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54 SPECIES SEEN
11/17/08 to 11/23/2008 Another beautiful weather week along the Anza Trail yielded 54 species of birds. Last year, during the same 7 day period, 40 species were seen. The most obvious conclusion one could jump to is that bird species along the trail are increasing. That conclusion is reinforced by the fact that the week before yielded 57 in 2008 and 37 in 2007. My hunch is that other factors led to the increase in the number of species. First, I did not begin to include the portion of the trail north and south of Rio Rico last year until mid-December (and then only the section north of Rio Rico). Second, hopefully, my birding skills have improved since last year. And finally, things like the weather and good/bad luck may have played a role. For example, was I lucky enough to run into the "flock" when walking the section of the trail south of Clark's Crossing that week. The birds seem to travel in mixed flocks in the winter. If I can continue to keep records over a longer period of time, it will be interesting to see what happens. 
The highlights for the week, include 5 Black Vultures sitting in a tree north of Rio Rico, and a Great-horned Owl in a tree about 70 minutes walk north of Rio Rico Rd. An American Kestrel helped locate it by continually dive-bombing the owl to chase it from the area. The owl persisted. It is the first owl that I have SEEN in my walks along the trail. Again this week, another Great-horned Owl was heard across from the southern end of Barrio de Tubac. Three Vireos were seen, including Hutton's, Plumbeous, and Cassin's. A lone Lazuli Bunting remained south of Clark's Crossing, and a Sora answered to my clapping two rocks together at the borrow pit. Rufous-winged and Linclon's Sparrows seem more prevalent this year. ~Jim | GREBES
Pied-billed Grebe HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS
Great Blue Heron Great Egret
NEW WORLD VULTURES Black Vulture HAWKS, EAGLES, KITES
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk FALCONS, CARACARAS
American Kestrel RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS Sora PIGEONS, DOVES
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
White-winged Dove CUCKOOS
Greater Roadrunner
OWLS
Great Horned Owl
HUMMINGBIRDS
Anna's 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 SILKY-FLYCATCHERS
Phainopepla WRENS
Bewick’s Wren | Blue-gray Gnatcatcher CHICKADEES, TITS Bridled Titmouse PENDULINE TITS
Verdin CROWS, JAYS Common Raven STARLINGS
European Starling VIREOS, ALLIES
Plumbeous Vireo Cassin's Vireo Hutton's Vireo OLD WORLD SPARROWS
House Sparrow FINCHES, SISKINS, CROSSBILLS
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
WOOD WARBLERS
Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler SPARROWS, TOWHEES, JUNCOS
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 Lazuli Bunting
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, GRACKLES, ETC.
Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle |
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