Southeast Arizona Trip ~ May 23, 1987

We headed back to Madera Canyon in order to seek out some of the birds we had missed there before. We stopped at Florida Wash and found Band-tailed Pigeon, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, and Olive-sided Flycatcher among the usual species. Just above the bridge over the wash, Mark found a Botteri's Sparrow perched on an ocotillo stem. We watched it as it sang its bouncing song.

Botteri's Sparrow habitat just above Florida Wash near Continental, Arizona.

Along the stream near Proctor Road were Bell's Vireo, Wilson's Warbler, Western Tanager, and Scott's and "Bullock's" Oriole. Over the road back to the old dump, we got our first 'good' look at a Zone-tailed Hawk.

We went back to Tucson and the Reid Park Zoo to try and find the Ringed Turtle-Doves that were established there. We dipped on them, but the zoo was nice. We then went to the University of Arizona's main library where Cave Swallows were occasionally seen, but we found only Cliff Swallows and a Cactus Wren.

Back we went to the Florida arroyo to attempt to see the Buff-collared Nightjar. We happened to park next to the Field Guides tour vans. In the group were the Davidheisers, whom we talked with until it got closer to dusk. Near dusk, we again walked to the edge of the arroyo. Surprisingly, while it was still fairly light, the nightjar started calling. There, on a snag in the bottom of the arroyo, sat the bird! With its white throat patch and buffy collar, it appeared to have a complete ring around its neck. We watched it for at least a half-hour as it flew from perch to perch, sometimes playing in flight with the female. Again, Poorwills also called there, but once again, we never got a look at one.

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