Birding Southeast Arizona along the I-19 Corridor and Sierra Vista

 Saturday-Sunday, March 12 & 13, 2022

DAY ONE:  I-19 CORRIDOR    

    Although I had managed to visit I-19 birding spots during the Covid pandemic, two years have passed since I visited Sierra Vista. Many bird-friendly habitat changes have been installed in both areas.

    Glenda Jones wanted to visit this area before returning home to Canada in just a few weeks. While I may not have headed out quite this early in the season, it turned out to be a wonderful trip. Visiting six (6) sites on Saturday along I-19 South and another six (6) on Sunday in Sierra Vista gave us both a satisfying birding "fix." 

    Winds were calm; sky was clear; temperatures varied with elevation and time of day for which we had come prepared.

    From Montosa Canyon, Amado Water Treatment Plant, and dropping into the Hawk Watch at Ron Morris Park in Tubac, we were jazzed with the variety of birds observed. Best ones: NORTHERN BEARDLESS TYRANNULET and singing CANYON WREN at Montosa Canyon; six (6) LESSER SCAUP at Amado pond; leaving us with PLUMBEOUS VIREO as our best at the Hawk Watch. We did not stay long there. Hawk watching needs hours of time to enjoy the migrating birds who fly over.  Canyon Wren, Montosa

    Canoa Ranch Conservation Park farther North along I-19 provided us with some spectacular waterfowl and a headache of sparrow species.

The birding site at Historic Canoa Ranch is known as "Canoa Ranch Conservation Park."

Look for this entrance gate. Spacious parking and porta-potty.

      A REDHEAD is always a treat!  While two COMMON MERGANSER swam the pond, it was the juvenile HOODED MERGANSER that caught my attention (thanks to Glenda). Note the spikey "doo' and dark eye in Photo #2 below. The SPOTTED SANDPIPER appeared ready to pop out into its breeding season spots, but lacks them in winter plumage, Photo #3 below.    

    A female AMERICAN KESTREL perched high looking over its choices.

And, then, there were sparrows, sparrows, and more sparrows! RUFOUS-WINGED, BREWER'S, LARK, WHITE-CROWNED, and VESPER.

VESPER SPARROW

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW

           Mid-afternoon by the time we arrived at Madera Canyon, we birded Proctor Road Loop with just seven species. Made special with one HUTTON'S VIREO and two COMMON GROUND-DOVE calling back and forth, we were delighted for having included the walk. Hopefully, Glenda can upload the recording she took of the rising inflection of the dove's coo-oo coo-oo sounds.

        At Santa Rita Lodge, the highest count of one species, LESSER GOLDFINCH (50), followed by WILD TURKEY (16) was entertaining. Sometimes 12 or more goldfinch were on one feeder but I prefer photos of them on the trees when possible, below.

    As if there wasn't sufficient seed on the ground, this turkey managed to get its bill into the bird feeder.

    Just two species of hummingbird were present: RIVIOLI'S and BROAD-BILLED.

For me, the best bird that appeared at the feeding station was the male HEPATIC TANAGER.

     Wrapping up our day with an overnight stay at a casita at the Lodge, we did drive up to the top of the paved road to listen for Whip-poor-will and Owls. Being the only car there was a new experience. After a fair amount of quiet time had elapsed, I started looking at the range maps of the few birds I expected to hear.  Ooops. Too early in the season for most!!  No wonder we were the lone car! Birding is an ever-expanding education.

DAY TWO: RAMSEY CANYON, BATTISTE'S BIRD GARDEN, ASH CANYON BIRD SANCTUARY, SAN PEDRO RNCA HOUSE AREA, and ST. DAVID HOLY TRINITY MONASTERY. (not. including birds submitted for East Box Canyon Road over to Route 82)

                                        We were thrilled to see a lone PRONGHORN (Antelope) out in the grasses as we drove to Sierra Vista.

    Spending two hours at Ramsey Canyon provided good exercise. Coues White-tailed Deer were grazing not far from the upward loop trail.

    Several old cabins/buildings still stand in the forest.                                            

    Although ACORN WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, BRIDLED TITMOUSE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH and PAINTED REDSTART greeted us on the trail, I got photos only of the VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD at the feeders.

Glenda at hummingbird feeders

    Next stop was Battiste's Bird Garden where we met Nancy from Tucson who was already seated and watching GAMBEL'S QUAIL, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERs and ACORN WOODPECKERs moving about.

    Best sighting (w.o.photo) for me was the BEWICK'S WREN (mexicanus group) and the PYRRHULOXIA, below.

female

male

    Having never made it to Sierra Vista during the Covid pandemic restrictions, I was bowled over by the improvements at Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary. My last visit had been just prior to Mary Jo's going to the hospital for an operation. She never returned. I was not privy to her private life and know only that she passed away there free from the pain she was enduring. The property was subsequently purchased by bird organizations of which I'm not entirely aware. I understand that Tucson Audubon is doing much sweat equity work.

    But the front yard has been expanded to include a water feature and more space away from the hummingbird feeders. The building that served as Mary Jo's B&B has been converted to Restrooms and Storage. Plus, a nifty blind was built in the rear of that building. It was from there that Glenda spotted and photographed the SCOTT'S ORIOLE.  

    I was happy with the bright feathered CHIPPING SPARROWs scratching in the dirt of the backyard and a LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER working its way up a tree

  

    Spending about 45 minutes at the San Pedro House grounds, there were many birds at the feeders. WHITE-WINGED DOVE are already there for the summer (not yet in AJ), and PYRRHULOXIA gave us some decent views.

    With Glenda driving, I guided us home by way of US 90 to US 80 through Tombstone to St. David. There, we birded the Nature Trail and Pond. Waterfowl was abundant compared to previous visits.

    Several pairs of AMERICAN WIGEON; MALLARD; MEXICAN DUCK; a pair of REDHEAD;     and a single RING-NECKED DUCK (in view) have made themselves at home there.

    For me, the attraction was the pair of VERMILLION FLYCATCHER.

    Birding at that leisurely but constant pace is quite invigorating. Simply spending time in the natural world for two days was soul-satisfying.

This photo of me was taken by Glenda at the pond at the Monastery in St. David, AZ

    Altogether, we visited twelve (12) birding sites and tallied 105 different species of bird. I'm chalking it up to the best birding adventure I've had since pre-Covid.

    Till I get out and about again AND have time to blog, maybe I'll see you in the field.

* * *