What's in a number?

My last 10 new birds for the state of Arizona

Overall, it has been a slow year for me in Arizona for bird rarities.  And the rarities that I've seen so far this year have been eastern birds which means many of them are not lifers. Still, it's fun to challenge oneself and search for new state birds. These last ten "new" bird species moved me into the 460 bird species category of Arizona birding.  It took about a year to get here starting back in October of 2018. 

In years past, it wasn't unusual to add 15 or 20 birds a year.  I was doubtful that I would hit this milestone marker so soon but here they are, numbers 450 to 460.  This is the true challenge of state birding. 

The Ringed Kingfisher is an elusive first record and required a lot of skill and luck to find. 

We start out with a first time record of the Ringed Kingfisher in Arizona. Speculation had been swirling in a remote southern part of the state near the mining town of Safford that a large kingfisher had been seen visiting watering holes around a neighborhood.  A naturalist saw this bird but didn't report it right away until he mentioned it to another birder.  She snapped photos and shared it to social media.  What followed afterwards was mayhem. First time record birds are serious business.  All birders from ancient times and present came together to look for this elusive bird in a rather red neckish area of the state. It eluded many birders.  Apparently, some were threatened by the savage locals. We never saw any of that stuff. In fact, the Saffordlings were very kind to us. Maybe it was because we didn't trespass onto private property. Today this bird may still be around but no one is saying a peep.  The chase was exciting for me because I got to play detective with a friend.  And it worked. 

I speak with Scott as we search for the Iceland Gull

At 451, friend Melanie Herring spotted a rare gull for Arizona birders.  A few records for the Iceland Gull have been recorded for this state.  But not many.  So it was a lovely chase to a desert lake surrounded by an RV campground. This was another fun state chase near the Phoenix area. 

We search for rarities in Ajo, which also includes the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Then it was time for 452.  Birders attended an AZFO conference back in 2018.  An excellent lecture was given on Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl in Ajo.  These saguaro cactus loving owls are considered endangered here in Arizona and found in specific habitat.  We've speculated often about where we'd find these owls besides Organ Pipe National Monument.  I just didn't want to chase and disturb this owl.  There are literally hundreds of miles of excellent habitat for this bird but their locations are very remote and difficult to access without the right vehicle. But we did our hike.  I heard and saw the bird and left.  This sensitive species is hidden from ebird and only those with excellent knowledge of their habitat will be able to find them. This is one I didn't want to chase and will not chase again.  Their populations seem to be doing fine but a civil war broke out among birders about advertising the various owl's locations. These particular owls are not fond of human settlements and like to live away from the urban areas. 

In a remote area near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, we search for the Rosy-Finches

The next two state birds were observed on the same day.  It was a perfect day out and one of the most fun treks to the North Rim.  This would be the day we'd get to observe Black Rosy-Finches up close along with a Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch!  Not only are these beautiful birds, but they are often difficult to observe up close. Every year a birder sees one or two Black Rosy-Finches, but they don't stick around long enough for other birders to observe.  A Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch was the icing on a cake with only a handful of records!  

Weather makes birding a lot of fun

By the end of the year, a Black-legged Kittiwake flew into the Phoenix area.  I didn't have great photos of this species from other places so I went to search for this bird.  So did many other birders.  It stuck around for a few days and made for a nice experience. 

People search high and low for the White-throated Thrush, yet another first AZ record

The White-throated Thrush was probably the MOST exciting bird for the 2019 birding season. I actually took a day off to see this first time Arizona record. 

We discover a rare Red-eyed Vireo on a beautiful spring day

Then it would get slow.  Between January and May, there were no new birds for my Arizona list.  Again on theory, I went with my friend Celeste to Boyce Thompson Arboretum to check out the spring migration for warblers, etc. We lucked out and had a great observation of a Red-eyed Vireo.  I've seen this bird often in other places but never in Arizona.  There are several records of this bird every year passing through the state.  It's just about being in the right place at the right time. And we were. 

During hawk migration, we keep an eye on the skies. 

At 458, I had had it with this stupid nemesis bird, the Short-tailed Hawk.  I have hiked and driven to all the spots where these birds had been reported.  Each year a few nest on our mountain tops in Southern Arizona. However, they take some skill in finding.  Most people accidentally find them.  Luckily for us, we got to see one on top of Mt. Lemmon. And now my last AZ breeding nemesis bird and lifer is the Dusky Grouse. 

Searching for my nemesis, the Dusky Grouse in the White Mountains, we discover by accident an Eastern Kingbird

The last two birds were not very exciting for me at all. Bird number 459 was the Eastern Kingbird and 460 was the Yellow-throated Vireo. We spotted a migrating Eastern Kingbird flying across the highway near Eager.  It wasn't chaseable as they never are due to their migration pattern.  It's a bird that does not stick around the area. However, the Yellow-throated Vireo near Sedona has stuck around for several years now.  It's a rare bird for the state, but I never went to chase it because I wasn't into searching for that bird. However during a trek up to Flagstaff, we stopped to look for the bird.  It was found in the beautiful Oak Creek Canyon.  

Yellow-throated Vireo territory is quite beautiful in Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, AZ

If anything state birding can be a lot of fun.  Birds can take you to some very random locations.  Driving is a must and it requires patience and gas money. I will admit that with a job and friends, the state birding takes a third place unless the bird is a lifer. The Yellow-throated Vireo is a good example of this all.  It took me two or three years to look for it.  It's a pretty rare bird for the state but I've seen them often enough.  The Red-eyed Vireo or Eastern Kingbird are other species that I normally wouldn't chase. 

Looking for longspurs

Now if we're talking warblers or ocean birds, then I get excited.  I still wait for a surprise Magnificent Frigatebird to descend from the heavens during a hurricane event.

Perfect conditions for a rare Magnificent Frigatebird during monsoon season, when hurricanes move north into our area

Stay tuned for more!

Dirty Work

Feedlots have some amazing birds.  Keep out of the way of workers and look for great birds in the Santa Cruz Flats!

This week's addition of Arizona birding is strictly for the birds.  I don't often visit certain places around the state because they are gross and smell like %&^!.  But I had a friend who needed some state birds for his list and we made the trek to several international AZ birding hotspots where people can find unique and specific birds.  I swore that once I had found my LeConte's Thrasher, I'd never go back to that spot again, but I was wrong. Several years later, I found myself back at this Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome location. "Two men enter, one man leaves!"  Thankfully that wasn't the case this time. Let's begin with our first stop, the infamous Thrasher Spot near the town of Buckeye outside of the Phoenix area. 

The nuclear wasteland known as the Thrasher Spot

Sure.  You're saying to yourself, That's pretty. Nope.  That's just the artist in me trying to make the location pretty:)  The thrasher spot is truly a unique experience.  BUT.  It's the one place in the US, you can get all your thrashers at one stop.  Well, most of them.  Here you can find the beautiful LeConte's Thrasher, near threatened Bendire's Thrasher, Crissal Thrasher, Sage Thrasher and even Curve-billed Thrasher. 

The first and last time I've gone after a LeConte's Thrasher.  Beautiful bird in a very ugly habitat. 

Two of these thrasher species, the LeConte's and Crissal, are often very secretive and difficult to observe.  During our visit, Steve needed the LeConte's Thrasher for his AZ list.  Most of the time, a birder can just drive to the spot and easily add Crissal and Bendire's Thrasher to their lists. Well, not on that day. 

A "secretive" Crissal Thrasher

The best time to visit this location is towards the end of February until the first or second week of April when the thrashers are actively calling during their breeding season.  The important part is that you arrive early. Sometimes they are singing and other times, they need a little time to get going. 

the near threatened Bendire's Thrasher

We walked through broken sink fixtures and torn up bed mattresses like you'd see in the movie, Mad Max.  This location is also known for many Sagebrush Sparrows and a few Bell's Sparrows.  Sparrows are my specialty so we were able to find both species to add to Steve's state list.  Thrashers on the other hand were difficult!  We had to work for our Bendire's Thrashers.  It would have been embarrassing to leave the "Thrasher Spot" without a Thrasher.  We had both Bendire's and Sage but NO Crissal or LeConte's!  The Thrasher group can be a tough one.  Patience.  Lots and lots of patience is needed for these birds. Often, a return trip is required. I had that experience this past week with my Streak-backed Oriole in my neighborhood.  It took 11 attempts before I saw that blasted bird!

Burros are commonplace in the Lake Pleasant.  Be careful driving the highways there

Our next stop was another place I hadn't visited in a long time.  In fact, the last time I went was during my 2014 Big Year in the US. I needed several scoters for the state and one for my national list, the White-winged Scoter.  This location is known for lots of great ocean birds during the winter months. In fact, the one and only time I was there, I was able to capture a White-winged Scoter in flight.  The pic was published in the Birds of Phoenix and Maricopa County by Janet Witzeman, Troy Corman and Tommy D. It's a great guide for birding in Maricopa county.  And this Pima County birder was able to help:) I should mention that if you're looking for a human bird guide, there's a great guy by the name of Gordon Karre who does a lot of these treks to the spots I'm writing about today. He's situated in Maricopa and knows this county best.  I think his spirit bird is the Gray Vireo which he has a knack for finding.  In fact, he's often asked for assistance with Rosy-faced Lovebirds, LeConte's Thrashers, Gray Vireos and Black-chinned Sparrows along with the many other AZ birds. He's on Facebook and he's an excellent bird guide.  So if you're in the area and need a guide, look him up.  

Back to our challenge at hand.  So we went to this Lake Pleasant to find the Barrow's Goldeneye.  If you are new to this hotspot, I'd recommend a scope. Many of the birds are often far out in the lake and require a scope to find them. There are several points all around the park for a person to bird.  There's even burros:)

female Common Goldeneye

There were quite a number of goldeneyes in the area.  The ONLY male Barrow's Goldeneye was near the shore. 

Barrow's Goldeneyes are common in winter further north of the state.  To have one in the Phoenix area was nice

It was an easy add and a new bird for my Maricopa list and a state bird for Steve. 

Easiest Barrow's Goldeneye ever near Scorpion Point at Lake Pleasant

Then it was more gross birding in poop.  Nasty, gross poop. So we headed to the feedlot. I dreaded lowering my window. But sometimes you gotta bite the bullet. Our noses were assaulted with the stench of fecal matter. I think I need to buy breathing masks for these treks:) Doves.  They are beautiful but they do like poopy areas. 

Inca Dove

Steve needed Ruddy Ground-Doves which are very common in Mexico but rare for Arizona.  They can show up anywhere but they seem to like garbage areas around the state that don't have the most "scenic" habitat. We made an educated guess and found the doves hanging out with cattle. 

Ruddy Ground-Dove

We drove off with the lingering smells trapped inside our noses. 

So for every dirty stinky birding trek, I have to balance it out with some beautiful and scenic Arizona scenery.  And that's just what I did.  Either way, it was a fun bird outing with Steve. Until next time....