On yet another Friday night flight, we found ourselves heading back to the birder’s Mecca of Southeastern Arizona for the third time this year. This weekend was all about chasing new species and adding to our “Big Year” list.
Day One: Quail, Phalaropes, and the Chiricahua Mountains
After landing in Tucson, we drove east to spend the night in Wilcox. The next morning, we met up with a group from the Tucson Audubon Society at Lake Cochise. On the way in, we flushed a flock of ten Scaled Quail, a great start to the day. The lake itself was teeming with life, from Northern Shoveler and Green-winged Teal to a large group of spinning Wilson’s Phalarope with three Red-necked Phalarope mixed in. Along the water’s edge, we added Least and Western Sandpiper, and were thrilled to find our first life bird of the trip: three Baird’s Sandpipers. Swirling overhead were Violet-green, Cliff, Barn, and Tree Swallows.
Our most anticipated destination was the Chiricahua Mountains, a National Monument that was once the sacred home of the Apache. We agree that this “Sky Island” range is the most beautiful in Arizona. The birding here is equally famous. At the base, we saw Swainson’s Hawk, Rock and Canyon Wren, and Black-throated and Rufous-winged Sparrows. As we drove up the forest road (a high-clearance vehicle is recommended!), we stopped at Pinery Canyon to find Black-throated Gray and Hermit Warbler, Yellow-eyed Junco, and Bridled Titmouse.
The true jewel of the Chiricahuas is Rustler Park. Here, we added Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, and Red Crossbill to our list, along with a spectacular lifer: a pair of Mexican Chickadees. We were joined by a wonderful couple, Marina and Adrian, who were just as excited as we were to see these unique species. Next, we drove south on Hwy 191 to McNeal, AZ, to Whitewater Draw. The draw is an oasis in the surrounding desert landscape, with Cassin’s and Western Kingbirds on almost every fencepost. Walking the trail around the draw, we saw a Vermillion Flycatcher, many Blue Grosbeak, a few Lark Sparrow, and a Lazuli Bunting.
A Tombstone Detour
After dropping off our new friends, we drove south to the historical mining town of Tombstone, made famous by the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Staying true to its history, the town’s citizens were dressed in 1880s costumes. At the Dragoon Saloon. The policy here, as it has been since the old days, is to check your guns at the door, and that is exactly what a local dance hall girl did before stepping up for a drink at the bar. We met some fascinating people, including a custom hearse builder named Jack Feather. Many of his customers are Harley riders, but his most famous hearse was the one built for the 150th Commemoration of Lincoln’s assassination. We bought our new friends a round of shots and listened to a rock band called Nowhere Fast as we watched a gorgeous sunset over the Dragoon Mountains.
Day Two: Chasing Flycatchers with Jeff Babson
Our day started early with coffee on the way to Ramsey Canyon to meet our guide, Jeff Babson. After a quick stop at the Charleston Bridge to pick up a couple of Black-tailed Gnatcatchers, our main target was the Tufted Flycatcher, a very rare bird that had been nesting in the canyon. Jeff led us on a four-mile round-trip hike over difficult terrain. On the trail in we saw many birds, including Acorn and Arizona Woodpeckers, Blue-throated and Anna’s Hummingbird, Olive-sided and Cordilleran Flycatcher, and Plumbeous Vireo. After about 15 minutes of searching, we found our target—a pair of Tufted Flycatchers, a new lifer for us! We also saw a variety of warblers on the way down, including Olive, Townsend’s, Hermit, and Wilson’s. Unfortunately, we dipped on the coveted Red-faced Warbler, but we know that’s just part of birding.
Next, we went hummingbird watching at Beatty’s Guest Ranch in Miller Canyon, where we saw an incredible seven species: Broad-billed, Magnificent, Black-chinned, Rufous, Calliope, Broad-tailed, and Anna’s. At the feeders of Ash Canyon B&B, we were delighted to see no less than six Lucifer Hummingbirds, as well as a Canyon Towhee and a Black-headed Grosbeak.
Day Three: A Final Hunt and a Perfect End
On our final morning, we stopped at Brown Canyon Ranch to see a Curved-billed Thrasher, Canyon and Abert’s Towhee, and a flock of Lesser Goldfinch. The rest of the day was a final push for our remaining target birds. An unexpectedly strenuous hike up to Hunter Canyon rewarded us with a distant and fleeting view of the Slate-throated Redstart. We had much better views of a Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, a Greater Roadrunner, and a bonus male Elegant Trogon. At the Reef Townsite campground in Carr Canyon, we found Western Wood-Pewee, Yellow-eyed Junco, Painted Redstart, and a Zone-tailed Hawk soaring overhead.
For lunch, we found an awesome family-owned Mexican restaurant called La Casita in Sierra Vista. It was packed with locals, and our meal was delicious. Afterward, we headed to the Las Cienegas Conservation Area, where we found Lark Sparrow, Cassin’s Sparrow, and Eastern Meadowlarks.
With just a few hours left before our flight, one bird remained on our needs list: the Gilded Flicker. Following a recent eBird sighting, we drove to East Andrada Road and immediately saw a group of Saguaro cacti with many holes—a sure sign of woodpecker activity. Within minutes, we spotted a pair of Gilded Flickers. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to end our amazing weekend.
Trip Summary: What a trip! 112 species with 13 life birds. We are so close to our “Big Year” goal!
Trip Summary:
- Total Species: 112
- Year Birds: 20
- Life Birds: 13
2015 Summary:
- Year Birds: 423
- Life Birds: 57
- 2015 Bird List
Next up: California Seabirds and More
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