3-Day Tucson Audubon Birding Field Trip to Sonora, Mexico

Friday, Saturday & Sunday; May 3, 4 & 5, 2019

Rancho El Aribabi

Day #1, Friday May 3rd

What a surprise when I arrived at the meeting place!  Two women birders that I know well (Faulene Main and Kathleen McCoy) from close to where I live (Gold Canyon and Tempe, AZ) had driven down from Phoenix this morning. (Was still glad that I had arrived a day early to get in some Tucson birding and to rest up for today.)

By 8:45 a.m., we pulled out to head toward Nogales. Since local rental agencies disallow 12-15 passenger vans to cross the border, we ten (10) participants rode down in two rental SUVs and Jim’s truck.  Our two leaders, Jim Rorabaugh and Eric Scheuering and a last-minute extra driver for Gordon Karre who was sick, Cynthia VerDuin, a staff member of Tucson Audubon, drove the vehicles.

Using the Mariposa exit from I-19, we had a rest stop before easily passing through the Mariposa border crossing to reach Highway #2.  We were waved through the border and continued on through some very hilly narrow winding roads (few guard rails) which we shared with too many tractor trailer trucks in a hurry to get to wherever. Some white-knuckle moments that I rarely have.

We covered the 40 miles into Sonora, Mexico in two (2) hours, arriving around 12:30 p.m. at “La Casona” (the big house) — a hacienda style building (many arches) with a wide open veranda across the full front looking out into the forest.

Hacienda Ranch House

Our arrival and parking spots (other vehicles to the right)

Mexican Elderberry - right off the front of the veranda

Rear/side view of VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD from front veranda

Front view of same bird above in different light: VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD (from front veranda)

Having stashed our packs, we enjoyed the view and the birds from the veranda until lunch was served at the far end of the long veranda.

After our Mexican lunch prepared and served by two women who would cook for us for our full stay, we commenced with birding.

I should mention that Jim is a herpetologist (herp man) who is well versed in all wildlife. He spends much time at El Aribabi doing research (ocelots) and setting numerous cameras to catch sight of as much wildlife as possible.

The printed agenda for Jim’s walk after lunch said, “Stroll along the Rio Cocospera downstream to look for avian riparian specialties. . .”  So, I was prepared with my hiking shoes when Jim casually mentioned we would need our water shoes. Ready for hiking, I just went as I was. The first crossing was quite something. We couldn’t even see the narrow river before we began sinking into muddy marsh vegetation (unknown species of plants). Following others, I decided to walk slowly — mistake: that just meant I sank in deeper - almost to my knees. Stepping through the mud was the problem - not the river although it was soft, too. Getting into and out left me a bit wet.  

Weather was good; birds were excellent. I was thrilled to hear and/or observe so many birds of a species that usually show up in Arizona as a single bird or two. Here, the Sinaloa Wren, for instance was singing at many places throughout the riparian forest giving me the opportunity to get acquainted with its vocalizations. 

With three crossings of the narrow Cocospera River, we got the hang of it. 

 Final crossing had a support tree trunk

After three hours of finding and counting riparian bird species and nests, we returned to the ranch house to kick back and wait for dinner - being cooked outside by a couple of male cooks, who had also set up a dinner table at the far end of the veranda.

After dinner I walked over to the location of the cots. I noticed one of the Big Brown bats that had been flying around had settled on the ceiling above.

We moved our cots farther from each other and I put on a couple blankets and a pillow. I covered my face with the blankets. Did not want to experience a Big Brown landing on my face. 
Would't you know the nighttime temps dropped into the low 40s°F and I shivered a bit before morning.

Day #2 Saturday, May 4th

Mornings began at 5:30 with coffee and fruit for breakfast which we took out to the veranda to begin birding the area directly in front of us.

At 6:00, we started our two-hour birding exploration of a different area. When my day starts with a 5-STRIPED SPARROW singing - I sensed a good birding day

FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW  [Photo by Judy Ellyson]

BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER

And Jim being Jim, we had to take a good look at a very colorful snake: a non-venomous Coach Whip that has teeth and can bite.

Meanwhile, the birds were calling.  I really like the THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD and took many many photos (with old camera) and have only one decent one to post. Judy shared one of hers with me for the blog.

THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD  - my photo - rear view with head turned toward us

THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD in which you can really see its very wide thick bill [Photo by Judy Ellyson]

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT  [Photo by Judy Ellyson]

By 10 a.m. we were back at the ranch, inside the house for breakfast.

Non-English speaking women who cooked, served and cleaned up for us during our visit.
Several birders had adequate Spanish to communicate but when they got stuck, Jim took over.

I was one of three vegetarians for the meals and was well served with delicious food that included cooked cactus pads (Nopales) that I cut into strips and ate (like string beans). Wonderful food at every meal plus pitchers of fresh-made juices. (pineapple, orange, havarti).

Then, we headed out into the field again, driving to the Cienega (spring/marsh/wetlands). Reaching the Cienega from the road entailed some walking and fence crossings.  

And, then, we were there:

This is where we got our best look at the GREEN KINGFISHER - too quick for photo

Another delight was a sighting of an Antelope Jackrabbit - bigger than our local Black-tailed Jackrabbit.

ANTELOPE JACKRABBIT

Then there was the River Walk. ...no not like in San Antonio or other places. But here, in the Cocospera!

Jim, Kathleen and I did the River Walk while the remainder returned to clean up for dinner
(Two Meals per Day)

Prickly Poppy were abundant along the trails and dirt roads.

On Saturday night, I moved inside to Kathleen's bed in Faulene's room as mine did not have  twin beds as assigned. Got a good night's sleep without shivering.

Day #3, Sunday, May 5th

With our usual coffee and fruit start to the day, we were birding by 6:00 a.m.

Along this trail I had learned the voice of the WHITE-TIPPED DOVE and felt good when I heard it again as we entered this section of the forest. Lots of bird song in the early hours.

SUMMER TANAGER were the most frequent colorful bird of our trip and they were still chasing one another from one side of the trail to the other.  Photos are from my files since they were mostly in flight or behind fully leafed-out trees.

SUMMER TANAGER (female is yellow)

Immature Male (with some of female coloration) Saw this, too, but file photo.

Other really nice birds this morning were the SINALOA WREN, again.  (How about 7 of them?!)

SINALOA WREN [Photo by Judy Ellyson]
(All I got was tree limbs each time)

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER  [Photo by Judy Ellyson]

Very distant CANYON WREN - made it with my little camera

From time to time, we'd also come upon horses roaming and grazing the areas we walked.

At first glance it looked like a unicorn!  Too much sun on my brain, perhaps. 

Non birds included: Bullfrog, Lowland Leopard Frog, Tree Frog, Coach Whip, Banded Gecko, Ornate Tree Lizard, Clark's Spiny Lizard, Elegant Earless Lizard, Sonoran Spotted Whiptail, Clark's Spiny Lizard and a Coues White-tail deer (buck).

This is just a summary of our complete adventure that was carried out at birder's pace in a relaxed manner with a bit of "warbler neck" for species that like the tops of trees.  In all, we tallied 84 species making it a very good weekend.

Can't sign off without letting you know that it took 1.5 hours waiting in line to cross back into the USA along with mostly other US citizens.

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