Southeast Arizona Trip ~ May 22, 1987

We went to the northwest section of Tucson to look for Bendire's Thrasher. While checking a few spots along Silverbell Road, we found Say's Phoebe, Brown and Abert's Towhee, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Cassin's and Western Kingbird, Verdin, Cactus Wren, Lucy's and MacGillivray's Warbler, Summer Tanager, Pyrrhuloxia, Curve-billed Thrasher, some Coyotes, and two non-poisonous snakes, but no Bendire's. Finally, along Silverbell Road near Sanders Road, we got an excellent look at a Bendire's Thrasher.

We later went to see the Saguaro National Monument full of huge saguaros with flowering tops. We stopped briefly at the Sonora Desert Museum, but it seemed so crowded that we decided not to go in.

Saguaro National Monument west of Tucson, Arizona.

We took Route 89 north out of Tucson and found two Zone-tailed Hawks circling against an overcast sky. The birds were silhouetted against the gray background, so the markings were hard to see. We would be lucky enough to get great looks at two other Zone-taileds later in the week. Also seen along the way to Aravaipa Canyon were Gambel's Quail, American Kestrel, Common Raven, and Phainopepla.

Aravaipa Canyon southeast Dudleyville, Arizona.

At the George Whittell Wildlife Preserve along Aravaipa Creek, we found a pair of Common Black-Hawks. One of them circled over their nest in a cottonwood tree, showing off its broad, white tail band. We also saw Scrub Jay, Lesser Goldfinch, and Hooded and Scott's Orioles along the creek. The desert scrub beside the little parking lot held a pair of Black-tailed Gnatcatchers.

The George Whittell Wildlife Preserve Aravaipa Canyon, southeast Dudleyville, Arizona.

We returned to Route 77 and went north to Dudleyville in order to find Mark's "hard luck" bird---Mississippi Kite. Just as we reached the town, I saw a kite-like bird flying over the road. We pulled over, jumped out, and watched an adult Mississippi Kite circle over the road. We ended up seeing three kites in about 15 minutes. We returned to Tucson where we found Inca Dove in one of the city parks.

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