Babs' Birding Experiences : 2-day birding trip to and from Patagonia, Santa Cruz County, Arizona

Saturday, September 9, 2017

While taking photos of the young SABINE’S GULL at the Amado Pond (Waste Treatment Plant) along the access road to I-19 South from Tucson, Muriel and I had no idea what else we might find by day’s end at our destination in Patagonia.

Breeding in the high arctic during the summer months, this juvenile SABINE’S GULL must have landed in this small pond on its way south to winter in the tropics. Many birders had already seen this white gull with its striking black and white wing pattern before we arrived seven (7) days after its original sighting on September 2nd. Tom Edell reported this rare sighting and it was confirmed with photos shortly after on the same day by Laurens Halsey, bird guide who lives in the general area.

Fortunately, everything came together at the last minute to allow Muriel Neddermeyer and I to escape our continued triple digit heat to see this beautiful gray/white gull on its way south. A small gull looking very tern-like with long pointed wings and forked white tail, I was thrilled to see this bird again.

SABINE'S GULL - photo by Muriel Neddermeyer

I was able to catch the underside of the juvenile SABINE'S GULL in flight

Feeling thrilled that the special gull had stayed around long enough for us to visit with it, we continued on with great hopes for birding along the trail in Patagonia Lake State Park.

Summer winds and rains played havoc with the birding trail: limbs and trees littered the area and ground cover was lush and thick. But we both knew our way around there so when the trail was invisible, we bushwhacked our way closer to the lake. We wanted to see the Green Kingfisher - but that did not happen. We heard it, but didn’t see it.

In 2.5 hours of birding, my favorite sightings there were: WILLOW FLYCATCHER (2); THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD (2); four warbler species (ORANGE-CROWNED, NASHVILLE, MacGILLIVRAY’S and YELLOW-RUMPED); two AMERICAN COOT with very young birds swimming along and being fed by the adults; and good looks at the tiny NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (3).

Adult AMERICAN COOT was feeding the two young as they swam along beside it

First time I've been able to photograph a NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET

An afternoon stop at Tucson Audubon’s Paton Center for Hummingbirds, gave us good looks at the VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD (specialty known to favor that location) and to a MacGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER in the garden area.

VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD

Toward dusk, we ventured out to Harshaw Road. As it grew darker, Muriel spotted two separate COMMON POORWILL in the road, but by the time she called it each time, it had dashed from sight. Stopping the car (window’s were already down as we listened for possible owls), we could hear COMMON POORWILL calling. GREAT-HORNED OWLs were heard soon after at two separate locations.

Exploring Harshaw Creek Road, we had seen bats hawking insects above the water flowing over the wash’s concrete base for cars to pass through safely. When we came back that way, Muriel stopped the car on the dirt road a short distance back from the water, headlights off, windows open. Watching for the bats, I noticed a small mammal come out from my side of the forest. It walked in front of the car. At first glance, I thought small coyote, but when Muriel flashed on the headlights, a startled GRAY FOX turned back into the forest. It was a quiet beauty - and a non-bird hightlight of the trip for me.

Gray Fox (smaller than coyote) [internet photo]

The next morning, Sunday (9/10/17), we birded our way along a back street in Patagonia on our way to Patagonia City Park. What was a Javelina doing back there?

Javelina on a city street in Patagonia

Same Javelina with different camera setting

At the City Park, the birds were active — including at least 50 BARN SWALLOWS, ACORN & GILA WOODPECKERs, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and several other expected species.

BARN SWALLOWs

After a tasty breakfast at the Gathering Grounds, we headed home by way of Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. Having visited this area the end of July when Cassin’s Sparrows arrive for monsoon mating, I expected to see some of them today. While the Cassin’s were very quiet, BOTTERI’S and BREWERS SPARROWS were singing all along the south-entrance grasslands. Unexpectedly, we found two large flocks of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS gathered, behind leaves of course, in two large mesquite trees.

BOTTERI'S SPARROW

Tree is loaded with YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. Can you spot just one? (just left of center)

Farther along that same road, we arrived at what is known as Cottonwood Tanks. At the two ponds there, some migrants were gathered in nearby trees (MacGILLIVRAY’S, YELLOW WARBLER) as well as LUCY’S WARBLER and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. A RED-TAILED HAWK and GRAY HAWK soared overhead.

VERMILION FLYCATCHER is always a joy to see

Departing the grasslands around noontime with sandwiches in hand for the drive home, we got to talking about the Red Knot being reported recently from a slop pond in Pinal County. It was right along the short-cut route I’ve been taking home (instead of I-10). Muriel figured it would work well back to her new place, too.

By 1:35 p.m., we stood on a dirt road in the desert hot stench looking through my spotting scope at shorebirds in the muddy mess of the slop pond. Birds were everywhere below us, including the visiting RED KNOT. A good birder, Muriel, who works full time, has been occupied with family for several months so had not gone to see the bird when it was at Glendale Recharge Ponds. In 40 minutes, we picked up 11 species of birds and chose not to stay longer for anymore rarities that might have been hidden in the shadows playing out on the water.

Altogether we spotted 90 species of birds, in less than 2 full days of actual birding time. My camera was not working well on this trip; it’s past submergence in water (a couple years ago) may be catching up with it. When Muriel has time to post photos, I will probably add some of hers to the blog. Two days chock full of adventure and birds! Can't beat it!