In early May, I finished Graduate school and had some time on my hands before moving to CA. The continuing Tufted Flycatcher in the Chiricahuas convinced me to plan a trip to SEAZ. I was able to go to a lot of my favorite birding locations in the Chiricahuas, Huachucas, and Santa Ritas. I even managed to drive my Honda civic to CA gulch. I then drove to Phoenix to visit my aunt and do a little birding. Towards the end, I tacked on a trip to the North Rim for Dusky (Blue) Grouse and was not disappointed. The trip was a profound success with very special moments spent with many beautiful and some new birds. From a listing standpoint, I added 3 life birds, 2 ABA birds, and 1 state bird.
5/12/08:
Drove to Sunny Flats Campground in the Chiricahuas arriving after dark to hear “MEXICAN” WHIP-POOR-WILL and ELF OWL.
5/13/08:
Got to Herb Martyr at 6 am to look for the Tufted Flycatcher. Around 10:45 I had not seen the bird and found a nice picnic table to make some lunch and list. Many nice birds were present in the a.m.: PAINTED REDSTART, RED-FACED WARBLER, GRACE’S WARBLER, HEPATIC TANAGER, RED CROSSBILL, SCOTT’S ORIOLE. As I was eating, another birder came to the parking area with the look in her eyes. She had the bird! I raced over to find a very compliant TUFTED FLYCATCHER. He was foraging low and flycatching from several favored perches. He called infrequently but I was able to hear both calls. I had time to go back to my car and get my scope and was able to show the bird to many other birders.
Next, I did a sweep of all the feeding stations in the area. Southwest Research Station had MAGNIFICENT and BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS. Cave Creek Ranch had a 2cd year male INDIGO BUNTING. George Walker House had JUNIPER TITMOUSE and CASSIN’S FINCHES. Dave Jasper’s yard had PYRRULOXIA, CURVE-BILLED THRASHER, and WESTERN SCRUB-JAY. The weather was getting nasty so I opted to set up my tent instead of going for higher elevation birds.
5/14/08:
I started the day birding South Fork of Cave Creek. I was able to track down two very vocal and mobile male ELEGANT TROGONS. The lowlands around Portal had some expected birds such as ASH-THROATED FLCATCHER, BELL’S VIREO, and a nice migrant MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER. I was puzzled when I heard a call that sounded like a White-throated Swift. The sound was coming from the bushes and there were no swifts around.
The drive through New Mexico on 80 was much nicer than the alternate route and I picked up GREATER ROADRUNNER and SWAINSON’S HAWK.
Wilcox Lake (Lake Cochise) was very productive with good looks at: FRANKLIN’S GULL, many RED-NECKED and WILSON’S PHALAROPES, and several LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and AMERICAN AVOCET. Two BANK SWALLOWS were present at the smaller golf course pond.
My next stop was at the Saint David Holy Trinity Monastery. This was a new spot for me. There is a nice path that leads to the San Pedro, but the river area was pretty slow in the heat of the day. I did have nice looks at YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, SUMMER TANAGER, and LUCY’S WARBLER. There were a lot of nice birds around the monastery proper especially around some fruiting mulberries where I saw 2 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH in with the other frugivores. As I returned to my car, I saw the graceful movements of two MISSISSIPPI KITES. I was amazed to see one tuck into a spectacular barrel roll dive.
I then drove to Ash Canyon B&B where a female LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD came into the feeders several times. 2 SCOTT’S ORIOLES and BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRDS were also present.
I enjoyed a nice secluded campsite on the road up to Miller Canyon at a primitive site just above the large trailhead turnout. At dusk, I climbed up on a rock and watched the sunset and listened to MONTEZUMA’S QUAIL doing the peculiar imitation of a bomb dropping. I also heard a GREAT HORNED OWL and COMMON POORWILLS. I think I heard a WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL in the middle of the night.
5/15/08
I started today at Beatty’s CAS feeders where a male WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRD came in. I then hiked up the canyon to the second creek crossing to look for a reported Spotted Owl. I did not find it but did enjoy watching RED-FACED WARBLERS with a birder from Green Valley.
We then headed over to Ramsey Canyon B&B where the BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRD put on a spectacular show.
I then drove to Patagonia Roadside Rest where I ran into John Coons’s tour group. We enjoyed a calling NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRRANULET. THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD was a heard only for me. Several BLACK VULTURES soared above.
Taking John’s advice, I drove up to CA gulch to try to catch the 5-striped sparrows in the evening. The improved dirt road in was passable by passenger car but was still pretty poor. I bottomed out about 5 times. The directions in the TAS society’s birdfinding guide were good and the mileage was pretty accurate. I only had a little difficulty finding the parking area. It is very small. The old road starts as a path but soon it becomes obvious that it was once a road. Once in the canyon, I had several FIVE-STRIPED SPARROWS. They seemed to favor the rocky outcroppings near either creek crossing. Although they were somewhat wary, they quickly became accustomed to my presence and I eventually had crippling looks at a breeding pair foraging and chasing each other. I flushed a pair of MONTEZUMA QUAIL at a creek crossing and a diminutive female COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD and a migrant SWAINSON’S THRUSH were also present. RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS were singing from the hillsides.
At the parking area, I met Matt Brooks and several other young birders who work for Tucson Audubon Society. We then drove over to the nearby Oro Blanco Mine site and heard MONTEZUMA QUAIL, COMMON POORWILL, and eventually BUFF-COLLARED NIGHTJAR. We did not spotlight the bird or play tape in an effort to minimize our impact on this reliable bird.
I then drove to Bog Springs Campground in Madera Canyon. WHIP-POOR-WILLS and COMMON POORWILLS were calling as I set up my tent.
5/16/08
The wind woke me up early this day, collapsing my tent on me. Thus, I was able to get a nice early start at Proctor Rd, which was very productive. A RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW greeted me at the parking area, singing. The highlight of this stop was two male MONTEZUMA QUAIL that crossed the path about 15 feet in front of me while I was watching a LUCY’S WARBLER with a different song. I was able to visually follow this quail for about 2 minutes and then was able to follow them on foot for a little while longer. Other good birds were: ZONE-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET, CASSIN’S VIREO, HEPATIC TANAGER (singing), COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD (bathing at the creek crossing), BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD, and GRAY FLYCATCHER. Near the creek crossing, I heard and then saw a male TOWNSEND’S WARBLER singing. This was a first for me. No Varied Bunting, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Botteri’s or Cassin’s Sparrow were detected.
At Kubo, as I watched the feeders (ARIZONA WOODPECKER) I heard the distinctive loud call of the FLAME-COLORED TANAGER. He was upstream and east of the road and fairly hard to see but after about 5 minutes, I got good views.
The Carrie Nation Trail was very quiet.
The Green Valley Sewage Treatment Plant was also slow with 2 BLACK-NECKED STILT the only birds of note.
At the first of the Rio Rico ponds, the smaller one, I saw some nice new trip birds: 2 TROPICAL KINGBIRDS (vocalizing), a female BRONZED COWBIRD, and a COMMON GROUND-DOVE. At the second and larger pond, the 40+ BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS continue. WHITE-FACED IBIS, and SNOWY EGRET augmented their numbers.
I then drove to Phoenix stopping in Tucson at Sweetwater Wetlands in the heat of the day. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was noteworthy. I ran into 2 birders from Canada who I had met at Herb Martyr and we enjoyed the MEXICAN MALLARDS and among others expected birds.
I stayed in Gilbert with my aunt, Patricia Gaines.
5/17/08
Patricia and I birded Gilbert Water Ranch in the morning and although migrants were not plentiful we enjoyed peaceful moments with the CANADA GOOSE, BLACK-NECKED STILT, and AMERICAN AVOCET family groups. Interesting birds were a SORA foraging in the open, and a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. As we were about to leave, a large group of shorebirds flew in to the gazebo pond. The light was bad and the birds did not look right for dowitcher or Willet. I eventually walked around to the other side and had the birds in nice light. The birds had long green-yellow legs, long slender bill with a slight downturn, rufous highlights on head, the bodies were strongly barred drown/black on a light background. In flight the birds showed a light rump and no wingstripe. 21 STILT SANDPIPERS! I have wanted to see this bird in AZ for a long time and was very lucky to see them in full alternate plumage. http://www.azfo.org/gallery/Stilt_Sandpiper_GWR_Moore_20080517.html
At Patricia’s house a MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER foraged in her Palo Verde. I then drove to Flagstaff and stayed the night there.
5/18/08
Dusky “blue” Grouse has been a nemesis since I moved to AZ. They are reputed to be on the San Francisco Peaks but the population is introduced and I have never been able to find any. So I called Chuck LaRue who gave me excellent directions for these birds on the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
On the drive up, I stopped at Rimmy Jim tank, which had a smattering of migrants and 4 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS. The Cameron Trading Post Courtyard seemed dead at first but did have a few migrants best of which was a female NORTHERN PARULA. The bird was being chased by a YELLOW WARBLER and would not sit still for long looks. Across the road on the way to the Cameron Seeps at the Little Colorado River, a LUCY’S WARBLER was calling and two SNOWY EGRETS were roosting in the tamarisks. At the overgrown seep, I was able to pish in a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER, and a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT.
A quick stop at Navajo Bridge found 4 roosting CALIFORNIA CONDORS. Two were roosting on the bridge itself! As I watched them 5 CALIFORNIA GULLS passed by going north.
The Kaibab Plateau above the rim is gorgeous with lots of mountain meadows that hosted MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and a lone CLARK’S NUTCRACKER. At the East Rim viewpoint, the only bird out of the ordinary was a single GRAY FLYCATCHER. I continued on to the Saddle Mountain trailhead/viewpoint and had to remove several trees from the road get there. I did not see any grouse on the drive in. I arrived about 30 minutes before sunset and walked around looking for the large chickens. As I returned to my car, I flushed a male DUSKY GROUSE that perched up in a close tree. I was able to approach and get good looks at the bird looking like a cracid. The bird eventually flew and formed a magnificent silhouette. I camped on the rim.
5/19/08
This morning, I hiked around the Saddle Mountain Viewpoint and enjoyed DUSKY FLYCATCHER and CASSIN’S FINCH singing. As I followed abandoned dirt tracks, I became slightly lost. While walking in the direction I thought was correct, I flushed another male DUSKY GROUSE. This one flew down the trail and landed around a curve. I was able to get close looks of the bird by walking very slowly and quietly. The bird was aware of my presence and would stand on the side of the road in high grass with just his head showing, watching me as I approached. When I got to close, he would simply step back out on the track until he found another suitable hiding place farther down the road. We kept up this game for about 20 minutes. When the bird finally had enough, he disappeared. I then realized that I was on the track that I had walked the day before. The bird had led me back to my car! This track is a continuation of the road to the viewpoint. On the drive out, I noted 19 seemingly out of place BLACK-NECKED STILTS at a cattle tank.
On the way home, I stopped at Cameron Courtyard where there were a few expected migrants. At Rimmy Jim Tank, I was surprised to see a juvenile LONG-BILLED CURLEW at the waters edge. As I walked back to my car, I flushed a GREAT HORNED OWL that was immediately pursued by a COMMON RAVEN. The birds were involved in a heated debate, and did not notice me as I crept up to watch them exchange words.
Overall, this trip was a great success. I would like to thank everyone who provided me with birding information and companionship during my three years in AZ.
1. Eared Grebe: Several breeding plumage on Wilcox Lake
2. Double-crested Cormorant: A few at Gilbert Water Ranch (GWR)
3. Snowy Egret: 1 at Wilcox, 1 at Rio Rico ponds, 2 at Cameron Seeps.
4. Great Egret: GWR
5. Great Blue Heron: GWR
6. Black-crowned Night-Heron: 1 at Rio Rico ponds, 4 at Rimmy Jim Tank.
7. Green Heron: 1 at Rio Rico Ponds, 4 at GWR.
8. White-faced Ibis: ~10 at large Rio Rico pond.
9. Canada Goose: several family groups at GWR.
10. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: ~40 at large Rio Rico pond.
11. Mallard: on open water throughout.
12. “Mexican” Mallard: Sweetwater Wetlands.
13. Gadwall: GWR
14. American Wigeon: GWR
15. Northern Shoveler: Green Valley STP, GWR.
16. Northern Pintail: 1 female at Wilcox Pond.
17. Cinnamon Teal: GWR.
18. Redhead: Wilcox Lake.
19. Ruddy Duck: Wilcox Lake.
20. California Condor: 4 at Navajo Bridge.
21. Turkey Vulture: C throughout.
22. Black Vulture: Several at Patagonia Roadside Rest.
23. Cooper’s Hawk: 1 female on nest in Miller Canyon.
24. Sharp-shinned Hawk: Male on North Rim of Grand Canyon.
25. Mississippi Kite: Saint David Monastery.
26. Zone-tailed Hawk: 1 at Proctor Road.
27. Swainson’s Hawk. UC in grasslands.
28. Montezuma’s Quail: Heard in Miller Canyon. 2 flushed in CA Gulch. 2 seen well at Proctor Road.
29. Gambel’s Quail: C in lowlands.
30. Dusky Grouse (Life): 2 Males seen near Saddle Mountain Trailhead on North Rim.
31. American Coot: C on open water.
32. Sora: 1 foraging in the open at GWR.
33. Semipalmated Sandpiper: 1 at GWR.
34. Killdeer: Common near water throughout.
35. American Avocet: Breeding at GWR. Several at Wilcox Lake.
36. Black-necked Stilt: Breeding at GWR, 2 at Green Valley STP, 19 at a cattle tank on the Kaibab Plateau.
37. Long-billed Curlew: 1 at Rimmy Jim Tank.
38. Stilt Sandpiper (State): 21 birds in breeding plumage flew into the Gazebo Pond at GWR and allowed fabulous looks.
39. Long-billed Dowitcher: 7 at Lake Wilcox.
40. Wilson’s Phalarope: Many at Lake Wilcox.
41. Red-necked Phalarope: Many at Lake Wilcox.
42. Franklin’s Gull: 1 adult on Lake Wilcox allowed close approach.
43. Ring-billed Gull: 2 on Lake Wilcox.
44. California Gull: Flyby of 5 birds at Navajo Bridge.
45. Morning Dove: A in lowlands throughout.
46. White-winged Dove: C in lowlands throughout.
47. Eurasian-collared Dove: X
48. Common Ground-Dove: 1 at small Rio Rico Pond.
49. Rock Pigeon: X
50. Band-tailed Pigeon: C in mid-elevations of Chiricahuas and Huachucas.
51. Greater Roadrunner: Several along 80 in NM and one on the way to CA Gulch.
52. Great Horned Owl: One calling in Miller Canyon. One seen well roosting and snapping at a Common Raven at Rimmy Jim Tank.
53. Elf Owl: 1 heard in Sunny Flat Campground in Chiricahuas.
54. Whiskered Screech-Owl: 1 heard in Miller Canyon.
55. Common Poorwill: Heard at dusk in Miller Canyon, Bog Springs Campground, and Oro Blanco Mine site.
56. Buff-collared Nightjar (Life): 1 calling at Oro Blanco Mine Site at dusk.
57. “mexican” Whip-poor-will: Heard at Sunny Flat and Bog Springs Campgrounds.
58. Lesser Nighthawk: 1 near CA Gulch.
59. White-throated Swift: UC throughout.
60. Lucifer Hummingbird: 1 female at Ash Canyon B&B.
61. Berylline Hummingbird: 1 male ate Ramsey Canyon B&B.
62. Broad-billed Hummingbird: UC at feeders in lowlands and mid-elevations of SEAZ.
63. White-eared Hummingbird: 1 male at Beatty’s CAS feeders.
64. Blue-throated Hummingbird: UC at feeders in lowlands and mid-elevations of SEAZ.
65. Magnificent Hummingbird: UC at feeders in mid and along streams at high elevations of SEAZ.
66. Anna’s Hummingbird: C at feeders throughout SEAZ.
67. Costa’s Hummingbird: 1 female in CA Gulch. 1 subadult male bathing near Proctor Road.
68. Broad-tailed Hummingbird: A at feeders and C along mid-elevation streams throughout.
69. Black-chinned Hummingbird: Common at feeders and near streams at low and mid-elevations throughout.
70. Elegant Trogon: 2 males vocalizing and seen well at South Fork of Cave Creek.
71. Acorn Woodpecker: C at mid elevations. Throughout Chiricahuas and Huachucas.
72. Gila Woodpecker: UC along riparian corridors in lowlands.
73. Hairy Woodpecker: Several seen and heard near North Rim.
74. Ladder-backed Woodpecker: UC in arid lowlands.
75. Northern Flicker: one along Carrie Nation Trail and UC near North Rim.
76. Arizona Woodpecker: 1 at Kubo and along Carrie Nation trail in Madera Canyon.
77. Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet: 1 at Patagonia Roadside Rest and another near Proctor Rd. Both vocalized.
78. Greater Pewee: 1 at Herb Martyr in Chiricahuas.
79. Olive-sided Flycatcher: Flyover at Proctor Rd and one at Sweetwater Wetlands.
80. Western Wood-Pewee: Common in Mid-elevations throughout SEAZ.
81. Tufted Flycatcher (ABA): Observed the continuing bird at Herb Martyr from 11:15 to 12:30.
82. Cordilleran Flycatcher: C in mid-elevations throughout SEAZ.
83. Dusky Flycatcher: several migrants throughout SEAZ. Singing birds near the North Rim.
84. Gray Flycatcher: 1 at Proctor Rd. and 1 along North Rim.
85. Black Phoebe. I am sure I saw this bird somewhere but can not remember.
86. Say’s Phoebe: UC in arid areas.
87. Vermilion Flycatcher: UC in arid areas of SEAZ.
88. Dusky-capped Flycatcher: UC along riparian areas in low-mid elevations of SEAZ.
89. Ash-throated Flycatcher: UC in arid lowlands.
90. Brown-crested Flycatcher: C in low and mid-elevations in SEAZ.
91. Thick-billed Kingbird: 1 heard at Patagonia Roadside Rest.
92. Tropical Kingbird: 2 seen well and calling at the small Rio Rico pond.
93. Western Kingbird: C in trees in arid areas.
94. Loggerhead Shrike: One on road to CA Gulch.
95. Bell’s Vireo: UC to C in lowland riparian corridors.
96: Warbling Vireo: C migrant throughout singing on North Rim.
97: Cassin’s Vireo: Individuals of this handsome bird seen at Proctor rd, Cameron Courtyard, and North Rim.
98. Plumbeous Vireo: Common and conspicuous in mid-high elevations throughout.
99. Hutton’s Vireo: UC in mid elevations of Chiricahuas and Huachucas.
100. Steller’s Jay: UC in high elevations.
101. Mexican Jay: A and conspicuous in mid-elevations in SEAZ.
102. Pinon Jay: Flyover of ~10 birds along 89 east of Flagstaff.
103. Clark’s Nutcracker: 1 on Kaibab Plateau.
104. American Crow: UC throughout.
105. Common Raven: C throughout.
106. Chihuahuan Raven: Several seen and heard near Saint David.
107. Horned Lark: UC near water in lowlands.
108. Violet-green Swallow: C in mid-high elevations.
109. Cliff Swallow: Many at Wilcox Lake and GWR>
110. Bank Swallow: 2 at golf course pond at Twin Lakes.
111. Barn Swallow: Several along Lake Wilcox.
112. Bridled Titmouse: Only a few seen along riparian corridors of Chiricahuas.
113. Juniper Titmouse: 1 bird coming in to peanut butter at George Walker House.
114. Mountain Chickadee: C on Kaibab Plateau.
115. Verdin: C in arid lowlands.
116. Bushtit: one group seen near Herb Martyr.
117. Red-breasted Nuthatch: 1 heard near North Rim.
118. White-breasted Nuthatch: UC in mid and high elevations.
119. Brown Creeper: several of the Mexican subspecies at South Fork of Cave Springs.
120. Cactus Wren: C in arid lowlands.
121. House Wren: UC along riparian corridors.
122. Bewick’s Wren: UC in lowlands.
123. Rock Wren: UC near rocky outcroppings.
124: Canyon Wren: Heard often near steep canyons.
125. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: 1 migrant at Rimmy Jim Tanks.
126. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher: 2 heard at Patagonia Roadside Rest.
127. Western Bluebird: C along Kaibab Plateau.
128. Mountain Bluebird: a group of ~5 in a meadow on the Kaibab Plateau.
129. American Robin: UC in mid-high elevations.
130. Hermit Thrush: UC throughout.
131. Swainson’s Thrush: Several migrants seen along riparian corridors.
132. Northern Mockingbird: UC in arid lowlands.
133. Curve-billed Thrasher: UC in lowlands throughout.
134. European Starling: X.
135. Phainopepla: several seen around Saint David.
136. Northern Parula (State): 1 female seen at Cameron Courtyard.
137. Virginia’s Warbler: 1 singing bird at Herb Martyr.
138. Lucy’s Warbler: several at Saint David Monastery. One singing at Cameron Seeps.
139. Orange-crowned Warbler: 1 at Herb Martyr and one at Rimmy Jim Tank.
140. Yellow Warbler: Common along lowland riparian corridors.
141. Yellow-rumped Warbler: Abundant along Kaibab Plateau, UC along riparian corridors elsewhere.
142. Black-throated Gray Warbler: One at Herb Martyr, one at Miller Canyon, one at Rimmy Jim Tank.
143. Townsend’s Warbler: One at Herb Martyr, one singing at Proctor Rd.
144. Grace’s Warbler: Several at Herb Martyr, several signing along Miller Canyon.
145. Painted Redstart: C near Herb Martyr, UC near Kubo.
145. Northern Waterthrush: One at Cameron Seep.
146. MacGillivray’s Warbler: One at Dave Jasper’s Yard. One at my aunt’s yard in Gilbert, one at Rimmy Jim.
147. Common Yellowthroat: One at Cameron Seeps..
148. Red-faced Warbler: Two at Herb Martyr. Common along upper elevations of Herb Martyr.
149. Wilson’s Warbler: Common migrant throughout.
150. Yellow-breasted Chat: several around Saint David Monastery.
151. Flame-colored Tanager: One at Kubo located by its call.
152. Summer Tanager: several at Saint David Monastery and at Proctor Rd.
153. Western Tanager: Common Migrant throughout.
154. Hepatic Tanager: One at Herb Martyr, One calling at Proctor Rd, One at Kubo.
155. Pyrrholoxia: Several seen calling in arid lowlands near Portal. Present at Dave Jasper’s Yard.
156. Northern Cardinal: Several seen at Dave Jasper’s Yard and at Saint David Monastery.
157. Black-headed Grosbeak: UC to C throughout.
158. Blue Grosbeak: One male at George Walker House.
159. Lazuli Bunting: A few at Herb Martyr, abundant at George Walker house, one at Cameron Courtyard.
160. Indigo Bunting: One second year male coming to feeder at Cave Creek Ranch.
161. Spotted Towhee: One at George Walker House.
162. Green-tailed Towhee: One at Dave Jasper’s Yard. One at Rimmy Jim Tank.
163. Canyon Towhee: Common at Cave Creek Ranch feeders.
164. Abert’s Towhee: One in tamarisk near San Pedro River in Saint David.
165. Rufous-crowned Sparrow: Heard along road from Portal to Paradise.
166. Rufous-winged Sparrow: Two singing near Proctor road parking lot. 4 in CA gulch.
167. Five-striped Sparrow (Life): 5 individuals seen in CA gulch including very close looks at a pair engaged in nesting behaviors.
168. Black-throated Sparrow: UC in lowlands around Portal.
169. Chipping Sparrow: C along Kaibab Plateau.
170. Lark Sparrow: Several at George Walker House.
171. White-crowned Sparrow: UC throughout.
172. Song Sparrow: Common at Sweetwater Wetlands and GWR.
173. Lincoln’s Sparrow: 2 seen in a row of cottonwoods at Cliff dwellers along 89A.
174. Dark-eyed Junco: C near North Rim.
175. Yellow-eyed Junco: Several seen near Herb Martyr.
176. Brown-headed Cowbird: C throughout.
177. Bronzed Cowbird: one female at Rio Rico pond.
178. Red-winged Blackbird: Lake Wilcox, Sweetwater Wetlands, GWR.
179. Great-tailed Grackle: Common near open water and urban areas.
180. Bullock’s Oriole: Several seen in lowlands near Portal. One female at Cameron Courtyard.
181. Hooded Oriole: Several along drive in to CA gulch.
182. Scott’s Oriole: 2 at Herb Martyr, 2 at Ash Canyon B&B.
183. House Finch: C in urban areas and lowlands.
184. Cassin’s Finch: Many females at feeders in Portal and Paradise. One singing male at North Rim.
185. Red Crossbill: 2 birds near Herb Martyr.
186. American Goldfinch: Two birds at a fruiting mulberry near Saint David Monastery. One male at Cameron.
187. Lesser Goldfinch: UC throughout lowlands.
188. Pine Siskin: Surprisingly common at lowland feeders near Portal and Paradise.
189. House Sparrow: X