After drooling over the posts about the Crescent-chested Warbler, Aztec Thrush, and Northern Jacana, Babe Webster and I finally decided to go and see if we could get a look at them. In addition, Babe was closely approaching '700' on her A.B.A. List and still needed Black-capped Gnatcatcher and Ruddy Ground-Dove, which were also very possible there. For those of you who don't know it, Babe taught me most of the things I know about raptor identification when I started going up to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in the mid-70's and has been a long-time friend that I call my "birding mom" ever since. She kiddingly tells others that I'm her "adopted son". She is now in her mid-70's and still very agile for someone her age.
In my case, it makes it a little tougher for me to get away in the winter since it's during ice hockey season and I'm the goalie for my team. Not just anyone wants to play that position; I can't understand why. Our games are usually on Sunday nights, but because the Super Bowl was that week, we played our game on Saturday night instead. This left me the chance to get away from Sunday to Saturday. As most of you know, getting a flight within two weeks of when you want to go somewhere is usually pretty pricey, but I'm guessing since the Super Bowl was that Sunday (there are advantages to missing the game) I was able to find an American Airlines flight from Philadelphia to Tuscon with only one stop in Dallas for $220.00 round-trip! You can't even drive there for that these days. Although we did miss a few of our 'targets', we had a pretty gratifying trip. Added to that was the bonus of getting to see something that doesn't happen very often, Madera Canyon draped in snow!
Sunday, February 3rd
Babe and I took off from Philadelphia Airport at around 6:30 PM, changed planes in Dallas, and got into Tucson near midnight Arizona time. There were a few happy New York Giants fans returning their rental cars and heading home by that time. We got our Alamo rental car (a Chevy Malibu) and drove to the nearby Motel 6 for a short night's stay.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Arizona Trip ~ February 4, 2008
Since rain showers were predicted for Monday, we decided to drive up to Casa Grande and look for the Northern Jacana that had parked itself at some ponds on the Dave White Municipal Golf Course. This way we'd be close to the car if the weather got really ugly. We drove to the spot and, within minutes, Babe spotted the bird working the edge of the back pond. During the hour or so we were there, it came fairly close to us, allowing me to get several mediocre photos of it in the rainy, overcast weather. It was a 'lifer' for Babe and an 'ABA bird' for me.
Northern Jacana at the Dave White Municipal Golf Course. Note the distinctive yellow and chestnut wing pattern, dark body, and yellow bill.
Northern Jacana at the Dave White Municipal Golf Course. Note the distinctive yellow bill and frontal shield and the extremely long toes.
While there, we saw Pied-billed Grebe, one immature Snow Goose, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Killdeer, American Coot, Belted Kingfisher, Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, Say's Phoebe, Verdin, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Abert's Towhee. Along the road, we spotted Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Loggerhead Shrike, Chihuahan Raven, and Great-tailed Grackle.
We left there and made a stop at the Red Rock feedlot on the way back towards Tucson, looking for a Ruddy Ground-Dove for Babe. There had been very few reports of it from this area this year and we were not able to find one while we were there. While looking, we found a few Eurasian Collared-Doves, White-winged Doves, several Inca Doves piled together to stay warm, a Black Phoebe, Horned Larks, dozens of Brewer's, Lark, and White-crowned Sparrows, several hundred Lark Buntings, Red-winged and Brewer's Blackbirds, and several meadowlarks that were most likely Westerns.
Inca Doves at the Red Rock feedlot. These seven doves were all huddled together, apparently to keep warm on this cold and dreary day.
Over 300 Lark Buntings perched on the wires along the road by the Red Rock feedlot. The white wing patches can be easily seen on the bird taking off from the lower wire, just left of center.
White-crowned Sparrow along the road by the Red Rock feedlot. This adult is of the 'gambelii' race. It doesn't have the black line between the eye and the bill like our 'leucophrys' race does that we see here in the East during winter.
We then headed for Madera Canyon where we were surprised to find the upper areas of the canyon had received an inch or two of snow! Thoughts of an insect-eating warbler in the snow made us wonder if the bird had been pushed out or, worse yet, had died from a lack of food. We happily spent the next four nights at the Santa Rita Lodge.
While there, we saw Pied-billed Grebe, one immature Snow Goose, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Killdeer, American Coot, Belted Kingfisher, Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, Say's Phoebe, Verdin, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Abert's Towhee. Along the road, we spotted Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Loggerhead Shrike, Chihuahan Raven, and Great-tailed Grackle.
We left there and made a stop at the Red Rock feedlot on the way back towards Tucson, looking for a Ruddy Ground-Dove for Babe. There had been very few reports of it from this area this year and we were not able to find one while we were there. While looking, we found a few Eurasian Collared-Doves, White-winged Doves, several Inca Doves piled together to stay warm, a Black Phoebe, Horned Larks, dozens of Brewer's, Lark, and White-crowned Sparrows, several hundred Lark Buntings, Red-winged and Brewer's Blackbirds, and several meadowlarks that were most likely Westerns.
We then headed for Madera Canyon where we were surprised to find the upper areas of the canyon had received an inch or two of snow! Thoughts of an insect-eating warbler in the snow made us wonder if the bird had been pushed out or, worse yet, had died from a lack of food. We happily spent the next four nights at the Santa Rita Lodge.
Arizona Trip ~ February 5, 2008
We awoke early for the mile-and-a-half climb up the Old Baldy Trail to where the warbler and the thrush had been seen. It was only 27 degrees and our footprints were the only ones in the snow on the trail until another hiker passed us on the way up. The view of the snow-covered peaks atop the canyon made the temperatures a lot more bearable.
Snow-covered peaks along Old Baldy Trail in Madera Canyon.
We reached the area and found a flock of Bridled Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, but couldn't find the warbler among them. We spent several hours there and eventually headed back down the trail in the early afternoon. Other birds seen or heard while up there included Acorn and Arizona Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, Mexican Jay, Common Raven, Hermit Thrush, numbers of American Robins, Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler, and Hepatic Tanager.
After stopping at our room at the lodge and getting something to eat, we headed down to Proctor Road to look for the pair of Black-capped Gnatcatchers that had been reported from there. We saw Gila Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Mexican Jays, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Green-tailed, Spotted, and Canyon Towhees, White-crowned Sparrows, and Northern Cardinals, but no gnatcatchers.
Mexican Jay along Proctor Road.
Canyon Towhee near the Proctor Road parking lot.
We reached the area and found a flock of Bridled Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, but couldn't find the warbler among them. We spent several hours there and eventually headed back down the trail in the early afternoon. Other birds seen or heard while up there included Acorn and Arizona Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, Mexican Jay, Common Raven, Hermit Thrush, numbers of American Robins, Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler, and Hepatic Tanager.
After stopping at our room at the lodge and getting something to eat, we headed down to Proctor Road to look for the pair of Black-capped Gnatcatchers that had been reported from there. We saw Gila Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Mexican Jays, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Green-tailed, Spotted, and Canyon Towhees, White-crowned Sparrows, and Northern Cardinals, but no gnatcatchers.
Arizona Trip ~ February 6, 2008
Babe had decided the night before that she wasn't going to try going back up the fairly steep trail this morning, so she spent the morning watching the feeders around the lodge while I headed back Old Baldy Trail by myself. It was only 25 degrees and was tricky walking because the snow on the trail had been packed down by birders and hikers, melted some during the afternoon, and refroze into a slippery sheet overnight. I spent the entire morning looking for the warbler. I wasn't even able to find one of the small flocks of birds that were occasionally seen working up and down the canyon slopes. The Aztec Thrush hadn't been reported for a couple weeks and looked like it had moved on, so it was a 'long shot' at best. I carefully headed back down the trail empty-handed. Going down was much worse than up because you never knew if your heel was going to stay put or slide out on the packed-down sections of the trail.
Back at the lodge, the feeders produced Wild Turkeys (that weren't very wild), Mexican Jays, Bridled Titmice, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-eyed Junco, and Dark-eyed Juncos that included the 'Gray-headed', 'Pink-sided', and 'Oregon' forms.
Bridled Titmouse at the feeder near our room at the Santa Rita Lodge.
Yellow-eyed Junco at the feeder behind our room at the Santa Rita Lodge.
We then headed back down to Proctor Road. New birds seen there included Curve-billed Thrasher and Townsend's Warbler, but the gnatcatchers still eluded us. Along the way down into Green Valley to get some groceries and hit a restaurant, we stopped at a pecan grove and spotted several Gambel's Quail crossing some railroad tracks. We drove across the tracks on a dirt road to get a better look at them and proceeded to get blocked in by a freight train that stopped and parked across our exit! Luckily, after waiting for about fifteen minutes to see if it would move again, I continued down the dirt road and found another way out of the area and back across the tracks. From now on, I will remember to park the car and walk in across railroad tracks unless I know there's another way out.
Back at the lodge, the feeders produced Wild Turkeys (that weren't very wild), Mexican Jays, Bridled Titmice, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-eyed Junco, and Dark-eyed Juncos that included the 'Gray-headed', 'Pink-sided', and 'Oregon' forms.
We then headed back down to Proctor Road. New birds seen there included Curve-billed Thrasher and Townsend's Warbler, but the gnatcatchers still eluded us. Along the way down into Green Valley to get some groceries and hit a restaurant, we stopped at a pecan grove and spotted several Gambel's Quail crossing some railroad tracks. We drove across the tracks on a dirt road to get a better look at them and proceeded to get blocked in by a freight train that stopped and parked across our exit! Luckily, after waiting for about fifteen minutes to see if it would move again, I continued down the dirt road and found another way out of the area and back across the tracks. From now on, I will remember to park the car and walk in across railroad tracks unless I know there's another way out.
Arizona Trip ~ February 7, 2008
Once again, I headed up Old Baldy Trail at first light. The trail was still slippery in many spots, but the snow had melted off in much of the lower section. On the way up, I met a New Jersey birder and we parked ourselves by the stump marked with a rock cairn, which is where the bird had most recently been seen. Six other birders eventually showed up and joined us in the search. At around 11:00, a local birding guide, Melody Kehl, announced to us that she had the bird. All eight of us got great looks at the Crescent-chested Warbler as it worked the oaks above the trail for about ten minutes before eventually moving back out of sight. Thanks, Melody! I managed to get several identifiable shots of this very active bird while it was in view. It's funny how it seemed that my leg muscles ached a lot less on the way down after seeing the bird.
Crescent-chested Warbler along Old Baldy Trail in Madera Canyon. Note the bold, white eyebrow stripe, the small white crescent under the eye, the olive-green back, the yellow breast with barely visible crescent, and the light belly.
Crescent-chested Warbler along Old Baldy Trail in Madera Canyon. This photo shows the bold, white eyebrow stripe, the 'parula-like' olive-green back, and the light belly.
Crescent-chested Warbler along Old Baldy Trail in Madera Canyon. This photo shows the white eyebrow stripe and the chestnut crescent on the yellow breast.
After telling Babe that I had seen the bird, which was great news for me but sad news for her, we headed back down to Proctor Road. As we were walking up the trail from the parking lot, Babe caught the 'sneezing' sound of a gnatcatcher up ahead. After directing her to some movement in the brush near the stream, we realized that we were finally looking at her 'life' Black-capped Gnatcatcher. This actively-feeding male eventually closed to within six feet of me!
Black-capped Gnatcatcher along Madera Creek at the Proctor Road area. This photo shows the graduated white tail feathers, a longer bill than that of Blue-gray and Black-tailed Gnatcatchers, and a dark line above the eye, which makes this bird a non-breeding male.
After getting all the looks she could possibly ask for, we circled around down to the stream to get the sun directly behind us. Eventually, we found the female, too, and watched her for a few minutes before she flew across to the other side of the stream. Other new trip birds seen there included a pair of Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, a Say's Phoebe, and a Bewick's Wren.
After telling Babe that I had seen the bird, which was great news for me but sad news for her, we headed back down to Proctor Road. As we were walking up the trail from the parking lot, Babe caught the 'sneezing' sound of a gnatcatcher up ahead. After directing her to some movement in the brush near the stream, we realized that we were finally looking at her 'life' Black-capped Gnatcatcher. This actively-feeding male eventually closed to within six feet of me!
After getting all the looks she could possibly ask for, we circled around down to the stream to get the sun directly behind us. Eventually, we found the female, too, and watched her for a few minutes before she flew across to the other side of the stream. Other new trip birds seen there included a pair of Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, a Say's Phoebe, and a Bewick's Wren.
Arizona Trip ~ February 8, 2008
Since we'd now found the gnatcatcher, I talked Babe into making the trek up Old Baldy Trail to see if we could refind the Crescent-chested Warbler for her. Slowly but surely, we made it up to the area where I'd seen the bird the day before. With more birders present than the previous three days, someone eventually spotted the bird down the trail from where we were. We carefully slid our way down to the rest of the birders and she was able to get a decent look at the bird, making the hike well worth it. Satisfied, we leisurely worked our way back down the trail, stopping at a few good vantage points, hoping to beat the nearly impossible odds and get a glimpse of the Aztec Thrush that one lucky birder happened to see the day before.
Back down at the car, we determined that we had more than enough daylight left to drive to drive back up to Red Rock and take another shot at finding a Ruddy Ground-Dove. Unfortunately, we came up empty again. Our last new bird of the trip was a Crested Caracara that Babe spotted a few miles west of the feedlot.
Back down at the car, we determined that we had more than enough daylight left to drive to drive back up to Red Rock and take another shot at finding a Ruddy Ground-Dove. Unfortunately, we came up empty again. Our last new bird of the trip was a Crested Caracara that Babe spotted a few miles west of the feedlot.
Arizona Trip ~ February 9, 2008
After packing up, we drove to the airport and boarded our flight back to Philadelphia via Dallas. I tallied one 'lifer' and one 'ABA bird' among the 71 trip species. Babe got three new birds: the Jacana, the gnatcatcher, and the warbler, and is now only two short of 700. Maybe next trip.
For those of you interested in seeing many more photos from this Arizona trip, you can go to my Arizona Photos Album.
Arizona Trip List ---- February 2nd to 9th, 2008
1) Pied-billed Grebe
2) Snow Goose
3) American Wigeon
4) Northern Shoveler
5) Ruddy Duck
6) Northern Harrier
7) Red-tailed Hawk
8) Crested Caracara
9) American Kestrel
10) Wild Turkey
11) Gambel's Quail
12) American Coot
13) Killdeer
14) Northern Jacana* ('ABA Area' bird)
15) Rock Pigeon
16) Eurasian Collared-Dove
17) White-winged Dove
18) Mourning Dove
19) Inca Dove
20) Belted Kingfisher
21) Acorn Woodpecker
22) Gila Woodpecker
23) Ladder-backed Woodpecker
24) Hairy Woodpecker
25) Arizona Woodpecker
26) Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker
27) Cordilleran Flycatcher
28) Black Phoebe
29) Say's Phoebe
30) Loggerhead Shrike
31) Mexican Jay
32) Chihuahuan Raven
33) Common Raven
34) Horned Lark
35) Bridled Titmouse
36) Verdin
37) Red-breasted Nuthatch
38) White-breasted Nuthatch
39) Brown Creeper
40) Bewick's Wren
41) Ruby-crowned Kinglet
42) Black-capped Gnatcatcher
43) Hermit Thrush
44) American Robin
45) Curve-billed Thrasher
46) European Starling
47) Orange-crowned Warbler
48) Crescent-chested Warbler* ('Life' bird)
49) Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler
50) Townsend's Warbler
51) Hepatic Tanager
52) Green-tailed Towhee
53) Spotted Towhee
54) Canyon Towhee
55) Abert's Towhee
56) Chipping Sparrow
57) Brewer's Sparrow
58) Lark Sparrow
59) Lark Bunting
60) White-crowned Sparrow
61) Dark-eyed Junco ('Gray-headed', 'Pink-sided', and 'Oregon')
62) Yellow-eyed Junco
63) Northern Cardinal
64) Red-winged Blackbird
65) Eastern Meadowlark
66) Brewer's Blackbird
67) Great-tailed Grackle
68) Brown-headed Cowbird
69) House Finch
70) Lesser Goldfinch
71) House Sparrow
(*) denotes life bird.
For those of you interested in seeing many more photos from this Arizona trip, you can go to my Arizona Photos Album.
Arizona Trip List ---- February 2nd to 9th, 2008
1) Pied-billed Grebe
2) Snow Goose
3) American Wigeon
4) Northern Shoveler
5) Ruddy Duck
6) Northern Harrier
7) Red-tailed Hawk
8) Crested Caracara
9) American Kestrel
10) Wild Turkey
11) Gambel's Quail
12) American Coot
13) Killdeer
14) Northern Jacana* ('ABA Area' bird)
15) Rock Pigeon
16) Eurasian Collared-Dove
17) White-winged Dove
18) Mourning Dove
19) Inca Dove
20) Belted Kingfisher
21) Acorn Woodpecker
22) Gila Woodpecker
23) Ladder-backed Woodpecker
24) Hairy Woodpecker
25) Arizona Woodpecker
26) Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker
27) Cordilleran Flycatcher
28) Black Phoebe
29) Say's Phoebe
30) Loggerhead Shrike
31) Mexican Jay
32) Chihuahuan Raven
33) Common Raven
34) Horned Lark
35) Bridled Titmouse
36) Verdin
37) Red-breasted Nuthatch
38) White-breasted Nuthatch
39) Brown Creeper
40) Bewick's Wren
41) Ruby-crowned Kinglet
42) Black-capped Gnatcatcher
43) Hermit Thrush
44) American Robin
45) Curve-billed Thrasher
46) European Starling
47) Orange-crowned Warbler
48) Crescent-chested Warbler* ('Life' bird)
49) Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler
50) Townsend's Warbler
51) Hepatic Tanager
52) Green-tailed Towhee
53) Spotted Towhee
54) Canyon Towhee
55) Abert's Towhee
56) Chipping Sparrow
57) Brewer's Sparrow
58) Lark Sparrow
59) Lark Bunting
60) White-crowned Sparrow
61) Dark-eyed Junco ('Gray-headed', 'Pink-sided', and 'Oregon')
62) Yellow-eyed Junco
63) Northern Cardinal
64) Red-winged Blackbird
65) Eastern Meadowlark
66) Brewer's Blackbird
67) Great-tailed Grackle
68) Brown-headed Cowbird
69) House Finch
70) Lesser Goldfinch
71) House Sparrow
(*) denotes life bird.
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