Arizona Trip ~ June 16-18, 2020

After seeing reports of Eared Quetzal, Berylline Hummingbird, and Crescent-chested Warbler in Arizona, Jason Horn and I discussed going out there. A search online for flights revealed exorbitant prices ranging from $600 to $800. We decided to rent a car instead and drive all the way out there.

---

June 16th
At around 6 PM on the 16th after picking up our Volkswagen Jetta, Jason, another birding friend, and I began the long drive to the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona. We crossed Pennsylvania, a sliver of West Virginia, and Ohio.

---

June 17th
We continued on into Indiana and passed through Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and into New Mexico. Near dusk, we saw a Badger, a Long-billed Curlew, and a Swainson's Hawk.

Swainson's Hawk

---

June 18th
We finally arrived at the John Hands Campground in Arizona at around 2:30 AM. We snoozed a couple hours in the car until first light and then began looking for the Eared Quetzal, which had been reportedly roosting somewhere in that general area. The area around the campground provided views of Brown-crested Flycatchers at a nest, a pair of Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, and Hairy Woodpecker.

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers

Hairy Woodpecker

Other notable birds in that area included a calling Mexican Whip-poor-will, Western Wood-Pewee, Plumbeous Vireo, and Brown Creeper.

We spent most of the morning looking for the Quetzal while walking down Herb Martyr Road, which paralleled the stream. During our search, I was able to get looks at my 'life' Berylline Hummingbird, which was perched near Cabin #4.

Berylline Hummingbird

It eventually visited a nearby feeder along with Black-chinned Hummingbird and Blue-throated Mountain-Gem. Additional birds found in that area included Dusky-capped and Cordilleran Flycatcher, Hutton's Vireo, Mexican Jay, Bridled Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee, Painted Redstart, and Black-throated Gray Warbler.

We left there and headed up to Pinery Canyon Campground, which was the last place the Quetzal had been seen. New birds found in the area included Mexican Chickadee, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, House Wren, Red-faced Warbler, Western Tanager, and Hermit Thrush.

Hermit Thrush

The real bonus was getting to see a pair of Spotted Owls that were preening each other at a daytime roost.

Spotted Owls

We continued down Pinery Canyon and then headed back up to Morse Canyon where the Crescent-chested Warblers had been reported. I had seen one of these in the Santa Rita Mountains back in February of 2008, but the other two guys hadn't. As we were nearing the end of the road, Jason spotted a Zone-tailed Hawk overhead. We quickly got out of the car and discovered three of them calling and dive-bombing each other.

Zone-tailed Hawks

At the parking area at the end of the road, we saw Arizona Woodpecker and Hepatic Tanager.

Arizona Woodpecker

Hepatic Tanager

We struck out on finding a Crescent-chested Warbler. Interesting birds that we did find along the trail included Rivoli's Hummingbird, Grace's Warbler, Painted Redstart, Western Tanager, and Yellow-eyed Junco.

Yellow-eyed Junco

Near sunset, we headed back out the road and headed north on Kansas Settlement Road. Birds seen along the road included Scaled Quail, Greater Roadrunner, Common Nighthawk, American Kestrel, Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Mockingbird, and Eastern Meadowlark. In the town of Willcox, we got something to eat and a motel room for some much-needed sleep.

---

Arizona Trip ~ June 19, 2020

We decided to head back up to Morse Canyon to the Crescent-chested Warbler site. We searched there through the morning and into the early afternoon and still couldn't turn up one of the warblers. We found the same cast of characters as the day before. A few photos from the morning included a Northern "Red-shafted" Flicker and a Red-faced Warbler.

Northern "Red-shafted" Flicker

Red-faced Warbler

As we were getting ready to leave, an Oklahoma birder parked there and told us that his group had heard and briefly seen the Eared Quetzal that morning at first light at the parking area along Herb Martyr Road just below Cabin #4. We left Morse Canyon and started back up into Pinery Canyon. We stopped at Pinery Canyon Campground, hoping to find the Quetzal, which had been photographed there also a few days before. New birds found there included 6 Bushtits and a Steller's Jay. A Cordilleran Flycatcher posed along a wash.

Cordilleran Flycatcher

Right along the road, one of the Spotted Owl's roosting spots was given away by a small group of scolding birds.

Spotted Owl

We topped the mountain at Onion Saddle, and started down the east side. The views from the winding dirt road are super, but you want to make sure that you're watching the road since there are no guardrails keeping you from dropping hundreds of feet over the side.

Forest Road 42 below Onion Saddle

The view to the east below Onion Saddle

The view to the northeast below Onion Saddle

We continued all the way down to the town of Portal and stopped at the Portal Store & Cafe for some food. This is the only place where you can get something to eat without doing at least an hour's drive in any direction. There's a phone booth at the right side of the store, which is often used since cell phone service is practically non-existent in this area.

The Portal Store & Cafe with its adjacent phone booth

While there, we saw White-winged Dove, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Violet-green Swallow, House Finch, Canyon Towhee, Northern Cardinal, and Blue Grosbeak.

We drove back up to Herb Martyr Road and continued our search for the Quetzal. Since the bird had been apparently roosting near the John Hands Campground on a few of the days, we searched there until dark. White-throated Swift and Bridled Titmouse were a couple of the species present while watching. At that time, we set up tents and camped there overnight with Whiskered Screech-Owl calling nearby.

---

Arizona Trip ~ June 20, 2020

At first light, we packed up the tents and hoped that this would be the day the bird would show itself. We headed down to the parking lot located just south of the Southwest Research Station where the Oklahoma birders had had the Quetzal the morning before. On the way there, a Whiskered Screech-Owl was roosting in the crotch of a tree along the road.

Whiskered Screech-Owl

Once again, it was a no-show. We eventually worked our way back up the road towards the area with the private cabins. A Painted Redstart was taking food to the female in their hillside nest.

Painted Redstart taking food to the nest

Nearby, I managed to get documentation photos of the Berylline Hummingbird on its nest.

Berylline Hummingbird nest

Later, the male put in an appearance at the feeder. Although the lighting was terrible, the photos show the green head and breast, chestnut-colored wings, and bi-colored bill.

Berylline Hummingbird

Later that day, the lighting was much more favorable, so I was able to get somewhat better results.

Berylline Hummingbird
In the heat of the day, we drove back down to the Portal Store to get something to eat. New birds seen there while sitting at one of the outdoor tables included Inca Dove, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Curve-billed Thrasher, Lesser Goldfinch, Hooded and Bullock's Oriole, and Black-headed Grosbeak.

Birding the area by the Sunny Flat Campground revealed an Elegant Trogon, Black Phoebe, Canyon Wren, Scott's Oriole, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Hepatic Tanager.

We returned to Herb Martyr Road and drove all the way up to Herb Martyr Campground, but there were several noisy groups of campers there, so we didn't stay too long. We spent the rest of the day at the parking lot just south of the Southwest Research Station. A hummingbird feeder there produced Broad-tailed, Black-chinned, and Rivoli's Hummingbird, and Blue-throated Mountain-Gem.

We spent the second night tent-camping at John Hands with Mexican Whip-poor-will calling nearby.

---

Arizona Trip ~ June 21, 2020

This morning's plan was to once again check the area around the parking lot below Cabin #4 where the Eared Quetzal had been heard and briefly seen at first light two days before. Jason spotted a Rufous-crowned Sparrow there, but as in previous days, we had no luck with our 'target bird'.

We headed back up to the Pinery Canyon Campground where there had been a fairly recent report of the bird heard calling nearby. A group of Mexican Chickadees and Red-faced Warblers flitted along the road.

Mexican Chickadee

A Mexican Chickadee fledgling

Red-faced Warbler

A Buff-breasted Flycatcher was spending most of its time near the tops of the tall pines, making it tough to get photos of. I was lucky to get this image of it.

Buff-breasted Flycatcher

Since none of us had recently been up to Rustler Park, we drove there and checked out the area. It was nothing like I remembered. The bad fire from several years ago had wiped out a lot of the pine forest. Instead of thick forest with Olive Warblers, we were seeing open hillsides with Cassin's Kingbirds doing their flycatching.

Cassin's Kingbird

One of the sections of pines that survived the fire produced Hutton's and Plumbeous Vireo, Steller's Jay, Western and Hepatic Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Bluebird, and Hairy Woodpecker.

Western Bluebird

Hairy Woodpecker

Since I have enough trouble trying to identify the birds I see, I am assuming after doing some research that this nicely-marked specimen is a Cliff Chipmunk.

Cliff Chipmunk

Along the road back out to Onion Saddle while unsuccessfully looking for Virginia's Warbler, we did find Black-throated Gray Warbler, Painted Redstart, a flock of about 40 Bushtits, and a pair of Greater Pewees taking food to their young at the nest.

One of the Greater Pewees at their nest

Greater Pewee

Back down at Pinery Canyon Campground, I watched a Broad-tailed Hummingbird feeding its nestlings. It amazed me how she put her entire bill down their throats without piercing their insides, reminding me of the people that do sword-swallowing.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird feeding her nestlings

I couldn't resist taking a few more photos of the Spotted Owls that happened to be within sight of the hummingbird nest. They were pretty much unconcerned about the birders' presence.

Spotted Owls

As the day waned, we drove the hour to Willcox to get some food and a motel.

---

Arizona Trip ~ June 22-24, 2020

June 22nd
Since neither the Eared Quetzal or Crescent-chested Warblers were being reliably seen, it was a toss-up on which one to spend our last morning looking for. Since Willcox was on the east side of the Chiricahuas and Morse Canyon was, too, we headed there to look for the warblers. Birds seen along Highway 186 included Scaled and Gambel's Quail, White-winged Dove, Greater Roadrunner, American Kestrel, Loggerhead Shrike, Lesser Goldfinch, and Eastern Meadowlark.

We did another extensive search of the canyon and again came up empty. Birds not previously found in that area included Cooper's Hawk, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Mexican Chickadee, Bridled Titmouse, and a much more cooperative Buff-breasted Flycatcher.

Buff-breasted Flycatcher

Yellow-eyed Junco, Red-faced Warbler, Painted Redstart, Hepatic Tanager, and Spotted Towhees were seen near the parking lot.

Spotted Towhee

We very reluctantly left the Chiricahua Mountains and began the long, long, disappointing drive back home. Returning to Willcox, we picked up I-10 and headed west into New Mexico. As we passed through Alamogordo, Jason spotted a pair of Harris's Hawks perched on wires.

Harris's Hawks

We luckily skirted some strong thunderstorms as we hit the Texas Panhandle and headed into Oklahoma.

---

June 23rd
We continued on into Missouri, passing "The Arch" in St. Louis, and then on through Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.

---

June 24th
We finally got into Pennsylvania and I stopped at one of the service plazas to take a couple-hour snooze. As it got light, we continued on and got back home at around 7 AM.

Below is a list of the 121 species we found followed by the states where found in parentheses. The trip encompassed 4,953 miles. Although we never found the Eared Quetzal or the Crescent-chested Warblers, it was still a good trip. More photos from the trip can be found in my Arizona Photo Album.

---

Arizona ~ June 18-22, 2020
1) Snow Goose (MO, IL)
2) Canada Goose (OK, MO, IN)
3) Mallard (OK, IN)
4) Wild Turkey (AZ)
5) Gambel's Quail (AZ, NM)
6) Scaled Quail (AZ, NM)
7) Green Heron (IL)
8) Cattle Egret (OK)
9) Great Egret (OK, MO)
10) Great Blue Heron (OK, MO, IL)
11) Turkey Vulture (AZ, NM, TX, OK, MO, IL, IN, OH)
12) Black Vulture (OK, MO, IN)
13) Mississippi Kite (OK, TX)
14) Cooper's Hawk (AZ)
15) Harris's Hawk (NM)
16) Zone-tailed Hawk (AZ)
17) Red-tailed Hawk (AZ, NM, TX, OK, MO, IL, IN)
18) Swainson's Hawk (AZ, NM, TX)
19) American Kestrel (AZ, NM, TX, OK, MO, IL, IN)
20) Killdeer (OK, MO, OH)
21) American Avocet (TX)
22) Long-billed Curlew (NM)
23) Rock Pigeon (NM, TX, OK, MO, IL, IN)
24) Mourning Dove (AZ, NM, TX, OK, MO, IL, IN, OH)
25) Eurasian Collared-Dove (NM, TX, OK)
26) White-winged Dove (AZ, NM, TX)
27) Greater Roadrunner (AZ)
28) Great Horned Owl (AZ)
29) Spotted Owl (AZ)
30) Whiskered Screech-Owl (AZ)
31) Lesser Nighthawk (AZ)
32) Common Nighthawk (AZ, NM)
33) Mexican Whip-poor-will (AZ)
34) Chimney Swift (MO, IL)
35) White-throated Swift (AZ)
36) Berylline Hummingbird *** (AZ)
37) Broad-billed Hummingbird (AZ)
38) Blue-throated (Hummingbird) Mountain-gem (AZ)
39) Rivoli's (Magnificent) Hummingbird (AZ)
40) Black-chinned Hummingbird (AZ)
41) Broad-tailed Hummingbird (AZ)
42) Elegant Trogon (AZ)
43) Acorn Woodpecker (AZ)
44) Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker (AZ)
45) Ladder-backed Woodpecker (AZ)
46) Arizona (Strickland's) Woodpecker (AZ)
47) Downy Woodpecker (OK)
48) Hairy Woodpecker (AZ)
49) Greater Pewee (AZ)
50) Western Wood-Pewee (AZ)
51) Cordilleran Flycatcher (AZ)
52) Buff-breasted Flycatcher (AZ)
53) Black Phoebe (AZ)
54) Brown-crested Flycatcher (AZ)
55) Dusky-capped Flycatcher (AZ)
56) Cassin's Kingbird (AZ, NM)
57) Western Kingbird (AZ, NM, TX)
58) Eastern Kingbird (MO, IL, IN)
59) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (TX, OK, MO)
60) Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (AZ)
61) Loggerhead Shrike (AZ)
62) Hutton's Vireo (AZ)
63) Plumbeous Vireo (AZ)
64) Warbling Vireo (AZ)
65) Blue Jay (OK, MO, IL)
66) Steller's Jay (AZ)
67) Mexican Jay (AZ)
68) American Crow (OK, MO, IL, IN, OH)
69) Fish Crow (MO)
70) Chihuahuan Raven (AZ, NM, TX)
71) Common Raven (AZ, NM)
72) Horned Lark (NM, TX, IL)
73) Tree Swallow (IL, IN)
74) Violet-green Swallow (AZ)
75) Bank Swallow (IN)
76) Cliff Swallow (NM, TX, OK, MO, IL)
77) Northern Rough-winged Swallow (MO)
78) Barn Swallow (AZ, NM, OK, MO, IL, IN)
79) Bridled Titmouse (AZ)
80) Mexican Chickadee (AZ)
81) Bushtit (AZ)
82) Brown Creeper (AZ)
83) White-breasted Nuthatch (AZ)
84) Pygmy Nuthatch (AZ)
85) House Wren (AZ)
86) Canyon Wren (AZ)
87) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (AZ)
88) Western Bluebird (AZ)
89) Hermit Thrush (AZ)
90) American Robin (AZ, OK, MO, IL, IN, OH)
91) Northern Mockingbird (AZ, NM, OK, MO)
92) Curve-billed Thrasher (AZ, NM)
93) European Starling (AZ, TX, OK, MO, IL, IN, OH)
94) Black-throated Gray Warbler (AZ)
95) Grace's Warbler (AZ)
96) Common Yellowthroat (AZ)
97) Painted Redstart (AZ)
98) Red-faced Warbler (AZ)
99) Hepatic Tanager (AZ)
100) Western Tanager (AZ)
101) Canyon Towhee (AZ)
102) Spotted Towhee (AZ)
103) Rufous-crowned Sparrow (AZ)
104) Chipping Sparrow (AZ)
105) Song Sparrow (AZ, MO, IN)
106) Yellow-eyed Junco (AZ)
107) Black-headed Grosbeak (AZ)
108) Northern Cardinal (AZ, OK, MO, OH)
109) Blue Grosbeak (AZ)
110) Eastern Meadowlark (AZ, OK, MO, IN)
111) Red-winged Blackbird (AZ, NM, OK, MO, IL, IN, OH)
112) Common Grackle (OK, MO, IL, IN, OH)
113) Great-tailed Grackle (AZ, NM, TX, OK)
114) Brown-headed Cowbird (OK, MO, IL)
115) Hooded Oriole (AZ)
116) Bullock's Oriole (AZ)
117) Scott's Oriole (AZ)
118) House Finch (AZ, NM, TX, MO)
119) American Goldfinch (MO, IN)
120) Lesser (Green-backed) Goldfinch (AZ)
121) House Sparrow (AZ, NM, TX, OK, MO, IL, IN, OH)

*** denotes life bird.

---