Southeast Arizona Adventure Part 11 - Mt Hopkins & Buenos Aires NWR

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Southeast Arizona Adventure Part 11 - Mt Hopkins & Buenos Aires NWR

Mary Beth Stowe • Oct 30, 2023

Got to the base of Mt. Hopkins road a little before sunrise, so enjoyed the desert dawn chorus: lots of Rufous-winged and Black-throated Sparrows, and a very cooperative Cactus Wren took a peek for video (if it even came out in that low light condition)! Interestingly, I had to do two separate eBird checklists for the lower portion, because part of it is in Pima County and the other is in Santa Cruz, but they don’t tell you on the road when you change counties! So I just kept watching the BirdsEye tracker and started the second one when I was halfway between the two points…

Elephant Head on the left and Mt. Hopkins on the right

Beat-up Black-throated Sparrow (note the notch in his head!) & juvenile Cactus Wren

The bird life changed dramatically at Montosa Canyon, with Bell’s Vireos joining the list, but I sure didn’t have to worry if I would find the “Five-striped Sparrow Spot”, as I heard him out the window right where he was supposed to be! 😊 The bad news was that my right eye was acting up again, and no amount of Refresh drops seemed to alleviate the pain, and I was in pain to the point of whining like a hurt puppy! ☹ Nevertheless, between begging God to take it away and Him reminding me of Paul’s own (presumed) eye trouble for which His grace was sufficient, we got the thing on video, even though he was way up there! Shortly after that a group showed up, so it was great fun (despite my stinging eye) to be able to show them right where the bird was! Turned out to be a Naturalist Journey group led by a gal named Pat, so that was neat!

Hillside that the Five-striped Sparrow liked (especially the ocotillos)

Bell's Vireo (left) & Five-striped Sparrow

I left them with the sparrow and headed on up the road to try for the Black-capped Gnatcatcher – nothing, so headed on. I kept using that checklist until about the nine-mile point (the next “hotspot” was Upper Mt. Hopkins from 9KM to the gate, but I was getting into higher elevation habitat long before that), the main highlight along that stretch being a presumed Crissal Thrasher, as he was doing his “chewy chewy” but wouldn’t come out for a look. The upper portion (I was calling it the “cloud forest” as it was pretty socked in) definitely was the highlight: one wooded area had a Wilson’s Warbler plus several Forester Moths (closest match seems to be Two-spotted)! Another highlight was hearing a Golden Eagle doing his chirping call! But aside from the normal Mexican Jays, pewees, and titmice, the big shocker was hearing a trogon singing up on the hill!

Heading up the mountain…

Mexican Jay

Side trail in the higher elevation stuff

Two-spotted Forester (left & center) & Wilson's Warbler (right)

Had lunch up at the observatory gate, then headed back down, thinking I was done with the list, when a Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay called – I didn’t think anything of it until it got flagged! So I jumped out and at least got a recording of the thing! (Later I noticed several eBird entries for the spot, so evidently they’ve been there fairly regularly…) Continuing on I ran into a feeding flock with a couple of Yellow-eyed Juncos, White-breasted Nuthatches, a Plumbeous Vireo, and a Chipping Sparrow, but the trogon was singing even closer, and this time I spotted him in a dead tree and was able to get video (with a nuthatch photo-bombing the scene at one point)! Kept listening for Montezuma Quail on the way down at the spots where I had had them before – not even a peep! I was really shocked that I hadn’t even heard any this trip (maybe I would have along Ruby Road, but that’s speculation at this point…)!

It’s socked in at the end of the road!

Elegant Trogon with friend (left) & Chipping Sparrow

Ran into a couple of reptile enthusiasts on the way down, and we got to chatting about Gila Monsters; they said they could be seen by the restrooms at a certain time, but also told an interesting story about how some folks were working a “sting” operation by placing one of their captive Gila Monsters in the road, and fining people if they stopped to “shoo” it off the road! Apparently you’re not allowed to touch them in any manner because they’re endangered (not that I’d want to touch one anyway, as they’re venomous…)!

Stopped at the gnatcatcher spot again (actually, a different spot as I suspected I was at the wrong one to begin with) and decided to hike down the wash a little; this was a wonderful little spot that had a great feeding flock with Nashville Warblers, another Wilson’s, and a tyrannulet (that one took me a minute as he wasn’t showing off his typical bushy crest and didn’t vocalize till later, but that pink at the base of the tiny bill made me suspicious)! Went back down to the Sparrow Spot, and he was actually closer in a bush, but I couldn’t get on him before he went back up to his ocotillo… Walked up the road a bit and actually heard a second Fivestripe singing! (Shouldn’t have been surprised, as people were reporting more than one…)

We stop at Montosa Canyon again for another shot at the Black-capped Gnatcatcher and a (hopefully) closer shot at the sparrow...

Northern Beardless Tyrannulet (left) & Nashville Warbler

Stopped at the restrooms and had a Verdin while I was there, but no Gila Monster… Since it was only 12:14 I decided to run over to Buenos Aires (in retrospect I probably shoulda explored nearby hotspots, as it was an hour and a half drive…). On the way we stopped at the Amado Sewer Ponds since it was right there and picked up the over-summering Ring-necked Duck and some Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Once at Buenos Aires we crawled along the entrance road, adding some Western Kingbirds (and the Red-tailed Hawk they were harassing), and at a little wetland had coots and grackles, plus Rough-winged Swallow for the trip. But what stole the show were tons of butters – mostly Cloudless Sulphurs, but at my feet were several Common Sootywings and Ceraunus Blues, plus a lone Snout! While I was shooting all this a ground dove flushed and landed on the other side of the water, but got away before I could get a good look – couldn’t help but wonder if that was the reported Ruddy??

Red-tailed Hawk and the Western Kingbird who was harassing him...

Wetland along the entrance road…

…that had a big mudding party going on!

Common Sootywings scuffle for prime mud…

Elada Checkerspot (left) & American Snout

Followed the signs to Aguirre Lake, but only found the trail out into a lot of overgrown nothing, so headed to the office where we ran into a rather bouncy volunteer who basically told me I hadn’t gone far enough! So back we went, and sure enough, there it was, visible right from the road! Got a Sora out of it, but that was it. Heading back out, tons of Cliff Swallows were swirling around this barn-like structure.

Aguirre Lake

Got out of there on time and found the cute little inn in the cute little village of Tubac! I never did meet the proprietors as they left the key in the door (trusting little town), and I left so early that I couldn’t leave it in the office as requested! So I left it in the door…

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Hidalgo County Big Day (18 April 2024)

By Mary Beth Stowe • 21 Apr, 2024

Today was slated as just a “relaxed and easy” birding day, but at the last minute decided to do a Big Day, with the itinerary based on places where potential year birds were reported on eBird. Said itinerary included Estero Llano Grande State Park an hour before dawn (which I always do in order to bag the night birds), the Progresso Silos for a crack at the Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Frontera Audubon Thicket for migrants, Delta Lake for Hudsonian Godwits and other shorebirds, Fireman’s Park in McAllen for the lingering Greater White-fronted Goose, Quinta Mazatlan for migrants (the reported Flame-colored Tanager was probably long gone), Old Hidalgo Pumphouse for a reported Groove-billed Ani (and I always get the Monk Parakeets there, whether they’re reported or not), and Santa Ana NWR. It would turn out to be mostly overcast all day, which made for a pleasant day out even though it got up to 91 later in the afternoon. Started the morning with the neighborhood Purple Martins (1) gurgling as I packed the car before heading to Estero. Once at Estero the Pauraques (2) were pretty easy to pick up, and a Chuck-will’s-widow (3) sang from the park host area. Checked the restroom lights in the Tropical Zone for moths, then settled in at the “Picnic Table Feeders” near Pauraque Hall to wait in the dawn. Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (4) flew overhead in the dark, and Black-necked Stilts (5) called from somewhere where there was water! Early-morning songsters included White-winged (6), White-tipped (7), and Mourning Doves (8), a Mockingbird (9), and Cardinals (10), and as it got lighter Chachalacas (11), Golden-fronted Woodpeckers (12), a Clay-colored Thrush (13), Brown-crested Flycatcher (14), Couch’s Kingbirds (15), Kiskadees (16), Green Jays (17), Black-crested Titmice (18), a Long-billed Thrasher (19), Carolina Wrens (20), and Olive Sparrows (21) joined the chorus. A couple of Hooded Orioles (22) “wheeped” on the way out, and a five-minute vigil at the Green Jay Drip didn’t yield the Crimson-collared Grosbeak, but a Yellow-billed Cuckoo (23) sang, which was good for the year!

Big Bend Part 2: Scouting Dugout Wells & Rio Grande Village

By Mary Beth Stowe • 26 Dec, 2023

Headed on to Big Bend the next morning, stopping at Persimmon Gap to use the restroom (I think Black-throated Sparrow and Verdin were the only birds there), and on the way to Panther Junction a family of Phainopeplas flew across the road! (At least that’s what I thought they were at the time; later I realized they could have been Pyrrhuloxias…) Stopped at Panther Junction to get my pass, and found out that, because I’m a senior, I could get an annual National Parks Pass for less than a single Big Bend Pass for the week! Got Cactus Wren and House Finch in the parking lot before heading to Dugout Wells.

Big Bend 12 - 19 JUNE 2021 - A Stop at Chaparral WMA

By Mary Beth Stowe • 27 Nov, 2023

Decided to get going around sunrise, and that was a good plan; it was quite birdy around the apartments in Alamo, adding Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Purple Martins, White-winged Doves, and a Tropical Kingbird to the list (as well as other things I probably wasn’t paying attention to). It was a beautiful, sunny day, but really didn’t start seeing many interesting birds until after Alice, where we turned west through Freer and towards the Chaparral WMA. Once on that corridor the Caracaras, Harris’ Hawks, and Chihuahuan Ravens started showing up, and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo flew across the road! But the best stop was at an overpass somewhere out in the boonies where both Cliff and Cave Swallows were nesting! People were so nice: both a state trooper and a local lady stopped to make sure I was okay, and seemed happy that I was filming the swallows!

Southeast Arizona Adventure Part 12 - Apache Pass & Twin Lakes

By Mary Beth Stowe • 06 Nov, 2023

I actually woke up a lot earlier than planned: it was at least a two hour drive to Bowie, but I didn’t want to be getting up at one-something to get there by sunrise, so I just set the alarm for eight hours after I actually got to bed. Still woke up at five till two, so took off, and got to the dirt portion of Apache Pass Road in good time (started the checklist at 6:20, about a half hour after sunrise). Saw some tiny Chihuahuan Ravens on the way, so I added them to the list (and heard one later to make it legit). The Gambel’s Quail I almost nailed in Bowie got put on as well, as I didn’t see or hear any more on the route, but heard plenty of Scaled Quail. Blue Grosbeaks won the numbers game, followed closely by Eastern Meadowlark and both Rufous-crowned and Black-throated Sparrows. The video prize went to a flycatching male Phainopepla right next to the road! A female Western Tanager showed up close to the trailhead.

Southeast Arizona Adventure Part 10 - Patagonia

By Mary Beth Stowe • 24 Oct, 2023

Next day I made a last minute decision to go to the Patagonia Rest Stop first because I figured the Rose-throated Becard would be vocalizing first thing, and therefore easier to bag. Didn’t take long to get there, so I parked by the cliff until sunrise (in case the Five-striped Sparrow decided to show again), and had the usual suspects, along with a beeping Canyon Wren. Then I parked at the north end and just gave it some time; as I wandered across the street I noticed that the trail down into the woodland was overgrown, so maybe people just aren’t using that any more (fine by me, as I always felt creepy down there). Abert’s Towhees were singing away as were chats and Yellow Warblers, but after a while I heard the characteristic wheezy song of the becard, and there they were, right across the street! They kept flying over my head, and one finally perched right overhead; tried to get video, but I think it’ll be good only for the audio (which thankfully came out great). Patagonia State Park was next; the guy at the entrance booth wasn’t there when I wheeled in, so made plans to pay on my way out. The place is always good for odes, but this time almost everything I could zoom in on was a Blue Dasher, except for a couple of Blue-eyed/Arroyo Darners that wouldn’t land (naturally). A quick stop at this big parking area added a very confiding Swainson’s Hawk on a pole, and a Bewick’s Wren that had me fooled into thinking it was a Western Tanager! The cabins were new since I was there last, and that loop landed right at the trailhead. They also had a new feeding area that was set up like a grandstand, but nothing was filled. It gave you a great view of the lake, though!

Southeast Arizona Adventure Part 9 - Box Canyon & Sonoita Creek

By Mary Beth Stowe • 16 Oct, 2023

Decided to stick with the plan and start pre-dawn at the top rather than try for screech owls again at Proctor, and I’m glad I did: the lightning show in the distance was spectacular (and you had a great view from the upper parking lot), and after a while a Mexican Whippoorwill started “whipping” and then launched into his song, followed by another distant one! No owls, but eventually other diurnal birdies woke up, like Black-headed Grosbeak, Mexican Jays, and even the trogon! (A gal pulled in wondering if I was Bill (??) and said she was meeting some hikers, and wanted to see the trogon as she’d heard them a gazillion times…)

Southeast Arizona Adventure Part 8 - Madera Canyon

By Mary Beth Stowe • 09 Oct, 2023

[Ed. Note: the “days” in the titles refer to actual birding days; the literal “Day 8 and 9” were spent at Canelo Ranch resting up and doing errands…]

Southeast Arizona Adventure Part 7 - Mt Lemmon

By Mary Beth Stowe • 25 Sep, 2023

Was seriously thinking about skipping Mount Lemmon and just doing Saguaro, and maybe scouting Madera before heading to Canelo Ranch for the weekend break. As it turns out, I shoulda stuck with that plan, but after reviewing BirdsEye, there were more potential targets along the Mt. Lemmon route than the Saguaro route, so we did that. This was the first time I actually got to do it “BBS style”, and I have to say that the scenery was gorgeous, but the birds were quiet: saw the dawn in at the first pullout, with mainly Black-throated Sparrows. Picked up a nice Blue Grosbeak at Molina Canyon along with a singing Bell’s Vireo, and at the Prison Camp a Raven was making funny noises, and an Arizona Woodpecker came bounding in! The highlight at one of the vistas was a singing Rock Wren that was actually visible, and at another stop a Black-throated Gray Warbler came in for good looks! Windy Point didn’t have any swifts like last time, but it was fun in that there were several rappelers there having a big time!

Southeast Arizona Adventure Part 6 - The Huachucas

By Mary Beth Stowe • 18 Sep, 2023

Got to Carr Canyon well before dawn (even though I didn’t mean to 😊), so set up the chair and enjoyed the dawn chorus, including a Poorwill! A Hepatic Tanager was fairly close, and the two cliff wrens sang up on the mountain! Started the BBS Protocol at sunrise and got the normal players heading up (Bridled Titmice and Mexican Jays in the foothills, juncos and pewees higher up), but the road was bad enough that I decided never to go up again, especially since I didn’t get the Buff-breasted Flycatcher! ☹ (But with the passage of time already I’m starting to reconsider that… 😊) The Virginia’s Warbler halfway up was a nice consolation prize, and once up at The Reef, heard some accipiter squealing right over my head and was hoping I had the reported Goshawk, but after analyzing the video and getting better looks at all three birds (and also comparing the squeals of the two species) they all proved to be juvie Coopers (although someone did report Goshawks up there the same day I did…) It was actually pretty dead up there; stopped at all the places I historically got the buffie with no response, and a walk around the cul-de-sac only yielded a gorgeous Mountain Spiny Lizard! The one cooperative bird was a Hairy Woodpecker on said pines. My dilemma was now: where to find the buffies? Sawmill Canyon was way too rough when I did it years ago, and even though they’re reported at other high-elevation spots, Carr is the only place I’ve gotten them period, much less consistently, but unless they’re a sure thing, it’s not worth worrying about whether you’re gonna blow a tire on one of those rocks on the way up! (Later a friend was telling me about these tires made of Kevlar – maybe I should invest in some!)

Southeast Arizona Adventure Part 5 - Portal

By Mary Beth Stowe • 11 Sep, 2023

Headed out to the “Research Station Road” pre-dawn as planned, but the trailhead parking spot I was going to use backfired only in that you could hear Cave Creek “roaring” behind you (at least enough to drown out any night birds), so decided to try Sunny Flats instead. A lot more people had settled in since the day before, and after I thought I had found a spot that was somewhat isolated, I didn’t count on the campsite “kind of” next to me (they were several yards back from the road) having two guys who were also early risers walking their dogs and chatting while they were at it! So we decided to use the end of South Fork Road (since Jon told me that I should get Whiskered Screech Owl almost anywhere), and thankfully no one was camped out there themselves! It was a lovely experience, with the owls tooting almost immediately! No other night birds, and just had the regulars tuning up (oh, some Mexican Jays came in and fed on something in the parking lot; was almost too dark for video). No return appearance of the trogon, and I can’t recall anything stupendous on the way to Paradise Road (except another Sulphurbelly near the VC), but said road was gorgeous! A cute little Black-throated Sparrow sang, but the highlight here was a nice male Black-tailed Gnatcatcher! As we climbed, who should we run into again but Jon’s bunch! They had stopped for a Scott’s Oriole (that I thankfully saw fly in), so since they all piled out, I parked well behind them and moseyed over. Turns out the reason he stopped here was because Black-chinned Sparrows had been reported, so he was trying for that (never came in, though… ☹)! I chatted with one of the ladies who was here for the first time and was thrilled with all her lifers, while both Canyon and Rock Wrens sang from on high. Jon also confirmed this was the spot where the summering Green-tailed Towhee was hanging out, and unlike the sparrows, he did cooperate – everyone was able to get great views (and I got video to prove it 😊)!