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SPECIES SEEN
10/27/08 to 11/2/2008 ~ 57 seen I arrived back in Arizona last weekend and began birding along the trail on Monday. First, some information on the changes on the trail. The good news is that there is a new section of trail open south of the large parking area off Rio Rico Rd. The bad news is that the two bridges across the Santa Cruz River north of Bridge Rd. on the golf course property are washed out. Also, the trail north of the golf course grassy area is overgrown. As usual, the river in the Clark's Crossing area has again changed its channel. The water is solely in the western channel and the eastern is dry. A good bridge is in place. Each year when I return I am amazed at the changes caused by the monsoon season. It is even more amazing that a tiny group of volunteers puts the trail back in shape for the rest of us to enjoy. Thank you!  Birding along the trail was fair this week with 57 species sighted. The highlights included a Merlin north of Rio Rico, at least two Soras at the "borrow pit" south of Bridge Rd., and Black-throated Gray and Orange-crowned Warblers  north and south of Barrio de Tubac. Also, numerous sightings of Rufus-winged and Lincoln Sparrows. A lingering Black-headed Grosbeak was found south of Clark's Crossing. Cassin's Kingbirds were located at Bridge Rd., at the borrow pit, and south of Rio Rico. The number of species may be down a little because I am going through my annual re-orientation to the bird sounds and sights of the West. Merlin's weren't seen last winter until February! | HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS
Great Blue Heron DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS
Mallard
NEW WORLD VULTURES
Turkey Vulture HAWKS, EAGLES, KITES
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk FALCONS, CARACARAS
American Kestrel Merlin NEW WORLD QUAIL
Gambel’s Quail RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS Sora PLOVERS, LAPWINGS
Killdeer PIGEONS, DOVES
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
White-winged Dove Inca Dove CUCKOOS
Greater Roadrunner
HUMMINGBIRDS
Broad-billed Hummingbird WOODPECKERS
Gila Woodpecker
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Northern Flicker TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
Gray Flycatcher Black Phoebe
Say’s Phoebe
Vermilion Flycatcher Cassin's Kingbird KINGLETS
Ruby-crowned Kinglet | GNATCATCHERS Blue-gray Gnatcatcher CHICKADEES, TITS Bridled Titmouse NUTHATCHES White-breasted Nuthatch PENDULINE TITS
Verdin SHRIKES
Loggerhead Shrike CROWS, JAYS Common Raven STARLINGS
European Starling OLD WORLD SPARROWS
House Sparrow FINCHES, SISKINS, CROSSBILLS
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
WOOD WARBLERS
Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler SPARROWS, TOWHEES, JUNCOS
Green-tailed Towhee Abert’s Towhee Rufous-winged Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow SALTATORS, CARDINALS, ALLIES
Northern Cardinal Pyrrhuloxia Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, GRACKLES, ETC.
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Great-tailed Grackle |
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