Two Great Lifers in Madera

April 8-9th, 2010-Madera Canyon

Hello everyone,

Jim Kopitzke and I took an overnight trip to Madera Canyon April 8-9th, where birding was awesome.


8 April 2010:

We stayed at Bog Springs Campground and arrived around dusk, where birding around the campground was even very good right from the start.  Jim's hummingbird feeder brought in a male BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD and female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD within minutes of setup.

We then made a sucessful attempt at Santa Rita Lodge and got great looks at the one of the ELF OWLS which was in a tree directly aside the viewing area, it wasn't even in the pole ever when we were watching.
Elf Owls were very vocal thoughout Madera Canyon from Bog Springs Campground and well past Santa Rita Lodge, as we counted 7 different birds calling away, and we ended up having great looks at another one
later in the night as we were owling.  There is just a good of a chance of seeing them away from the lodge by listening to them along the roadsides as well.  Back at camp, one even called directly above the tent.  Other owls included several distant called WHISKERED SCREECH-OWLS and one GREAT HORNED OWL.

Elf Owl

9 April 2010:

In the early AM at Bog Springs, several calling DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHERS started off the morning.

We then headed to the Santa Rita Lodge and the Kubo Bed and Breakfast. We stopped at Santa Rita and enjoyed many birds at the bird feeders, including MEXICAN JAYS, YELLOW-EYED JUNCOS, ACORN WOODPECKERS, etc.  A BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was in a nearby tree and several ZONE-TAILED HAWKS flew overhead.

The KUBO B& B was next, where after waiting for an hour and a half for the FLAME-COLORED TANAGER at the feeders, we were able to locate it just a little south down the road, where it was singing continuously thoughout the morning and gave us great looks.  What a beautiful bird that is!  Many people were able to see it from many angles to study the bird in close views.  I actually liked seeing it up in the trees with a more in the wild experience then seeing it visit the feeders, which in our 2.5 hours here, it never did visit the feeders. My favorite bird of the trip!  Also enjoyable at the Kubo were MAGNIFICANT, BLACK-CHINNED, RUFOUS, and BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRDS, HOODED ORIOLES, HEPATIC TANAGER, PINE SISKIN, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, ACORN WOODPECKERS and many more around the feeders. PAINTED REDSTARTS, one SCOTT'S ORIOLE, and also ZONE-TAILED and COOPERS HAWKS were nearby.

After Kubo, we attemped a try at Black-capped Gnatcatchers and the Rufous-capped Warbler at Florida Canyon without success.  A birder who got on the trail just minutes after us saw a Black-capped Gnatcatcher.  Hovever on the trail and surrouding area, we had several HAMMONDS and PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATHERS, NORTHERN-BEARDLESS TYRANNULET, and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS.

Later in the day before returning to Phoenix, we went up higher into the canyon were we only really saw a few PAINTED REDSTARTS, birds were not active at all up in the higher elevations in the afternoon.

Southeast AZ is always a great trip!

Flame-colored Tanager

The goodies of the Hassayampa River

March 10th, 2010: Hassayampa River Preserve: GREEN KINGFISHER, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK

Hey everyone,

Today (10 March 2010) I ventured out to the Wickenburg area again to the 
Hassayampa River Preserve.  I had fun birding with Jay Miller and Jim 
Kopitzke during the morning and early afternoon, and it was also nice to 
meet Donna and Carol along the trail.  

The female GREEN KINGFISHER continued.  I saw her at about 9 am towards 
the end of the River Ramble trail, over a very small pond, more ideal for 
this species than the raging river.  She wasn't along the main river 
today, but the opposite side, at a separate part of the river that 
branched off and is more narrow, slow flowing, and quiet (the side of the 
river which you have to cross by using the small bridge).  At one point, 
it formed a nice pond, in which I was very shocked to see the Green 
Kingfisher just because she usually isn't over this way.  To reach this 
point, it is off to the right after you walk down the steps from the 
visitor center area to access the trails.  Cross the small bridge placed 
in the narrow part of the river and follow the River Ramble trail until 
the end where this pond is and is a much slower, quieter side of the 
river.  I believe she hasn't been over this way much at least from what 
birders have observed, so when visiting, it's another good place to check 
for this bird.  Many birders got great views of it today and I was able to 
tell the crowd of people were it was.  It vocalized some, I still haven't 
gotten the opportunity to see it catch it's prey of some sort, which would 
be amazing as well.

Green Kingfisher

Also present today where SHARP-SHINNED and COOPER'S HAWKS, a female ANNA'S 
HUMMINGBIRD feeding her young, many VERMILION FLYCATCHERS, BRIDLED 
TITMOUSE, a very nice male WILSON'S WARBLER, and LINCOLN'S SPARROW.

Towards the end of the day, Jim, Jay and I made an attempt to find the RED-
SHOULDERED HAWK which was reported by Melanie Herring on friday.  We 
weren't able to find it at the preserve, but we tried the classic place 
behind the car dealership and KFC in Wickenburg (thanks also to the 
volunteer for suggesting to us coming here to look) and we were rewarded 
with great perched and in flight views of a single Red-shouldered Hawk.  
The bird was also very vocal the entire time we observed it, and at one 
time had something in it's talons, in which looked alot likely to be a 
snake, but it was hard to tell for sure.  The hawk flew back and fourth 
among the many cottonwoods and would perch on dead branches from time to 
time.  Towards the end, it soared high and continued soaring until we lost 
sight of it.  Truely a beautiful raptor and a great addition to our 
Arizona lists, which was a state bird for Jim, Jay and I.  Diagnostic 
photos were taken of the hawk.  Thank you to Melanie for reporting the 
bird, which was my main target for today!

Red-shouldered Hawk

Yellow-breasted Chat

Good birding,

Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona)

Maricopa's first Green Kingfisher!!!

March 3rd, 2010: Hassayampa GREEN KINGFISHER contintues (video included)

Hi everyone,

Today I visited the Hassayampa River Preserve from 8 AM to 1:30 PM and
wow, what an awesome time it was.  The main highlight was the continuing
female GREEN KINGFISHER, which provided me and everyone else there looking
for it at the time with great views.  It took me until 9. 45 AM to locate
the bird (another birder saw it around open time), when I first heard the
bird calling along the river a little downstream west of where it's usual
spot is.  When I went in the direction, she flew across the river and I
got a quick and brief look.  I couldn't find her again until a couple
named Steve and Joan were able to relocate it at about 11.30.  For the
next hour, the bird flew around to many different perches along the river
(mainly in the same general area as previous posts) and was very easy to
photograph and get great views at.  The bird called quite often and
perched at low and medium heigths, and often stayed in good view while
perched.  Truely an incredible bird and I'm grateful I was able to see
it! 

I was also able to get some film of the Green Kingfisher.  Some parts are
a little shaky and blurry, I apologize for that! But overall, the video is
good.  The bird is vocalizing on one of the clips, and by listening
closely, it can be heard.

GREEN KINGFISHER VIDEO LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzlpzIMpCr4

Green Kingfisher

Other than the Kingfisher, there were several other good birds which were 
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, VERMILION FLYCATCHERS, BRIDLED TITMOUSE, 2 BROWN 
CREEPERS, many AMERICAN ROBINS (I've never seen such a high concentration 
of them at a location), CEDAR WAXWINGS, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, and 
SPOTTED TOWHEE.  

Seven Springs and Needle Rock

February 25th, 2010: Seven Springs Area, Needle Rock Recreation Site

Hey everyone,

Today I birded at the Seven Springs Recreation Area and on my way home I
stopped at the Needle Rock Recreation Site by Rio Verde.

It was a beautiful morning at Seven Springs where I enjoyed many of the
more high elevation species.  My trip there started good as a BOBCAT
crossed the road.  At Seven Springs I recorded 38 different species, with
the most unusual sighting being a young COMMON GOLDENEYE in Seven Springs
Wash who was swimming in the creek!  I was shocked at this, I didn't
expect it at all.  The Goldeneye dove in the deeper pools that were formed
in the creek.  When I first saw it, it flew away from me and I didn't get
the best look at it, so I walked slowly down the wash and was able to
relocate it.  This bird let me get extremely close to itself, and almost
seemed curious of me.  Walking along the main road through the recreation
site produced many AMERICAN ROBINS and CEDAR WAXWINGS.  A SAGE THRASHER,
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, SPOTTED TOWHEE, and a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE where also a
great sight.  BUSHTITS, BRIDLED TITMOUSE, and JUNIPER TITMOUSE where all
present as well, at one time in a mixed flock.    Other notables included
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKERS (2), WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (my
first of the year), WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and HOUSE WREN.

Common Goldeneye

I then stopped at Needle Rock Recreation Site on the way back.  Much of
this area is closed off due to sensitive wildlife area at this time of
year, including the nearby Box Bar Recreation Site, which I wanted to see
the most.  I didn't see much at Needle Rock in a couple hours, but I
really enjoyed exploring the area.  A COOPER'S HAWK and HARRIS'S HAWK sat
on the same tree, which was my highlight here.  A COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD was
also present.

Good birding,
Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona)

Tucson and Santa Cruz Flats Birding

February 16th, 2010: Tucson Birding

Hi everyone,

Well today I finally stepped foot out of Maricopa County for a half day
trip to Tucson areas.  I chased several of the local rarities and then
went to Sweetwater Wetlands and stopped by Santa Cruz Flats on my way back.

My first stop was at Ridgeway and Seneca St. to look for the SHORT-TAILED
HAWK, and right when I got there, the bird landed in the pine tree around
7.40.  He didn't stay long at all this time, and he faced a direction to
the side where his breast didn't show well, in which I couldn't get the
pictures I wanted of the bird.  But at least I got to see it!  I tried to
go to a different angle while he was perched there to get a better view,
and during that amount of time, he flew away and I missed that too!

Short-tailed Hawk

My second stop was at McCormick Park, to look for the RED-BREASTED 
SAPSUCKER, and I got extremely lucky and found this bird in more of the 
northwest corner of the park, in a medium-sized pine tree.  I heard it 
pecking lightly on the wood and I'm lucky I even heard it.  The bird then 
reveiled itself and I got amazing close up looks.  It flew around to 
several trees at near this pine tree before I lost it, and chased away 
several Gila Woodpeckers it didn't like having around.  A very vocal male 
VERMILION FLYCATCHER was also a nice treat here.

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Vermilion Flycatcher

Sweetwater Wetlands was next, which was more quiet.  I recorded 47 species 
in about 2 hours, but that is probably due to the fact it was later in the 
morning.  Highlights included a pair of COMMON GOLDENEYE flying overhead, 
BUFFLEHEADS, SORA, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, and most interestingly to me, 
3 LEAST SANDPIPERS in the small pond (bath) at the entrance gate.  Has 
anyone else ever seen them at this spot?  I found it unusual.

My stop at the Santa Cruz Flats was pointless on my way home.  I missed 
all my targets, and I was confused with the area because this was my first 
visit to the location, it was way more extensive than I thought.  I know 
where the Caracaras are seen most of the time, I made it there, and I 
couldn't even pull up one bird.  Maybe next time!