult birds, like the Cassin's Sparrow, out in the open doing their "larking display".  There isn't a certain date for this peak.  It's just something I feel out each year.  Each weekend during the month of August, I carefully pick the spots to do my studies.  In this post, we stopped at the Wilcox Lake for migrating shorebirds, Mt. Lemmon for warblers, St. David for nesting Yellow-billed Cuckoos, and my work site in Oro Valley(weekly patch study) for the nesting Purple Martins specific to our Sonoran Desert.  It has been a quality month of research and birding.  None of it is boring.  The hikes are incredible and the treks are some of the most scenic on this planet. 

Black-necked Stilts

We headed down to Wilcox and explored "Cochise Lake" first.  We picked up two Stilt Sandpipers, one Semipalmated Plover and Sandpiper.  While these birds were wonderful to spot, our best observation happened with a cranky Northern Mockingbird and Swainson's Hawk. 

A Northern Mockingbird chases a Swainson's Hawk off the post.  That takes some huevos. 

After awhile, we headed out because it looked like it was going to rain in the area.  

Black-tailed Jackalope Jackrabbit:)

I wanted to check up on our now fledged Mississippi Kites, Yellow-billed Cuckoos and Yellow-breasted Chats.  Along the way, we observed lots of great birds around the countryside. 

White-winged Dove perches on an Ocotillo

We'd stop and look and then move onto the next area. 

A male Northern Cardinal sits on top of a Saguaro.  Talk about a strange sight!

After a summer of chasing crazy new birds in Mexico, I was happy to just stand in MY world with MY birds and let them fly around me.  I know this world best.  Every habitat.  And almost every bird.  It's great.  They are my secrets.  My escape. It is very comforting to know that many made it back in one piece.

Gila Woodpeckers are LOVING the sugar water right now.  Sorry hummingbirds!

The Gila Woodpeckers fought the hummingbirds for nectar. 

Spiders hid on leaves.  And chats.....did a lot of chatting:)

Yellow-breasted Chat

I went to St. David and followed up on the Cuckoos and Kites.

A Yellow-billed Cuckoo flies over my head.  I have a special connection with this bird as it followed me around last year in the trees:)  And it was back again in the same area where we hung out for awhile watching each other.  

Thankfully, they were all there safe and sound.

Here's my friend who is still around

Currently the western variety of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is in danger. It is listed as threatened and near the threshold of endangered. Tucson Audubon currently has surveys going on around their nesting areas in Southern Arizona.  They are collecting data about this declining species so that they can designate areas for their protection. "The loss and degradation of native riparian habitat throughout the western Yellow-billed Cuckoo's range has played a major role in the bird's decline"(source)

Back at my work site, I do a weekly survey of the birds found around the campus.  The Purple Martins were concerning for me because they are clear cutting major areas of desert next to the school and wash.  Normally, I see these birds before school is out but I hadn't seen them before summer break.  However, I was SO happy when I discovered this desert subspecies flying around the Saguaro cactus at the start of our new school year.

I don't know how they did it with all the chaos around them but they raised another wonderful family.  They had 3 young at the time but have now begun their migration.  I hope they return next year.  It's crazy how connected I have become with my local birds.

Black-crowned Night Heron

On a particularly hot day, I wanted to bird but not far from home.  So I went to my other regular patch at a nearby park to count the juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons.  The Herons have had a good year!  4 juveniles were seen on this 100+ degree evening.

The heat can be intense!  Thankfully warbler migration begins on top of Mt. Lemmon in August and this is where I'll finish my reporting.

Townsend's Warbler

It was hot in Tucson at around 113 degrees.  Mt. Lemmon was sunny with a slight breeze in the 80's.  This was a no brainer.

On this beautiful day, we had 11 of the 13 warbler species on the mountain.  The Wilson's, Townsend'ss and Hermit warblers were AMAZING!  It was a successful outing indeed!

Wilson's Warbler

Warblers are pretty cool birds.  Yes, they are difficult to see, but they are little gems that dance underneath the shadows of leaves. 

Hermit Warbler in flight

Overall, it has been a great month out and the data collected was a success.  I realize not all years will have such positive reports but this one was one of the best thanks to lots of wonderful rain.

Birding can be quite meaningful. With this collection of data, I become stronger and better at being not just a birder but a true citizen scientist.  

Over the next two weeks, we'll meet new friends on the trails.  Las Aventuras is about to begin Chapter 3 of "Americano".  Stay tuned for more friends:)