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Field Guides Southeastern Arizona Nightbird Weekend
May 22-26, 1998
Pre-Trip May 20-22 1998
Bert Filemyr, Karl Lukens, Martin Selzer
Report written by Martin Selzer

20-May-98
Picked Bert up at 4:40am, then got Karl, then headed to Airport via Pacifico Ford's Valet Service. At the airport, we ran into Jeff Gordon (who was heading to Costa Rica) so we said hello. The flight to Dallas/Ft Worth took off on time and arrived about 20 minutes early. Our flight to Tucson also took off on time and we arrived 11am. We got our luggage, picked up the Chevy Blazer we rented and headed south around 11:30. We made a quick stop for some food and drinks and proceeded to San Xavier Mission. At the mission, we found Pyrrhuloxia, Bronzed Cowbird, Cactus Wren, Phainopepla, Bendire's Thrasher and 3 Burrowing Owls. After making short work of the mission in light of our return engagement with Fieldguides we continued on our way. Next stop was the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Facility. Our list quickly grew with Cassin's, Western and Tropical Kingbirds, Vermilion Flycatcher, Cliff Swallows and Killdeer. Next were the Nogales drive-in theater ponds for American Coots and much more satisfying looks at male and female Phainopeplas (many more were to follow). Next was Kino Springs where Black Phoebe and Neotropic Cormorant were at the 1st pond and Ruddy Ducks were on the 2nd pond. Gilded Flickers, Vermilion Flycatchers, and Canyon Towhee were on the grounds around the pond. We continued on to the Patagonia Roadside Rest Area which lived up to all its advanced billing. We had lots of good birds there on each of our three visits. Rock and Canyon Wrens, Hepatic and Summer Tanagers, Bridled Titmouse, and the beginnings of a Rose-Throated Becards nest. It was very windy and the bird weren't around but we ran into several people who had seen them that day. After realizing is was getting towards the end of a rather long day, we decided to check into the Stage Stop Motel and come back for the Becards first thing in the morning. We gave a pair of birders a ride into town after they locked their keys in the car. A trick all to familiar to us. Before checking in, we made a quick visit to the Paton's feeders: Broad-billed, Black-chinned and Violet-crowned Hummingbirds; Gila and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Inca Dove and the nesting Western Screech-Owls. Checked in at 5pm, poured the gin shortly thereafter, had dinner and called it a day.

21-May-98
We all got up early so we headed right to the Roadside Rest Area at 5am. We birded there for about 2 hours walking first along the paved pull-off until it got light and then following the trail along the fence line. Around 5:30 we were watching the pair of Rose-throated Becards build their nest. More Bridled Titmice, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Lesser Goldfinches, Bell's Vireo, Bewick's Wren, Bullock's Oriole and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. The ducks were fly-bys heading towards Kino Springs so we headed there next. No luck with the ducks, but we did find a Black-crowned Night-heron on the 1st pond and got better looks at the Neotropic Cormorant. We stopped back at the Stage Stop for breakfast around 8 and checked out around 9. We went to the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve (PSCP) and walked the creek trail from 9:15 -11:15. Western Wood-Pewee, Anna's Hummingbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, great looks at Gray Hawk perched and flying overhead. A truly magnificent raptor. We also found Canyon and Abert's Towhees practically side-by-side allowing for a nice comparison. The Abert's was a first year bird with not all of its black face grown in. We made a stop in town for drinks and headed back to the Paton's again from 11:45 -12:15. Got the Violet-crowned Hummer again and the adult screech-owl went hunting by the pond. It flushed everything and sat on the fence for at least 5 minutes trying to compose itself. We then drove out to Route 82 behind the PSCP and got two Common Ground Doves. We then checked out the Patagonia sewage ponds which were dry and headed out towards the Sonoita Grasslands but there were no birds to be seen or places to stop if we had seen them. On the way back to Tucson we decided to go to Mount Lemmon which turned out to be a very good idea. We arrived around 3 and didn't get off the mountain until about 6. We made our first stop at Bear Canyon Picnic Area for Plumbeous Vireo, Yellow-eyed Junco, Acorn Woodpecker, and Grace's Warbler, Next stop was at the Palisades Ranger Station: Violet-green Swallows, Blue-throated and Magnificent Hummingbirds (another wow even for a hummingbird) and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Continued up to Summerhaven and were beginning to run low on gas. Lots of birds around the cafe: Black-headed Grosbeak, Common Raven, Western Tanagers, American Robins, Pygmy Nuthatches and Red-faced Warblers. Perfectly lit, these are a CMF if every there was a CMF of a bird. Bird of the trip candidate if ever there was one. Pictures don't do them justice. Wows all around. We continued to the top where we played in the snow and had Stellar's Jays, more Red-faced Warblers, Virginia and Olive Warblers. The pair of Olive Warblers were also quite striking. Made a stop a few hundred yards down from the parking area for a snow bank shot for Karl. We had lots of birds here too. Red-breasted Nuthatch to complete a 3 nuthatch day, Pine Siskins, Mountain Chickadees, and Brown Creeper. It was an incredible amount of activity. We coasted down the mountain, got some gas and checked into the Best Western. Dinner at 7:30. Preliminary rough counts at this point were Karl 50 lifers, Bert 28 and 5 for me. Not too bad for less than 36 hours in the state.

22-May-98
Birded the Shannon-Broadway Desert area from 7-8:15am. Our first Gambel's Quail of the trip, fly-by White-faced Ibis, Bushtits, Verdin and a Greater Roadrunner. We then went to the Sonoran Desert Museum. We returned the Blazer around 11:15, ate lunch and relaxed before the Fieldguides trip started. At this point in the adventure, I had 106 species, 5 lifers and a whole lot of fun.

The Fieldguides tour met in the motel lobby at 2:45pm and after some brief introductions, we headed out with our first stop being the San Xavier Mission. We made a bee-line for the cemetery and had 3 Burrowing Owls and a Loggerhead Shrike on the grave markers and crosses. We attempted to walk in the wash behind the mission but we were kicked out by the locals. We therefore headed to Madera Canyon. We still were by the mission when we had side-by-side comparison of Curve-billed and Bendire's Thrashers. This confirmed our identifications from day one and it is always nice to get a second look. We then birded along Continental Road at 4pm aiming for some sparrows that we on territory. First up was a Rufous-winged Sparrow which came into the tape and perched up nicely for scope views. Next came Botteri's Sparrow which also came in and was very scopable. It is a very plain sparrow with a soft buffy wash on the breast and a long-tail. While observing the Botteri's, we had several Eastern "Lillian's" Meadowlarks and a Black-throated Sparrow. If the Botteri's can be called plain, and it can, the Black-throated Sparrow is one jazzy looking bird. We walked in Florida Wash in hopes of Varied Bunting but dipped out. Fortunately, John lost the trail temporarily which allowed me to spot a perched hummingbird. It had a long purple gorget which framed a white patch on its neck and a purple crown. Yip! Yip! It was a Costa's Hummingbird. I got a scope on it and Karl was able to jump in for a look before it flew off. Most people got their glasses on it which was a good thing since it was the only one we saw for the trip. We continued up to Santa Rita Lodge and looked around - Mexican Jays, Acorn Woodpeckers, Painted Redstart and a very cooperative Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher were there. We then headed down to the picnic area for dinner. As we were starting to get out of the vans, a Zone-tailed Hawk flew down the canyon hunting. Everyone jumped out of the vans and got on the bird as it made a few passes up and down the canyon. Dinner was great as spirits were up and the tortellini salad tasted great. After dinner, we headed up to the lodge for a date with an Elf Owl. Unfortunately, the little guy stood us up as we waited for it to stick its head out of its nest hole. We then headed back to the picnic area where Dave called one in and got it in the Q-beam. Next up was an equally cooperative Whiskered Screech-Owl with its tiny feet and pale, green bill. That was followed up by a Western Screech-Owl with its black bill, that Dave walked so close to that it raised its ear tuffs in an attempt to look mean. We then made a minor attempt for Buff-collared Nightjar that wasn't present although we did hear both Whip-Poor-Will and Common Poorwills. We were back at the Best Western at 10:30 with a life bird count holding at 598. With a little luck either the Elegant Trogon or Spotted Owl would be number 600. Without a little luck it could be a Buff-breasted Flycatcher or Juniper Titmouse. I know what I'm hoping for.

23-May-98
Breakfast at the motel at 6:30am and then we were on the road at 7:05 to Fort Huachuca. We checked into the security gate at the fort at 8:30 and headed up Garden Canyon. We dropped John off at Scheelite Canyon to scout for the owls while we headed up to Saw Mill Canyon. Bert had the lucky job of driving the second van the rest of the way up and back down. The road we pretty bad. We got several Buff-breasted Flycatchers without any problems. I thought they actually were not as drab as I had heard them described and still had some buff on their bellies. We also had Greater Pewee, Western Tanager and some other birds in Saw Mill. All we had to do was avoid the Dusky-capped Flycatcher Dave had heard and number 600 would be the trogon or the owl. We waited at the trogon nest hole for a few minutes with no luck until Dave heard the bird up the canyon. We waited as it slowly came toward the nest hole calling all the way so we could hear it getting closer. Finally, the male Elegant Trogon came into view at least for me and some of the group. His bright green head, pale bill, white breast band and bright red belly were in plain view. His tail was partially obscured but this was good enough for me. Not too bad for #600. We headed back to Scheelite and started up around 10:30 in hopes of more success. We went all the way up to the fork in the trail (approximately 1 mile) until we found John. He had been up and down the Canyon several times with no luck and we weren't going to have much better luck ourselves with the Spotties. We did have a female White-eared Hummingbird and Mountain Pygmy-Owl. The owl is a potential split. It ranges as far north as the Santa Ritas where it comes in contact with the southern range of the Northern Pygmy-Owl. The Mountain P-O also doubles its hoots. We made it off the trail at 12:30, had a roadside picnic and headed off to Portal at 1:30pm. We arrived in Portal at 4:45 and went to the feeders at Dave W's house at 5pm hoping for the Lucifer Hummingbird that was hanging around. We didn't see the Lucifer but got Black-chinned and Blue-throats buzzing around. A Juniper (Plain) Titmouse came into the seed feeders. Dinner was at 6:15 and we then headed off for some nightjar action. On San Simon Road, just at duck, several Lesser Nighthawks came out to hawk insects. They fly very close to the ground and Dave and John were able to catch them in the Q-beam on several passes. Next we headed up Paradise Road for Common Poorwill. One came into the tape and sat perfectly still so the entire group got within our bins focus ranges. What a wonderful view. Last stop for the evening was an old cotton processing facility just over the state line in New Mexico for Barn Owls. We flushed one out of the ventilation fans as we approached. Another long, but successful day.

24-May-98
Loaded the vans up at 6:30am for a picnic breakfast in Cave Creek before heading up South Fork. While John and Dave were setting up breakfast, we all took a short walk and had the best views of Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers anyone could want. During breakfast a male Scott's Oriole perched on a tree top for us. We headed up the canyon and birded where the creek crossed the road. It was a very active spot with Painted Redstart, Blue-throated Hummingbirds, Dusky-capped Flycatcher and Hutton's Vireo. A short way up the road a female Elegant Trogon was calling and we were able to get her in the Questars for all to look at. We then walked up the road to the parking area and found a "secret" Flammulated Owl nest site. Along with Dave Jasper and two people he was guiding, John rubbed the tree and the owl poked its head out. It was just great. It was then time to load the vans up and head to East Turkey Creek Road. There were several gorgeous Western Tanagers, a Hermit Thrush, Black-throated Gray Warblers and a few Mexican Chickadees. These are very gray chickadees with a rather large bib. We tried for Black-chinned Sparrow on Paradise Road without any luck. Lunch was at the Portal Cafe from 12-1 and we had from 1-3 to relax. Bert, Karl and I walked back up to Dave W's feeders but found the gate closed tightly. Fortunately another birding soon came from behind the house and told us that not only had he just seen the Lucifer Hummer but how to see the feeders from a trail in the back.. We stood there for about 15 minutes when Dave saw us and invited us in. We scared everything off but in five minutes all was back to normal and the Lucifer came in. It was a peak breeding plumage male. We also saw some nice Hooded Orioles, and the usual cast of characters there. We watched the Lucifer for about 5 minutes and then headed back to town. By the store, we ran into Ben, Sue and Trevor who had just seen a probable Crissal Thrasher. We told them about the Lucifer and they headed off to see it while we searched for the thrasher. They got the hummer while we missed the thrasher. We did finally see the Say's Phoebe which was building a nest under the porch of the lodge. From 3-4 we went back with the group to see the Lucifer without any luck. Then half the group went to Dave Jasper's feeders for Crissal Thrasher and half stayed behind for the hummer. Both groups were successful. Those of us that went for the thrasher got two distant but distinct views of it along with Western Scrub Jay and a beautiful Blue Grosbeak while those looking for the hummer got it and a Magnificent. All parties were happy. Dinner was from 6-7 and we then headed up Pinery Canyon for Whip-Poor-Will and long-shot attempts at Spotted Owl. Great luck with the nightjar which may be a split and no luck with the owl which John later admitted was a real, real long shot. Still it was worth the chance.

25-May-98
Loaded up the vans at 6:30 for a picnic breakfast along Paradise Road. Before setting up breakfast, we made a stop for Black-chinned Sparrow and this time got it. After breakfast, we birded Pinery Canyon for Olive and Red-faced Warblers. The Red-faces are really great birds. Definitely my new favorite bird. We then embarked on a quest to build up a list, a pseudo-big day. First stop was Willcox and next was Patagonia. The tour usually doesn't go to Patagonia so this was a little bonus. At Willcox, we had a waterbird frenzy. At least it was a frenzy considering we were in a desert. California and Franklin's Gulls, Ruddy Ducks, Northern Shovelers, Cinnamon Teal, American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, Wilson's and Red-necked Phalaropes, Long-billed Curlew and 5 Baird's Sandpipers. We also had one Scaled Quail as we pulled up to the first pool. We then rushed off to Patagonia, picnicked outside of town and made a quick stop at the Paton's. Not only did we get the Violet-crowned hummer but we also got a nice male Anna's Hummer. Next was the Roadside Rest Area for the Rose-Throated Becard. The nest was now the size of a basketball. We also had a "funny" gnatcatcher which may have been a first year male Black-capped Gnatcatcher. It had a partial black cap, very indistinct eye ring, longish bill, un-Blue-gray call and a white undertail. It so it will be another lifer. We then drove behind the PSCP and got crippling looks at Thick-billed Kingbirds. We ended the day at Kino Springs. At the pond by the club house we had Tropical Kingbirds, and a great show by a Gray Hawk chasing a Red-tail Hawk out of its territory while being harassed by a Vermilion Flycatcher. At the first pond, we had Northern-beardless Tyranulet, Abert's Towhee and a Varied Bunting to end the trip. At 4:40 we headed back to Tucson. Checked into the Best Western just before 6 and had our good-bye meal at 7. Totals for me were 169 species and 16 lifers, Bert had 53 lifers and Karl had 98 (first time birding west of the Mississippi).

26-May-98
Came home as scheduled and uneventfully.