Spotted Owl, one of 10 owl species possible in Southeastern Arizona. Photo: Anthony Collerton
Southeastern Arizona is one of the great North American birdwatching destinations, particularly during mid-May when birdsong and breeding activity is at its peak. From the rich Sonoran Desert around Tucson, to lush cottonwood riparian habitat near Patagonia, to the cool sycamore-lined canyons in the Huachuca Mountains, to the high-elevation forests of the Chiricahua Mountains, southeastern Arizona has a natural beauty that is remarkable. Equally remarkable is the diversity one finds in this transition between the Rocky Mountains to the north and the Cordillera Occidental of Mexico to the south. On this condensed tour we’ll visit virtually all the major birding locations and could encounter as many as ten species of owls and eleven species of hummingbirds, as well as most of the specialties restricted to this part of the Southwest. Although owls and nightjars will be a major emphasis of this tour, very late nights will not be necessary, as all of our comfortable hotels are close to our nightbirding destinations.
Day 1: Our trip begins at 4:30 pm in Tucson. After checking into our airport hotel, we’ll drive the short distance to a wonderful artifical marsh on the northwest side of town, where we’ll spend the late afternoon among the cottonwoods and willows. Here we should encounter a nice mix of wetland birds such as breeding-plumage Ruddy Ducks and Common Moorhens, as well as birds more typical of the Sonoran Desert and riparian areas. The birds here are often quite confiding, and with species such as Cactus Wren, Gila Woodpecker, and Gambel’s Quail to look for, it should be a fun introduction to birding in southeast Arizona. After dinner, we’ll venture out to look for Burrowing, Barn, and Elf Owls near Tucson. Night in Tucson.
Day 2: This morning we’ll travel northeast of Tucson to the lower San Pedro River and Aravaipa Canyon. We’ll pass through lush Sonoran Desert where we’ll search for Harris’s Hawk, Gilded Flicker, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Rufous-winged Sparrow and Pyrrhuloxia. Our main destination is the shady cottonwood-willow riparian habitat around Dudleyville, where the southernmost Common Black-Hawks in Arizona nest. At this season riparian corridors are alive with bird activity including large numbers of Yellow and Lucy’s Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chats and Hooded Orioles. We’ll also look for Mississippi Kite, which has an isolated breeding population in this area, and for Gray Vireo, here at the southern limit of its core breeding range in Arizona. We’re also likely to see riparian obligate species such as Brown-crested Flycatcher and Bell’s Vireo. In the afternoon we’ll return to Tucson, have an early dinner, and observe the sunset from the lovely desert landscapes of the Santa Catalina Mountains. In the waning moments of daylight, we’ll watch for Lesser Nighthawk and listen for Elf Owls as they begin calling from the tall saguaros, the quintessential Sonoran Desert experience. Depending on the weather conditions, we may drive farther up the Mount Lemmon Highway to look for Western and Whiskered Screech-Owls, Flammulated Owl, and Northern Saw-whet Owl. Night in Tucson.
Day 3: We’ll return to Mount Lemmon, where we should be greeted by a cacophony of birdsong emanating from the lower oak-dominated canyons; the voices may include Acorn Woodpecker, Greater Pewee, Olive Warbler, Painted Redstart, and Black- headed Grosbeak. A bit higher on the mountain, we’ll enter pine forest where we’ll search for Western Bluebird, Pygmy Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee, and possibly a migrant Townsend’s or Hermit Warbler. Higher still we’ll arrive at a green canyon dominated by firs and maples where Red-faced Warbler is almost common. This is also a good area for such higher-elevation species as Cordilleran Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, and Orange-crowned Warbler. After lunch we’ll travel to the Madera Canyon area, where the pine-oak forests and bird feeder arrays should be filled with birds. We’ll take our time birding the lower and middle canyon, searching for birds such as Arizona Woodpecker, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, migrant flycatchers and warblers, Painted Redstart, Black-headed Grosbeak, and a host of glittering hummingbirds, including Magnificent. After dinner in Rio Rico, an optional outing for Whiskered Screech-Owl and Common Poorwill will be offered. Night in Rio Rico.
Day 4: We’ll begin the day with roadside birding around Patagonia and along Sonoita Creek searching for Zone-tailed and Gray Hawks as well as Thick-billed and Cassin’s Kingbirds, Bridled Titmouse, Lucy’s Warbler, and with luck an assortment of migrants. We’ll almost certainly visit Lake Patagonia, too, where, in recent years, Black-capped Gnatcatcher has bred. We’ll also visit the now-famous hummingbird feeders in Patagonia, where we’re likely to see an assortment of species including Violet-crowned Hummingbird and large numbers of Broad-billed and Black-chinned Hummingbirds. After lunch we’ll head back to the hotel for a siesta, then have an early dinner and drive west into the wilderness along Ruby Road. A single dirt road skirts the south side of the Atascosa Highlands, passing several south-draining canyons and affording the naturalist unique opportunities to observe “Mexican” species in the United States. Along the road we may well encounter Montezuma Quail, and just before dark we’ll seek out one of the most range-restricted bird species in the US, Five-striped Sparrow. If Buff-collared Nightjars are active, we’ll look for them on the drive back to Rio Rico, and Whiskered Screech-Owls and Common Poorwills should be in evidence as well. Night in Rio Rico.
Day 5: We’ll depart early for Sierra Vista and the delightful Huachuca Mountains. We’ll first visit Miller Canyon, which supports a diverse avifauna including Painted Redstart, Grace’s Warbler, Red-faced Warbler, and Spotted Owl, and as well a famous set of hummingbird feeders where up to seven species are regular in early May, often including the scarce White-eared Hummingbird. In the afternoon we’ll investigate other canyons on the eastern flank of the Huachucas, possibly including Ramsey and Ash Canyons where other feeders sometimes support Lucifer Hummingbird. If we can’t locate Spotted Owl in Miller Canyon, we’ll hope to explore alternate sites on the grounds of Fort Huachuca, a busy military base with some excellent habitat but a history of irregular closure for various military activities. After an early dinner, we’ll visit Comfort Spring in Carr Canyon, where we may see Band-tailed Pigeon or Northern Pygmy-Owl, and where the pines at the top of the canyon hold Olive Warbler, Greater Pewee, and Buff-breasted Flycatcher. Night in Sierra Vista.
Day 6: Early this morning we’ll stroll along the San Pedro River, one of the finest remaining tracts of riparian habitat in the Southwest. Mid-May is an excellent time for migrants, some of the more common being Wilson’s Warbler and Western Tanager, and the river will be alive with residents such as Gila and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Vermilion Flycatcher, Abert’s Towhee, and Bullock’s Oriole. When it begins to heat up, we’ll travel east to the Sulphur Springs Valley and Whitewater Draw, where we’ll hope for a few migrant waterbirds. In the desert scrub nearby we’ll look for both Bendire’s and Crissal Thrashers as well as Black- throated Sparrow and possibly a lingering Lark Bunting. After lunch we’ll continue to Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains, a locale famous for its stunning beauty and its healthy population of Elegant Trogons. Night in Portal.
Day 7: While in the Chiricahuas we’ll visit a variety of habitats made accessible by an excellent road system that climbs from desert scrub below Portal to high pine-fir habitat at Rustler Park. We’ll have a chance for Scaled Quail and Bendire’s Thrasher along Stateline Road, and we’ll look for Western Scrub-Jay, Juniper Titmouse, and Black-chinned Sparrow along the road to Paradise. After an early dinner, we’ll work our way up towards Rustler Park in search of Flammulated Owl. Night in Portal.
Day 8: After a last morning in the Chiricahuas, including a visit to Pinery Canyon for Mexican Chickadee and Red-faced Warbler, and if we’re lucky maybe a flyby Short-tailed Hawk, we’ll descend the west slope of the Chiricahuas and continue toward Tucson. We’ll stop en route at the ponds at Willcox, where a good variety of lingering ducks and migrant shorebirds can be expected. We’ll arrive at our hotel at a reasonable hour, then enjoy a leisurely farewell dinner at an excellent Mexican restaurant. Night in Tucson.
Day 9: The trip concludes this morning in Tucson.
Updated: 29 June 2010
Prices
- 2011 Tour Price $2,100
- Single Occupancy Supplement $390
Notes
Maximum group size seven with one leader; 14 with two leaders
Our 2011 tour can be taken in conjunction with our May tour of Oregon.