Birding Hot Spots along the I-19 Corridor south of Tucson, AZ

Sunday, May 17, 2020
With CV-19 pandemic lockdown parameters eased by our AZ Governor, Hinde Silver and I set out for some good birding hotspots south of Tucson along what is known to us as the I-19 corridor.  

The problem with our Springtime is that it resembles summer in many other parts of the country. Temperatures have been rising above 100°F already. To cope with that prospect, we left AJ at 3:30 a.m. to reach our first, and most popular site, as early as possible to avoid crowds. By 5:50 a.m., we were the first car to pull into the lot at Proctor Road Trailhead in Madera Canyon, Green Valley, AZ.  Weather seemed cool to us at 67° but I suffered it gladly. 

In full daylight already, birds were singing everywhere. With most sycamore and cottonwood trees still holding their big floppy leaves, it wasn’t easy to find each of these birds. When they flew to dense junipers or pines, we still had trouble with back-lighting.
A beautiful SUMMER TANAGER popped out on a branch in full sunlight - at quite a distance - but shining brilliantly. — The sole successful photos for that 1.2 mile loop hike in early light. 

SUMMER TANAGER (Male)

Same SUMMER TANAGER as above with the breeze lifting some of its feathers 

Moving on up the canyon, we stopped where some birders gathered on the main road next to Madera Picnic Area. Having been there only ten minutes, they had observed two ELEGANT TROGON fly up stream barking all the way. (Their call very much resembles a short sharp dog bark.)

We chose to park and walk upstream. Soon those birders were following us.  We cut through the forest behind Santa Rita Lodge as I was aware of a crossing back there. Lucked out with a piece of plywood balanced over some branches to keep our feet dry as we continued up from the stream toward the main road. A young woman who had followed us across the stream and up must have read our minds. As soon as we reached the road, she turned and said, “Is this what you’re looking for?”  Wow!

ELEGANT TROGON (male)

Although the trogon was not a Life Bird for either of us, there’s a certain joy that goes with being in the presence of these birds from south of the border (Mexico and Central America). They’ve become somewhat reliable annually in certain habitat-friendly spots like Madera and Ramsey Canyon in the s.e. corner of Arizona.

The three original birders we had seen earlier were coming up the grade of the main road. With a wave we let them know we were on the bird(s).  Both a male and a female trogon were present. 

Poor photo of female ELEGANT TROGON. 
Post to show difference in coloration between male in top photo and this one above.

To visit the Lodge’s feeding station seemed a bit anti-climatic until we began seeing birds that simply don’t visit our desert homes: White-breasted Nuthatch; Hepatic Tanager (male and female) and numerous hummingbirds including RIVOLI’S (formerly called Magnificent Hummingbird); Broad-billed; and Black-chinned. After about an hour, we got up to leave. 

HEPATIC TANAGER (Male) above and below

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD. [photo by Hinde Silver]

ACORN WOODPECKER.  [photo by Hinde Silver'

Having put the cap on my camera lens and risen from my chair, I was taken aback when a very small all green hummingbird sipped at the feeder in front of me for a very short time. Yes, it had a rufous tail and yes, I called it out: BERYLLINE!  Hinde missed it. It’s a rarity that’s been present for at least a week or more at the Lodge feeders, but with no one else present to affirm and without a photo, I didn’t list it.  This is the second time I saw that hummer there with out external verification and none of my own. So I sucked it up yet again, determined that I’ll photograph it for minutes on end when I see it again! Enjoyed a sort of perverse satisfaction in seeing it yet again without adding it to my Life List.  It's not really all about the list, but I do, indeed, get caught up in it!
Lists for Madera Canyon:
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S69241681
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S69242255
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S69242563
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S69243193

Driving about 32 miles farther south on I-19, our farthest reach, we set out on the Tubac deAnza Trail in search of the ROSE-THROATED BECARDs, nesting in a nice thick strip of forest. If we find any, it will be a Life Bird for Hinde. It’s a good time of year to catch them so we head out expectantly among a symphony (cacophony) of bird song. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT makes itself known through the woods; lighter songs are sometimes harder to pick out, one from the other. (I’m rusty…yikes.) 

Hinde at edge of our trail toward Rose-throated Becard 

Rose-throated Becard nest
Looks like it's for a big bird, doesn't it?
See how it's fastened by bark to the higher thin limb?

Female ROSE-THROATED BECARD
Smaller than a robin (a little over 7" long) but likes a really big nest.

Female sitting on top of the nest, barely visible for all the leaves, bark and clutter
She worked on adding to it and apparently re-arranging for a long time. :)

Closer to the bridge near where we parked the car:

WESTERN KINGBIRD

To be embraced by that beautiful stretch of trees, cactus, grasses and mud along the Santa Cruz River was like a fix in harmony and balance. We were not in a hurry to leave even after two hours in there.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S69244374


Heading north again, we paused at Amado Ponds but saw nothing of particular interest, so continued on to beat the coming heat. 
At high noon, Montosa Canyon was quiet. Loaded with good birds, I expect early-morning birders saw them but most were scarce during our brief visit.  So, I took other photos instead.

Hinde at edge of big drain culvert in Montosa Canyon in an area many birds favor

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S69244768

With one more stop on my agenda, Canoa Ranch Conservation Park, I was delighted by its new entrance signage, no longer on the ground but rising in a rectangle over the road with wagon wheels to remind us of its heritage.

Our lovely desert sun was having its way with us; Hinde waited it out in the car.
Strolling quickly around the existing pond, I managed 16 species that weren’t hiding out in the shade. Few were in the water: just a domestic Mallard and a REDHEAD. 
Other water birds were hugging the shoreline; the rest were flying about or hanging out in the overflow marshland.

KILLDEER

REDHEAD

Thirsty HOUSE SPARROW

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S69245220


With a total of 65 species for the day from 7 locations and having counted 287 individual birds, including many not in our area of the desert, we considered our 12 1/2-hour birding day well worth the drive and effort.  We were home again by 4:00 p.m.

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