Gray Flycatcher is one of the local Great Basin species that can be seen reliably in Arizona in December. Photo: Gary Rosenberg
Arizona in early December is known for warm days, cool nights, crystal-clear skies and exciting birdwatching. Most of the Sonoran Desert specialties are resident and easy to find and they are augmented with large numbers (sometimes very large numbers) of wintering sparrows and raptors. This short trip is designed to sample the rich diversity the desert has to offer and specifically to search for grassland species that winter locally including Mountain Plover and McCown’s Longspur. We’ll visit the expansive Sonoita and San Rafael grasslands and then travel to the Sulphur Springs Valley to witness the multitudes of wintering Sandhill Cranes. December is also good for rarities such as Rufous-backed Robin and Ruddy Ground-Dove.
Day 1: The trip begins at 6 p.m. in Tucson. Night in Tucson.
Day 2: Birding in the Tucson area in early December is thoroughly enjoyable. In the balmy Sonoran Desert environment we can expect to see such residents as Harris’s Hawk, Gilded Flicker and Rufous-winged Sparrow as well as wintering Red-naped Sapsucker, Green-tailed Towhee and large numbers of sparrows. Mountain Plovers winter regularly just north of Tucson and we’ll look for them as well as for any rarities, such as Rufous-backed Robin and Ruddy Ground-Dove, which may be present. Night in Tucson.
Day 3: We’ll travel the short distance south to Nogales and Patagonia near the Mexican border. In the grasslands, along the tree-lined streams and at several ponds here we should see a fine assortment of wintering birds including Western Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, small numbers of Hammond’s, Dusky, Gray and Vermilion Flycatchers and, if present this year, Lawrence’s Goldfinch. Resident species might include Gila and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Black and Say’s Phoebes and Rock and Canyon Wrens. A visit to Patagonia Lake may produce a Black-capped Gnatcatcher, a pair of which has taken up residence there for the past several years. Night in Rio Rico.
Day 4: Today we’ll bird our way from Nogales to Sierra Vista. Along Sonoita Creek near Patagonia we’ll expect to see wintering birds such as Green-tailed Towhee and Lincoln’s Sparrow, and in nearby Harshaw Canyon we’ll look for Eastern Bluebird, and with luck we might see Montezuma Quail. The lovely San Rafael and Sonoita grasslands are home to a diversity of birds. Uncommon or local species such as Grasshopper Sparrow and Chestnut-collared and McCown’s Longspurs are perhaps most frequently found here. Baird’s Sparrow is also here but can be extremely difficult to find and see well. Searching for grassland birds can take minutes or hours and we’ll leave the balance of the day flexible.
Day 5: Today we’ll travel a short distance to the Sulphur Springs Valley and Whitewater Draw, an area famous for its thousands of wintering Sandhill Cranes and also alive with wintering raptors and sparrows. Large numbers of raptors including Ferruginous Hawks, Golden Eagles and Prairie Falcons winter locally as do often unbelievable numbers of Lark Buntings and Savannah, Vesper and Brewer’s Sparrows. Among the mass of birds we can usually find Bendire’s and Crissal Thrashers and Sage Sparrow. In the afternoon we’ll drive to the Willcox Ponds where we are likely to see a wide variety of wintering waterfowl possibly including Ross’s Goose. Night in Sierra Vista.
Day 6: The riparian habitat along the San Pedro River outside Sierra Vista supports an excellent and abundant mix of birds and we’ll look for wintering species such as Chipping, Brewer’s, Vesper and White-crowned Sparrows, and residents such as Crissal Thrasher and Abert’s Towhee. There’s often a Clay-colored Sparrow wintering locally and we’ll look carefully through the flocks of sparrows for something different. A Green Kingfisher is sometimes present as well. Later we’ll likely venture into Miller or Ramsey Canyon to look for montane residents such as Acorn Woodpecker, Mexican Jay, Bridled Titmouse, Yellow-eyed Junco and perhaps a lingering Magnificent or Blue-throated Hummingbird. Night in Tucson.
Day 7: The tour concludes this morning in Tucson.
Updated: 27 December 2006
Prices
- 2008 price about $1,750
- Single Occupancy Supplement $310
Notes
Group size limited to seven participants with one leader; 14 participants with two leaders.